You've seen them in school cafeterias and hotel buffets, at wedding receptions, dinner parties, and picnics. But what is a chafing dish exactly?

A chafing dish is a serving tray that keeps prepared food hot. It is not used for cooking or baking; rather, it's designed to keep food at a desirable – and safe –temperature. (Check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture's safety guidelines for keeping hot foods hot.)

A chafing dish is a kitchen staple for anyone who entertains or hosts the annual holiday dinner, but it's not really a "dish" at all:

• There are two pans (one slightly smaller than the other), a lid, a stand, and a heat source.
• The food goes into the smaller pan and is covered with the lid.
• The smaller pan is then placed into the larger pan, which has a level of water in it.
• The larger pan sits on a frame that holds the heat source, which is usually a gel or liquid fuel that resembles a candle.
• The heat source warms the water and creates steam in the larger pan, which then heats the food in the smaller pan.

In this guide:
Chafing Dish Benefits
Using Your Chafing Dish
Frequently Asked Questions

Chafing Dish Benefits

A chafing dish is an excellent alternative to using the oven to keep food warm, for a few reasons:

• A chafing dish won't dry out, scorch, or overcook the food the way warming it in the oven can.
• Keeping your food warm in a chafing dish frees up the oven to use for baking the other components of the meal.
• A chafing dish has a lid that keeps the steam/moisture in (and keeps pesky insects away if your gathering is outdoors).
• The food can be served directly from your chafing dish, buffet-style.
• What is a chafing dish best used for? Any food that tastes best when hot or warm. Use a chafing dish to serve sauces, fondue, breads, barbecued or marinated meats, dips, and so much more!

Using Your Chafing Dish

The level of water in the bottom pan is important. You can't have too much because it will overflow when the smaller food pan is placed in it. However, if you have too little water, you run the risk of the water evaporating and no longer creating steam. And that means that the food is no longer being kept hot and could spoil.

It's a good idea to do a practice run before you serve guests. Chafing dishes come in a variety of shapes and sizes that hold different amounts of food and water. Standard models have a capacity of at least 5 quarts, but smaller 2-quart models are popular for intimate gatherings.

Remember, it's important to use chafing dishes only as they're intended: to keep already-cooked food hot. You'll want to place the food into the chafing dish (all steamy and ready-to-go) immediately after cooking so that it's perfectly ready to serve.

Article by Mary Fetzer.