Tiger MKL-W050 vs MKL-W075: 17 oz or 25 oz Food Jar?

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Short answer: Get the Tiger MKL-W050 (0.5 L / 17 oz, $40.99 at Tiger’s U.S. store) for everyday soup, stew or porridge lunches. Get the MKL-W075 (0.75 L / 25 oz, $43.99) for noodles, curry or a rice bowl, or if you want the hottest food at lunch: Tiger rates it 73°C (163°F) or higher after 6 hours vs 66°C (151°F) for the MKL-W050. Both have the same 7 cm (2.8 in) mouth, the same dishwasher-safe one-piece stopper and the same 9.9 cm (3.9 in) width; the MKL-W075 is 3.6 cm (1.4 in) taller and 50 g heavier.

How we compare: every spec in this article comes from official Tiger pages and manuals (starting with Tiger USA’s MKL-W page and Tiger’s U.S. online store), 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: Tiger MKL-W050 (17 oz)

Check price: Tiger MKL-W075 (25 oz)

Tiger Corporation is a Japanese maker of vacuum bottles and rice cookers. The MKL-W is its newest wide-mouth food jar (a “soup jar” in Japan). Its main change is a stopper with the gasket molded in, so there is no loose silicone ring to wash, lose or put back wrong, and both the stopper and the body can go in the dishwasher. Tiger USA lists three sizes, but its U.S. store sells only two of them, the 17 oz MKL-W050 and the 25 oz MKL-W075, which is the choice most U.S. buyers will face.

Quick Comparison Table

Spec	Tiger MKL-W050	Tiger MKL-W075
Capacity (Tiger USA)	0.5 L / 17 oz (manual: 16.9 oz)	0.75 L / 25 oz (manual: 25.4 oz)
Tiger’s suggested use	Chunkier soups, stews and porridge	Noodles, curries and rice bowls
Heat retention, 1 hour	84°C (183°F) or higher	86°C (186°F) or higher
Heat retention, 6 hours	66°C (151°F) or higher	73°C (163°F) or higher
Cold retention, 6 hours	9°C (48°F) or lower	8°C (46°F) or lower
Size (W x D x H)	9.9 x 9.9 x 14.3 cm (3.9 x 3.9 x 5.6 in)	9.9 x 9.9 x 17.9 cm (3.9 x 3.9 x 7.0 in)
Weight	0.36 kg (0.8 lb)	0.41 kg (0.9 lb)
Mouth	About 7 cm (2.8 in), curled “mug-like” rim	Same
Stopper	One-piece stopper with built-in gasket; fits from any direction	Same
Dishwasher	Body and stopper (take them apart first)	Same
Colors	Cloud Blue (AL), Vermillion (TL), Eaglet White (WK)	Same
Matching sling (sold separately)	MKL-Z50P, $18.99	MKL-Z75P, $20.99
Made in	China	China
Tiger USA store price	$40.99	$43.99

Specs from Tiger USA’s MKL-W product page and the English MKL-W manual; prices from Tiger’s U.S. online store (us-store.tiger-corporation.com), all three colors listed as available, checked October 27, 2026. Retention figures are Tiger’s lab ratings: the jar is filled with water at 95°C (203°F) or 4°C (39°F) and kept upright in a 20°C (68°F) room. Fahrenheit figures are from Tiger’s manual; inch figures for size are Tiger USA’s; the 2.8 in mouth and 39°F conversions are ours.

Key differences at a glance

Capacity: 0.5 L (17 oz) vs 0.75 L (25 oz), 50% more food in the MKL-W075.
Heat after 6 hours: 66°C (151°F) or higher vs 73°C (163°F) or higher. A bigger mass of hot food cools more slowly, so the larger jar is rated warmer.
Height and weight: 14.3 cm (5.6 in) and 0.36 kg vs 17.9 cm (7.0 in) and 0.41 kg. Width is the same, 9.9 cm (3.9 in).
Price: $40.99 vs $43.99 at Tiger’s U.S. store, so the larger size costs $3 more.
Same on both: 7 cm (2.8 in) mouth with a curled rim, one-piece dishwasher-safe stopper, three colors, made in China.

1. Capacity: What Fits in 17 oz vs 25 oz

Tiger gives each size a job. On its U.S. page it recommends the 500 mL size for “chunkier soups, stews, and porridge” and the 750 mL size for noodles, curries and rice bowls (the 400 mL MKL-W040 is for soups and broths). Tiger’s official recipe pages follow the same split: for the MKL-W050 they include gazpacho, beef fried rice, pork and garlic-chive noodles and blueberry ice cream; for the MKL-W075, a chicken hot pot (chanko), an extra-large curry, chilled udon with fried tofu and a fruit macedonia. See Tiger’s MKL-W recipes.

