Chafing dishes keep your entrees, sides, and other foods hot throughout events, ensuring that your dishes are served fresh and adhere to food safety standards. Most chafing dishes feature an elegant design, adding a touch of style to elevate the presentation of your event. With so many types of chafing dishes available, it's important to be familiar with the best products on the market before making a purchase decision. We've compiled a list of top-rated chafing dishes based on industry research and insights from our team of foodservice experts, organizing it based on several criteria to narrow down which works best for you.
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- Best Chafing Dish Overall: Bon Chef 20110040CH
- Best Electric Chafing Dish: Bon Chef 20321
- Best Induction Chafing Dish: Acopa 407IND8CHAF
- Best Disposable Chafing Dish: Sterno 70332
- Best Budget Chafing Dish: Choice 100FOLDCHAFE
Note: All prices are current to time of publication. See product page for updated pricing.
The Bon Chef 20110040CH is a perfect blend of style and durability, making it an ideal choice for any commercial setting. Its chrome accents add a touch of elegance while maintaining its practicality as a display piece. Its roll-top opens to a maximum of 90 degrees, providing easy access to the food inside while preventing cross-contamination. Additionally, this chafing dish comes equipped with an adjustable level support for even placement and vent holes to prevent steam buildup and condensation during use.
Price: $629.00
- Upgrades buffet presentations at restaurants, hotels, and catered events
- Keeps food warm and covered to prevent contamination
- Elegant chrome accents provide sophisticated detailing
- Built-in fuel holder stays protected behind a sturdy windguard
- Can be difficult to clean
- Stainless steel can be prone to mineral deposits
The Bon Chef 20321 creates a farm-to-table rustic look. It features an elegant hinged top that keeps food warm and inviting for guests and an attached handle for easy opening and closing. This unit boasts a slow-close mechanism that prevents consumer injuries and protects the chafer from potential damage. Because of its glass top, guests can easily view the contents without lifting the lid. The warming plate offers a temperature range from 113 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring that your food stays at the perfect serving temperature.
Price: $989.00
Runner up: Acopa 407PLRLELECT
- Combines modern design with practical function for enhanced presentation
- Glass window showcases your dishes
- 500W, 120V heating element
- Fully adjustable thermostatic heat control
- High price
- Wooden stand can be damaged over time
The Acopa 407IND8CHAF is a stylish and practical addition to any foodservice operation, providing a sleek and professional look while keeping your sides, vegetables, pastas, and entrees at the perfect serving temperatures. Crafted with a mirror-polished finish, it adds a touch of elegance to your tabletop while ensuring durability and easy cleaning. Designed for convenience, this chafing dish features a soft-close hinged lid allowing easy access to the food inside. The clear glass window on the lid provides visibility for guests, and the large handle ensures ease of use.
Price: $369.99
Runner up: Vollrath 92246134
- Can also be paired with a compatible stand (sold separately) for use with chafer fuel
- Stainless steel with mirror-polished finish
- Glass top allows for optimal content visibility without having to lift the lid
- Large handle makes it easy to access contents
- Not ideal for large batches
- Stainless steel can be prone to mineral deposits
The Sterno 70332 award-winning SpeedHeat kit employs a heat management system that enables you to bring hot foods to various settings, including offices, schools, stadiums, high rises, or any other locations where open flames are restricted. One SpeedHeat packet can keep your food warm for up to 45 minutes. Each base is recyclable, allowing you to use it until worn out or recycle it after a single use for convenient cleanup. It is designed with simplicity in mind, making it accessible for everyone to use.
Price: $74.99
Runner up: Choice 176CHAFKIT4
- Easy setup and cleanup
- Great for delivering food to stadiums, schools, and high-rises where open flames are restricted
- Flameless heating packet activates in under 1 minute
- Keeps food warm for up to 45 minutes
- Not ideal for upscale events
- Heat packets must be replaced frequently for use over long periods
The Choice 100FOLDCHAFE is a budget-friendly option that offers both durability and convenience. It is designed with a sturdy stainless steel construction, ensuring maximum durability for repeated use. One of the standout features is its folding frame which makes it perfect for transport to catered events. Whether you are a mobile caterer, own a wedding venue, or operate a buffet, this chafing dish is ideal for on-the-go food service. The folding frame also makes storage a breeze when the dish is not in use. This dish can accommodate several different food pan sizes, allowing you to serve various dishes.
Price: $24.99
Runner up: Choice 92299850
- All-in-one kit
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Accommodates full, 1/2, and 1/3 size food pans
- Attached lid holder keeps lid out of the way during serving
- Stainless steel construction is thin
- Not ideal for large events
How to Choose Chafing Dishes
Since there isn't one type of chafing dish that works best for every foodservice need, several key factors can impact your purchasing decision. The type of business you operate and the foods you serve will influence the size you need, the material that works best, and the type of cover required.
Size
The size of your chafing dish determines how much food you can fit in it and how much space it takes up in your layout. To optimize your service and presentation, invest in chafing dishes of different sizes to accommodate various dishes. Large chafing dishes are ideal for holding entrees, such as roasted meats or pasta dishes, allowing you to serve substantial portions. On the other hand, smaller chafing dishes are perfect for holding sides, sauces, or desserts. Having a mix of large and small chafing dishes will ensure that you can cater to different food items and serve them in an aesthetically pleasing and practical manner.
Material
When choosing chafing dishes for your catering needs, the material of the chafing dish plays a significant role. Consider the material of the chafing dish carefully to ensure that it not only meets your functional needs but also adds to the aesthetic appeal.
- Stainless steel: Stainless steel chafing dishes are the most popular choice among caterers and event planners due to their durability and versatility. These chafing dishes are not only elegant but also offer excellent heat retention.
- Aluminum: These dishes are typically disposable, making cleanup a breeze after your event. They are lightweight and cost-effective, making them ideal for one-time use or events where convenience is key.
- Chrome: If you're aiming to add a touch of elegance to your events, chrome dishes are the way to go. These chafing dishes are stylish and durable, making them perfect for upscale gatherings and formal occasions.
- Powder-coated metal: Powder-coated metal chafing dishes are ideal for outdoor events. These dishes are designed to withstand outdoor elements and are easy to clean.
Cover Type
When choosing a chafing dish, one important consideration is the type of cover that best suits your needs. The cover type you select can impact how visible the foods are to guests and how easy they are to access during service.
- Glass covers: Glass covers offer the advantage of allowing guests to view the contents of the chafing dish without having to open it.
- Hinge covers: Hinged covers are connected to the chafing dish unit, making it convenient for guests. The cover remains attached and eliminates the need to find a place to set it down during service.
- Lift-off covers: These covers are easy to remove from the chafing dish and can be placed to the side if needed.
- Slow-closing covers: For added safety and ease of use, consider chafing dishes with slow-closing covers. These covers reduce the risk of injuries or damage to the unit by gradually closing when released.
Chafing dishes come in countless shapes, sizes, and styles, making it essential to educate yourself on the best options available. Whether you're looking for a classic stainless steel chafing dish for a formal event or a modern glass-top chafing dish for a contemporary setting, our guide will help you find the perfect option to suit your needs. The right dish can elevate your service and set your business above the competition.
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