....to not heat our dinnerplates?

[LaContessaDiPlumpOnSea]

MIL does. I don't.

Please discuss.

I think it depends on the plates- and how many people are eating. We have some earthen wear type Ikea plates that leach all heat from the food- so they have to be pre- warmed. Dh is very fussy about eating warm food, but I don't bother if it's just for Ds and I. Dh even keeps the gas gently alight whilst mashing potatoes over it, so it stays super hot- I don't as I don't like scrubbing my pans!

We stick ours in the top oven and they get warmed if the bottom oven is on.

For some reason they come out of the cupboard ridiculously cold

Dinner usually gets wolfed down in under 5 minutes, no need

It does keep the food warmer for longer so if you're having a nice dinner you cooked especially, or a dinner party, it's probably a good idea. They should do it in restaurants because of the time from kitchen to table. But for an ordinary kitchen weekday meal theres No point

I don't but then I don't pile my plate up so even though I'm quite a slow eater, the food is still hot/warm. I just couldn't faff around with plates and the kids would burn themselves on them. Not worth it in my opinion.

I have a plug in plate warmer thingy...

Plate Warmer

I love a warm plate but don't have any handy way of heating if I'm not using the oven. Imo it's one of the great advantages of having an Aga or similar setup!

I warm the plates. Warm them.

I don't make them ridiculously hot.

I do if it's Sunday lunch with all the stops pulled out, or a special occasion.

DH does it when the whim takes him. Usually when he's doing supper, is late and has the food all ready to dish up with us all sitting round the table; he forces us all to wait another 5 minutes while he heats up the plates. He puts them in the sink, covers them in hot water from the tap and then slowly dries them meticulously. Drives us all potty.

My MIL is very, very big on this. Has a special "plate-warming oven" beneath one of her regular ovens - I kid you not. I do not warm my plates. This is obviously a source of huge irritation to her.

Hot food, hot plates always. It's the law, but not too hot or they will spoil my placemats. I also pre warm the gravy boat and vegetable side dishes.

I warm the side dishes & gravy boat too Herhighness

Oh yes I always scald the gravy boat to heat it up too.

Heh. Our oven has this plate-warming drawer feature also. Not that I ever use it but I suppose I should, since it's there.

I can see it would be a good idea when serving sliced meat, as this tends to cool rapidly.

I have a warming drawer in my Rayburn (Aga type thingy) but I've never used it to do anything other than revive cold lambs. I hate the bastard thing though and use my electric cooker when i can.

My mother is obsessed with serving food on plates which are hotter than the sun. It's because she's dainty and eats slower than everyone else...

Wow it has never? not even once crossed my mind to warm our plates lol guess it makes sense and all but meh what a waste of time, as long as the food is hot!
Maybe it's a generation thing?? I'm in my late 20s how old are you ladies that do warm??

Old. But there's some young 'uns on here who said they warmed too!

Tara we do indeed have that add-on course available for the niche attenders. It isn't really well subscribed but they are purists and a bit wild-eyed.
We have professionals to cater for their needs. Hope that helps.

Yes I warm gravy boats too and serving dishes if we're having a sit down/help yoursel /Waltons style dinner. I'm over 50, is it an age thing? I grew up with a mum that warmed plates (in the top oven of the cooker so I'm used to it).

Heating plates and ironing socks isn't that what only MIL's do?

Never have done. Takes me about 10 mins to eat my tea so no point!

I found this thread more interesting than I expected. My MIL also drinks her tea when it's like lava. I suspect she's seared off all the nerve endings with the piping hot food.
I wonder when I grow up and am a MIL if I'll start warming my plates.

I mostly do, esp if they is going to be gravy or sauce on the plate. I live on my own and the easiest way I find is to put a tiny amount of water in a pan and put the plate on top. Once the water boils, it takes seconds and you can do this even with bone china. You have to dry the condensation off the underwide, natch. I've been doing this since I was a student, cooking in one pot and it's one of the few things that ever impressed my uni bestie.

Always for hot food