When cooking and serving for many people, a chafing dish is a must-have. Because it holds sufficient amounts of food for large groups and keeps it warm as long as the event lasts. This makes them edge other food serving and storage accessories like hotpots. Chafing dishes won't just hold or warm your food, these appliances also come in different striking styles perfect to cap any occasion on board.
There are many types on the market for personal and professional use, and we have done our in-depth research to provide you with the best chafing dishes on the market.
5 Best Chafing Dishes Reviews
Do not have enough time to read? Check this quick buying decision list and pick your best one:
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1. Artisan Stainless Steel Round Buffet Chafer with Glass Lid
Main Features
- 4-quart buffet.
- Style and size variety.
- Stainless steel make.
- Lid with steam release vent.
Get the party moving with this Artisan Buffet Chafer. As we all know, stainless steel products can be very durable, while pulling off an excellent performance, and this product is not an exception. Whether you are having a formal or informal event, Artisan Buffet Chafer will serve your guests the warmest food they desire.
It comes with a single fuel burner that effectively heats up the water pan for warming food. Food is warmed evenly because the food pan is large, providing a large surface area perfect for even warming. To ensure that your food doesn't go cold anytime, the pan has a lid with a steam release vent, this keeps food constantly warm and fresh.
Now, at 4 quarts, this is not a large capacity, you can bring this for everyday use in your kitchen, it would blend perfectly with kitchen settings. In summary, this chafer comes with full accessories to help you have the best of times while having your buffet.
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Cons
2. Sterno 70153 Full-Size Buffet Kit
Main Features
- Includes 1 foldable frame, 1 lid, 1 chafing fuel tray, 2 chafing fuel can holders, 1 water pan, and 2 half-size food pans.
- Product Dimensions : 23.13 x 14.63 x 5.63 inches; 10.45 Pounds
- Superior design is perfect for catering and food service
- Stainless steel construction
- Easily Transportable
- Made for home & commercial use
- Embodies the timeless tradition of fine entertaining.
The Sterno 70153 Full-Size Buffet Kit is perfect for small to medium gatherings. It includes everything you need to set up a buffet line, from the chafing dish to disposable pans and fuel holders. This convenient kit ensures your food remains warm and ready to serve without the need for additional equipment. It’s easy to set up, and the lightweight construction makes it easy to transport for on-the-go events.
Sterno 70153 Full-Size Buffet Kit offers convenience for smaller events with an all-in-one setup that’s easy to assemble and transport, making it an excellent choice for casual gatherings.
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3. Winco 6 Quart Chafing Dish Set
Main Features
- 6 Quart – Round chafer
- Roll-Top – Cover
- Made from commercial-grade stainless steel
- Mirror Finish – Polished stainless steel with gold accents
- Includes (1) chafer with stand, (1) full size food pan, (1) water pan and (1) fuel holders
The Winco 6 Quart Chafing Dish Set is a compact, high-quality option for those with limited space. With a 6-quart capacity, this dish is perfect for smaller gatherings or as an addition to a larger buffet setup. It features a stainless-steel frame and a mirror-polished lid, offering both durability and style. The chafer also comes with a water pan, food pan, and fuel holder, making it ready to use right out of the box.
Winco 6 Quart Chafing Dish Set is an excellent choice for intimate gatherings or as an additional chafer for bigger buffets. Its compact size and durability make it versatile and stylish.
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4. ROVSUN Stainless Steel Chafing Dishes Buffet Set
Main Features
- 8-quart capacity.
- Stainless steel construction and mirror finish.
- Compact, stackable design.
- Food pan size measures 19.8 x 12 inches.
- 2 fuel furnaces.
The ROVSUN Stainless Steel Chafing Dishes Buffet Set is a premium selection for anyone who wants to serve food on a higher level. This set is constructed with high-quality stainless steel in a mirror finish for both appearance and durability. Each dish has a capacity of 8 quarts, which makes it perfect for parties, gatherings, and other professional functions.
Some of the essential accessories that come with the display units include water pans, food trays, sturdy frames, and fuel holders to ensure that the food remains at the right serving temperature. They are designed in a way that they can be easily stored when not in use and the handles on the frames make it easy to carry them around.
Another advantage of this chafing dish set is that it has a great heat retention capability. The fuel burners heat the food for hours without burning it and ensure that the dishes are well cooked and retain their texture and taste. It is very easy to clean because the surface is made of stainless steel that is highly resistant to rust and is also safe for the dishwasher.
From hot entrees to soups or desserts, the ROVSUN set provides pro-level performance with ease. The design also adds value to the dining experience and makes it suitable for wedding, banquets, and other family functions.
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5. Alpha Living Large 33-Pcs Disposable Chaffing Buffet with-Covers
Main Features
- Superior quality aluminum
- Includes 3 x chafing dish wire rack, 3 x sets of utensils, 3 x aluminum half pans, 6 x lids, and 6 x cans of high-quality fuel for chafing dish that can last up to 6 hours/can!
