Electric vs. Non-Electric Thermal Bags for Meals on Wheels: Which Does Your Route Need?

Every Meals on Wheels program has the same goal on every route: the
last client gets a meal that’s as safe and appetizing as the first. Your
delivery bags make the difference. This guide explains when an electric
thermal bag is worth it, when a non-electric bag will do, and how to
choose the right size.

Start with the food-safety
numbers

Under the FDA Food Code (section 3-501.16), hot food must be held at
135°F or above and cold food at 41°F or
below. The range in between is the “danger zone,” where
bacteria grow quickly.

The Food Code also allows “time as a public health control.” Hot food
that starts at 135°F or above can be held without temperature control
for up to 4 hours, and then it must be served or thrown
out. Your state or local health department, and your Area Agency on
Aging, may have stricter rules. Always follow your own program’s written
standards.

For delivery, that means two questions decide the bag:

1. How long is your longest route, from the time the
   first meal is packed to the last delivery?
2. How many times is the bag opened along the way?
   Every stop lets heat out.

Electric
thermal bags: for long routes and many stops

Our electric thermal bags (Medium TB-12E, Large TB-16E and
Jumbo TB-20E)
have a built-in, patented heating system that wraps the inside of the
bag. They plug into a vehicle’s 12-volt accessory outlet (the “lighter”
socket) and put heat back in as meals are taken out.

• Holds meals above 140°F with the bag zipped
  shut.
• About 30 minutes to reach full temperature, so plug
  in as you load.
• Low power draw: 5.5 amps (about 66 watts), so it
  won’t drain a running vehicle’s battery. Vehicle USB ports can’t power
  it.
• 8-foot replaceable cord, stored in a front
  pocket.

Choose electric when: routes run longer than about
two hours, drivers make many stops, deliveries happen in cold weather,
or you can’t afford to have the last meals arrive lukewarm.

Non-electric
thermal bags: for shorter routes, with a heat source

Our non-electric bags (for example, the Large Thermal Bag TB-16A)
use the same tough, waterproof construction without the built-in heater.
They cost less than half as much as the electric version. They work by
holding in the heat the meals are packed with, so never send a
non-electric bag out with hot meals and no heat source. You
have two options:

• RouteHeat heat
  units: disposable heat units for routes of up to 4 hours.
  They’re single-use.
• Electric Bag
  Heater: a patented, made-in-USA 8.5″ × 13″ heating panel
  that stands upright inside the bag. It plugs into a 12-volt outlet (3
  amps, about 36 watts), heats up in minutes, and has a built-in
  thermostat that holds a 180°F surface temperature. It fits all
  Nutri-Systems thermal bags and many other brands, including Igloo and
  Coleman carriers. This is a good way to upgrade bags you already
  own.

Choose non-electric when: routes are short, your
drivers’ vehicles don’t have reliable 12-volt outlets, or you need to
equip many routes on a tight budget.

Quick comparison

Pick the right size

All of our bags are sized for standard Meals on Wheels trays and our
REusable trays.

Counts are for standard trays with standard lids. Deep trays or
raised lids take more room, so a bag holds fewer of them.

A bag that’s packed full holds heat better than one that’s half
empty. If a route carries 14 meals, two Medium bags may hold heat better
than one Jumbo bag that’s opened at every stop.

Tips that make any bag work
better

• Pack meals hot. A bag holds heat; it doesn’t fix
  meals that leave the kitchen lukewarm. Check temperatures before loading
  and at the last stop, and log them.
• Keep it zipped between stops.
• Push the plug all the way in and recheck it during
  the route. A loose plug or worn cord causes most electric bag
  problems.
• Leave about 6 inches of air space around each bag
  in the vehicle, and don’t stack warm or loaded bags.
• Keep hot and cold items in separate bags.
• Clean the liner between routes (see our Use & Care Guide). On
  our bags it zips out and wipes clean.

Made for Meals on Wheels
since 1977

Nutri-Systems has made delivery equipment for senior nutrition
programs since 1977. We invented the electric meal transporter, and our
thermal bags are hand-sewn in Malden, Massachusetts. Every bag carries a
1-year limited warranty.

Not sure what your routes need? Try our Free Route Planner, or contact us at
1-800-332-6566 or info@mowstore.com and we’ll recommend the right mix of
bags for your program.