Creme Brulee & Souffle Dishes

Creme Brulee Ramekins: What You Need to Know

Creme brulee dishes provide operators with multipurpose containers to cook and serve the simple, delicate dessert for which they're named. White ceramic dishes with fluted sides are most popular, coming in circular or square shapes and with varying depths, depending on the preferences of the presiding chef. With its creamy custard and crisped caramel top, creme brulee requires delicate handling and can't be transferred easily into another serving dish. This is actually quite convenient for the operator, as it means the cooking dish and serving dish are one and the same, leaving one fewer dish to be washed after every order.

Common Questions About Creme Brulee Dishes

What makes souffle dishes suitable for baking?

Standard ramekins are small bowls intended to serve portions of side dishes or snacks, but a baking ramekin is designed for food to be cooked directly inside the dish. This necessitates a sturdier grade of material, as baking a souffle or creme brulee requires temperatures meeting or exceeding 300 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the recipe. Some versions call for a blow torch to scald sugar on top of the custard, creating the signature caramelized glaze; generic ramekins might crack or shatter under this heat stress.

Another requirement for a creme brulee bowl is that it match the design of the dessert. That typically means it should have a stylized finish elegant enough to serve to your guests, as well as a size appropriate for a single customer's dessert. One other feature to consider is whether each dish is dishwasher safe. Consult the individual product specification sheets before purchase to determine if you'll need to wash your new dishes by hand or incorporate them into an existing warewashing procedure.

What establishments need souffle ramekins?

Upscale items such as creme brulee and souffle don't fit in every establishment, as themed restaurants, casual diners, and regional cuisine venues are unlikely to have customers who demand this particular delicacy. However, many family-friendly locations use souffle dishes to quickly heat individual portions of mac and cheese, french onion soup, or casserole in a salamander or broiler.

Conversely, fine-dining establishments typically offer delicate, baked dishes as a display of their culinary expertise, making such locations prime candidates for creme brulee dishes.

Consider what type of food is served at your establishment, as well as how it's served, before making a purchase.

From what materials should my creme brulee ramekins be made?

Most baking ramekins are made of some form of ceramic material, which complements the nature of the souffle and/or creme brulee. The two primary concerns for the material are how much cooking heat it can withstand and whether it suits your dining room aesthetic.