Month: March 2019

What are Chafing Warmers and Why Are They Needed?

Chafing Warmers and Why Are They Needed

A chafing dish is essentially a type of a portable grate that can be used to keep food items warm in outdoor locations where a traditional stove is unavailable for food heating purposes. A grate raised on a tripod is an important component of any chafing dish, as it allows for a fire to be lit under the dish which can then keep the food warm and toasty over a course of hours. Chaffing dishes are used to keep the food items warm during the buffet service and other types of catering events. These devices are very popular with catering companies as they enable the caterers to serve tasty food to their client, regardless of the venue where the event is being conducted.

The Need for Chafing Dishes

Chafing dishes are necessary for a number of reasons. They provide a solution to a very fundamental problem – how to keep food items from going cold and stale during outdoor events and parties, or any other location wherein a traditional stove is not available? Mentioned below are some of the primary reasons why chafing dishes are used by such a wide variety of people.

  • The host of any party or an event needs to ensure that all the guests have warm, adequate and sumptuous food on their plates throughout the duration of the event. No host wants their guests to have to eat stale, cold, and leathery food. A chafing warmer or dish can help the host achieve this goal by ensuring that all the available food items are kept warm for the consumption of the guests, throughout the duration of the event.
  • Catering companies would have to spend an exorbitant amount of money in order to set up stoves and other cooking appliances at the venue of every event or party. However, if they invest in some chafing warmers, this problem can be solved quite easily. They can simply cook the food in their own commercial kitchens, then bring the dishes over to the event venue, without having to worry about the food items going cold or tasting stale because of the time spent on transportation.
  • Event planners too have a lot of freedom when planning an event and deciding on a venue, thanks to the availability of chafing warmers and dishes. Without these items, all events would need to be organized indoors, where a kitchen with a gas stove is available for heating the food items when it is time to eat. This would also pose logistical problems, as an event planner would have to find a building big enough to comfortably accommodate a large number of guests. However, with chafing dishes, this is not an issue at all. Many people prefer outdoor venues, as they offer more freedom of movement to the guests and are also often more affordable. Chafing dishes eliminate the need for a kitchen, allowing event planners to choose the venue according to the needs and preferences of the client, without having to worry about catering problems.

These are some of the reasons why we need chafing dishes. Now, let us talk about the ways in which you can choose the best chafing warmers to use for your own catering business or company.

The Problem with Traditional Chafing Dishes

Traditional chafing dishes make use of an open flame to keep food items warm during an outdoor event or party. This is highly problematic, because of the following reasons.

  • An open flame poses a fire hazard. The slightest neglect on the part of the caterer could cause a fire to start at the venue, putting the lives of the guests and the staff members at risk.
  • Chafing fuel, when burned, releases toxic fumes into the air which is harmful to the health of all those present. The catering staff, as well as the guests, could get sick if exposed to these fumes for long.
  • Chafing dishes that make use of open flames need to be constantly watched and attended to, in order to ensure that the fire keeps burning and that it doesn’t burn the food being heated. This can be tiresome, time-consuming, and quite risky as well.

Using Fire-Free Chafing Warmers

The above-mentioned problems can be easily solved with the use of fire-free chafing warmers. Eco-Heat’s fire free chafing warmers are absolutely safe, eco-friendly, and easy to use. They can also be disposed of with relative ease, meaning that they do not pollute the environment or create harmful waste upon disposal.

These chafing heaters do not make use of fire, electricity, or even water in any form. This makes them extremely safe, as they can never lead to a conflagration at the event venue. Nor can they cause an electrical accident, as no electricity is needed to operate these devices. Moreover, fire-free chafing warmers do not release any smoke, as there are no flames that can produce harmful fumes.

This ensures that neither the guests nor the caterers are exposed to harmful fumes which could damage their lungs in the long run. Eco-heat’s fire-free chafing warmers are also easy to set up and provide consistent heat through oxidation for the entire duration of the event, without needing to be consistently watched and monitored at all times.

In Conclusion

Chafing warmers are an extremely important tool for caterers and event planners around the world. However, it is essential for catering businesses to carefully consider the type of chafing warmer they would like to use, keeping in mind the safety of their clients and employees as well as the welfare of the environment.