Two details from Tiger’s manual matter when you pick a size:

Leave headroom. Fill only to the maximum line, about 1 cm (1/2 in) below the rim. Tiger says the listed capacity is the actual volume with the stopper in, so the amount of food you can pack is a little less than 17 oz or 25 oz.
A full jar stays hotter. Tiger’s ratings are for a jar filled to capacity. If you only ever pack about 12 oz of soup, the MKL-W050 is a better match than a half-empty MKL-W075.

If you are torn between sizes from different brands, our Thermos Icon 16 oz vs 24 oz and Zojirushi SW-LA52H vs SW-KA52H guides cover the same lunch-size question.

2. Heat and Cold Retention

Tiger publishes three numbers for each size, all measured from a full jar standing upright in a 20°C (68°F) room:

Hot, 1 hour (starting at 95°C / 203°F): MKL-W050 84°C (183°F) or higher; MKL-W075 86°C (186°F) or higher.
Hot, 6 hours: MKL-W050 66°C (151°F) or higher; MKL-W075 73°C (163°F) or higher.
Cold, 6 hours (starting at 4°C / 39°F): MKL-W050 9°C (48°F) or lower; MKL-W075 8°C (46°F) or lower.

The 7°C (12°F) gap at 6 hours is the biggest practical difference between the two. If you pack lunch at 7 a.m. and eat at 1 p.m., the MKL-W075 is rated to stay closer to “hot,” and the MKL-W050 closer to “warm.” Tiger’s manual adds steps that apply to both: preheat with hot water (or precool with cold water) for 1–2 minutes, fill with food that is already hot, close the stopper tightly and eat within 6 hours. It also asks you to heat dairy dishes and cold soups thoroughly first, while smoothies and cold desserts are fine to pack cold, and not to pack raw or perishable food.

3. Size, Weight and the Food Jar Sling

Both jars are 9.9 cm (3.9 in) wide, so the width your bag pocket needs is the same. The difference is height: 14.3 cm (5.6 in) for the MKL-W050 and 17.9 cm (7.0 in) for the MKL-W075. Empty weight is 0.36 kg (0.8 lb) vs 0.41 kg (0.9 lb).

Tiger sells a matching insulated pouch, the Food Jar Sling, in the same three colors. The MKL-Z50P ($18.99) fits the MKL-W040 and MKL-W050 and measures 11.5 x 11.5 x 17.5 cm (4.5 x 4.5 x 6.9 in); the MKL-Z75P ($20.99) fits the MKL-W075 and is 20.8 cm (8.2 in) tall. Tiger describes a “T-hold” insulation structure, a thick insulated lid cover, insulation up the sides to the zipper and a pocket for cutlery (not included), and says it is machine-washable in a laundry net on a hand-wash cycle. Tiger says the sling improves heat and cold retention but doesn’t publish by how much. Check the Tiger Food Jar Sling on Amazon.

4. Stopper, Cleaning and Care

The two sizes share the same stopper design, which is the main reason to choose this jar over older Tiger models:

Gasket built in: the stopper has an integrated gasket, so there is no separate ring to remove. Tiger’s manual says the valve and gasket can’t be taken out.
Two parts: the stopper part is a lid plus an inner stopper. Tiger says it comes off in one touch and can be set from any direction.
Dishwasher and dish dryer safe: body and stopper, separated first.
Interior: Tiger’s “Super Clean” finish, which Tiger says resists stains and odors.
Don’t: microwave, freeze, use near a stove or open flame, use chlorine bleach, boil the parts, soak the body or stopper, or scrub with cleanser, metal or nylon pads. No dry ice or carbonated drinks.
Mineral stains: Tiger’s manual suggests dissolving about 10 g of citric acid in lukewarm water and leaving it in the jar for a few hours.
Wear parts: Tiger treats the stopper and inner stopper as consumables and suggests checking them about once a year.

The jar isn’t electric, so there are no running costs beyond the occasional replacement stopper.

5. Price and Where to Buy

At Tiger’s U.S. online store, the MKL-W050 is $40.99 and the MKL-W075 is $43.99, and all three colors of both sizes were listed as available on October 27, 2026. Tiger’s store offers free U.S. delivery on orders over $100, doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Guam or Puerto Rico, and notes that delivery time may vary “due to production reasons.” Tiger USA lists the 14 oz MKL-W040 on its product page, but its U.S. store doesn’t sell it.

