Whether you are thinking of a buffet display or a carvery, keeping your cooked ingredients warm whilst waiting for service can be a tricky task. The food needs to stay at a heated temperature whilst not being allowed to cook any more. There is nothing worse than slaving away to prepare and cook everything to perfection for it to be ruined by either becoming soggy and overcooked or being allowed to go cold. An ideal solution is to use a Chafing Dish. The principle is simple; the ingredients are placed in food pans which are then placed over a water pan filled with approximately half an inch of water. The food pans fit snugly into the water pan and do not allow any air to escape from the heated water below. The water is heated by either an electric source or a chafing gel candle. The build-up of heat and steam gently but effectively keeps your food items heated to the perfect temperature. Chafing dishes are so simple to use that if buffet’s or carveries are part of your business plan, they become an essential piece of catering equipment. Likewise, if you are planning to expand into offsite catering or undertake any BBQ’s or Hog Roast jobs, chafing dishes provide an ideal way to keep your side dishes and accompaniments heated, fresh and ready to serve.
Although the benefits are massive regard to chafing dishes there are certain choices and considerations which must be thought about before you make your final decisions to which piece of equipment meets your requirements.
- Chafing dishes come in a variety of shapes, the most common being either circular or rectangular. Each shape has its own particular use so always have a clear idea of what you intend to utilise it for. Round dishes are typically used for sauces or side dishes, while rectangular dishes are more often used to heat main courses. Depending on your buffet or carvery style and image, you should be able to locate a variety of shapes to give your display that little something extra visually.
- It is vital to determine which type of power source will be most preferable for you. Electric heat may be safer regard to fire codes and the use of naked flames and are also ready to go every time they are needed; there is no chance of the fuel ever running out. Perhaps the only negative point may be that there may not be a power outlet nearby to where your chafing dishes are situated. This leaves a lot less option for flexibility in regard to an electric chafing dish placement. A chafing gel heat source can be placed in a specially designed holder below the chafing dish which gives the added bonus of being more portable and ready for use anywhere and anytime. If catering an offsite event portability and adaptability to fit in with the host’s requirements is essential and providing these qualities is made easier when using a chafing gel heating source.
- Choosing the correct chafing dish can rely heavily on the type of lid the equipment lends itself to. There are three different choices; hinged lids, roll-top lids and removable lids. Each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Hinged lids are designed so that when opened the lid doesn’t flip open all the way and result in covering any chafing dishes behind. There will also be a lock which allows the lid to be kept open while service is in progress. Roll-top lids are easier to use when the guests hands are full of plates and cutlery etc. In a buffet or carvery line. Roll-top lids are easily flipped open and closed without the need to use two hands therefore having to set the plate down. With a simple one-handed motion the guest can retrieve what they want and replace the lid in one swift movement. Removable lids are the least expensive of the three options. Although they are effective they can cause problems when the guest needs to either put the lid down somewhere while they serve themselves or lay their plate down whilst they hold the lid in one hand and serve with the other. These are the least efficient of the choices and can cause the food to be left open therefore cooling for longer than necessary.
Finding the perfect chafing dish for your needs allows you to take care of the heating practicalities of a buffet, carvery, BBQ or Hog Roast whilst also potentially creating a visually pleasing service area.