How To Keep Food Hot For A Party - The Ultimate Guide

Cold buffets are great, but if you’re hosting a party (especially in the colder months), it’s much better to give your guests hot food to snack on.

However, this presents a challenge when it comes to keeping food at the right temperature.

So what is the best way to keep food warm for a party? It depends on the type of food and how soon it is to be eaten. A hot stew can stay hot in a slow cooker for several hours, and buffet appetizers can be wrapped in foil in a low oven. If your party is outdoors, you can keep food warm by using heat packs and insulated containers.

These are just a few ways to keep food warm for a party, but there are plenty of other ways to keep your delicious appetizers perfectly piping hot.

Let’s take a look at how to stay safe when serving hot food and find the best ways to keep food hot and tasty for your party guests.

Safety tips for serving hot food

It is important to be aware of the risks involved in keeping different types of food hot for long periods of time. Bacteria multiply rapidly in food kept at the wrong temperature for too long.

This greatly increases the risk of an upset stomach or food poisoning, which is not a gift your guests will appreciate.

Food safety advisors recommend that food be stored at the following temperatures

• Refrigerated-40°F or below
• Hot -140 °F or more

This means that anything between 40-140°F is the danger zone for bacterial contamination.

Food safety experts advise that food not be held at temperatures below 140°F or above 40°F for more than 2 hours . After this time, it will no longer be suitable for human consumption.

So what does this mean in real terms? Well, you can cook your food hot, but as soon as it comes out of the oven or stove it will start to get cold.

Your food should be eaten within 2 hours from this point, unless you have a means of keeping it at a suitable heat.

If you plan to serve hot food somewhere where temperature may be an issue, consider investing in a food thermometer. This will help give you peace of mind that your food is hot and safe to eat.

And of course, most foods taste much better when served hot! Your guests will not be happy eating lasagna or soup that has cooled to room temperature.

So, in order for your food to be safe and in the best possible condition, you have to find a way to keep it at the right temperature! Let’s look at the best methods to keep food warm at a party.

How to keep different types of food warm for a party

The best method of keeping party food warm depends on how it was originally cooked, how soon you intend to serve it, and where you are serving it.

There are many variables to take into account, so you will have to plan ahead to decide the best option for you.

How to keep food warm for an indoor party

All of these methods will work perfectly if you expect to serve the food in a short amount of time. So if your guests are arriving in less than an hour, you can keep food warm with a minimum of hassle.

Food cooked in the oven

If you are cooking a sumptuous buffet for your guests in the oven, you may be wondering how to keep it warm.

We’ve all made the mistake of leaving something in the oven for too long, only to come back with a dry, crusty dinner. This is the last thing you want for your guests, so what is the best technique to use in this case?

The optimum temperature for keeping food warm in the oven is 200°F.

At this temperature, the food will not continue to cook, but will remain at the perfect eating temperature. Your oven may have a heat setting, in which case use it.

To prevent food from drying out in the oven, you must make sure that it is well covered. If you use a casserole, keep the lid on tight; an additional layer of aluminum foil under the lid may be beneficial in this case.

Food cooked on baking sheets should also be well covered with aluminum foil.

Food cooked in a clay pot

Keeping food cooked in a crock pot warm for a party is one of the easiest methods to use. This is because most slow cookers have a “keep warm” setting, so they do all the work for you.

This setting can be used in two ways. If you cook the food the day before, you only need to change the setting to “keep warm” once the food is cooked.

This will keep it at the perfect serving temperature when your guests are ready to eat.

If you prefer to prepare your food ahead of time, all you have to do is reheat it in the slow cooker before selecting the keep warm option.

The only thing to keep in mind with this method is that the food will start to dry out over time, especially if the lid is removed frequently. If this happens, you can add a splash of hot water to bring the food back to life.

Food cooked on the stove

Food cooked on the stove is easy to keep warm: just turn the heat down to the lowest setting, and it will stay at the perfect temperature until you’re ready to eat it.

However, this only works well for foods with a lot of liquid, such as soups or stews.

If you are frying the food on the fire, the best way to keep it warm is to transfer it to a cookie sheet in a hot oven. Be sure to cover it with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.

The best methods to keep food warm for several hours

Sometimes you may need to keep food warm for more than an hour, especially if your guests don’t all arrive at the same time.

Or maybe you don’t want the last minute rush to cook and reheat your food: there’s no better feeling than having everything prepared well in advance of your guests’ arrival!

Here are some great ways to keep food warm for several hours:

electric food warmers

If you think serving hot food at a party might become a regular thing, an electric food warmer is a worthwhile investment.

These appliances will keep food at the perfect temperature for as long as necessary, freeing up your time to enjoy with your guests.

The best thing about an electric food warmer is that it frees up the oven or stove if you have more cooking to do. This means that you can prepare the first course, put it in the food warmer and start with the main course.

Hot dishes

A hot plate is another way to heat food that is ideal for keeping it at the perfect temperature.

It consists of a stainless steel tray, usually with several compartments for food. It is placed in another shallow pan with hot water, which is heated by a burner.

