My Secret Weapon to Keep Food Hot or Cold
No, I’m not talking about a chafing dish or a warming oven, or even a crockpot. I’m going to share my secret that costs under $12 and you can use it over and over again. You can even take it with you to a potluck or covered dish dinner. Curious yet?
Here’s the deal. You’re invited to a potluck dinner. You’ve slaved for hours (okay, maybe an exaggeration) but, you’ve made this dish you just know everyone is going to love. You take it right out of the oven and head off the party.
Then you have time to travel and when you arrive there’s a stinkin’ social “hour”, or somebody is late. By the time the dishes are uncovered and everyone eats, your (previously delicious) contribution is cold slop, right?
The First Line of Defense: But this is not exactly my secret…
If you don’t have one of these you need to get one. This is mine. It’s made by Pyrex and has been well loved.
It’s an insulated casserole carrier and comes with a 9″ x 13″ covered baking dish and a hot and cold pack that you heat in the microwave to keep food hot or freeze according to your needs. These are awesome and there are some really cute ones out there now.
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I found this one from Rachel Ray in two colors and it’s definitely a notch above mine in looks.
This one from Amazon is similar to mine:
But, here’s the thing…
These are great for getting to the party, but, at their cutest, these things are not really elegant sitting on a buffet table. And besides that, you’ve always got some well-meaning “helper” who takes everything out of their carriers 30 minutes before the meal is served. That’s when the cold mush happens.
Or, maybe you have something that just doesn’t hold heat well or would get soggy all covered up tight. Like my sausage balls I make every Christmas, for instance. Or, delicious rolls like these
Okay, the Secret is:
That hot pack that comes with your casserole carrier? It will keep food hot for a long time… maybe an hour and a half to two hours. Pull it out and slip it under your casserole dish on the buffet table.
Seriously, no one will be the wiser. And, the other cooks now serving cold mush will be green with envy when you rake in all the compliments. The truth is, your dish may be no better than theirs, but yours stayed HOT!
Here’s what I do with the sausage balls or rolls. Just slip the hot pack in a basket and then line it with pretty napkins. I’ve got this great basket that’s the perfect size and shape.
See the hot pack hiding under there? It will keep food hot and it’s pretty sneaky, huh?
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To be honest, I haven’t used the cold pack nearly as much as the hot one, but I have used it, and it works great too.
I see now on Amazon that they have these combination packs that can be either heated or frozen. I’ve not tried them, but if you have, leave a comment and let us know if it works well.
One Last Tip to Keep Food Hot…
Use it at home! Really. Do you ever have more dishes to bake than you have oven space? Or, guests who come with a casserole that still needs to bake when they arrive? I like to have one of my dishes already done and zipped up tight in my carrier. It frees up oven space and cuts down on hostess-stress, and that’s a big deal for me. I want to be as relaxed as possible when having people over.
This hack would be great to use with these recipes:
Pimento Cheese Biscuits 
Cornbread Dressing 
Southern Style Baked Beans 
Keto Breakfast Casserole 
Keto Broccoli Casserole 
Potato Gratin with Aged Gouda Cheese 
Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans 
Asiago Black Pepper Biscuits 
Fiery Cajun Shrimp
This is a great idea! I needed it this weekend when food got cold from stove to table in my own home. I have one of those zipper covers, but no hot pack. Bummer. Love how you “hid” it in your basket! Pinned.
Thanks, Florence. My casserole carrier came with a hot pack, but I wore that one out and had to replace it. They are worth their weight in gold!
Genius! I have a carrier and blew up the hot pack years ago. It never occurred to me to look for a replacement (duh). Thanks for this awesome tip!
Thanks, Patti! I’m actually of thinking of getting a couple more hot packs just to sit under casseroles, etc. without the carrier.
How do you order a replacement hot pack? Thank You.
Hi Noreen. I’m pretty sure I replied to you in a p.m., but feel free to leave another comment if not. thanks!
This is such a good idea!!
Thanks, Tabitha. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.
I didn’t know how to use the rubber pack that came with my long dish. Thank you for the tip. I am going to a potluck dinner for Girl Scouts, and making mostacelli. I pray it stays warm. I was happy when my daughter gave it to me a couple of years ago for Christmas. It has been put to good use. I need a small one, and will look for it. Thank you.
So glad we could help out, Diana. If you heat it according to the directions and slip it under your dish it will stay hot for a good while. Have fun with those Girl Scouts!
That’s a great idea as chafing dishes can be used in parties but what if you are going picnic. You come up with the best solution and its handy. Thanks for sharing.
How have I gone through life without one of these?
I’m getting one this week!
Lisa
You’ll be glad you did, Lisa!
You’re so clever and I’m so happy I found this, thank you for sharing! I’m a vegan for ethical reasons so when it comes to potlucks and such, I try to inspire others with delicious, plant-based food, so I can’t get away with cold, soggy food that should be nice and hot!
Thanks, Susan. I guess truly we all want whatever we cook to be at its best, but even more so in your case.
Any ideas of where to get a basket that fits a 9×13 pyrex well. I have the carrier and the hot pack, but absolutely love the idea of “hiding” the pack to display the dish. Cute and functional!
Brandy, Our metal basket was found at a flea market but this link (affiliate) goes to a wicker basket that fits a 9 x 13.
Thank you!