How to keep your meal warm? How can I keep it warm for hours? Don't worry, this question is very common and you are not the only one to ask it.
It is possible to keep your meal warm for a long time. For this, there are several tricks such as: using a heated lunch box, an isothermal lunch box, an isothermal bag or a soup can. A stainless steel container will allow you to keep your food warm for many hours.
Note that food that is not kept warm or cool enough can be dangerous for your health. So it is very important to keep your meals at the right temperature so that there is no risk to your health.
In this article, we will the following three items:
- Tips and tricks to keep your meal warm for a long time.
- In which containers can you keep your meal warm.
- What are the methods to keep your meal warm even longer.
Let's not waste any more time and let's start to see this together.
How to keep your meal warm? 3 simple tips
We are going to see right now three simple tips to keep your meal warm. These tips are to be used to keep the heat between 30min and 60min. If you want to keep your meal warm for several hours, you will have to use a special container that we will see in the next part.
1- Keep your meal warm with your baking oven
Some baking ovens have a "warm" setting, which is usually 75° to 85°. This feature keeps food at an even, warm temperature. If your baking oven does not have this setting, set it to 90° to 120°. Transfer cooked food to a baking sheet, oven-safe pan or baking dish and cover with aluminum foil before placing in the oven. This way you can keep your meal warm without cooking your food.
If you are trying to keep pancakes, waffles, or doughnuts warm, place them in a single layer on a cooling rack on a baking sheet to prevent them from becoming soggy or soft. You can also loosely cover them with foil.
Note: This method will keep your meal warm for about 1 hour. If you put your food in the baking oven for too long, your meal will soften and lose its flavor. If you want to keep your meal warm for several hours, we suggest you read the rest of this article on containers that will allow you to keep your meals warm naturally.
2- Warm your plate to keep your meal warm
If there isn't much time between when the food is ready and when you are going to serve it, but enough time for the food to cool down, heating the plates on which the food will be served is a solution. Make sure your plates are ceramic baking oven plates and that they hold the heat well.
To reheat the plates you will be using for serving, stack them in a baking oven for 15 minutes at the lowest oven temperature, such as about 80°. You can also heat the plates in the microwave for one to two minutes. And, if you need to heat your plates regularly, you can invest in a plate warmer.
Note: If you are reheating plates in the baking oven, be sure to use an oven mitt at all times. Inform your guests that the plate is warm and do not shock the plate by putting it in a cold place like a refrigerator. The thermal shock from warm to cold could cause the plate to break.
3- Keep your meal warm with aluminum foil
If you need to keep food warm for a short period of time, simply wrap or cover it with aluminum foil. Keep in mind that aluminum foil will only keep warm for about 30 minutes or so.
If you're trying to keep a roast or steak warm, covering it with foil while it rests will benefit the meat. The benefit of wrapping your meat in foil is that it will keep your meal at a warm temperature while allowing the juices to redistribute. Just be sure to cover it loosely with foil; if you wrap it too tightly, you'll sweat out the warm meat and lose the precious moisture you're trying to retain. A roast is best when rested for 10 to 20 minutes before carving (the amount of time it rests will depend on its size). A turkey can rest for 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the bird (the larger the bird, the longer the resting time). Steaks or chops should be wrapped in foil for 5 minutes before serving.
In which containers can I keep my meal warm?
There are 4 main containers that will allow you to keep your meal warm or easily reheat it so that you can eat it warm at any time. These 4 containers are the following:
- The heated lunch box
- The isothermal lunch box
- The soup can
- The insulated bag
Let's see in details these four containers to keep your meal warm.
Keep your meal warm with a heated lunch box
Do you know the electric heated lunch box? This type of container has several advantages. We can note 4 of them:
- A heated stainless steel lunch box will allow you to keep your meal warm. Indeed, stainless steel is a material that can keep the heat.
- This type of heated bento box will allow you to eat warm anywhere, as long as you have access to an outlet. You will only have to plug in the heated meal box and wait a few minutes for your meal to be. This type of heated food box works with steam. This technology allows you to heat your meal evenly without losing the flavors of your food. This will ensure that your food is completely warm and tasty.
