How to keep food hot at home and on the go

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You can use a thermos or a water bath, but there are more interesting ways.

Houses

Low temperature oven for meat and large meals

Preheat oven to 90 ° C and place food in it. After 20 minutes, check the temperature of the food with a thermometer. It must not fall below 60 ° C. Increase the oven temperature slightly if necessary. This way you can store the dish for up to two hours.

Water bath for dishes in pots and pans

Fill a large pot halfway with water and place over low heat. Ideally, the water temperature should be around 70 ° C. Place a pot or skillet with food in the center of the water bath. Do not add heat and gradually add the boiled liquid. Stir food from time to time to avoid burning it.

Slow cooker for soups and stews

Preheat a slow cooker, transfer hot food to it, and turn on the lowest temperature. This option works best for soups, stews, sauces and mashed potatoes. But keep in mind that the food in it will continue to cook, albeit very slowly. If left for a long time, the texture of the food may change slightly. After turning off, the food in the slow cooker will not cool down for about two hours.

Hot plates

Microwave them

Place the stack of plates in the microwave and heat at normal temperature for 30 seconds per plate. To avoid scalding, use an oven mitt when removing them.

Keep them low in the oven

Preheat oven to 65-90 ° C and place plates inside for a couple of minutes. A mini oven is also suitable for this. Remember that not all cookware can be used in the oven. Feel free to put ceramic and heat-resistant glass plates in it. Use oven mitts to remove them and let them cool slightly before serving.

On the road

Thermos for one portion

It is especially useful for liquid foods such as soup. Pour it into a thermos while it is very hot and immediately close the lid tightly. Check how long you can keep food in your thermos. This information is indicated on the packaging. It is usually recommended to eat the contents within four hours.

Thermal bag for large dishes

These bags are used for pizza delivery. They keep warm and are reusable and disposable. Cover the hot dish with a lid or foil before storing it in the bag. Store food in it for no more than three hours.

Heated lunch box for use in the car

It can be connected to a cigarette lighter. Just check what voltage is needed for the device and what your cigarette lighter gives, so that there is no short circuit. Put the hot food in the lunch box and plug it in. Leave the device switched on only while driving so as not to waste battery power the rest of the time.

Thermal container

Convert your portable refrigerator into a thermal container. To do this, cover it with aluminum foil folded in two layers.

• Wrap a hot food container in foil. Use a few pieces to wrap the container completely. The food must be very hot. Place the container in the middle of the refrigerator. The heat from it will spread through the foil and warm the surrounding space.
• Take 2-3 new cotton socks and fill them with rice or beans. Tie your socks on top to keep the contents from spilling out. Preheat them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, then place them in the refrigerator next to the container. They will keep the food warm.
• Fill empty spaces with towels. They should fit snugly against the food container to keep out heat. Place a hot water bottle on top and close the lid tightly.

The temperature in such a container will begin to drop over time, so try to eat its contents within the first two hours.