Ultimate Selection Guide to Take Out Containers: Materials, Types, Sizes And Green

Why Choosing The Right Take Out Container Is Essential

Containers have become much more important than just packaging in the busy take out industry. They help your brand, ensure food safety and link the kitchen to what your customers enjoy. A minor decision can change your expenses, productivity, how happy your customers are and your impact on the environment. Just as a fine wine needs the right glass, the right disposable takeout containers can shape a customer’s first impression and entire experience. Proper containers help keep food at the right temperature and flavor as it moves, so it doesn’t leak or get damaged. If you make the wrong decision, it can ruin your food, upset customers and negatively affect your brand’s image. As a result, choosing the right take out containers is a great way for any food business to succeed.

Common Materials Used in Take Out Container

Choosing take out container materials is like picking building materials for a house; each has unique properties and uses.

• Paper/Paperboard: Popular due to low weight and low cost to custom print, these are eco-friendly options. They usually require internal coatings such as PE, PLA, or other plastic-free options to resist water and oil.
• Bagasse/Sugarcane Pulp: These are natural and compostable and made from sugarcane waste, making them a great option as an eco-friendly substitute for plastics. They also have a natural appearance and are sturdy enough for both hot and cold food.
• PP (Polypropylene): A material that is good for heat and is usually microwave-safe. A common option for traditional plastic takeout containers, it can pose challenges when recycling is concerned.
• PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Usual material for clear cups for cold drinks and salad containers. It has high transparency which is good for seeing the food but does not withstand heat.
• PLA (Polylactic Acid): Biobased plastic made from plant starch, it is biodegradable and industrially compostable. It is an environmentally friendly option, but has specific conditions for degradation and storage. Its compostability is often certified by organizations like BPI.
• Aluminum Foil: Heats resistant, oven safe, but not microwaveable. But often more expensive.

When choosing materials, consider food characteristics, environmental needs, budget, and customer acceptance.

Various Types of Take Out Container

There are many types of takeout containers, each made to hold different types of food, just like different tools in a toolbox.

• Clamshell/Box: This style is popular for main dishes or easy meals that are folded over. You can choose a model with one or more compartments to keep your dishes apart.
• Bowl: It is used to serve soups, porridge, salads or rice. Usually has a secure lid to stop spills.
• Cup: This category has beverage cups, soup cups and small portion cups for snacks such as fries or chicken nuggets.
• Sauce Cup: Designed for sauces or condiments, avoiding mix of sauce.
• Platter: Typically for catering trays or large servings, may come with a clear lid.
• Compartmentalized Container: Made for meals or foods that need to be separated, preventing flavors from mixing. The variety of shapes available for containers, including deli containers, helps cater to diverse menu items.

When choosing types, consider how each menu item is presented and its specific packaging needs.

Take Out Container Sizes

Choosing the right size is like tailoring clothes; it must fit perfectly. Correct sizing holds the right food portion and optimizes costs and logistics.

• Match Food Portions: Ensure every container captures food in its entirety without undue space or overflow. Large boxes for bigger entrees and small cups for petite desserts.
• Standardization: Choose a variety of sizes to simplify purchasing, storage, and management, reducing inventory complexity.
• Stackability & Storage: Good design makes food containers easier to stack which reduces space usage during storage in the kitchen or in delivery bags which lowers warehousing and shipping costs. This leads to easy storage.
• Visual Appeal: The right size makes food look fuller and more appealing, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Practical Take Out Box Design

Good takeout box design, like a thoughtful architect’s work, prioritizes both aesthetics and practicality. It’s about creating a container that not only looks appealing but also performs its critical job flawlessly.

• Leak-Proof Design: It’s important to have a leak-proof design, especially when food with lots of liquid. The container should be sealed in a way that prevents any spills or leaks during transportation. It means using lids that are made to fit perfectly and edges that are reinforced to stop any leaks.

• Easy to Carry: A well-designed container considers the customer’s journey from pickup to table. This might involve ergonomic shapes that fit comfortably in hand, or built-in handles that make carrying multiple items simpler. The material itself can also contribute, offering a texture that provides a better grip and prevents slipping.