Why Should You Invest in Eco-Friendly Catering Heaters?

Eco friendly catering heater

Eco-Friendly businesses – what started as a mere trend has now turned into profitable a business decision, that has not only been cost-effective but also benefits the environment by reducing our carbon imprint on the planet.

More and more business are trying to become sustainable and are reworking their policies and process of operation by incorporating eco-friendly services and products into their business models. The catering industry is also not far behind and is quickly catching up by investing in and offering eco-friendly and sustainable services and products to their customers.

More and more caterers are attempting to go green by introducing eco-friendly catering heaters, reducing food waste, using energy efficient appliances, and a lot more. While turning a catering business into an eco-friendly organization is not that difficult, caterers often face difficulties in procuring eco-friendly catering heaters as there are not many options available in the market.

This is where the EcoHeat system from Heating Without Fire wins the round. Currently, chafing fuel is widely used by caterers as a catering heater to keep the food warm during outdoor events. However, undeniably these chafing fuels pose the safety risk of starting fires. Moreover, the fumes emitted from this fuel are also not great for the environment. All in all, chafing fuel is harmful on more than one level and catering businesses need to transition out of the practice of using this unsustainable fuel as soon as possible.

What is the EcoHeat System?

The EcoHeat catering heaters are hailed as the future of heating as they make use of neither fire, water, nor electricity to keep the food warm and tasty. So, there is no risk of a fire breaking out when you are using EcoHeat catering heaters at events and parties.

The EcoHeat system is made up of three essential components, namely, the EcoHeat warmers, the support system, and a customizable skirt that is used to cover the chafing dish. These three elements come together to provide consistent heat to keep the food warm for a long time.

How Does this System Work?

EcoHeat warmers, manufactured by the Heat Factory, are high temperature, air-activated warmers, which when arranged on the support system provided a consistent amount of heat to the chafing dishes. Once you place the warmers on the support system and place the chafing dish above it, the EcoHeat warmers will provide consistent heat due to oxidation. So, there is no risk of a fire breaking out when you use these eco-friendly catering heaters, unlike the hazardous and unsustainable chafing gels and fuels. It is also easy to dispose of the EcoHeat warmers without creating toxic waste that harms the environment.

Why Should Caterers Use Eco-Friendly Catering Heaters?

Here are the reasons why a catering business must consider investing in eco-friendly catering heaters.

1.Improves the Image of the Business:

When a catering business cares about protecting the environment, it helps the organization improve its reputation. Likewise, the customers think that all your business decisions have been taken keeping in mind the end goal of saving the environment. They also assume that much care and scrutiny has been put into making the menu and the associated appliances ecologically sustainable and limiting waste.

This will attract more environmentally concerned customers and prompt them to the caterer. The customers also expect you to invest more in ecologically sustainable products like eco-friendly catering heaters. Going green also helps in giving the business an edge in the uber-competitive market as customers will opt for a catering service that not only provides quality food but also cares about the planet.

2.Cost-Effective:

It is true that the initial costs of making your catering business eco-friendly may seem high, but in the long run, it is worth the investment. If you opt for eco-friendly food warmers and energy-efficient appliances, it will save a significant amount of your costs in the long run. Moreover, there will also be less safety risks if your employees are not using hazardous materials like chafing gels while preparing food.

3.Healthier Environment:

Using ecologically sustainable catering heaters and energy-efficient appliances will not only benefit your business and improve profitability, but your employees and clients will also be safer and healthier in the long term. Chafing gel or fuel, which is widely used for heating chafing dishes at outdoor and indoor events, emit toxic fumes, which not only mixes with the food being served but is also inhaled by the employees and the guests visiting the food counter. However, eco-friendly catering heaters like EcoHeat warmers do not emit such fumes and therefore can keep the environment healthy, thus preventing the employees and clients from getting sick.

4.Promotes Sustainability of the Environment:

By investing in eco-friendly catering heaters and other products you will not only be reducing the amount of energy consumed while providing the catering services, but will also reduce waste, thereby reducing the carbon footprint on the environment. That helps attract customers, who are concerned about the environment while also saving our planet from increased pollution levels.