Other food jar options

Model	Capacity	Height	Heat after 6 h	Official US price	Note
Tiger MKL-W040	0.4 L / 14 oz	12.8 cm (5.0 in)	61°C (142°F) or higher	Not sold at Tiger’s U.S. store	Listed on Tiger USA’s product page
Tiger MKL-W050	0.5 L / 17 oz	14.3 cm (5.6 in)	66°C (151°F) or higher	$40.99	This comparison
Tiger MKL-W075	0.75 L / 25 oz	17.9 cm (7.0 in)	73°C (163°F) or higher	$43.99	This comparison
Zojirushi SW-LA52H	0.52 L / 18 oz	5-3/4 in	160°F (71°C)	$39.99	2-7/8 in mouth, made in Thailand
Zojirushi SW-LA75H	0.75 L / 25 oz	7-1/4 in	165°F (74°C)	$42.99	2-7/8 in mouth, made in Thailand

Tiger figures from Tiger USA and the MKL-W manual; Zojirushi figures from Zojirushi’s U.S. online store (same 95°C / 203°F start, 68°F room). Prices checked October 27, 2026. Celsius conversions of the Zojirushi figures are ours.

Zojirushi’s SW-LA series is the closest rival: also a wide-mouth jar with a one-piece gasketed stopper and a dishwasher-safe design, at $1 less per size, with slightly higher 6-hour heat ratings. See Zojirushi SW-LA52H vs SW-KA52H and Zojirushi SW-LA30 vs SW-LA40 for the details.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Tiger MKL-W050 (17 oz) if you:

Pack soup, stew, chili or oatmeal for one person
Want the shorter jar: 14.3 cm (5.6 in) tall, 0.36 kg
Usually fill about a pint or less, so the jar stays close to full
Eat within a few hours of packing

Choose the Tiger MKL-W075 (25 oz) if you:

Pack noodles, curry over rice or a rice bowl as a whole meal
Want the best 6-hour rating in the line, 73°C (163°F) or higher
Have a bag that fits a 17.9 cm (7.0 in) tall jar
Share food on outings or have a big appetite

A View from Japan

In Japan, Tiger sells the series as 真空断熱フードジャー (“vacuum-insulated food jar”) with the tagline that it keeps food at temperature “from warm soups and dishes to cold desserts,” and it calls the new stopper らくらくキャップ (“easy cap”). Tiger Japan stresses the same benefits as the U.S. page: no gasket to forget, misplace or put on wrong, a cap that can be set from any direction, and a curled rim meant to feel like a mug. Its size guide is slightly different from the U.S. one: soups for 400 mL, soups with large ingredients and rice porridge (お粥) for 500 mL, and noodles, curry and rice bowls for 750 mL. Japanese tech news site Kaden Watch reported that the series went on sale in Japan on September 1 and was the first in the line to use a gasket-integrated stopper.

The Japanese manual adds a few details the U.S. materials don’t: Tiger suggests its own bottle cleaner for tea and coffee stains, keeps repair parts for 10 years after a model ends production, and sells parts through its Japanese parts shop. For the MKL-W050, that shop lists the stopper set (MKL1051) at ¥2,200 and the inner stopper alone (MKL1113) at ¥1,100.

Item	Japan (Tiger official)
Official name	真空断熱フードジャー (“vacuum-insulated food jar”)
Stopper name	らくらくキャップ (“easy cap”), a stopper with the gasket built in
Sizes sold	400 mL (MKL-W040), 500 mL (MKL-W050), 750 mL (MKL-W075)
Tiger Japan’s size guide	400 mL: soups; 500 mL: soups with large pieces, rice porridge; 750 mL: noodles, curry, rice bowls
Official store price (tax incl.)	¥4,180 / ¥4,400 / ¥4,730
Replacement parts (MKL-W050, tiger-shop.jp)	Stopper set MKL1051 ¥2,200; inner stopper MKL1113 ¥1,100
Parts support (Japanese manual)	Repair parts kept for 10 years after production ends

Japanese names, sizes and prices from Tiger Japan (tiger-corporation.com/jpn), Tiger’s Japanese official store and tiger-shop.jp, checked October 27, 2026. Prices include Japanese consumption tax.

