Chafing Dish

The debate about the electric chafing dish versus gas powered ones has many people on both sides of the issue.  Which one works best for you will really depend on your personal situation and what’s important to you.  Having said that, let’s take a look at some of the benefits and the drawbacks of an electric chafing dish.

First of all, an electric chafing dish is a newer option, as the origins of the gas powered chafing dishes go back a few centuries, believe it or not.  You’d think that newer innovations will usually bring improvements in the way we use things, but some are steadfast about their preference for ones that burn gas.

The fundamental difference between an electric chafing dish and the other kinds is the way that it heats the food.  Traditional chafing dishes are powered by a gas flame that uses gel, propane, or some other form of energy to heat the food.  Think of it as similar to the functionality of a gas stove.

On the other hand, the electric chafing dish heats food with an electric flame, just like an electric stove does if you’ve ever used one for yourself.

The biggest factor to keep in mind about units powered by gas is that each gas cartridge will generally only last a few hours.  This means that new gas must be purchased for each use.  If your chafing dishes are intended for settings like buffets or other regular events that involve the consistent serving of food, you can see how these costs may add up greatly over time.  Food heated all day can cost several dollars to heat due to the costs of gas, which adds up to thousands of dollars over a number of years.  With an electric chafing dish, the only cost to be considered is the cost for the electricity that heats the food.

With an electric chafing dish, the heat will be easily adjustable, and many people praise the ability to do this more easily than they can with one that’s comprised of gas.  While the units generally cost several hundred dollars more, the cost savings demonstrated above clearly support the fact that more money will be saved over time with regular use.

If you’re just looking to use your chafing dish just occasionally, you may want to consider going with gas, as you’ll only really enjoy the cost savings if you’re using these frequently.  Still, some people simply feel more secure with something electric as opposed to something made of gas, so the electric chafing dish may help you out in that regard.

Keep in mind that you’ll need access to an outlet if you intend to use this for outdoor settings like picnics and other events.  If this is the case, you may be better off with gas.

All in all, there are plenty of places to find an electric chafing dish online.  Prices will usually start at $450 and up, but you can get some great value for your money spent relative to what they’d cost locally.  Take advantage of some of the major online retailers, in addition to the comparison services that offer you many possible options as far as buying goes.