Whether you want to keep dishes warm while serving or are concerned about food safety, maintaining a temperature to keep food hot is important. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to do it yourself at home. You can use kitchen utensils or airtight containers to keep them warm, use coolers and make them portable heating containers, or serve food on hot plates to keep dishes from chilling. Either way, you can get hot food anywhere.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Kitchen Appliances
Step 1. Turn the slow cooker on to the “Keep Warm” setting for soups and stews
Preheat the pan before putting the food in it so the food doesn't cool down. The “Keep Warm” setting will keep the food temperature around 80 °C no matter how long the slow cooker is on.
- Slow cookers are a great choice for watery foods like soups, stews, gravy, or mashed potatoes.
- The food will continue to cook-slightly and the texture may change if left too long.
- Once the slow cooker is turned off, food can stay warm and safe in it for up to about 2 hours.
Step 2. Keep meat and large dishes warm in the oven at 90 °C
Preheat the oven to the lowest setting and transfer the hot food to an oven-safe container. Place the container on the middle rack and let it rest in the oven for up to 2 hours.
After 20 minutes, check the food with a thermometer to make sure it is above 60 °C. Otherwise, increase the temperature setting a little
Step 3. Boil hot water to boil food in a small bowl or saucepan
Fill a large saucepan with water halfway full and heat it on the stove over medium heat. Check the water with a thermometer to make sure it's around 70 °C. Place a small bowl or pot of food in the middle of a large pot of boiled water.
- You can use this method as long as the stove is set on the lowest heat and just add the water that has evaporated with warm water.
- Stir the food occasionally so that the bottom doesn't burn.
Step 4. Use a spirit burner under an aluminum catering pan
Open the lid of the fuel container with a blunt object such as a spoon. Place the spirit burner under the catering pan before starting the fire with an all-purpose butane stove. The fuel will last up to 2 hours of use before it runs out. When finished using, turn off the heat by placing the stove lid on it.
- Always be careful when you work with an open fire like this.
- Catering stove fuel can be purchased in gel or wick form. The way they both work is the same.
Method 2 of 4: Storing Hot Food for Takeaway
Step 1. Put the soup and stew in a heatproof thermos
Place the soup in a high thermos while it's still hot. Put the lid on as tightly as possible as soon as food is added. Eat the food within 4 hours before it cools and bacteria develop.
- See the packaging of the thermos to determine how long food can be stored safely in it.
- The size of the thermos is usually only for one serving of food.
Step 2. Purchase a heatproof bag for more dishes
As with the pouches used to deliver pizza, with heat-retaining pouches you can store food while maintaining its heat throughout the journey. Wrap hot food with a lid or foil before putting it in the bag. Use a heatproof bag for up to 3 hours before serving.
Heat-resistant bags can be purchased at convenience stores or specialty kitchen supply stores. There are types of reusable or single-use pouches available
Step 3. Purchase a portable food heater to keep food warm in the car
Look for hot or cold lunch containers that can be plugged into the cigarette lighter plug in the car. Fill the container with hot food, then plug it in while traveling. The container will use the energy from the car to keep the food at a safe temperature.
- Plug in the receptacle only when the car is running so as not to drain the battery.
- Check the voltage required by the receptacle to see if the cigarette lighter plug can produce that much power. Otherwise, the receptacle may result in a short circuit.
Method 3 of 4: Making a Heat Resistant Container
Step 1. Cover the inside of the cooler with aluminum foil
While coolers are meant to keep things cool, you can also use them to keep hot food hot. Attach two layers of aluminum foil to the inner wall of the box. Aluminum will retain heat inside.
Step 2. Wrap the hot food container with another sheet of foil
Spread a wide sheet of aluminum foil on the table and place the hot container in the center. Make sure the food is really hot when the container is wrapped in foil. Use several sheets of foil to completely wrap the container.
Use oven mitts to wrap the container in foil so you don't burn your hands
Step 3. Put the container in the cooler
Place the container in the cooler. The heat from the container is transferred through the aluminum foil and warms the entire cooler.
Step 4. Make 2 or 3 heating bags by filling the new sock with rice
Fill the new cotton socks with rice until they are half full. After that, tie the top so that the rice does not spill.
- Use a rope to tie the sock to make it more secure.
- Dried green peas will work the same way.
Step 5. Put the heating bag in the microwave for 2-3 minutes
Use the regular setting on the microwave. When finished, the bag will feel warm and will retain the heat for some time.
Step 6. Slide the heating bag into the sides of the food container
Fill in the blanks on each side of the container. The rice bag will add heat to the cooler and keep the food warm.
Step 7. Fill in the gaps in the cooler with a towel
Use clean towels to prevent food from shifting while traveling. Make sure the towel holds the lunch box firmly to help retain the heat inside.
Step 8. Place the hot water bottle on the towel
Fill a rubber hot water bottle with hot water. It will be easier to pour water into the bottle using a kettle or pot with a mouth. Place a water bottle on top of the cooler to add a final heating element to keep food warm.
Close the cooler tightly after the water bottle is inserted to prevent heat from escaping
Step 9. Consume food within a maximum of 2 hours
The cooler box temperature will start to drop over time. Bring a food thermometer to check the temperature and make sure it is above 60 °C.
Method 4 of 4: Keeping the Plates Warm
Step 1. Put the dish in the microwave to heat it up quickly
Stack the plates and put them in the microwave. Set the microwave to the regular setting and heat for about 30 seconds per dish. When you're done, use oven mitts to pick it up as the plate will definitely feel hot.
Step 2. Place the dish in the oven on the lowest heat setting if the plate is safe to heat
Preheat the oven to the lowest setting, usually around 65-90 °C. Once hot, put the stack of plates in it and let it sit there for a few minutes. Use oven mitts to remove it and allow it to cool slightly before using it to serve food.
Use a toaster oven large enough to fit dishes if you want to save energy
Step 3. Purchase an electric plate heater so you can still use your cutlery
The plate heater looks like a wide heating pad that folds up and plates can be placed on top of it. Plug in the heater and turn it on. Wrap the entire plate in the heater and place another plate on it. Keep all plates warm to keep them warm for 5 minutes before using them to serve food.
- Dish heaters can be purchased online or at kitchen supply stores.
- In an emergency, you can use a large heating pad designed for the back. This tool can be purchased at your local pharmacy.
Tips
- Cover food on the table with a lid or aluminum foil to retain heat.
- Use a car seat warmer to keep the food you buy outside warm when you drive home.
- Remember to keep the food warm while you are having dinner together.
