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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Keeping food warm for large groups 18-20 on Christmas Day

34 replies

Whatnottowear51 · 25/10/2025 13:37

trying to decide between electric food warmers and ones with candles. Once you unglug the electric ones they will start to cool down. Any one got any advice on why which. I do want to be able to use them year after year

also looking at electric plate warmers? Any advice

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatnottowear51 · 25/10/2025 17:06

MeridaBrave · 25/10/2025 16:50

Fit what you can in oven. Consider if anything can go in a slow cooker or cooker top. And a plug in hot plate for the rest.

That’s what I usually do but I just wondered if there was a better handier way.

OP posts:
cupfinalchaos · 25/10/2025 17:41

I’ve just made a buffet Friday night dinner for 18.
People started queueing as soon as it was laid out and filled their plates, too stuffed (after the first course) to go for seconds as there was so much food. All the food was warm there were no complaints. Apologies, I know this wasn’t what you asked!

Macaroni46 · 25/10/2025 18:09

Whatnottowear51 · 25/10/2025 13:40

Thank you. I’d love a trolley but kitchen and usual eating area is downstairs but for big gathering we use the large living room on a higher floor

Put a hostess trolley upstairs. They really are fabulous. Presumably you’ll have to carry food upstairs anyway?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 25/10/2025 18:40

justasking111 · 25/10/2025 13:43

I've a hostess trolley was my late MILs. Amazing, holds so much. Cheap as chips on market place, eBay second hand. @Whatnottowear51 my advice grab one.

Show quote history

I used to have one, largely for 12+ people at Christmas.

The fanciest model when I bought it ages ago, sold it PDQ on eBay for £80.

MargoChanellingBarbara · 26/10/2025 05:21

IMHO hot gravy makes a massive difference. This year I shall (following a suggestion here) be using either a slow cooker or instant pot to warm it and keep it warm.

Irmnern · 26/10/2025 06:19

JDM625 · 25/10/2025 16:16

Maybe I'm missing something.
Why can't you buy a hostess trolley off ebay or market place locally and plug it in a corner, in the room you will be serving the food in? Even its not your regular dining room and move it to a shed/elsewhere after Christmas. Surely family can help carry the food from the kitchen up to the room and put it in the trolley to keep warm.

I don't use candles, but the one time it was be an absolute NO would be with 20 people in the house- presumably some drinking and possibly kids running around!!! 😬

I have both. The buffet server is great, fits loads of food in and you can adjust the temperature. Great for warming plates before the food is ready too. I don’t find it too much of a problem running an extension lead to it and we have it coming up through the gap between two tables so the lead isn’t running over the tabletop. The only thing is how massive it is so it’s not easy to store. I’ve removed the kickboard under a cupboard and it lives under there however last time I wanted to use it I couldn’t get the kickboard back off 🙄

The tealight ones are much smaller and stack and fit in a normal cupboard, they do keep stuff warm but less ability to control the temperature

Irmnern · 26/10/2025 06:20

Sorry @JDM625 i have no idea why I have quoted you, I didn’t mean to!

threescoops · 26/10/2025 10:38

This thread is inspirational, thanks! I’m trying to resist buying a second hand hostess trolley, even though I’m getting FOMO, as there’s normally only two of us. Looking at buffet warmers on Amazon I’m delighted to discover the existence of electric silicone mats that can be rolled up and stashed away when not in use so have ordered one of them. Versatile - I see they can also be used for proving dough and defrosting. Love the idea of deploying the slow cooker too.

MargoChanellingBarbara · 26/10/2025 14:14

Your mats can also be used to start chilli seedlings in the New Year

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