Japanese reviewers on Tiger’s official Rakuten shop, Yahoo! Shopping and the parenting site Mama-no-wa (whose posts come from a Tiger-supplied product trial) mostly praise the heat retention: several say soup made in the morning was still hot at lunch, and one monitor said her husband found his lunch still very warm when he ate it around 3 p.m. They also like the wide mouth for large pieces of food and the short parts list for washing, and one buyer chose the 500 mL size because it could carry a pouch meal kept hot in hot water. Mama-no-wa’s 750 mL tester suggested it for family outings. The main complaint is the inner stopper: one Rakuten buyer found it stiff to pull out, and one Yahoo! Shopping buyer said it was hard to remove for each wash, held odors and showed a faint crack-like line after two uses. Review counts on the official shops are still small. (Third-party reviews, not our own testing.)

Tiger MKL-W050 vs MKL-W075: Frequently Asked Questions

Should I get the Tiger MKL-W050 or MKL-W075?

Get the MKL-W050 (0.5 L / 17 oz) for a normal lunch of soup, stew or porridge; it is 14.3 cm (5.6 in) tall and weighs 0.36 kg. Get the MKL-W075 (0.75 L / 25 oz) if your lunch is a full bowl of noodles, curry or a rice bowl, or if you want the warmest food: Tiger rates it 73°C (163°F) or higher after 6 hours vs 66°C (151°F) for the MKL-W050. The bigger jar is 3.6 cm (1.4 in) taller, 50 g heavier and $3 more at Tiger’s U.S. store ($43.99 vs $40.99).

How long does the Tiger MKL-W food jar keep food hot?

Tiger rates the MKL-W050 at 84°C (183°F) or higher after 1 hour and 66°C (151°F) or higher after 6 hours, and the MKL-W075 at 86°C (186°F) and 73°C (163°F). Those numbers come from a lab test: the jar is filled to capacity with water at 95°C (203°F), kept upright in a 20°C (68°F) room. Real food, a partly filled jar or a cold day will give different results. Tiger’s manual says to eat the food within 6 hours.

Is the Tiger MKL-W dishwasher safe?

Yes. Tiger says both the body and the stopper can go in the dishwasher and dish dryer; take the stopper off the body first. The gasket is built into the stopper, so there is no separate ring to remove, and Tiger’s manual says the valve and gasket are not meant to be removed.

Can I microwave the Tiger food jar?

No. Tiger’s manual lists the microwave and the freezer among things not to do, and also warns against dry ice, carbonated drinks, chlorine bleach and soaking the body or stopper in water. Heat the food in a pot or a separate microwave-safe dish, then pour it in.

How full should I fill it?

Tiger’s manual says to fill only up to the maximum line, about 1 cm (1/2 in) below the rim. Tiger also says the listed capacity is the actual volume with the stopper in place, so plan on a little less food than the 17 oz or 25 oz on the box. Preheat the jar with hot water for 1–2 minutes (or precool it with cold water) before you fill it.

Will it leak in my bag?

Tiger’s manual says to close the stopper tightly and carry the jar upright, because it may leak if it is laid on its side. It also says not to use it in a moving vehicle. Tiger’s optional Food Jar Sling (MKL-Z50P for the MKL-W050, MKL-Z75P for the MKL-W075) keeps it upright in a bag and adds insulation, though Tiger doesn’t publish how much it helps.

How does it compare with the Zojirushi SW-LA food jars?

On paper they are close. Zojirushi’s U.S. store lists the 18 oz SW-LA52H at 160°F (71°C) after 6 hours for $39.99 and the 25 oz SW-LA75H at 165°F (74°C) for $42.99, from the same 95°C (203°F) starting point in a 68°F room. Tiger rates the 17 oz MKL-W050 at 151°F (66°C) or higher and the 25 oz MKL-W075 at 163°F (73°C) or higher. Both brands use a one-piece stopper with a built-in gasket and are dishwasher safe. Tiger’s mouth is about 2.8 in wide and Zojirushi’s is 2-7/8 in.

Why does my Tiger food jar rattle?

Tiger’s manual says a rattling sound comes from metal foil inside the vacuum wall and is normal.

Check current listings

Amazon search results for Tiger food jars often mix the MKL-W with older Tiger models such as the MCL-B and MCL-A (13 oz) and the MCJ-A050, which comes with a bag and spoon. You may also see the 14 oz MKL-W040 (sold in Japan), the Food Jar Sling sold on its own, and Zojirushi or Thermos jars. Look for “MKL-W050” or “MKL-W075” in the listing before you buy.