We’ve just spent time and effort preparing a nice meal and yet most of the time we forget to warm the plates and bowls. Here are eight easy ways to warm plates and bowls.
I personally like lukewarm salads and that’s an intentional choice. But I like my hot dishes hot and my cold dishes served cold. Imagine your favorite pasta, or preparing a steak just the way you like it, and when you serve it onto a cold plate, it instantly cools down. That’s a bummer and it is so easy to avoid that sub-optimal experience.
Warm Plates & Bowls in the Oven
This method of warming is most likely the first one that comes to mind and it may be one of the easiest ways. Warm your oven to the lowest temperature possible (usually 150-175 degrees F), and place your plates in the oven about 5 minutes before you need them.
- What to do if the oven is in use?
- You can wait until you take the meat or casserole out of the oven, leave the oven door open for just a few minutes and then place your plates in there for the next five. Meat needs to rest for 5 minutes anyway.
- Warm Plates & Bowls on the stove, see below.
Warm Plates & Bowls in the Microwave
Warming your plates in the microwave is also an easy way of getting it done. It’s also a very fast one, but it is also a little questionable whether it is the right thing to do. First of all, please check whether your dinnerware is microwave-safe. Furthermore, a microwave is not really designed to warm plates. A microwave emits microwave energy that agitates water molecules in food or drinks. That friction of molecules creates heat, but plates and bowls don’t contain much if any water. Consequently, the microwaves are bouncing around and could eventually damage your plates or the microwave itself. One way of diminishing that risk is to place a cup of water on top of your plates.
Last but not least, plates heated in the microwave can be come extremely hot in a short time, so think about heating them in matter of seconds on a lower intensity. I would use the microwave method as an emergency, rather than a rule.
Warm Plates & Bowls in Hot Water
Another simple way is to run your plate under water, as hot as possible, and towel dry them just before plating your meal. You can also fill the sink with hot water and leave your plates in there for as long as you can. This will work best if you have a dual sink as you may often use the sink during cooking.
Warm Plates & Bowls on the Stove
Warming your plates and bowls on the stove may sound easier than it is. It all depends on the type of stove and whether you already have pots and pans on the stove. E.g. you’re cooking a roast in the oven, and on the stove you’re preparing 3 more things. There is not much room left to warm plates, unless you have one of the larger stoves with 5 or more burners. On the other hand, when you have a one-pot dish in the oven, there is enough room on the stove to warm the plates.
I am not suggesting to turn the burners on, but to take advantage of the heat coming from the oven and place your plates between the burners. I am not a big fan of this because it takes a while for the plates to warm up. Additionally, modern ranges are well insulated and don’t radiate heat that well.
Warm Plates & Bowls in the Warming Drawer
When you have a range/oven with a warming drawer, then you may have the solution at your finger tips. Not every drawer under the stove is a warming drawer though, it has to have heating elements to do its job. Some brands also have separate warming drawers. Warming drawers may also keep your dishes warm, an additional benefit.
Warm Plates & Bowls in the Dishwasher
If you want to use your dishwasher, the best recommendation is to warm you plates on the dry cycle. But there’s a ‘but..’ attached to this way of warming. Your dishwasher has to be empty. Many, me included, place plates, bowl, utensils in the dishwasher during cooking, just to keep the counter as clean as possible.
Warm Plates & Bowls with Electric Plate Warmer
An electric plate warmer is another option, but it is one that involves spending money. There are various models and brands and some can warm up to 15 plates at a time. It’s like a big heating pad, a thermos blanket, a thin puffer jacket, that you wrap around your plates and plug into an electric outlet. Besides the money you need to spend, it is not perfect for bowls, but can still work and it will take up counter space.
Warm Plates & Bowls in the Dryer
This may be a last resort solution and seems like an odd one, but a dryer produces a lot of heat and it may be enough to keep your plates warm. I don’t mean turning the dryer on with your plates inside, because that would be catastrophic. I am referring to turning the dryer, until it is warm inside, then turning it off and place your plates inside, so the remaining heat will warm your plates. If you are lucky (or unlucky in this case) and your washer and dryer are not in the kitchen or close to the kitchen it involves walking back and forth and it would be a non starter.
How to Chill Your Plates, Bowls & Glasses
If you agree with me that hot food tastes better when it is hot, you may also agree that cold food is best eaten cold. Whether you’re serving a salad, sushi, a pudding, an ice cream or a drink like a cocktail or a white wine.
The easiest way is placing plates, bowls and glasses in the fridge for minimum 1 hour. The coldest place of your fridge is near the cooling unit, somewhere in the back of the fridge. Alternatively, put them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes and take it out just before you pour the drink or plate the cold dish.
Your salad is nice and cold, your sushi is safe to eat, the pudding does not become custard and the ice cream is not melting in front of you. Last but not least, your cocktail or white wine is served in top condition. Just right, so enjoy !
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