• Sturdy Packaging: A robust container is key to protecting food from damage during transit. It needs to withstand bumps, shifts, and the general rigors of delivery without crushing or deforming. This depends on the material’s inherent strength and the container’s structural integrity, often achieved through precise manufacturing processes like die-cutting and strong bonding. Containers made of heavy weight plastic or durable paperboard contribute to this.

• Visual Appeal: The box is the first thing customers see from your brand. With high-definition printing, you can have bright brand logos, custom designs and attractive patterns. Using eco-friendly inks such as water-based or soy inks, can help the box look better and match your brand’s values, making it a traveling advertisement for your business.

• Multi-Functional Combinations: Many takeout meals now include a variety of dishes or a whole set. A clever design may have internal dividers, inserts or several compartments inside a single box to separate your food. It ensures that each flavor stays separate and that all the ingredients are enjoyed as they should be. Having flexible cup shapes and types allows for custom packaging of many different food items, offering greater versatility.

• Easy Cleanup & Disposal: The design should also be practical for the time after you finish eating. This goal can be met by including features that make it simple to reduce waste, for example, a paper box with a removable lid, non-stick coatings that leave little residue and containers that can be easily flattened or nested after use. Furthermore, a small lip or extended edge on the lid helps customers grip the lid without touching the food-contact surface which keeps their hands clean. Some reusable options are even dishwasher safe.

Choosing the Right Container: Matching Needs with Features

Choosing a takeout container is not easy because there are many things to be considered. It’s much like a well-organized symphony, where every part has to cooperate.

Based on Different Food Types

Food is the soul of the container; its properties determine the container’s “mission”:

• Hot: Hot food like hot soup noodles, fried rice, and grilled meats. Such foods need their serving containers to be made of heat resistant materials that are stable and do not yield any harmful substances. They should also provide good insulation. An example would be double-wall paper food containers or bagasse meal boxes.
• Cold: Salads, cold beverages, and sushi. The containers need to have good preservation as well as sealing abilities to restrict food and temperature exchange with the external environment. For salads or desserts, high transparency materials help with display which makes the food look more appealing. In addition to this, it must be able to withstand lower temperatures when refrigeration or freezing is applied, maintaining freshness.
• Liquid/Soup-based Foods: Noodle soup, porridge, stews, curry, etc. These foods need extremely leak-proof containers that ensure excellent sealing and anti-leak designs to prevent spillage. In addition to this, the containers must be heat resistant to maintain the temp of food, without deforming the container structure or leaching harmful chemicals.
• Oily/Fried Foods: These include stir-fry and fried chicken. The container requires lower portions of oil permeable coatings so that oil does not seep out. Fried food items also require the right amount of air circulation to ensure they do not lose their crispiness. Condensation must also be kept at bay to ensure the food is not soggy and control moisture.
• Dry Foods: Examples include baked goods, rice, and hamburgers. Containers holding these foods should be rigid so that there is resistance against deformation. The shape and structure of these containers should ensure space efficiency and should not be tailored to be larger than the portions of food. These are also good for food prep.
• Multiple Dishes/Set Meals: For meal sets with various dishes, compartmentalized designs are key. Providing multiple separate sections effectively prevents different dishes from mixing flavors, improving the dining experience. These are ideal for food storage of leftovers as well.

Temperature Adaptability

The way containers perform can make a big difference in how users experience their meal. A lot of customers find themselves needing to heat or cool their takeout once they get home. When a container has microwave, oven and freezer support, as well as clear labeling indicating whether heating or freezing is supported, it becomes much easier for customers to use. For example, you can microwave PP containers, use aluminum foil containers in the oven and some bagasse containers are suitable for both the microwave fridge.

Considering Food Safety Certifications

Food safety is non-negotiable. Choosing containers certified by authoritative bodies is crucial, including:

• FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration): A common standard for food contact materials in the United States.
• LFGB (German Food and Commodities Act): Strict requirements for food contact materials in Europe.
• BRC (British Retail Consortium): One of the global food safety standards, covering food packaging production processes.
• ISO 9001: A quality management system certification, ensuring production processes meet international standards.

