How to preserve a BENTO BOX?!?

Help me...

I want a bento box because they're adorable and handy :D

But I don't know how to preserve the food. How do they do it in Japan? Do they keep it in a fridge at school?



Bonus: Recipes for bento foods?



THANKS~How to preserve a BENTO BOX?!?
The typical Japanese bento lunch box consist of a meat, rice and some vegetables and/or pickles. The meat can be a variety of fish such as salmon, or fried chicken, pork cutlets, sausage, hamburger. The rice can be plain or consist of a topping sprinkled on called “furikake”. Most bento`s are eaten cold but it is not a problem to heat them up in the microwave depending on what they contain.



In Japan, a Bento will usually contain umeboshi or pickles which help preserve the meal. Traditionally su or vinegar is added to the rice to preserve it. In modern times things like frozen jelly is added to keep the bento cool and fresh. Most people don't keep it in the fridge as this causes the rice to go hard and it is not as tasty.



Japanese Bento

http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…How to preserve a BENTO BOX?!?
I am not Japanese but I will try to answer anyway from what I learnt from the internet even if I might be wrong.



If it is fresh food such as Vegetables then they make it in the morning and eat it the same day. Japanese eat food unheated but it is safe since the food they prepare is meant to be eaten cold anyway. For the question do the students keep it in the fridge the answer is therefore no.



If the bento is filled with types of food that is like curry and shouldn't be left uneaten for long periods. Well, I suppose they would keep it in the fridge overnight while at home and pack it in the bento in the morning. It would then be eaten it at lunch time so it doesn't spoil.



Type in Japanese recipes on youtube and you should find some.How to preserve a BENTO BOX?!?
Most schools in Japan have a school lunch. Kids don't bring a bento to school in general.



Bentos can be filled with anything. If something needs refrigeration, then it should be put in a fridge.How to preserve a BENTO BOX?!?
Don't care about the bonus question. But they put the box in something like a large handkerchief and that is the sum and total of the preservation method. Like some schools have this super large frig that holds a couple of hundred of bento boxes. Can we all say..... "DUH!!!"
hello...