What Are Chafing Dishes?
If you ever hosted a dinner buffet or had a caterer come in to your home to serve a hot meal, you’re probably familiar with chafing dishes. If you’re not, chafing dishes are large serving dishes in which food is kept warm. Chafing dishes are either placed on top of racks or platforms or sit on legs high enough for a can of fuel to be placed underneath. The can has a cover that lifts off to expose a substance that looks like wax. In reality, this substance is sterno fuel. The fuel is lit and placed underneath the chafing dish in order to keep the food warm. Chafing dishes come in a variety of sizes and materials. The types seen most often at home buffets or casual catered affairs are long and rectangular. These chafing dishes are usually made of stainless steel and contain a long, deep well for holding food. This long bowl is placed inside a tray that has an inch or two of water covering the bottom to keep food from burning. The chafing dishes are placed on wire racks that stand over th
