Heating plates before serving up

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Does anybody here do this? I very rarely do. Have recently spent some time staying with my 90=year-old mum, who always, always, always heats the plates for the main course, and generally also heats bowls for soup. I think this is odd. She thinks it's the rest of the world that's odd.

*When I say 'heats', she puts them in the oven for a few minutes with whatever's cooking, and on removal you would risk getting burnt if you touched the plates without an oven glove.

I really don't like my food to be very hot temperature wise so no.

It seems to be quite a British thing - I am from the middle East so a lot of our food is cold/room temperature/warm and that's what I'm used to

For people complaining about parents heating plates, have you not noticed that older people eat more slowly? Generally because of issues with teeth, swallowing , gastric issues?

Anyway, it’s healthier to chew your food properly, and microwave plate warmers do the job quickly and economically

Never.

But I hate food being too hot. I have never in my life found my food has cooled down too quickly. Lukewarm is preferable to piping hot for me always. Heated plates annoy me for keeping the food too hot for me to eat for longer.

Tea and coffee can last a good 45 minutes before they are an undrinkable temperature.

My mother has heated plates all her life. It's not a new habit since she got old.

I prefer a nicely warm plate for hot food. Not oven hot, ideal is when it's still ok to carry without a cloth. If I'm using the microwave I put the plates in too, that's usually about right.

(Otoh it's not at all nice when the plates on a buffet which includes salads and cold food are hot.)

Yep. Wet kitchen roll on top plate in the microwave. Edges stay cooler and middle piping hot

Of course.... why would you put hot food onto a cold plate that just cools it all down.

That's why many ovens have plate Warmer trays

Same, or would heat any time it's not very warm ambient temp

A warming drawer is the business.

Always. In the microwave with a splash of water on each plate or in the top oven to 120℃. Something soul-destroying about a cold hot dinner.

I'm a parent of adult children so probably considered 'old' but don't have any of these issues mentioned-not sure which age bracket you're referring to here!

In any event, yes I heat my plates (not much atm though) as hot food stays hot for longer. I loved my electric plate warmer but now have a super dooper warming drawer.

We don’t like to be over warm at home so, in the winter, the plates can be quite cold from the cupboard so I tend to put the plates in the sink with hot water for 10 minutes and then dry them off.

Not this time of year but often do in winter as they make the food cool too quickly... especially nowadays we're having to be frugal with central heating 😣

Use the microwave and you'll never get burned. Three plates - 40 seconds. Easy.

My mil does, and gets upset if her plate hasn’t been heated. She doesn’t like her dinner going cold apparently. I’ve not found it to be a problem. I think it’s a generation thing.

Yes for roast dinners

Yes of course. Just like I would pre warm the teapot before brewing the tea.

My mum used to do this always. So many red hot plates were dropped as soon as they were touched...

I only recently noticed a 'plate warmer' setting on my dishwasher, so it's definitely a thing. Not sure if it's done much nowadays allnthe same.

Jesus no! Don’t know anyone who does tbh.

No way in hell am i going to start using extra energy to heat plates either.

Even if i’ve been cooking in the oven, i take my food out and serve it straight away. I don’t then fanny about with putting plates in.

How slowly are plate warming people eating, and how cold are your houses if food goes cold while you're still eating it?

Mum does it, I never have and have never thought my dinner has gone cold.

Always do it - unless we're having salad!

My mum always did.
I always do. Keeps food warmer for longer.
I absolutely hate hot food served on a cold plate.

Was leaving a relatives and husband was stopping to get a takeaway and one of my in laws said Ooohh lovely - will you have the plates all warm ready.

I looked puzzled and he said oh yeah it keeps the Chinese lovely and warm.

I tried it and he was right. We don’t do it often but when we do I always think yep he’s right!

No.
My elderly mum does, always did when i was growing up.

I faffed about doing it for a couple of weeks when i first left home in my late teens because it was what i'd seen being done, but stopped when i realised

a) the plates cool down to room temp anyway before you get them to the table unless you get them so fucking hot you can't touch them, and
b) we don't eat slowly enough for it to make a difference to us either way.