Induction Buffet Warmer
Induction uses a magnetic field to heat the induction-ready vessel that is used on it, meaning the warmer itself never actually heats up. Induction buffet warmers provide an energy-efficient and safe way to keep food warm on a countertop buffet setup. These warmers may have as few as one burner, or can come with several. Some models can even be linked together, allowing you to power multiple single-burner units off of one power cord.
It is important to make sure that you have induction-ready cookware to use with your induction buffet warmers. Induction-ready cookware must be ferrous, or magnetic, so that the magnetic field generated by the induction warmer can heat up the pan. If a pan that is not induction ready is used with one of these units, no heat will be generated.
One benefit of using induction buffet warmers is that, in some cases, they can double as cookers. This will vary by model, so be sure to check the specs on any unit you are considering. Some induction warmers are meant to be warmers only, but some do have enough power to pull double duty on some light cooking.
The increased safety of using induction buffet warmers is one of the main reasons to switch from traditional warming options. While canned heat can be a fire hazard and an electric or gas heating element can burn, induction only heats up the pan the food is in, reducing the chance of accidental burns.