Chafer is also named as Chafing dish, Chafer dish, Server, Chafer warmer. It is used to keep food hot/warm with an alcohol burner standing below it to heat chafer fuel or by heating a plate with an electric source.
It is particularly common in buffets (buffet chafer set / chafing dish set / chafing dish buffet set) and thus can be classified as buffetware too.
Chafing dishes also known as bain-maries are common in the catering and food service line of businesses. Whether it is a buffet, banquet or any large party, that is if you need to keep your food warm for a while you need chafing dishes. As a company that specializes in commercial kitchen products, let us enlighten you about chafing dishes; their significance, varieties, application, and handling.

More often known as a hot plate, a chafing dish is actually a heating apparatus designed for keeping food warm.
A chafing dish is a transportable casserole that is designed to be utilised independently with heat residing away from the food. It normally comprises of a frame, a water pan, a food pan, and a lid. This is normally a canned fuel such as Sterno, placed under the water pan and when lit, gently warms the water and at the same time keeps the food warm at a constant temperature.

On any big occasion or a mere home party, a chafing dish is a revelation and a basic essential equipment.

Not only does it maintain your meals’ temperature but also comes with benefits you perhaps have little knowledge about.

First of all, it is possible to speak about the time-saving which becomes a reality. You can cook in advance in case the party is planned during the day and you will be left with much time to handle other chores.

This leaves your chafing dish to just provide for the heating or cooling needs of the food as is required. Secondly, Chafing dishes are equally used as a medium for helping in boosting the flavor of the foods to be served.

Temperature Control:  Chafing dishes, therefore, are used to maintain the foods at the appropriate serving temperature to avoid it cooling so as to maintain a palatable image of the food being served.

Versatility: Suitable for use in restaurants, cafeterias, banquets, weddings, business meetings as well as outdoor functions.

Presentation: This gives and adds a beauty that gives a professional look that makes food look even more appealing thus making the dining experience even more special.

Portability: Chafing dishes can be greatly mobile and can be easily moved around. Many of them are equipped with convenient handles as well as the individual components which are becoming stacked, perfect for catering and other occasions when you need to transport and mount food islands in rather various territories.

Hygiene: foods that are placed on chafing dishes do not come in contact with hands, therefore reducing the rate of cross contaminations. This covered designs help in shielding the food from such elements as dust, insects or any airborne particles. This helps in maintaining the hygiene of food to be consumed by people

Time and Resource Efficiency: This way people will also have an opportunity to heat dishes in chafing dishes after preparing large portions beforehand. This saves you time and you manage to avoid a number of hitches during the event. Moreover, chafing dishes require only a little energy to sustain the requisite temperature that is an added advantage in food service.

Reusability: Chafing dishes are commonly disposable or reusable where most of the chafing dishes available in the market today are made of stainless steel the most durable material. Opting for decent quality chafing dishes enables the buyer to reuse it and this helps in minimizing the use of disposables thus being environment friendly.

Stainless Steel Chafing Dishes.
These are the standard and the most used dishes in the business as follows;
These are famous for their strength and endurance and thus can be hired frequently by one event organization but for a big event.
The metal surface is also shiny which has a professional outlook For instance, the polished aluminium.

Glass Lid Chafing Dishes
These are good if you wish to have a look at the food without having to open the lid of the container. It’s embarrassing when the content starts to cool off while you are paring the dishes which is why they enable a mouth-watering outlook whilst retaining heat in the meal.
These are, as a rule, applied to more prestigious sectors, as they look rather elegant.

Fuel Cell Chafing Dishes
If the chafing dishes are to be set outdoors or in a distributed manner, then Fuel Cell Chafing Dishes may be useful.
These are modular structures that employ fuel cells rather than electrical power for heat.
They are highly portable most often used where sockets are an impossibility.

Electric Chafing Dishes
These need an electricity supply but provide a constant and unchanging heat output All the above Helena uses for baking cakes, bread, pastries, cookies, etc. This type of serving dish should particularly be used when preparing food services that demand the preparation of foods that must be hot for a longer duration. A vast array of chafing dishes ensures that everyone gets a satisfactory perfect outcome from their catering services.

Each kind has its own advantages such as long life, attractive looks, ease of carry, or availability of constant heat.

Material: Stainless steel is preferred by most individuals since it is hard wearing, easy to wash, and gives a ‘professional’ look.

Size: Thus, you should note the size of your events and the dishes you prepare in order to select the right size and shape.

Heat Source: Choose either the fuel-based or the electric chafing dishes depending with the abilities of the venue you have hired and safety concerning the equipment.

Additional Features: Some of the things to compare include: Roll top lids to allow easy access to the water, water pan as an option in the unit and good looks to enhance the presentation of your event or occasion.

Conclusion

Chafing dishes are one of the most important pieces of equipment in the catering process, making it easy to have warm and attractively served food. In this article, you will discover the various models of chafing dishes, how they are used, and how they should be cared for so that your reception or function will be a success and your repasts appetizing. To learn more about the quality of our products and what catering equipment we offer, please go to our page or get in touch with our managers.