- Perfect for all occasions
- Easy cleanup solution
The Alpha Living Large 33-Pcs Disposable Chafing Buffet with Covers is ideal for anyone who needs to hold events, parties or any other gathering. This comprehensive set contains 33 items: wire racks, water pans, half-size food pans, disposable fuel gel cans, which ensure the versatility of this set for serving hot meals.
Perfect for any occasion or event, this disposable chafing buffet set makes it easy to prepare, serve, and clean up. The materials used are of high quality, and this guarantees the safety of food and efficiency during your event.
Among the positive aspects of this set, it is important to note the compact size and the possibility of its transportation, as well as the simplicity of its use. Whether you are planning an al fresco barbecue or an elegant dinner party indoors, it is lightweight and disposable.
Also, the gel fuel cans provide a great way to keep the food warm throughout the event so that your guests enjoy a delicious meal. We also liked that there was not much to unpack and set up and that everything we needed was already included, so we could simply concentrate on the event.
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Buying Guide: Things to Look for Before Buying the Best Chafing Dish
All will agree with us that there is a whole junk of chafing dishes in the market, but the truth of the matter is, they aren`t going to have the same quality you want for your functions, some have superior features than others.
You don`t want to mess up by picking the wrong one? Well, here is a quick guide to help you secure an instrument of value.
Type of Event
Get a full-sized chafing dish for large events where many people are in attendance. Usually, these will come in 8-quart capacities, similarly, don't go overboard if you just want to have an in-house get-together party at home. Get something smaller, unless you invited many other buffs to warranty a bigger instrument.
Shape
Main shapes are rectangular, oval, round, and square, and perhaps the most common are rectangular ones as they are known to be highly versatile. However, if your particular about style, you can surely fancy the oval dishes which are not only used to serve the main entrees but also come with a characteristic contemporary look.
Cover Type
This factor has got to join this list because definitely the audience will be affected directly. To that end, probably anticipate what your guests would need, which can lead you to pick either roll top lid or lift cover.
A roll top lid is basically the most convenient for self-service at buffets, it's also easy to access, but sometimes buffets are more than just that, which is why you may consider having a lift cover that creates a sense of beauty and polished presentation.
Fuel vs. Electric Heat
Broadly, there are fuel chafers and electric chafers, fuel chafers are equipped with fuel cans or furnaces to burn to produce heat. On the other hand, electric chafers will need electric outlet access.
For hotels and restaurants, electric chafers are the go-to equipment, if you want to go outdoors, go with the fuel types.
Quality
An important factor you should consider is the quality of materials used to build the device. Mostly, you should go for products made of stainless steel. Needless to say they are the most durable and would serve you for long without breaking down, but it's still fine to go for disposable types too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chafing Dishes
How do chafing dishes work?
Chafing dishes work as a kind of indirect heat stove, they utilize chafing fuel that burns to provide heat which keeps the food warm and fresh for as long as the event lasts. The components of the chafing dishes include two pans, water and food pans, and a stand in which the pans are inserted.
A heat source, usually a fuel furnace, is placed below. When the heating element burns, heat is supplied to the water pan which warms your food without drying it out.
Why these appliances are called chafing dishes?
Chafing dish is a derivative of a French word chauffeur meaning to make something warm, therefore, since warming food is the primary aspect of a chafing dish, it assumes that name.
How much water am I supposed to put in a chafing dish?
First, as a rule of thumb, remember to ALWAYS use water in the chafer. With that said, ensure to fill the water pan up to 2 inches deep, place your food pan and remove it to see if it's dry. If it isn't, pour out some little water to make sure that it doesn't touch the bottom of your food pan.
Can I use a chafing dish to keep my food cold?
Yes, just fill the water pan with ice-cold water and your food will be kept cold as long as you want. Make sure not to light the fuel furnace because that would mean warming the food.
What is chafing fuel?
This is the fuel used to burn a chafing dish to produce heat for warming food. It is kept in a small can under the dish for that purpose.
My chafing dishes turn black. What's going on? What am I doing right?
Well, the problem could be somewhere with the heating element and not the dish itself. If you have an electric or induction heater under you chafing, then chances are that it's getting too hot. Or, if you have a flame heating the dishes, then it could be producing red flames. What you want are blue flames. Red blames tend to blacken post and metal. Try looking into the heating element.
Is there any limitation to the type of food I can and cannot plate inside chafing dishes?
Nope! None at all. And that's one of the best parts about it. You could plate soups, stews, Chinese, Indian, and even bread. If you take away the heating element, then they are also great for cold foods like soba noodles, cold salad, gazpacho, etc.
How would you recommend cleaning the heating element of chafing dishes?
Great question. If you use an automatic heater like an induction or electric, then simply take it out of the power and out of the dishes. Let it cool and then, simply away wipe the surface with a damp cloth. There isn't much to clean with heating element that uses direct flames. Direct heating elements usually use a candle or gel pot that you can remove easily, and that's pretty much it for the cleaning.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned and discovered some of the stand-out models of chafing dishes, your journey to getting the one can be a walkover. Pay very close attention to this guide. The market has loads of these appliances but securing the right unit comes down to being keen on things like size, event type, quality, cover type, etc. Features differ among models, you need to acknowledge this fact and get a device very soon, your next party must not be spotted by cold food.
