Custom Printed Takeaway Boxes for Hot Mains, Rice and Pasta

What are takeaway boxes?

They are the all-rounder of hot food packaging. A takeaway box is a board carton with a base and a lid in one piece. The lid either folds down and locks with interlocking flaps, or hinges over and tucks in.

The kraft fold-top box in our first photo is the style most kitchens know. It holds a main meal, folds flat for storage and closes without staples or tape. The hinged style, shown open in the second photo, suits food laid out flat. Think grilled chicken with rice beside it.

Fold-top or hinged lid: what is the difference?

A fold-top box has four flaps that close over the food and lock together in the middle. It is deep, so it suits saucy food that needs height. A hinged box has a flat lid that folds over and tucks into a slot at the front. It is shallower and wider, which suits mains laid out flat.

Both styles take full print on the outside. The hinged style gives a larger flat lid for your logo, while the fold-top shows the brand on its four sides.

Which businesses use printed takeaway boxes?

Almost any kitchen that sends hot food out the door. Most buyers want one box style for the bulk of the menu, plus one larger size for sharing dishes.

Dark kitchens running more than one brand often pick the same box shape for every menu. Only the print changes. Staff learn one fold, one bag layout and one stack height, which cuts mistakes when three menus are packing at once.

• Curry houses and rice-and-curry counters
• Pasta bars and pizzerias doing collection
• Cafés selling hot lunches to office workers
• Grill houses sending out chicken, rice and salad
• Dark kitchens running several menus from one site
• Caterers sending individual hot meals to events

How big should a takeaway box be for a main meal?

Measure by volume, not by plate size. Spoon one of your standard portions into a measuring jug. If it reaches about 700 ml, a 1,000 ml box leaves room for the flaps to close without pressing on the food.

Rice dishes need more room than you expect, because rice packed down goes stodgy. A portion that fits neatly in a 750 ml box at the pass will often look better in the next size up.

For a wider look at capacities across the trade, our UK food packaging sizes guide lists typical measurements by dish.

Does a board takeaway box handle oily sauces?

Plain board soaks up oil over time. On a short walk home it is rarely a problem. On a thirty minute delivery with a ghee-rich curry, the base can darken and soften.

Coating the inner face against grease keeps the base firm for much longer. It is the first option we suggest for curry houses and pasta bars. We can quote food-contact materials on request for any takeaway box.

What about steam and crispy food?

Steam is the enemy of anything fried. Breaded chicken, onion bhajis and roast potatoes all go soft when the lid traps moisture. Leave one flap of a fold-top box slightly lifted. On hinged styles, a window cut-out in the lid helps where the shape allows.

Wet dishes are the opposite. A curry or a ragù likes the lid shut tight to hold heat. If your menu has both, pack them in separate boxes rather than squeezing a fried side in beside the sauce.

How should a takeaway box be printed?

Kraft board with one or two colour print gives a plain, honest look that suits most hot food menus. White board shows full colour CMYK more brightly, so it suits brands with photos or strong colours.

Keep the design simple. The box is usually seen in a bag, on a desk or on a sofa. A large logo and one short line of text do more than a busy pattern. Our guide to designing printed food packaging covers artwork that prints cleanly on board.

Packing tips for a busy service

Most packing problems start at the pass, not in the box itself. A few habits make a big difference when orders stack up.

1. Fold enough boxes for the first hour before doors open, and keep them by the pass.
2. Fill to just below the fold line so flaps close without touching the food.
3. Wipe the rim before closing so sauce does not glue the flaps.
4. Place the heaviest box at the bottom of the bag.
5. Keep fried sides in their own box with the lid slightly lifted.

Mistakes to avoid when ordering takeaway boxes

Ordering one size for every dish is the usual one. A side of rice rattles around in a large box, and a sharing curry overflows a small one. Two or three sizes cover most menus.

Another is skipping the coating to save money and then finding stained bases after the first busy weekend. If your menu leans oily, coat the inside from the start.

Last, check how many boxes fit in your delivery bag. A slightly smaller footprint can mean one more box per bag, which matters on a Friday night.

Before switching the whole menu to a new style, test the size with a box you already have of similar dimensions. Pack your three busiest dishes in it during a real service. Staff will tell you within an hour whether the flaps close easily and the portions look right.

How to order custom takeaway boxes

Tell us the dishes you want to box, the style you like best and roughly how many. We quote quantities per order. Send your logo, or describe the look and our designers lay it out for free.

You approve a free design proof before anything prints. Production then takes 4–6 business days, and the boxes come flat to your door by free tracked UK delivery in 2–3 business days. If any arrive misprinted or damaged, tell us within 10 days with photos for a reprint or refund. Send the details through our takeaway box quote request form.