After using a slow cooker to create tasty food during special events as a catering business, you're going to need to keep food warm. For all those individuals attending a Christmas party or a corporate event, you'll want to serve them hot foods that taste delicious. But, just like those who will enjoy your food, it might initially seem like you've got a lot on your plate with this challenge.
So, what's the best way to avoid serving cold food and keep cooked food warm?
The tips we've got lined up in this guide will help. We'll also share the specific products you're going to need to serve hot food items to attendees. So whether you're serving tasty food that you've cooked in a rice cooker or delicious meals cooked in a crock pot or warming oven, take a look at our article to discover how to keep catered food warm during those all-important events!
Catering Stock List for Keeping Food Warm: Key Items to Consider
We've provided a catering stock list that will help you keep food warm throughout those special events so that you'll be able to prepare and select exactly what you need. No matter if you're a small or large catering business, here you'll discover every essential item that plays a key role in keeping your tasty morsels warm from start to finish.
#1 Chafing Dish Fuel
Chafing dish fuel solutions such as the Sterno Chafing Fuel Can With Stem Wick are ideal for ensuring food stays hot for an extended period. When all of the attendees come to enjoy tempting dishes that you've lovingly prepared, chafing fuel can work well for sustained food warming. You'll want solutions like these since they provide a consistent heat output.
Individuals can really enjoy heated soup and beverages with these solutions, whether they're your first customers or those who grab a bite towards the end of the event. This is because solutions such as the Sterno Chafing Fuel Can, can work for six hours and are ideal for large beverage urns and soup tureens. To use it, you'll just need to light the fuel can to create a food-warming flame.
#2 Insulated Containers
When it comes to serving hearty warm plates of food, your catering company can rely on insulated containers to do the job well. Manufacturers designed these solutions to keep in the heat and ensure hot food can stay hot when individuals want to take food with them as they navigate the event.
Solutions such as the Round Aluminum To-Go Containers by Boardwalk are perfect for this; their self-sealing rims are compatible with a range of lids so that your attendees can carry the food without the heat escaping. These options work well thanks to their reflective surface, which directs the heat back into the container to ensure it easily retains the internal temperature.
#3 Steam Table Pans
Steam table pans are ideal for catering businesses and restaurants that want to facilitate food service. They offer a 2-in-1 solution for keeping food warm. The first of their advantages is their reflective surface that will redirect heat back into the container to prevent food from going cold.
But they're also compatible with steam tables, which means you can place the aluminum pans into the steam table's slots, where the pans will receive the heat from the steam the hot water produces. Options such as the Durable Packaging Aluminum Steam Table Pans serve this purpose. They're made from aluminum material that can insulate the food and ensure any moreish food you serve remains warm.
#4 Aluminum Closeable Containers
Aluminum closeable containers for catering businesses are a must-have item that can work really well when keeping food warm. These solutions feature an aluminum tray and an attached plastic lid that you can use to seal in the warmth of each morsel of cooked dish you serve. They're especially important if individuals want to take food with them when they're on the move in the special event.
Like a few other food warming solutions and aluminum foil, the aluminum in these closeable containers has a reflective function that keeps the heat within the closeable container. Options such as the Durable Packaging Aluminum Closeable Containers have a gold-coloured aluminum surface which is also reflective and works with the lid to stop hot air escaping from the tray.
#5 Steam Table Pan Lids
The purpose of a steam table pan lid is to make heat retention and transportation convenient. They're a great idea for catering businesses that need to keep food warm for a longer period, and manufacturers designed them so that you can place them on top of a steam table pan. Since they fit perfectly over the pans, all morsels within remain at the optimum temperature.
Options such as the Boardwalk Full Size Aluminum Steam Table Pan Lid are just one example of high-grade steam table pan lids. These solutions are strong and durable, minimize spillage, and prevent leakages.
How to Keep Catered Food at the Right Temperature: Tips to Think About
According to research by IMARC Group , the food warming tray and food warming equipment industry is predicted to reach $900m by 2032. It's clear that these types of food warming solutions are crucial and popular for catering businesses, restaurants, and fast food companies. But how can you use them to keep catered food at the right temperature? Check out our recommended tips below to find out!
Keep Covers and Lids Closed
Making use of covers and lids to create a covered dish can really seal in the heat and minimize rapid cooling. This works by ensuring heat loss that happens through convection is kept to a minimum. We highly recommend ensuring that all containers you use remain sealed at all times before guests dig into the tasty food.
Incorporate Chafing Dishes Correctly
The most widely used and effective method for keeping food hot in a buffet or catering setting is to utilize chafing dishes. You'll want to set these up with a heat source, like a chafing dish fuel source, which will heat the lower pan's water. When the heat transfers to the food pan above it, the temperature of the food remains perfect, which will please all attendees who receive delicious catered food.
Combine Insulated Trays with Lids
It's with an insulated food tray that you can also keep food warm for longer. They help with heat retention by trapping the heat. Selecting an insulated tray that has a lid is ideal, as this will work with the insulation properties these trays offer. While the aluminum materials reflect the heat back into the insulated tray, the lid doubly seals in the warm air.
Keep Catered Food Warm with Food Warming Products from Buy Direct
At the next event you're catering, warm food can really make a difference to the guest experience. Now's the time to start thinking about the right strategies to keep hearty delicious food warm. If you're in need of food warming products to achieve this, it's worth placing your order as early as possible.
At BuyDirect, we stock all of the items you'll need to keep food warm. Make sure you head to the BuyDirect website to find what you need. Order food warming products to keep catered at near oven temperature at your next event!
FAQs
To find more information on keeping catered food warm, check these FAQs!
How to Keep Food Warm for Hours?
This can require a combination of strategies such as using a chafing dish and chafing fuel, and you can easily find chafing fuel at BuyDirect. However, if you're transporting the food from the catering kitchen to the event, you might consider hot packs, which you can place around the food containers to keep them warm.
Is it Safe to Heat Food in Aluminum?
For most food types, this is fine. As stated by the Food and Drug Administration, it is safe to heat food in aluminum, with the highest suitable temperature for this process being 400 degrees Fahrenheit. So if you're using the oven to heat food up in aluminum or using direct-heat grilling processes, the highest temperature that's safe is 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees celsius).
How to Keep Food Warm for Hours Without Electricity?
As well as using warming drawer solutions or aluminum foil, this can require using insulated containers made of the right materials. A plastic container may lose heat faster than an aluminum tray, which is why you may want to purchase aluminum trays to retain the heat.