Heating mats, chafing dishes and go-anywhere cookware to keep food hot and holiday stress low
There’s enough going on during the holidays—between shopping, recitals and last-minute teacher gift cards—without worrying about feeding a crowd.
Holiday meals are much easier (and nervous twitch-free) with these holiday hosting tools. From keeping the champagne bubbly to avoiding the “pass the heavy serving bowl” game, these must-haves help you skip the dinner drama and enjoy yourself.
The best holiday hosting tools for feeding a crowd
A food warming system that lets you customize the size of your spread. It has 4 individual panels and can hold 6-8 dishes when you connect them all. Made of water- and shatterproof tempered glass, it has 10 temperature and timer settings, making it one of the holiday hosting tools you’ll use constantly.
There’s no need to do the math it takes to try to fit multiple appliances on your buffet. The Chefman 7.5QT triple slow cooker and food warmer makes it easy to serve appetizers, side dishes and desserts, featuring individual temperature controls and durable tempered glass lids.
Do it all with one skillet. The Make & Take skillet has an extra-long basket for big-batch cooking (basically, the entire season’s menu). On the go? Just snap on the lid lock, and you can take it anywhere (festively).
Cute name, serious help. Two different dishes in one slow cooker saves major time, and the BPA-free silicone means you can pop them in the dishwasher when you’re done with them.
Nothing ruins a celebration like flat champagne. This 3-pack of sparkling wine sealer stoppers keep your bubbly… well, bubbly. Keep open bottles sealed for guests to pour at their leisure, or use them to save any leftover for next time.
Whether you’re hosting or taking a well-deserved night off and heading to a potluck, this portable serving tray is such a win. With six separate removable compartments, you can customize your tray to fit any combination of apps or snacks. Dishwasher safe? Yes, please.
You have enough on your plate (literally) without worrying about hot dishes while you prep or serve. These gripper tongs make lifting dishes, sliding out baking sheets and transporting heavy serving bowls a lot easier. They’re also more convenient than traditional oven mitts (and you don’t have to worry about accidentally dipping them in your food).
It’s almost insulting to call this Susan “lazy.” It expands to fit both rectangular and oblong tables and has non-slip, heat-resistant trays that stand up to whatever you’re serving up. It’s a great solution to large sit-down meals, and you can even buy additional tracks and trays for really large gatherings.
Veggies, sauces, garnishes—if it needs to stay cold, this ice-chilled condiment caddy has you covered. With a compartment for ice and five food compartments, it’s a must for buffet tables and snack bars. A lid, plus included tongs and serving forks, keep it all tidy.
Foil pans are extremely convenient during the holidays, but they aren’t known for being especially sturdy. This reusable foil pan holder keeps them steady, a hot/cold pack keeps the optimal temperature and the lid keeps your dish secure during transport or storage. You can also flip the lid over and use it as a handy trivet. Fancy Panz come in multiple colors, too.