These certifications strongly prove container safety and compliance, ensuring products do not release harmful substances when in contact with food, and are often free of concerning chemicals like BPA.

Considering Environmental Factors (with National Regulations and Customs)

Environmental protection is a global trend, but regulations and consumer habits vary significantly by country and region:

• Regulatory Restrictions: Members of the EU, Canada, parts of India, and even Singapore have or are in the process of banning single-use plastics, which forces food vendors to adopt removable or reusable packaging. 
• Recycling System: Recycle friendly design is mostly applied to local recycling infrastructures. For instance, paper food containers are often easily processed by paper pulp facilities, whereas PLA containers need a commercial composting facility. Materials like foam and styrofoam are increasingly restricted due to their environmental impact.
• Cultural Customs: Shape and material of takeout containers may be dictated by structural norms, or even certain cultures aesthetics. Some Asian cultures prefer bowl shaped containers and would not be satisfied with box shaped ones.
• Sustainability Certifications: Apart from food safety regulations, sustainability certifications like FSC which certifies that the supplied paper comes from trees harvested in responsibly managed forests, demonstrates commitment to ecological preservation. Options like kraft paper are also popular for their natural, eco-friendly look.

Considering Budget

Cost is vital for business decisions. The price of containers varies greatly by material, functionality, and customization level. Besides the unit price, consider:

• Economies of Scale in Bulk Purchasing: Larger orders typically yield better prices.
• Storage and Shipping Costs: Container weight and stacking efficiency affect logistics fees. A lightweight design can reduce these costs.
• Long-Term Value: Eco-friendly packaging might have higher initial costs but can bring long-term returns through brand enhancement, increased market competitiveness, and customer loyalty.

Considering Branding and Customization

Takeout containers are mobile billboards. Through custom design, you can make your brand shine in your customers’ hands.

• Logo and Patterns: Print your brand logo, tagline, or unique patterns on the container to boost brand recognition.
• Colors and Design: Choose colors and design styles that match your brand’s visual identity to enhance overall aesthetics.
• Structural Customization: Work with suppliers to develop unique container structures for specific products or packaging needs.

Wholesale Premium Food-Grade Take Out Boxes at YOON

YOON is the top choice for take out packaging due to our over two decades experience in sustainable package making. Our factory covers 16,000 sqm and has more than 100 advanced machines for printing, cutting and forming. We use the latest flexographic and offset printing machines to ensure we produce a lot and achieve great results. We also supply retail takeout containers.

We choose food-grade paper that is both renewable and meets FSC standards. Green is our philosophy. We are environmentally conscious and supply PLA, PE and plastic-free coatings to meet both the requirements of the law and what our customers require. Our products are certified by ISO 9001, BRC, FSC, FDA, LFGB and other international standards .

Choose YOON for great products and a full service: We provide free design advice, artwork support, fast sample delivery and regular orders are shipped within 3-5 weeks to meet your fast market needs.

Pro Tips: Enhancing Customer Experience

Take out containers are not just for holding food; they are key touchpoints that improve the overall customer experience.

• Clear Labels and Instructions: Clearly mark food names, allergens, heating instructions, and even recycling guidance on the container. YOON can print clear recycling labels on your packaging, guiding customers on proper disposal.
• Small Surprises: Including a handwritten thank-you note, wet wipes, or custom cutlery can make customers feel valued.
• Optimized Packaging Method: Even simple food looks better when carefully arranged. For instance, separate sauces to prevent the main dish from getting soggy.
• Transit Safety Tips: Add notes like “Keep Flat” or “Handle with Care” on the packaging to remind the delivery person.

Conclusion

Choosing the proper take out containers supports food businesses in facing market challenges. Choosing environmentally friendly materials, ensuring sizes are correct and matching fonts well can all improve our brand and user experience. When you select YOON, you can meet strict environmental rules and boost your brand by using high-quality, customizable products that are sustainable.

In the future, the take out market will prioritize being environmentally friendly, easy to use and customizable. Choosing the right take out packaging is a way to support your brand’s future. Ensure that every time you order takeout, it’s more than just food; it’s also a way to support the environment.