- Are you in a truck or car and don't have an outlet to plug in your electric lunch box? Don't worry, there are many models that allow you to plug your lunch box into a cigarette lighter (12V). You will be able to eat warm, no matter where you are!
- You can find cheap heated lunch boxes Indeed, there are models that are expensive, but to have a quality electric lunch box, 35€ to 50€ will suffice. It is a one time investment that will last for many years. All Healthy Lunch Boxes have been designed with light and resistant materials to guarantee a long lasting use.
Keeping your meal warm in a heated lunch box
One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your meal warm is the insulated lunch box. This type of stainless steel lunch box you will simply have to put your food in the compartments of the bento, close the box well until you eat.
However, with a stainless steel insulated lunch box, it will not be possible to keep your meal warm for a whole day. But it will be enough to keep your meal between 2h and 4h.
Concerning the choice you have, there are many models of lunch boxes for adults (men and women), for children and for babies. According to your needs and desires you will find your happiness. At Healthy Lunch, we offer a full range of lunch boxes, take a look!
Keep your lunch warm in a cooler bag
Many times we think of using our soft cooler or cooler bag to carry food that needs to be kept cold, but both are also great for keeping food warm.
If the food is not in a covered dish (lunch box or box, tupperware, or lunch box), transfer it to a covered container or wrap it in foil. After that, put your food directly into your insulated lunch bag.
There are also many types of insulated bags that will fit your needs. Most of the models differ in size, color and design.
You can also find cooler bags for adults or children. Concerning the sizes, there are small insulated bags, as well as insulated backpacks of 30 liters. There is no lack of choice on the market!
By combining a lunch box and an insulated bag, you will be able to keep your meal warm much longer. In the next part of this article, we will look at a method that combines these two items to keep your meal warm for many hours.
Keeping your meal warm with a soup can
The last type of insulated container that we will see in this article is the soup can or soup lunch box. This type of container is very unknown to the public but it is a very original and effective accessory to carry your soup.
There are two types of soup boxes: the plastic soup box that can be put in the microwave and the stainless steel soup box that will efficiently keep the heat. This type of soup lunch box is made of stainless steel and can keep your soup warm for up to 12 hours! To use it, it is very simple. Pour your warm soup into the stainless steel container, close it and keep the soup thermos closed until your lunch break. Simple and effective. If you are a big fan of soup, invest in this type of soup can and you won't be disappointed!
The method to keep your meal warm for a long time
This method is very simple and will easily keep your meal warm until your lunch break.
We have broken down this simple technique into 4 steps. For this, you will need an insulated lunch box and an insulated bag.
1- Put boiling water in the lunch box
As for the warm plate technique, you will have understood that we will heat the stainless steel compartments before putting your food in them. To do this, nothing could be easier! Boil some water, then pour the boiling water into your stainless steel compartment. Wait a minute, then drain the water into a sink. Now that you've warmed up the walls of the lunch box, move on to step 2.
Be careful not to burn yourself with the warm water, and if necessary use oven gloves.
2- Fill your lunch box well to keep it warm
Once you have emptied the water, don't waste time and put your food in your warm lunch box. It is very important not to let your bento cool down before putting your meal inside.
The best way to keep the heat in your insulated lunch box is to fill it completely. Indeed, it is essential not to leave any space between the lid and your food. The less air there is in your lunch box, the longer your food will stay warm. So fill your lunch box well!
Note: If your lunch is too warm at lunch time, let it cool down so you don't burn yourself.
3- Put your lunch box in an insulated bag to keep it warm
Once your warm lunch box is ready to be transported, put it in your insulated bag. A quality insulated lunch bag will ensure that your lunch box stays warm.
An easy way to extend the duration of your warm meal is to fill your cooler bag completely. Indeed, as for the lunch box, the less air there is in the bag, the longer the heat will stay. It is therefore essential to fill the empty spaces. To do this, start by opting for a small insulated lunch bag and you can add a cloth inside to keep the heat in.
4- Open your insulated bag only at mealtime
And, the last step to effectively keep your meal warm is of course not to open your lunch bag until lunch time. By opening the lunch bag before you eat, you will let the heat escape and your food may get cold.
So it's very important to take this last step.
Now you know everything about how to reheat or heat a meal or how to easily keep a meal warm. All you have to do is apply these methods and tips to your next lunch outing.