Bain Marie Pots & Containers
Bain maries use warm water to provide gentle, indirect heat that surrounds the pan on all sides, ensuring a uniform temperature throughout food placed within the bain marie pan. Pans can be made of metal, porcelain, or plastic and typically are cylindrical in shape.
Bain maries can be used for a couple of applications. Their gentle, uniform heat is optimal for holding cooked foods at serving temperature, so they're often used for buffets and self-serve stations at grocers or convenience stores. Typically used for holding crocks of soup, queso, chili, fruit compote, syrup, or other toppings, these inset pans make it simple to keep food hot and fresh without overcooking it. Vegetable insets range from 1.25 to 22 quarts, so operators can choose an option designed to serve just a few guests, or a few dozen.
Another way bain maries are used is for cooking certain foods. Although this kind of pan doesn't provide enough heat to cook foods such as raw proteins or hard vegetables, it's perfect for delicate dishes that can be scorched or curdled easily by direct heat. These pans are used primarily for cooking unique custards, mousse, or terrine; some other common uses are melting chocolate and emulsifying sauces.
Most insets are dishwasher safe, so they're easy to clean. Stainless steel options are also extremely durable, resisting rust, dents, and cracks. When shopping for bain maries, operators frequently purchase a water bath heater and bain marie covers for a complete set.