Food warmer: types, choices and uses

Professional chefs know well what a food warmer is and what it is for. In everyday life, there are also situations where you need to use it.

During festive and solemn feasts dishes are not served all at once, so it is very important that they remain hot after cooking. Repeated heating of food negatively affects its quality and taste.

To preserve the temperature of cooked dishes use food warmers. In French, the word "marmite" means "cast iron", "pan". In cooking, this dish is designed to maintain the hot state of ready meals.

They keep food hot for several hours; they do not need to be warmed up in a microwave, oven or stove. Cooked food is heated to a temperature of 20-80 degrees, so it does not boil and does not burn. At the same time, meat and other dishes do not lose their juiciness and do not become hard and dry.

In this dish the food remains fragrant and tasty, as immediately after cooking. The food warmers have characteristics such as the way of heating the dishes, dimensions, material of manufacture, device and design execution.

Apply food warmers quite widely. Most often they are used in the restaurant business, canteens, cafes and other catering establishments. They are also used in the delivery of hot lunches, when conducting offsite corporate events and in other cases when it is necessary to transport hot food.

They differ in their purpose and there are universal or special - only for hot first, second courses, drinks or sauces. They have a different shape: round and oval, square and rectangular. According to the installation method, floor, table and mobile food warmers, as well as installed on the gurney, are distinguished.

By type of power source used can be divided into such species.

• The food warmers without heating, keeping temperature thanks to the container for food, having double walls with an air gap and hermetically closed lid. They operate on the principle of a thermos, but the high temperature of food does not last long.

• Devices with electric power supply.

• Models heated by a gas burner.

In gas types of devices, the temperature of the food is maintained by burning gas. They can operate from both natural and liquefied gas.

The automatic gas control device stops the gas supply immediately after the device stops working. They are very convenient in operation and they can be used in everyday life.

Electric models operate at a voltage of 220-380V. In these types of food temperature adjustment is provided for food and usually they have thermostats and sensors. Temperature amplitude can vary from 30 to 90 degrees and depends on the model of the device.

These models have a body, food containers and electrical heating elements. Food container with a lid is installed on a special stand, in which there are cast iron burners, each of them has a separate thermostat. Also, the models are equipped with options such as timer, indicator.

Electric appliances heat up evenly, quickly and keep food temperature well. These Bain-marie are used mainly in catering establishments on the food distribution line.

In addition, there are other options for the source of heating. To this end, often used candles, alcohol burners.

Models with heated candles are designed for use in the home. They do not require the cost of electricity. In such models, candles are installed on a stand-base, they can be one or more. A saucepan with a lid is placed on the frame above the candles.

Instead of candles, alcohol burners are often used. These types of devices are widely used at events with departure (picnics, buffets, banquets). For the manufacture of alcohol burners used high strength material. The duration of burning a spirit lamp is from 2 to 6 hours. Models may have a different number of burners in accordance with the size and number of food containers.

There are also modern high-tech models using infrared heating. This method allows to achieve the highest heat transfer performance. In these models, the light bulb (tube) is a source of heat, it is also located at the base of the appliance under the pan. Basically, these Food warmers are used for heating 2 dishes and a side dish.

Bain-marie may also differ in the way of heat treatment of prepared dishes. There are two methods - dry and using a water bath.

The dry method is a direct method of exposure to food. In devices of this design, the air is heated, the streams of which are evenly distributed inside the container, that is, the convection method is used.

The advantage of such models is that they are more economical.

Another method of heating is a water bath. In this case, under the food container is a water tank. It, in turn, is heated by any power source (gas, electricity). Thermal stability is achieved by constant steam heating.which is produced in the steam generator from the liquid, and then spreads evenly inside the pan.

At the end of the operation, the water is poured through the built-in faucet, which is protected from accidental opening with a special device.

For the manufacture of food warmers such materials serve:

• steel;
• ceramics and porcelain;
• heat resistant glass;
• natural stone (marble, granite).

Stainless steel steam tables can be chrome or polished. Usually used medical steel, which is highly durable. Stainless steel food warmers are most often professional and are used in catering establishments (restaurants, canteens, snack bars), because they are practical to maintain, they are allowed to be washed in dishwashers and they are durable.

Porcelain and ceramic food warmers heat up very quickly. In addition, ceramics and porcelain retain heat for a longer period of time compared to other materials.Such models have a beautiful exterior design in the form of intricate patterns, decorative paintings.

Glass food containers are made of heat-resistant glassable to tolerate large temperature drops and withstand high temperatures. Usually such models are combined, supplemented with metal inserts and very rarely completely glass. They have a modern design.

Universal models provide the ability to cook in glassware, and then, putting it on the stand-heated base, store or serve immediately.

Marble is most often used for the manufacture of household fireworks. It is an environmentally friendly material, heat-resistant and durable. Marble models are aesthetic and original design.

The internal surface of the food capacity of food warmers can be different: metal, ceramic and even wood. Exclusive and very expensive models can have a gold or silver surface.

Design features of food warmers meet their purpose.

This type of Bain-marie is designed and used mainly in institutions catering. These devices have large dimensions, consist of several food segments and modules. Since they are placed on the floor, they have very good stability. Floor structures are often made in the form of shop windows with numerous sections.

