Your Best Party Co-Host: The Chafing Dish
The Holidays are upon us and while we still figure out how we even do them in the time of a pandemic, even with a smaller group than normal, chafing dishes are a great thing to have. Keeps things warm and lets people go back for more whenever they like. And it will plus up your hosting skills just a bit.
6.5 qt. dishes
4 qt. dish
6.5 qt. dish
I’m always looking for ways to make my life easier and party hosting is no different. A chafing dish is a great co-host. Put food in, keep it warm and go enjoy your party. And, if you put ice in the water pan, it can keep things cold as well.
There are a lot of chafing dishes out there — even a choice between disposable and professional versions. For this post, we are going to focus on the professional ones. The ones you usually see at a hotel or restaurant buffet. The disposable ones are great, and should be used for casual outdoor events. But we are upping our game on this blog.
Before I bought mine, I looked and looked and could not find the right selection. They were either too fancy or too expensive or not the right size. But in my search, I came across the Webstaurant Store. An online store for restaurants and professionals that the general public can use also (that’s not always the case). And you can buy one of something — not always looking to buy a case of chafing dishes. There are many great places to get these, but make sure to check this site out — I can vouch for the quality.
A few tips:
I always like to get one that has a holder for the lid when it is removed or a roll top. You want everything to stay warm, but where in the heck do you put the giant lid while you are serving yourself?
If you think you will use them, get a couple of sizes. Sometimes you want to keep something warm and add a little class to your get together, but a 6.5 quart dish is way too big and actually will look goofy. I recommend having a 6.5 quart and a 4 quart. Also, even for the larger ones, you can get an inset divider that allows you to have two separate sections for different foods.
Some foods work better than others in a chafing dish. Want something crispy? A chafing dish is not your answer. But for pasta, meat, dips, bread, etc. it is great.
Look, no one likes cold food (that’s not supposed to be) or food that has been out for a while. I don’t want to go for a second helping of your delicious food and get a cold meatball that may make me sick the next day. Party foul.