favorite Amazon finds: Chaffing dishes
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This is one thing I am SO happy I invested in many years ago! I love my chaffing dishes and have added to my collection over time.
There are Pros and Cons to owning chaffing dishes, but the Pros win, hands down, if you host more than twice a year. Heck, they are great for family meals too, especially if you want to keep multiple dishes warm for an extended period of time!
When we host events I always receive questions about my serving ware and chaffing dishes. Many people do not understand what value owning a good set of chaffing dishes can bring you. Ours have served us for YEARS and many, many parties! These dishes (LINKED below!!) have paid their rent and then some.
Cons:
You have to store them. You cannot fold them up either. Many kitchens cannot accommodate chaffing dishes and you might have to store them in a garage, closet, of some other out of the way place in your home.
You must keep the fuel pots on hand. This is not a major con, just a small thing to consider. The best ones I have found are these 6 hour burning fuel warmers. This brand has out performed the 6 hours quota few times, linked below!
Bulky to clean (but not difficult!)
Pros:
Beauty! Being motivated by the beautiful, I love serving from chaffing dishes because it is pleasing to the eye!
Keeps food warm for hours! Food stays warm and moist (Keep the lids open when serving crispy dishes such as egg rolls, fried raviolis, etc. No one wants a soggy lumpia) and low maintenance for hours!
It feels special! There is something almost extravagant about eating from a chaffing dish rather than simple pyrex (which I love, throwing no shade there) Chaffing dishes tell guests they are welcome and this day is set apart, special.
No electricity required! This means you can set up a food anywhere that is convient without worry of a cord or outlet availablility!
No perfect timing required! When serving a complicated menu, or a large number of guests, the timing of all dishes to be served hot feels like juggling! Before chaffing dishes I would switch the Christmas meal dishes in and out of the oven (don’t look Martha Stewart!) and stove top in a mad attempt to arrive at meal time with all dishes cooked and appropriately hot, but not over done. Chaffing dishes simplifies this! Put the lest fussy thing in the chaffing dish first then you’ll have time to treat any other items with kids gloves as needed! This gets “some things off your plate” (terrible pun, I know) earlier in the prep schedule.
Makes a pot luck look organized and eliminates too many mis matched dishes. I KNOW I am a psycho about this. My family reminds me every time we host… I want things to coordinate. Even pot lucks! So when planning a meal share with friends I often bring (or set out if I am host home) my chaffing dishes to add the beauty and convenience to the group meal, and to cut down on the number of mis-matched dishes (I know, I know. You cannot talk me out of this neurosis).
My favorite are the roll top dishes. Having a roll top means you don’t have to have a safe place to set down the lid. This saves space and saves your guests the awkward hunt to temporarily hold, or set down, a hot, dripping lid while they serve themselves food.
I have linked my FAVS here for you!
Happy Serving!
Here is my favorite, BEAUTIFUL wine Wine Decanter too!
