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Can an electric griddle be used as a warming tray?
Electric griddles are lightweight and easy to use. Just plug in your griddle, set the temperature, and cook! But if you’re in need of a warming tray, could you use an electric griddle to do the job?
The primary purpose of an electric griddle is to cook food, but with safety precautions and a proper temperature, you can also use an electric griddle as a warming tray.
If your electric griddle can be set to 230℉ or lower, it can work as an effective warming tray.
In this article, we’ll talk about how you can safely use an electric griddle as a warming tray.
Using a griddle as a warming tray
There are a few simple steps involved in using an electric griddle as a warming tray. You’ll need a griddle that can be set to 230℉ or lower, a steady, clear surface, and an available outlet.
If your electric griddle temperature range is too high, it will only continue to cook your food, which will then get overdone and eventually burnt. If your griddle can be set to 230℉ or lower, then you can successfully use it as a warming tray.
Once you know that your griddle has an appropriate temperature range, find a steady, clear surface to use. The surface will need to be able to handle the weight of the griddle and the additional weight of the food that you intend to keep warm.
Next, make sure that nothing is touching your griddle. If an object is near the griddle, it may melt or even catch fire, so this step is a must.
Lastly, plug in your griddle and set the temperature. Then you can add your food!
Why you would use a griddle as a warming tray?
Warming trays do just that – they keep food warm. With this single purpose, it can be hard to justify the cost and space that you’ll have to dedicate to a warming tray.
With an electric griddle, you can use the appliance both as a warming tray and for its traditional purpose of cooking food.
Using an electric griddle as a warming tray can save you time, space, and money. It’s also a great solution when you’re in a pinch and don’t have the luxury of waiting around for a new appliance.
If you don’t already own an electric griddle, you may want to choose to purchase a griddle over a warming tray given the multiple functions of a griddle.
How to use a griddle as a warming tray?
The type of food and amount of food will affect how you use your griddle as a warming tray. For certain foods, you can place the food directly on top of the griddle. For other foods, you’ll want to first have the food in a casserole dish, which you can then place on top of the griddle.
If you have a large amount of one type of food, you may just want to place it directly on the griddle. This works especially well for finger food or food your guests can grab with tongs.
For foods that aren’t as solid or easily grabbable, like mashed potatoes or stuffing, you’ll want to have the food in a casserole dish that you’ll then place on the griddle.
You can also place skillets onto an electric griddle. Once you are done cooking the food on your stovetop, you can simply pick up your pan and relocate it to the griddle top to be kept warm.
Who should use a griddle as a warming tray?
Anyone who needs a quick and easy solution for keeping food warm should use a griddle as a warming tray.
This is a cost-effective solution that is especially helpful in short-notice situations. By investing in a griddle with a wide temperature range, you will be able to use the appliance to both cook food and keep food warm.
How do you keep food warm for a party?
There are a handful of different ways that you can keep food warm for a party. You can use slow cookers, ovens, grills, toaster ovens, and electric griddles, just to name a few methods.
Depending on the type of food you need to keep warm, one method may be better than the others.
If you have a lot of food waiting around in skillets or dishes, you can easily place the pan or dish on top of your electric griddle to keep it warm.
What temperature should the griddle be set at?
You will want your griddle temperature to be set low enough that it is keeping the cook warm but not continuing to cook it. The ideal temperature would be between 185℉ and 230℉. If your electric griddle doesn’t have temperature options below 230℉, you should not use it as a warming tray.
The best temperature for your griddle is one that will keep your food itself above 140℉.
You can use a food thermometer to help keep the food at this level. If the internal temperature of the food falls below 140℉, bacteria will begin to grow.
Final Thoughts
Whether you need a quick solution or want a multi-purpose appliance, electric griddles can get the job done. By following some basic safety precautions and temperature requirements, you can keep your food warm with ease.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.