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Thermos Icon 16 oz vs Zojirushi SW-EAE50: Which Food Jar?

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yotsuba347

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Short answer: Choose the Thermos Icon 16 oz if you want a pressure-relief stopper, top-rack dishwasher cleaning and a long published rating (10 hours hot), at a lower list price. Choose the Zojirushi SW-EAE50 if you want a bit more capacity (17 oz) and a lighter, slimmer jar. Zojirushi rates it at 147°F after 6 hours.

How we compare: every spec in this article comes from official manufacturer specifications and product pages (starting with Thermos’s official product page and Zojirushi’s official product page), all listed under Sources below. We don’t run hands-on tests, and if a spec isn’t published, we say so. Last updated: October 2026.

Check price: Thermos Icon 16 oz Food Jar
Check price: Zojirushi SW-EAE50

I live in Japan, where Zojirushi food jars are everyday lunch gear. In the US, the Thermos Icon is the newer 16 oz jar people weigh against it.

I haven’t tested these side by side. Everything below comes from the manufacturers’ official product pages, linked at the end. If a spec isn’t published, I say so instead of guessing.

Quick Comparison Table

Spec Thermos Icon 16 oz Zojirushi SW-EAE50
Capacity 16 oz (475 mL) 17 oz / 0.5 L
Dimensions 3.9 W x 3.9 D x 6.0 H in 3-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 6 in (W x D x H)
Weight 0.75 lb (12 oz) 0 lb 11 oz
Heat rating Up to 10 hours hot 147°F after 6 hours*
Cold rating Up to 24 hours cold 50°F after 6 hours*
Steel 18/8 stainless 18/8 stainless, SlickSteel finish
Opening Wide mouth (width not listed) 2-1/2 in
Stopper Dura-Guard pressure relief stopper Tight-fitted lid with gasket
Dishwasher Top rack only Not listed
Official store price $29.99 (Thermos.com) $52.99 (Zojirushi US store)
Origin China Thailand

*Zojirushi rates heat retention with 203°F (95°C) water in a 68°F (20°C) room, and cold retention with 40°F (4°C) water in the same room.

Thermos publishes hours (“up to X hours”) rather than an end temperature, so its ratings can’t be lined up directly against Zojirushi’s 6-hour temperatures.

Key differences at a glance

  • Stopper: The Icon has a Dura-Guard pressure relief stopper, while the SW-EAE50 uses a tight-fitted lid with a gasket.
  • Capacity: The SW-EAE50 holds 17 oz, one ounce more than the Icon’s 16 oz.
  • Price: Thermos lists the Icon at $29.99, while Zojirushi’s US store lists the SW-EAE50 at $52.99.
  • Size and weight: The SW-EAE50 is slimmer at 3-5/8 inches wide and lighter at 11 oz, while the Icon is 3.9 inches wide and 12 oz.
  • Ratings: Thermos lists up to 10 hours hot and 24 hours cold, while Zojirushi lists 147°F and 50°F after 6 hours, so the numbers measure different things.
  • What stays the same: Both are 18/8 vacuum-insulated stainless jars about 6 inches tall with a wide mouth.

The 4 Differences That Matter

1. Pressure relief

Hot food can build pressure inside a sealed jar. Thermos builds pressure relief into the Icon’s Dura-Guard stopper. Zojirushi’s page for the SW-EAE50 lists a tight-fitted lid with gasket and doesn’t mention pressure relief.

2. Cleaning

Thermos says the Icon is top-rack dishwasher safe. Zojirushi doesn’t list dishwasher cleaning for the SW-EAE50.

3. Footprint

The SW-EAE50 is narrower and an ounce lighter, which helps in a slim lunch bag. The Icon is wider at 3.9 inches.

4. How the ratings are stated

Thermos says “up to 10 hours hot.” Zojirushi says 147°F after 6 hours from 203°F water. You can’t rank them from these figures alone.

What’s the same

Both are double-wall vacuum-insulated 18/8 stainless jars of about the same height, made for soup, oatmeal, chili or cold snacks.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Thermos Icon 16 oz if you:

  • Want a pressure-relief stopper
  • Want to use the dishwasher
  • Want the lower list price

Choose the Zojirushi SW-EAE50 if you:

  • Want the extra ounce
  • Want a slimmer, lighter jar
  • Prefer a temperature-based rating

The View from Japan

The SW-EAE50 is a US-market model, and Zojirushi Japan’s current soup jars are the SW-KA and newer SW-LA series. Thermos Japan sells soup jars such as the 0.4 L JBR-401, rated at 60 °C or above after 6 hours. We didn’t find the Icon line on Thermos Japan’s site.

Japanese buyers tend to judge soup jars on cleaning as much as heat. A Kakaku.com reviewer of the Thermos JBR-401 praised the gasket that comes apart and the wide mouth, and called heat retention average. Owners on Zojirushi’s official Japanese store praise the SW-LA40’s few parts and easy washing. (Third-party reviews, not our own testing.)

If you’re also considering the Stainless King, see SW-EAE50 vs Thermos Stainless King 16 oz, including the 2026 recall note.

Thermos Icon 16 oz vs Zojirushi SW-EAE50: Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Thermos Icon food jar dishwasher safe?

Thermos says yes, top rack only.

Which holds more, the Icon 16 oz or the SW-EAE50?

The SW-EAE50, at 17 oz versus 16 oz.

Does the Icon have pressure relief?

Yes. Thermos lists a Dura-Guard pressure relief stopper.

Which keeps food hotter?

The published ratings can’t be compared directly. Thermos lists up to 10 hours hot; Zojirushi lists 147°F after 6 hours.

Check current listings

Prices and colors change often, so check the current listing before buying.

Check price: Thermos Icon 16 oz Food Jar
Check price: Zojirushi SW-EAE50

Sources

Specs checked October 2026. Prices and availability change, so check the current listing before buying.

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