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Lunch

Hot Thermos Ravioli

Cheese ravioli in tomato sauce, packed piping hot in a preheated insulated food jar so it’s still warm at lunch.

⏱ 17 min (5 min prep, 12 min cooking) 🍽 Serves 4 · about 1 cup lunchboxkid friendlyquick vegetarian

In our collection Back-to-school lunchboxes: menu and shopping list β†’

πŸ“… Add to my plan

ContainsMilk, Eggs, Wheat. Check the labels on what you buy; brands differ.

Ingredients

Make 4 servings
  • 20 oz Refrigerated cheese ravioli, cheese
  • 1Β½ cup Marinara or pasta sauce (jar)
  • 2 tbsp Grated Parmesan, grated

Make it yourself

Make the marinara and pizza sauce yourself β†’

In the planner, Make it on the shopping list swaps the store item for these ingredients and puts the work on your prep day.

Nutrition

Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.

Steps

You’ll need: saucepan, insulated food jar for each child, kettle or pot for boiling water, food thermometer.

  1. Cook the ravioli the night before as the package directs, drain, toss with the sauce, and refrigerate it within 2 hours. (Or cook it fresh in the morning.)
  2. In the morning, fill each insulated food jar with boiling water, put the lid on, and let it stand a few minutes (USDA).
  3. Meanwhile, reheat the ravioli and sauce on the stove until it is steaming hot and reads 165Β°F on a food thermometer.
  4. Pour the water out of the jar, fill it with the hot ravioli, sprinkle with Parmesan and close the lid tightly. Keep it closed until lunch so the food stays at 140Β°F or above (USDA).

🌑 Safe temperaturesLeftovers, reheated 165°F; Hot food held until lunch 140°F. Check the thickest part with a food thermometer (USDA). More on food safety.

Make aheadCook the ravioli the night before; reheat it in the morning.
β†Ί LeftoversWhatever comes home uneaten from a lunch box gets thrown away, along with used bags and wrappers (USDA).
πŸ§’ With kidsKids can help sprinkle the cheese and close the jar. A grown-up handles the boiling water.
Meat swapUse meat-filled ravioli.
Soup swapThe same thermos steps work for soup, chili or mac and cheese.

Goes well with

πŸ‡ Rainbow Fruit Salad

Good to know

Food Safety Basics

An original Teddy Rook Book recipe, written for our back-to-school lunchboxes; safety steps follow USDA. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.