<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe French word, chauffer<\/em>, is where the chafing dishes come from. These are the classic silver dishes that you see when you are in a catering event. Professional caterers regularly use this since it is considered a foundation of any food presentation. Chafing dishes are also essential in restaurants that specialize in buffets that serve hot dishes. You also<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese multi-layered equipment include several parts that give an important role in keeping the food warm such as<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chafing pan lid<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is used to maintain heat and preserve the food at a constant temperature while retaining the food moist and prevent saturation. There are different types of lids that every caterer uses like the roll-top, lift-off, hinged, and glass-top lids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Food pan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is used to place the food in the upper part of the chafing dish to make it warm enough. The food pan comes in different sizes to fit your serving requirements in a large event. Remember that food is not supposed to be cook in a food pan, its only function is to keep the dish warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Water pan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The water pan, obviously, contains the water to be heated by steaming and allowing the food to be warm. This is deeper than the food pan and should only be filled about one inch full during the heating process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stand<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This part hold and connects the individual parts of a chafing dish into one piece of equipment. The stand or frame primarily holds the water pan and stands for the fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chafing Fuel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can use either Gel Fuel or a wick fuel – either can give you 2,4 or 6 hour burn times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chafing dishes work by heating a water pan underneath the dish using a chafer fuel or an electric source, which will keep the food items warm for two to six hours. Know that chafers are not supposed to be used to cook food, rather, food is cooked elsewhere then transferred into the chafing dishes to maintain its safe and hot food temperature. These are large, safe, versatile, and easy to set up wherever the party may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is recently new professional catering equipment like induction chafers also. Some very large organizations use a steam table as well as an electric chafing dish.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Thermal insulated bags<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>Thermal insulated bags<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThermal insulated bags are great for both short travels and in-house parties. These bags are usually used in delivering foods since it is easier to carry and does a great job in insulating the dishes while being transported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These kinds of food warmers typically measure about 22\u2033x 13\u2033x 16\u2033 with nylon exteriors and reflective aluminum interiors. The whole interior is intended to trap the heat from the food while in the bag. Small catering and food delivery services that are serving a handful of dishes usually opt to use this kind of stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, large food catering services opt to use hot boxes instead because the thermal insulated bags do not have any other heat source other than the heat that comes from the food. In other words, it is meant to preserve the heat and not to create heat itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These bags are perfect for food that cannot be overcooked or could easily become too hot if put in another piece of equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Hot box<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>Hotbox<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHot boxes are another way to insulate your food. It is a big, plastic suitcase with clamps that help transport food safely and warmly. Most of the time, hot boxes are stackable on the inside and come with wheels for easy transport of large quantities of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It works by keeping your food warm for up to 8 hours and is ideal for catering in confined spaces such as small weddings, yachts parties, or caravans because it reduces the amount of cooking gas needed by up to 50%. Also, the more dense the food is, the longer it will stay warm inside. However, hot boxes are not best for all foods like soup. It is only perfect for individually plated food like warm cookies, pizza, cupcakes, and other flat dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hot boxes work by placing a hot water pan in the bottom rack before using. Then allow it to sit for 25 to 30 minutes to add some humidity into the box. After that, you can remove the water pan and replace it with warmers and place the food inside quickly. Make sure that the box door is properly closed or sealed.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Portable Burner<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>Portable burners<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPortable burners or portable stoves are usually propane-based and may vary in size. These food warmers can be used depending on serving requirements during the catering and the needed heat control for food. Professional caterers use these portable burners when they need immediate control over the temperature of a specific dish when holding catering services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are usually used during the smaller type of event since food burners require more attention because of the higher risk of creating fire. However, portable burners are helpful for onsite cooking, especially with perishable food, especially for a single type of dish or pot-sized food items that needed to be served warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Portable burners work by burning propane or butane as fuel that comes in a small, easy-to-pack cylinder. This should be used when attaching to the stove and allowing it to have an ignition that allows you to light the fuel at the burner. Unlike other food warmers, caterers can manually control the heat from the burner and preventing the food from getting burned or overcooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHeat Lamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Heat Lamp<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHeat lamps are surely familiar to you since it is commonly found in restaurants. It is not just there to give additional lighting but to warm the dishes and keep it fresh. As common as may seem, professional food caterers only use this equipment if it is already provided at the event’s venue. Hence, they would prefer to use another since heat lamps are not as portable as the other ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, heat lamps are best for carving meats and keeping them fresh. It works by generating heat through a thin filament within the light bulb that gets extremely hot when a current is being run through it. It also makes the food presentation more appealing by giving a warm, enticing look through its orange-yellow light from the bulbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, heat lamps are slowly losing their grip in the food industry since it an outdated way of keeping the food warm. This piece of equipment consumes more energy at around 250 watts to generate power. The bulb pins into a ceramic base instead of a plastic one so that the lamp does not melt from the heat and would work as a reflector, focusing on the food that is supposed to be heated. So, if you are looking for power-saving equipment, make sure to have incandescent lamps during your catering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n