Stationary food warmers can also be:

• for dry food preheating first courses;
• for main dishes and side dishes with the use of a water bath;
• universal models designed for both the first and second courses, as well as for beverages and baking, which use infrared heating.

Such models are most often designed for domestic use at home, in the country, on picnics to preserve the temperature of cooked dishes. They are also used for beautiful table setting in a restaurant or at home. Serving food warmers have a small volume - within 5 liters. There are models with different power sources and methods of heating.

There are table food warmers not only with one food container, but double and even with several containers for heating different foods. In this case, the containers differ in size: for the first dishes they are somewhat deeper than for the second.

Cookies for first courses can be of the following types:

• hermetically sealed round-shaped food container (like a keg) with small legs;
• The food warmer consisting of a support in which there are the rings supporting heat, and the food capacity which is located on this support.

  Table-type steam dishes for second courses are a design of a food container with a lid on a stand with a heating device.

These types are used in such establishments in which cooking is carried out separately from the places where it is distributed. Therefore, there is a need for its delivery. They are also often used during holding buffets and organizing a buffet.

Mobile models are food warmers mounted on a wheelchair with wheels. Two swivel and two fixed wheels with a rubber interlayer provide easy and maneuverable movement in space.

There is another specific type of food warmers for serving banquets with buffets and buffets - this is chafindish.By design features, it refers to the desktop view and is designed for main dishes, drinks and baking. The modular design of Chafindish allows the use of both one and several food containers. These food warmers have a rectangular shape, removable food blocks of three standard volumes: 1, 2 and 3 liters. Heated food in them is carried out with water vapor.

There are many household models of this useful kitchen appliance. The most popular options are several.

• Table Marmit Becker in the form of a tureen with a volume of 2.6 liters is used to heat soups and other first courses. The food container itself is made of heat-resistant ceramics, and the stand is made of polished steel under “rose gold”. The handle on the lid has the same design implementation.

In the cover there is a hole for the withdrawal of steam.

• Model Rosenberg used to heat 2 dishes. The volume of the food block - 1.8 l. This model is made of steel (stainless steel). Heated carried by candles. There are also models of this brand with heat-resistant ceramic or glass marmitnitsa on a chrome stand.

• Gipfel - this model of a household desktop portable marmite of an oval form from heat-resistant transparent glass is intended for first courses. Candles are used for heating. The stand and the cover are made of chrome steel with a mirror surface.

All materials used are environmentally friendly and safe. Food capacity has a volume of 3 liters.

• Food warmer Fissman. Models of this brand have a wide range. The material for the manufacture can be glass, ceramics, steel. They differ in the different shape and volume of the food container.

Table model is heated with candles and is designed for 2 dishes. The 2.5 liter heat exchanger is made of ceramic, and the lid is made of heat-resistant glass.

• Model brand Mercury. The household rectangular food warmer is a ceramic container for food with convenient handles on a metal stand. Ceramic lid tightly closes the pan. Marmitnitsa itself can be used in the microwave and oven for baking dishes.

Material of manufacture differs in high quality. Heated by tea candles.

• A good option for a desktop portable marmite is the universal model. Avat stamps. This is an electric food warmer, heating in which is carried out with the help of a water bath. In model two food blocks and 2 tanks for water. The temperature range is 30-85 degrees.

It is necessary to choose food warmers in strict accordance with the purpose and purpose of its application, since for professional and home use completely different types and models are required.

For professional use, devices of large size with numerous containers, made under the window. For small cafes and eateries, tabletop models for various purposes are acceptable, for receptions - mobile.

When choosing models for the home, you need to consider the following nuances:

• It is necessary to choose a model in accordance with the size of the room where it will be used: the size, shape and type of the heat-marshlet depend on it.

• Power models are simpler and safer to use.

• The type of heating depends on the purpose: for the first course, dry heating is possible, for the second - in a water bath.

• For use on picnics (for heating kebabs) or other outdoor events, it is better to choose a portable steam table.

• It is more economical to acquire a universal (with several blocks) model.

• Ceramic Marmitnits better and longer heat retain heat.

• When choosing a model with a serving purpose, it is important to pay attention to the design so that it is combined with other dishes.

• The type of lid is also important. The most simple and cheap classic version is a removable cover. But in use, it is not very convenient. A flip cover is more convenient, although it is more expensive. The angle to which it is able to recline is also important: it must be large enough (180 degrees is best), otherwise it will be difficult to change the containers inside and wash the food warmer.

All types and models of food warmers have instructions for their proper operation, which must be studied after purchase and strictly adhere to it.

In the operation of electric fixed devices required:

• monitor the health of the grounding device;
• to monitor the technical and sanitary condition of the steam table;
• do not leave its burners turned on if the containers are not filled with food;
• it is necessary to disconnect the device first (several minutes) before the end of work
• hot water baths cannot be used if the water tanks are not filled.

After work is finished, thoroughly wash all the external elements of the stand with warm soapy water, then wipe them dry with a cloth napkin.

The most easy-to-use serving tabletop models are heated by candles (or alcohol stoves). The candles are set on fire and the food warmer is put on the table, which allows not to use additional serving plates.

In this video you will learn how to prepare a dish in marmite, nicely set on the table and keep it hot, thanks to the special design.