These food warmers are great if you have food that would burn easily from direct heat. They also give you the option of serving several different foods at once, which is great if you offer a hot buffet.

slow cookers

We know it may sound like we think the slow cooker is the answer to all kitchen problems, but these gadgets really are so versatile.

You can use them to keep almost any type of food warm, as long as you choose the right technique to do it.

Any food that contains a high level of liquid can be poured directly into the pot to keep it warm.

If you have drier foods, like wontons or crispy potatoes, you’ll need to put a layer of aluminum foil on top and bottom to prevent them from drying out.

How to keep food warm at an outdoor party

Serving hot food at an outdoor party can be tricky. Food cools much faster outdoors, so you need to plan ahead for the best way to keep it warm.

Another problem when serving food at an outdoor party is the lack of access to electricity. Even if you have outdoor power outlets, many of your kitchen appliances are not designed to be used outdoors.

You may think you’re being safe, but an unexpected downpour could soon turn your warm buffet table into an electrical hazard.

So how do you keep food warm at an outdoor party?

The first thing to remember is that you will have to heat the food well in the house before taking it outside.

It will be difficult to keep it warm for long outside, so keep it inside as long as possible. Heat the food to the maximum before removing it, without burning or spoiling.

When serving hot food outside, keep it in its hot container or insulated until your guests are ready to eat. It’s not a place for fancy but cold serve platters; food must be kept piping hot! 

Do not unpack or uncover food until the last moment, and keep the plate covered as much as possible.

Any food that registers an internal temperature of 40-140°F and has been left out for more than 2 hours should be thrown out , so the trick here is to keep as much heat as possible in your food.

Let’s look at some great ways to keep food warm at an outdoor party.

candle food warmers

A candle-powered food warmer is a lovely way to keep food warm at an outdoor party. This simple contraption has 2 shelves or layers, on which small candles or tealights are placed at the bottom and food is placed on top.

They are available in different designs and will look very elegant on any buffet table.

The great thing about using a food warmer is that you can bring food directly from the house to the table, without having to put it on different serving plates.

thermal packs

Hot and cold packs are a versatile and affordable option for keeping food warm.  They can be heated in just a couple of minutes in the microwave and will stay hot for several hours if kept well insulated.

Place the hot packs under and on top of the food container, and wrap everything in an insulating layer, such as a towel.

Or you can even use the thermal packs inside some of our other hot food solutions, like insulated bags and coolers.

cold box

The coolbox isn’t just for cold food: it’s a well-insulated container that retains heat just as well as it keeps food cold.

Put the hot food in its container in the cool box and close the lid. When your guests arrive, the food will be at the perfect temperature to be served right away.

Insulated picnic baskets and bags

Insulated bags are a great way to keep food hot and delicious.

There are plenty of stylish and practical picnic baskets and bags, or you can even get yourself an insulated lunch bag – perfect for bringing the larger dishes to your cookout!

When choosing an insulated carry bag, choose one that is easy and comfortable to carry.

You want to make sure that the food container can sit flat on the bottom of the bag to prevent spillage. Add a couple of cooler bags and you have the ultimate hot food transport device.

Slow cooker or saucepan

Slow cookers, slow cookers, and thick-sided casseroles retain heat for a long time. Heat the food on the plate at home first until it is as hot as possible, and you will find that it will stay this temperature for a long time!

If you have one, put the dish in a heat-resistant bag or wrap it in an insulating layer.

The beauty of this method is that all you have to do is lift the lid of the pot, and your food is ready to serve!

Related questions

Now that we’ve looked at the different ways to keep food warm for all your parties and events, let’s look at a couple of related questions!

How can I keep food cold at a party?

In addition to keeping food hot at your party, keeping food cold can also be a problem!

To prevent bacteria from multiplying, refrigerated foods must be kept at 40°F or below. On a warm sunny day outside, this is not always easy!

If you don’t have space for a fridge, the easiest way to keep food cold at a party is to use a cooler or an insulated picnic bag.

You can also use ice packs and frozen water bottles to keep the temperature as cold as possible. Keep food cold in its container until your guests are ready to eat.

To keep drinks cold, buckets of cold water and ice work great. If possible, keep food and drinks indoors or in the shade, out of direct sunlight.

How can I serve hot drinks at a party?

Although cold drinks are lovely and refreshing on a hot day, sometimes you’ll want to serve hot drinks at a party, especially in the cooler months!

Hot drinks and soups are great for fall and winter events like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. However, it can be difficult to serve hot drinks, especially if you have a lot of guests.

Hot drinks, such as spicy punch or mulled wine, can be kept warm in a slow cooker. Plus, this method will make the fabulous aromas of your hot beverages waft throughout your home, creating the perfect ambiance for the season.

If you need to pour a lot of coffee or tea, getting a constant supply of boiling water can be a problem. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen repeatedly boiling the kettle at their own party!

Boil your water ahead of time and store it in thermoses, or see if you can rent or borrow a hot water urn so you have a constant supply during the party.