Catering Dish | Catering How To
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Catering Dish - Chafing Dish
This is a simple catering how to involving how to serve and keep your hot foods hot at a home party, wedding or any event. One type of catering dish can give you the ability to keep your foods at a safe serving temperature as well as look elegant on your buffet table or, as we call it in the business -- buffetscape.
While the decor and set-up is important to creating a beautiful buffetscape, keeping the food at proper serving temperature to safeguard your guests should be the number one priority. Here, we will look at what is available to keep foods hot and look stylish at the same time.
While the decor and set-up is important to creating a beautiful buffetscape, keeping the food at proper serving temperature to safeguard your guests should be the number one priority. Here, we will look at what is available to keep foods hot and look stylish at the same time.
Contents at a Glance
Winware 4 qt Round Chafing Dish
with Gold Accents
This 4 qt chafing dish is perfect for any event at home or a rented venue. It comes with food pan, water pan, fuel holder and chafer stand and dome lid. Suprising how very affordable it is.
This is a gorgeous addition to the buffet table. By using Sterno Fuel
, your food will stay at proper holding temperature. Important!
Proper Holding Temperature
for Hot Foods is
140 degrees F (60 degrees C) or above
Food Thermometer
Important Catering How To
An essential tool in any kitchen, especially if you host a buffet. Check to make sure your guests are safe as they partake from your buffet foods and that your catering dishes are doing their job.
This thermometer features:
- Pocket-sized quick-read thermometer that's great for measuring temp in thin cuts of meat, fish or poultry
- 5-inch stainless steel stem can get a reading in 6-8 seconds; stainless steel housing surrounding the digital readout
- Large-digit readout, data-hold capabilities, 10-minute auto-off, plastic sheath with pen clip
- Temperature range of -40 to 450 degrees F (-40 to 230 degrees C)
- Powered by LR44 button battery (included); backed by 5-year limited warranty
The Food Danger Zone
Bacteria multiply best at temperatures between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F. This is referred to as "The Danger Zone". To avoid illness, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
- Cold foods should be held at a temperature below 40 degrees F
- Hot foods should be held at 140 degrees F or above
- Cooked foods should be brought to a minimum temperature according to the list below:
- Beef, veal, and lamb steaks, roasts, and chops may be cooked to 145 °F.
- All cuts of pork to 160 °F.
- Ground beef, veal and lamb to 160 °F.
- All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.
- When reheating foods, you should bring the internal temperature to 165 degrees F.
Note: Putting bricks in your oven and heating them up and then sticking them under your hot food dishes is NOT going to keep the bad bacteria at bay. The bricks will not get hot enough to begin with and start cooling immediately. You have to keep the food on a constant heat source.
Catering Dish - Chafing Dish
All Shapes and Sizes
Chafing Dish Set Up
Chafing dishes use a fuel canister to keep the foods hot. To set one up, you place water to the water level mark in the deep water pan and the food in the shallower food pan. Then, place the food pan into the water pan. The fuel canister is placed in the holder and then lit.The fuel heats the water to a boiler and allows the food in the food pan to stay at proper serving temperatures (though you should verify with your food thermometer throughout the party).
76 Million cases of Foodborne/Food Poisoning illness occur annually
in the USA
What's Available on eBay
Catering Dishes - Crockpots
Crockpots/slow cookers are an alternative to chafing dishes for keeping hot foods hot. They allow for cooking and serving in the same dish. 
The new, sleeker designs make them attractive on a buffet such as this Crock-Pot SCV700SS 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker in Stainless Steel
.
Or, choose your own favorite designed CrockPots/Slow Cookers.
.
They do present some problems, however. You need to make sure there is a power source close enough to use, ensure that cords are safely tucked away and that other buffet items aren't too close to the sides of the Cropckpot since they do get quite hot.
The newer Crockpots usually have a "warm" setting that is designed to keep your foods at an acceptable holding temperature which is quite nice. However, always verify this by using a food thermometer.
