By Chris Burdon

Chafing dishes are large serving dishes that are used to keep food at serving temperature for prolonged periods of time, available an a variety of different shapes, sizes and styles they are an essential piece of equipment for serving large numbers of people or for self service buffets. They give a professional looking appearance to any buffet table and leave you the host free to join your guests.

Chafing dishes are typically oval or rectangular in shape and are usually made from polished stainless steel or silver and in some cases aluminium a typical chafing set will consist of a frame to support the water and food pans, a lid to cover the contents and one or more fuel holders. They can ether be heated or cooled electronically, by burning chafing fuel or using ice in the water pan.

Types of Chaffing Dish

The different types of chafing dish are suited to different environments, oval chafing sets are typically used for more formal gatherings and are often made from highly polished and ornately decorated silver or stainless steel these dishes often placed upon more elegant stands.

Rectangular chafing sets are more common and are typically more widely available, these are more standardised and are typically sold in a range of fixed sizes. Typically these sizes range from 530mm x 325mm (GN 1/1) and 325mm x 265mm (GN 1/2), these sets are commonly made from stainless steel or in the case of cheaper sets aluminium.

The Gastronorm Size Scale

Rectangular sets as mentioned above are often manufactured to a specific industry standard size known as a gastronorm size. Used primarily in the catering industry to express the size of trays and storage containers, sizes in this scale are expressed as fractions for example, GN 1/1 (Full size), GN 1/2 (Half size) and GN 2/1 (Double Size). Because of these standard sizes the food pans in rectangular sets are often interchangeable, for example a GN 1/1 pan can be replaced with 2 GN 1/2 food pans and in turn a GN 1/2 pan can be replaced with 2 GN 1/4 pans.

How to Use a Chaffing Set

Chafing sets allow for the preparation of food ahead of time allowing it to be stored at serving temperature for prolonged periods of time without the risk of bacteria taking hold. Time can be saved by not having to re-heat food that has been kept refrigerated, and a last minuet rush in the kitchen avoided.

Chafing sets cannot be used to prepare or heat food, as the energy they produce is only just enough to maintain a constant temperature and not heat anything from cold, the time it would take to heat anything using a chafing set would be highly prohibitive to using it in this manner.

To use a chafing set the water pan is filled with hot water to a level just below the level of the food pan so that the water is not touching the food pan, the food pan is then placed above the water pan and the chafing fuel is lit beneath the pan. It is the indirect heat from the steam that keeps the food warm. Larger pans or large amounts of food may require more than one can of chaffing fuel or a higher heat setting to be used to maintain the temperature. Food should be stirred regularly and the attention should be paid to the water level and temperature for best results and to prevent scorching. Covering with a lid will help prevent moisture loss.

Chafing sets are an ideal way to serve food, host buffets and are a mobile caterers dream come true due to their portability, simplicity and a ability to serve warm food anywhere in a professional and hygienic manner.

For more information on chaffing dishes, the gastronorm size scale or to browse our range of chafing dishes visit BuyCatering.com and checkout our buffet range and guides.

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