Roasting dishes, preheated hot trays, a multicooker, slow cookers, or toaster ovens can also be used to keep food warm. While not ideal, many dishes can be kept warm in the oven. According to Alice Henneman, MS, RDN of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, you can keep food warm in a preheated oven at a temperature of 200°F to 250°F. Depending on your size, you can store 4 to 6 containers wrapped inside a cooler to keep the temperature up.
Take a look at the oven dial or digital temperature meter. There is a warm setting where you can turn on the oven and keep 4 to 6 hot plates there. Insulating thermos usually come in sizes from 8 to 32 ounces. Available in electric and non-electric models, they can keep food above 150°F for up to 4 hours on non-electric models; longer on electric models.
By increasing the amount of food you cook (the hottest object), you can reduce its cooling rate by preventing heat transfer to air (a colder object). It's important to note that foods that are kept out and that are not properly kept hot or cold (below 40°F or more than 150°F) can be dangerous to consume. The thermos is very useful, since it is lightweight, compact and can keep a small amount of food warm. Professional restaurants and caterers must be able to keep food warm, especially if the food they are cooking must be prepared for some time before it is served.
The tray is also used quickly, since you don't have to wash anything once you're done with your food. Wood pellets and charcoal are quite expensive, so when I smoke I try to fill my smoker and then vacuum pack and seal portions of the food for later reheating. Without this step, the food you place inside will initially lose some heat, causing the cooler to reach temperature. You can wrap them a few stacks in aluminum foil and store them in a warm place (again, you'll need a grill or a cooler section of an iron).
Even if you don't have a microwave, keeping an extra Sterno handy will ensure that you can reheat food as needed. Not only does doing this help keep food at a stable temperature, but the practice can also ensure your health. If you have a constant source of heat that keeps food above the safe temperature, you can let it stay as long as you want. The food warmer doesn't have any knobs to turn, so you just have to wait for the food to warm up.
If you need to keep food warm for a short time, simply wrap it up or cover it with aluminum foil. You may want to open the lid for a moment to let the steam escape and keep the food from cooking.
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