Food Warmers

[fan-of-fans]

I have tried experimenting with a few types of food warmers.

I have one that I bought a few years ago. It's a stainless steel tray and can be used as a warming tray. It also comes with a frame and two stainless steel pans. The pans don't touch the tray when they are on the frame, and don't seem to get hot enough.

Then, I found some chafing dish/steam table stainless steel pans and covers at a yard sale once and bought a few. I made waffles a while back and while I was making them, I plugged the warming tray in and set a half size pan on the tray. It worked great for keeping the waffles hot.

I also tried making small steam tables. I have a couple of plastic Rival Hot Pots (often seen for a few dollars at thrift stores). I tried putting water in the bottom, then removing the lid and setting a Pyrex bowl in the top. It didn't work well, because the steam escaped through the spout opening. Also, the Hot Pot doesn't have a simmer setting. It just sputters once in a while on the "Warm" setting, or comes to a rolling boil on the "Boil" setting. The in between settings don't seem to make much difference. It just got too hot or tool cool. Also it seemed like the color on the old Pyrex bowls was coming off in places, but not sure if the heat or steam caused it.

I have also seen the disposable foil chafers in the store, not sure how well they work.

Anyone have any neat appliances for this?

 

[suckolux]

I have a large warming tray,buffet style with adjustable temp on the front, big enough for 2 dishes. Its made by BroilKing. I think on high it would make two slow cookers with a couple dutch ovens used.

 

[danemodsandy]

Salton Hot Trays!

If you'll keep an eye out for some Salton Hot Trays in thrift stores and yard/garage sales, your food-warming worries will be over.

Salton Hot Trays are electric; they are a metal and wood frame with a glass surface; there is a printed foil heating element under the glass. You plug them in and sit serving dishes on top of them; the tray keeps the food hot. Some models have a "hot spot" for a coffee pot. You can use pretty much any serving dish you want; the warming temperature is hot enough to keep food warm, but not hot enough to crack ceramics. There are many different sizes.

Highly, highly recommended. P.S.: Since these are not very thick, they store easily - much more easily than chafers, which are very bulky.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S.:

Salton's original brand name for these was the "Hotray."

If you look these up online or on eBay, you will find listings for "Hotray" and "hot tray."