In Conclusion:

These are some of the reasons why more and more caterers are opting for eco-friendly catering heaters to promote sustainable business choices. While it certainly is a challenge to make the business ecologically sustainable and adopt environmentally conscious practices, it will in the long-term help you by lowering the utility bills, bettering your reputation, and increasing overall profits.

Move Over Sterno Warmers, the Future of Heating is Here

Sterno Alternative

The catering industry regularly makes use of outdoor food heating technology and devices. Outdoor events and parties are quite popular and common. Therefore, it is essential for catering service providers to be able to offer guests hot and tasty food items throughout the duration of the event. This is made possible with the use of heating devices and equipment which help keep the food hot and fresh during outdoor parties, regardless of the weather.

Traditional Food Heating Methods

Traditionally, caterers have used Sterno warmers to keep the food hot during parties and events that were held outdoors. These warmers use open flames to heat the food items. The flames are kept burning with the help of chafing fuel, which is usually contained in a can within the Sterno warming kit. Sterno warmers are used largely for the purpose of buffet heating, and they are very popular among caterers. However, despite their popularity, Sterno warmers can be quite dangerous and harmful to the environment.

The Problem With Sterno Warmers

The major problem with Sterno warmers is that they make use of open flames to keep the food hot during events and parties. Needless to say, this can be quite dangerous. Open flames could easily lead to a fire in the venue, endangering the lives of everyone present. Even a moment’s neglect can cause a conflagration, when an open fire is being used to keep the food warm in the event venue.
Secondly, there can be no fire without smoke. Sterno warmers, when used, tend to fill the venue with smoke and fumes which could be harmful to the health of the attendees. These fumes are especially a problem for any person who happens to suffer from asthma or other types of ailment relating to the lungs. These toxic fumes could also create an unpleasant ambiance in the venue and impede the guests’ enjoyment of the party.

Thirdly, chafing fuel can be harmful for the environment in the long run. When Sterno warmers are disposed of, the chafing fuel often leaks into the soil or into nearby water bodies, thus spreading toxicity in the area and endangering the health of local residents. Thus, using Sterno warmers at an outdoor event or party is not merely uncomfortable but is also environmentally irresponsible.

The Future of Heating – EcoHeat Warmers

The reason that Sterno warmers have remained so popular over the years, despite their many drawbacks, is that until recently, they were the only heating option available to caterers. However, this is no longer the case. EcoHeat warmers, manufactured by Heat Factory, is the safe and eco-friendly food-heating solution that the catering industry has been waiting for.

EcoHeat warmers offer a fire-free and environmentally friendly heating solution for outdoor events. These food warmers make use of innovative technology to keep food warm and toasty without the need for fire, water, or electricity. Thus, they are completely safe and do not carry the risk of a fire whenever they are used.

This device makes use of air-activated warmers, which provide consistent high temperatures over a large area so as to keep food items warm. These air-activated warmers are also quite light and highly efficient, making them easy to carry and transport from place to place. They contain a mixture of various items such as iron-powder, charcoal, salt, and vermiculite, which is completely biodegradable and eco-friendly.

Oxidation takes place whenever these warmers are exposed to the air, which causes them to generate a lot of heat, due to which they can be used to keep food items warm. Thus, if these air-activated warmers are placed under the food containers, there would be no need for chafing fuel or an open fire in the buffet area, which will make the event venue much safer.

Along with the aforementioned warmers, the EcoHeat kit also comes with a support system and a water pan. The air-activated warmers are placed within the support system, which in turn is contained within the water pan. Finally, an insulated skirt must be added to the setup. This skirt helps hide the chafing dishes at the base from view. Made from high-quality fabrics, this especially designed insulated skirt can fit all types of chafing dishes as well as rectangular stands. Therefore, with this EcoHeat warming kit, the task of keeping food items hot and delicious during parties has become much easier, safer, and more efficient.

In Conclusion

Mentioned above are some of the reasons why Sterno warmers are not ideal for heating food items at parties and outdoor events. Caterers should definitely consider using EcoHeat’s safe and environmentally sustainable air-activated warmers instead, for more efficient and risk-free service. Apart from greater customer satisfaction, EcoHeat’s warmers will also enable catering businesses to create better working conditions for their employees and staff members.