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Conference turris::cooks

Title:How to Make them Goodies
Notice:Please Don't Start New Notes for Old Topics! Check 5.*
Moderator:FUTURE::DDESMAISONSec.com::winalski
Created:Tue Feb 18 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4127
Total number of notes:31160

1002.0. "Chafing dish question" by DPDMAI::RESENDEP (following the yellow brick road...) Tue Feb 23 1988 13:49

    I have had a silver (plate) chafing dish for many years, and have used
    it again and again for meatballs, dips, etc. at parties.  However, I'd
    also like very much to use it for cooking at the table, but I don't
    know how.  It consists of a stand that holds the dish and a can of
    sterno underneath, a pan, and the chafing dish itself that sits inside
    the pan. I've looked at others in stores, and they all seem to have the
    same pieces.  The instructions that came with it said that the bottom
    pan MUST always be used and MUST always be kept with at least a cup of
    water in it.  That works just fine for a party -- keeping hors'doerves
    (sp?) hot for several hours.  But to cook at the table with it, I'd
    need to just use the chafing dish itself directly over the flame,
    wouldn't I?  I'm afraid I'll damage the dish if I do it that way.  Can
    someone tell me the proper way to use a chafing dish to cook at the
    table? Thanks! 
    
    							Pat
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1002.1What are you trying to cook?OURVAX::JEFFRIESthe best is betterWed Apr 06 1988 15:133
    I would not try to cook in a silverplated chafing dish.  They really
    aren't designed for cooking.  What are you trying to cook? Maybe
    a copper pan over an alcohol burner is what you need.
1002.2Nothing wrong with cooking in Silver...SLTERO::KENAHMy journey begins with my first stepThu Apr 07 1988 16:545
    Why not?  Silver is an excellent conductor of heat, and is
    fairly inert, chemically.  It would make an ideal cooking
    material if it weren't so bloody expensive!
    
    					andrew
1002.3Silverplate vs sterlingOURVAX::JEFFRIESthe best is betterFri Apr 08 1988 17:057
    If I remember correctly the chafing dish was silverplate not sterling
    silver, there is a big difference.  Silverplate is just what it
    says, silver electroplated to some other metal. Every time you polish
    silverplate you remove some of the silver and everytime you cook
    in it there is a build up of tarnish, so it's a catch 22. I am talking
    from experience, don't cook in silverplate unless you don't care
    what it looks like.
1002.4NEXUS::MARTENSSat Apr 09 1988 05:0412
    Silverplate, I have seen a liquid that will polish/replate
    silver items. I have seen it used in demo and it worked very 
    well. it is non-toxic and if used on a copper penny it will
    put a silverplated finnish on it. I had an add for it but can 
    not find it now. The name was something like "Silver Plate"
    and only cost about $7.00 for a 8oz bottle. I have the same
    type of plating liquid from a machine shop, but mine has a 
    sodium cyanide base. You just wipe it on and polish it with
    a soft cloth. You do not need to rub hard with this stuff.
    
    Bert
    
1002.5DPDMAI::RESENDEPfollowing the yellow brick road...Mon Apr 11 1988 19:3820
    I don't really want to COOK anything, per se, in the chafing dish. But
    there are a number of extremely easy flaming desserts that LOOK very
    hard and complicated when assembled, heated, and flamed at the table in
    a chafing dish.  Cherries Jubilee, Bananas Foster, and Crepes Suzettes
    come to mind immediately.  Heating them in the kitchen, then bringing
    them to the table for flaming isn't nearly as much fun as the complete
    show of performing the entire routine at the table. 
    
    As far as cooking on silver, it is safe.  Some copper utensils are
    silver plated instead of tin lined if they are to be used for serving
    at the table.  I agree that it would put some wear and tear on the
    chafing dish, but it isn't something I'd be doing very often.  Besides,
    I've always been of the opinion that my nice tableware is to be
    USED and ENJOYED.  If it wears out, so be it.  I think that's better
    than putting it up in a cupboard and never letting it see the light
    of day like my mother did.
    
    Oh well, thanks for the replies!
    
    							Pat