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When you eat outside during the colder months, you have to keep two things in mind. First, are you warm enough? Second, is your food warm enough? Nothing will take the delight out of a pleasant alfresco meal with friends like warm food turned cold by the elements. Yes, you could just pack cold food, but picnic foods like sandwiches and pasta salad don’t have the same appeal during fall and winter. A thermos of hot soup or a container of freshly baked bread pudding? That’s more like it.
Even if your outdoor destination is just your backyard and you’re hosting friends or family for a meal (Thanksgiving perhaps?), there are ways to ensure that the hot dishes you’ve prepared stay that way.
Below are some of the best insulated food containers to keep meals warm that we’ve found.
These insulated food jars have just the right dimensions to accommodate a full spread of hot dishes. They are portable by design and have wide openings, both of which make it easy to dole out portions safely in a group.
If you are transporting a larger prepared dish to an outdoor gathering, an insulated carrier will fare far better than a casserole dish covered with a few layers of tinfoil would. Not only will your food stay warm, but it will also be insured against potential back seat spillage.
Portable outdoor eating requires portable outdoor silverware, and reusable options are the best choice. There are a variety of camping cutlery sets available online, but modular compact designs are a favorite of mine since they’re easy to pack and transport. Depending on what you’re cooking, you may want to consider some serving utensils, like the collapsible cooking ladle below.
For backyard or patio eating, you might already have insulated food containers on your hands in the form of a cast-iron cookware. Cast-iron Dutch ovens do a great job maintaining heat, and they can insulate warm food from the elements. For similar thermal capabilities, consider covered enameled casserole dishes as an upgrade from metal or glass bakeware.
Chafing dishes are most practical for large gatherings, but this catering staple is easy to set up at home and worth it even for your small socially distanced dinner parties. If you’ve ever been to a buffet, you know how effective these are at keeping hot food hot.
