You know that feeling when you’ve just finished a delicious meal and you’re thinking about getting back to healthy eating again tomorrow… But then you sit there in front of your empty plate, waiting for it to cool so that you can put your fork down? Yup, we’ve all been there. That awkward moment when the only thing left to do with your dinner plate is give it an awkward side-hug or place it gingerly on the corner of the table while keeping your other hand hovering hopefully above it in case it needs rescuing… Well, that won’t be happening again any time soon. If you want to enjoy every last bit of your home-cooked meals and stop worrying about sticking to a diet after every meal, follow our guide on how to use a plate warmer.
Why You Should Not Let Your Plates Cool
If you are someone who likes to let their plates cool, you may be surprised to learn that resting your food doesn’t actually do it any favors at all. In fact, it actually damages the nutrients that are so vital to our health and well being. In fact, letting your food cool at room temperature is a breeding ground for bacteria – and that bacteria can actually be detrimental to our health. This is especially true for meat and fish dishes, where even just one hour at room temperature can increase the risk of food poisoning by up to 50%. It’s also worth noting that keeping food at a high temperature for a short period of time is actually much more beneficial to the food than letting it cool down to room temperature and leave it there for hours. This is because keeping it warm allows the food to stay bacteria-free and keeps the nutrients in it from breaking down.
6 benefits of using a plate warmer
Boosts flavour - Letting your plates cool will actually cause the flavors in your food to break down and dissipate, leaving you with a less pronounced taste and a less enjoyable meal.
Bacteria-free - A warmer keeps your plates bacteria-free, meaning you won’t have to deal with any after- effects like indigestion or nausea.
Dessert service - Many warmers also come with special trays that can come in handy for dessert service.
Makes a better first impression - It doesn’t matter if you’re having a dinner party or just inviting some friends over for dinner, keeping your plates warm will make a better first impression.
Slows down food breakdown - Keeping your plates warm means that the food won’t break down as quickly, keeping it fresh and tasty for longer.
Slow down your eating - It can be easy to lose track of how much you’re eating when the food is cooling down – but it’s a lot harder to forget how many scoops of ice cream you’ve had when it’s still warm. Warm desserts - A warm plate isn’t just for a hot main course – many warmers also double up as a plate warmer, meaning you can get your desserts nice and warm too.
3 easy ways to use a plate warmer
Stick your plates into the warmer - The most basic way to use a plate warmer is to stick each of your plates in it and let them sit there until you’ve finished your meal.
Keep the water warm - If you find yourself needing to warm up your plates again before you’ve had a chance to clean them, don’t worry about it, just keep the water in the warmer warm.
Use the timer - Some warmers come with a timer function that you can set so that it only warms your plates for a set amount of time.
3 quick tips to help you use a plate warmer
Make sure you clean your warmer after each use - This will prevent any bacteria that have built up in the warmer’s system from spreading to your plates.
Clean your plates before you put them in the warmer - While the warmer will kill any bacteria that settles on your plates, having food residue on them will make the warmer less effective.
Choose the right warmer for your needs - Different warmers are better suited to different types of plates and different sizes. Make sure you get the right one for you so that you can get the most out of it.
Conclusion
When you keep your plates warm, you’re keeping bacteria at bay, slowing down your food’s breakdown and speeding up your dessert service. It also gives you more time to enjoy your meal, and be less stressed about rushing to get everything done before your food gets too cold. If you’re someone who likes to let their plates cool, you shouldn’t be doing it – let the warmers give your food the attention it deserves instead. Know more about different types of sizes and types of plates out there as per your personal taste, check out the article Dining Plates Sizes And Types in our blog.
