How to keep the temperature and taste of dishes in buffet service? It is a concern of catering practitioners. Stainless steel chafing dishes, as an important tool for catering insulation, play a vital role in achieving “zone heating” and “precise insulation”. This article will take you to a deeper understanding of how to use the stainless steel chafing dish for zone heating in buffets, and share practical tips for maintaining the dish’s flavor.

What is “zone heating”?

Zone heating means that in the same buffet table, different buffet equipment is set at different heating intensities or insulation temperatures according to the types and characteristics of dishes, and the temperature is finely controlled to keep each dish in the best edible state.

Why does the buffet need “zone heating”?

Different types of dishes have different sensitivities to temperature:

Hot soups and stews: need to be kept warm at high temperatures to avoid temperature drops that cause the taste to deteriorate
Fried foods: avoid frying again at too high a temperature to prevent drying or moisture regeneration
Vegetables: maintain a moderate temperature to prevent overheating, discoloration and taste change
Desserts and bread: keep warm at low temperatures to prevent cracking or loss of taste

Using a uniform temperature can easily cause food to shrink and harden, soup to evaporate, and flavor to be lost. This is why buffets need to use multiple chafing dishes for zoned heating.

How to use the chafing dish to achieve zoned heating?

Choose a chafing dish with different heat sources

Fuel-heated chafing dishes: strong firepower, can be used for hot dishes and soups
Electric heating chafing dishes: precise temperature control, suitable for dishes with different temperature requirements
Different temperature levels can be achieved according to different dish areas with chafing dishes with different heat sources.

Use food pans to flexibly adjust the heating area

Use 1/1, 1/2, and 1/3 partition pans in a dining oven to divide the interior of the oven into multiple heating areas. For example:

1/2 pan for stews and 1/2 pan for stir-fried vegetables. In the same oven, adjust the partition size and heating requirements according to the type of food, so that multiple dishes can be kept warm at the same time in a limited space.

Use glass lids and hydraulic lids to prevent moisture loss

The stainless steel chafing dish is equipped with a slow-closing hydraulic glass lid, which can prevent the rapid loss of heat, avoid heat loss caused by frequent opening of the lid, and allow customers to observe the dishes without opening the lid, which is very important for maintaining the taste of the dishes.

Practical tips for maintaining the taste of dishes

• Preheating the chafing dish: Heat for 10-15 minutes before placing the food to avoid sudden temperature drops that affect the taste of the dishes
• Replace food on time: Prevent long-term heating from causing changes in the texture of ingredients
• Choose a chafing dish with an anti-dry burn design: It effectively prevents food from drying and hardening
• Regularly adjust the placement of the chafing dish: Avoid uneven temperatures caused by concentrated heat or poor ventilation

Dongzhaowei chafing dish: Ideal for zone heating

As a professional buffet equipment manufacturer, Dongzhaowei provides a variety of zone heating solutions for global customers:

• Multi-specification liner combination design supports flexible zoning
• Hydraulic slow-closing glass lid, taking into account both insulation and display
• A variety of heating methods, such as fuel and electric heating

We support buffet equipment customized services and factory direct supply, providing professional, efficient and durable chafing dish solutions for hotels, buffet restaurants, banquets and other catering venues.

Conclusion

The key to buffet service is to present dishes to customers steadily. By using the stainless steel chafing dish for zone heating in a reasonable way, the taste of dishes can be improved, and the service details and professional level of the restaurant can be highlighted. If you need to wholesale chafing dishes or customize products that meet your site needs, please contact us.