The new, sleeker designs make them attractive on a buffet such as this Crock-Pot SCV700SS 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker in Stainless Steel.Or, choose your own favorite designed CrockPots/Slow Cookers
..
They do present some problems, however. You need to make sure there is a power source close enough to use, ensure that cords are safely tucked away and that other buffet items aren't too close to the sides of the Cropckpot since they do get quite hot.
The newer Crockpots usually have a "warm" setting that is designed to keep your foods at an acceptable holding temperature which is quite nice. However, always verify this by using a food thermometer.
Self Catering Resources
- Buffet Ideas
- Yes, buffets are part of your decor plan -- or they should be. It is a table or tables that are one of the centers of attention at your wedding or event. Capitalize on this!
- Jazz Up Your Buffet Table -- 10 Ideas to Help
- Do you want your food table to be different? Tired of just lining the food up and moving people through? Below are 10 ideas to jazz up and give some life to your buffet table. In the catering industry we call it building a buffetscape.
- Food Ideas for Self Catering Your Party
- Keeping in mind that most homes don't have chafing dishes on hand to keep food at proper serving temperatures, or refrigerated salad bars, you should be selective with the food choices. Anything on the menu with mayonnaise or dairy based can go bad when sitting out too long. You will probably need to use crockpots or electric roasters to keep hot foods hot too.
More Options for your Buffet Table
Crockpots as Catering Dishes
Keep Food Cold on a Buffet
Alternatively, don't forget to use these tips and tricks to keep your cold buffet foods cold while serving your guests!
Building Buffetscapes
What did you learn?
Quick 5 question quiz. See how you do!
How'd you do on the Quiz
for this Catering How to?
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ChrisDay
Feb 14, 2011 @ 10:27 pm | delete
- More by luck than judgement, I suspect, I cleaned up - thanks for the fun
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hayleylou
Feb 7, 2011 @ 2:57 pm | delete
- I love my Slow Cooker and wouldn't be without it :)
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rlivermore
Feb 6, 2011 @ 2:34 pm | delete
- As usual, a very helpful lens!
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tssfacts
Feb 5, 2011 @ 1:04 pm | delete
- Yes, I did learn some new tips I really like the food thermometer. I can actually read the thing lol. I also like the slow cooker selections.
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KathyMcGraw
Feb 3, 2011 @ 11:12 am | delete
- I bought one of the newer slow cookers...and the problem I have is the aluminum outer part gets very hot. Once I figured this out I was OK with it, just have to caution visiting kids :) I love the tips you gave here as well as the choices.
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Who is DecoratingforEvents (aka Mandee)
With 20+ years in the event industry as everything from a venue manager and owner to caterer and decorator, Mandee is now sharing some tips and tricks so you can host the best themed wedding or event your guests have ever attended!
More From Mandee...
Catering How To
Catering Dish to keep Foods Hot
Now you know how the professionals do it! This simple catering how to shows you how to use a catering dish to keep your foods at a safe serving temperature.
by DecoratingforEvents
This catering how to will give you ideas for using a catering dish to keep your hot foods hot at any event. They are affordable and a lot more attractive... more »
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Fuel for a Chafing Dish
Sterno Sterno Brand Chafing Fuel With Wick (pack Of 24) Pack of 24 pcs
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
I prefer Sterno brand liquid fuel with a wick to the gel type cooking fuel. I think they are a bit more predictable as far as how the flame will burn and you get a concentrated flame. Buy it by the case is also more cost effective. Each can has a 6 hour burn time but should be monitored.
Kirkland Signature Stainless Steel 5 Qt Chafing Dish
Amazon Price: $69.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
This is an elegant Chafing Dish that can be used for any gathering. It features:
Heat and shatter resistant tempered glass lid, 5Qt food pan, 6.5Qt dripless water pan,
Heavy gauge chafing stand, chrome-plated steel fuel burner with flame extinguisher, Lid rest.
Add a touch of elegance to your tabletop or buffet with this beautiful and functional chafing dish.
Perfect for serving hot or chilled food at gatherings
Food pan and water are 18/10 stainless steel.
