Keeping Hot Food Hot And Cold Food Cold

By Catering Staff | September 7, 2017

The choice of food in a catered event partly depends on the season (i.e., summer or winter), the venue (i.e., indoors or outdoors), and the type of party (i.e., formal or casual), among other factors. Regardless of the type of dishes and desserts, however, keep in mind that these should be served in their ideal temperature for the best tastes and textures. For this reason, hot food should be served hot and cold food should be served cold – or at least, warm and cool, respectively.  

Here are a few tips that restaurants with catering services, such as the Buca di Beppo chain, and their clients – you, in this instance – can keep in mind for this purpose.  

For Hot Food

You should coordinate with your caterer so that the hot food can be served hot to your guests, a process that starts even before the delivery. You may be asked about a table dedicated to warming equipment so that the food can be kept hot before your guests arrive. Your caterer should take care of the food warmers, chafing dishes, and warming lights, among other equipment, as part of the deal.

Keeping hot food hot is easier when it’s a buffet party but harder for sit-down dinners. But if your caterer has the people and equipment for it, this shouldn’t be an issue, even with a soup bar and a carving station in place.  

There’s also the matter of the weather to be considered.  Food will spoil faster in hot and humid temperatures so certain measures should also be adopted to reduce the risk of spoilage and, thus, food poisoning and waste.

For Cold Food

Keeping cold food cold before serving also has its challenges, especially during summer days. The drinks are easier to handle since these can be kept in fridge, freezer, or coolers before serving or mixed with ice cubes. The foods are another matter because these will require more space and energy to keep at their desired temperature.  

Again, your caterer should have impeccable timing coupled with the appropriate equipment to keep cold food in their cold temperature. You can then serve ice cream, gelato, and other iced treats during summer, a treat that your guests will appreciate because it beats the heat.  

The solutions to the problems posed by keeping food in their proper temperatures will also depend on the venue. For example, your caterer may use refrigerated vehicles and warming equipment for an outdoor event, perhaps request use of your fridge and oven for a home party.