For a party buffet or Christmas dinner with several dishes to keep hot, our pick is the HOMCOM 5 Tray 9.2L electric food warmer. The 4 Tray suits a smaller table, the 4.5L Server has the lowest price and the 4.5L Set of 2 gives you two serving stations.
- Best for Large Gatherings: HOMCOM 5 Tray 9.2L, £51.99. It holds five dishes in lidded trays and has the largest warming plate of the four.[1]
- Best for Mid-Sized Gatherings: HOMCOM 4 Tray 6.8L, £34.99. It holds four dishes in a unit 17.5 cm shorter in length than the 5 Tray.[2]
- Best Budget Pick: HOMCOM 4.5L Server, £28.99. It has the lowest price of the four, with three lidded trays and an adjustable setting from 70°C.[3]
- Best Two-Warmer Set: HOMCOM 4.5L Set of 2, £57.99. It is sold as two warmers, each with three lidded trays, so you can serve from both ends of a table.[4]
For food safety, Food Standards Agency guidance for businesses says hot food must be kept at 63°C or above, with some exceptions,[5] so choose a setting of 63°C or above and check the food with a thermometer.
How We Chose
We compared the four electric food warmers in our catering equipment range,[6] called the 5 Tray, 4 Tray, 4.5L Server and 4.5L Set of 2 below, based on the specifications, prices and ratings on their product pages. We looked at:
- Capacity and trays: The litres and the number of lidded trays, because the trays decide how many dishes fit.
- Temperature range: The adjustable range, against the 63°C figure above.
- Warming plate and size: The plate left when the trays come out, and the footprint on your table.
- Price and ratings: The listed price and any customer ratings.
Best Budget Pick means the lowest listed price of the four.
Comparison Table
| Best for | Product | Price | Size (L x W x H) | Power | Capacity, trays, temperature, warming plate | Rating |
| Best for Large Gatherings | HOMCOM 5 Tray 9.2L | £51.99 | 81.5 x 36.6 x 13.6 cm | 450W | 9.2L, 5 trays, 58 to 85°C, plate 70 x 33.5 cm | 5 from 2 ratings |
| Best for Mid-Sized Gatherings | HOMCOM 4 Tray 6.8L | £34.99 | 64 x 36.4 x 14 cm | 300W | 6.8L, 4 trays, 58 to 85°C, plate 52.5 x 33.5 cm | No ratings yet |
| Best Budget Pick | HOMCOM 4.5L Server | £28.99 | 47.5 x 38 x 15.4 cm | 200 to 300W | 4.5L, 3 trays, from 70°C, plate 35.5 x 35.5 cm | No ratings yet |
| Best Two-Warmer Set | HOMCOM 4.5L Set of 2 | £57.99 | 47.5 x 38 x 15.4 cm each | 200W each | 4.5L each, 3 trays, 70 to 95°C, plate 35.5 x 35.5 cm | No ratings yet |
Note: Prices and specifications are correct at the time of writing, so check the product page before ordering.
Best for Large Gatherings: HOMCOM 5 Tray 9.2L Electric Food Warmer[1]
The HOMCOM 5 Tray is our pick for a large buffet because it has the most capacity of the four, 9.2 litres across five lidded trays, and the largest warming plate once the trays are removed.In our view, five compartments suit a main, vegetables, potatoes and sauces kept hot together.
- Capacity and trays: Three 2.4 litre and two 1 litre trays, each with a lid, and an adjustable range of 58 to 85°C.
- Power and size: It is rated at 450W and measures 81.5 x 36.6 x 13.6 cm, with a 0.85m cable.
- Care and safety: It has cool-touch handles and non-slip feet, and the trays are dishwasher safe.
- Best suited to: Hosts with several side dishes and a long table.
- Pros: The 5 Tray has the most capacity, the largest warming plate (70 x 33.5 cm) and the only customer ratings so far.
- Limitations: The 5 Tray is the longest of the four, and its lowest setting of 58°C is below the 63°C food safety figure, so set it higher and check the food with a thermometer.
- Who should choose another option: Choose the 4 Tray for a shorter table or the 4.5L Server for the lowest price.
- Price and delivery: It costs £51.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and returns within 30 calendar days of delivery.
Best for Mid-Sized Gatherings: HOMCOM 4 Tray 6.8L Electric Food Warmer[2]
The HOMCOM 4 Tray is our pick for mid-sized gatherings because it holds 6.8 litres across four lidded trays in a unit 17.5 cm shorter in length than the 5 Tray.[2] It also costs £17.00 less.
- Capacity and trays: Two 2.4 litre and two 1 litre trays with lids, and an adjustable range of 58 to 85°C.
- Power and size: It is rated at 300W and measures 64 x 36.4 x 14 cm.
- Care and safety: It has cool-touch handles and non-slip feet, and the trays are dishwasher safe.
- Best suited to: Hosts with three or four hot dishes and less table space.
- Pros: The 4 Tray’s removable trays leave a 52.5 x 33.5 cm warming plate for plates and bowls.
- Limitations: The 4 Tray holds one dish fewer than the 5 Tray and, like the 5 Tray, starts at 58°C, so set it higher for hot food.
- Who should choose another option: Choose the 5 Tray for a fifth compartment or the 4.5L Server for the lowest price.
- Price and delivery: It costs £34.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and returns within 30 calendar days of delivery.
Best Budget Pick: HOMCOM 4.5L Electric Buffet Server[3]
The HOMCOM 4.5L Server is our budget pick because at £28.99 it has the lowest price of the four. It has three lidded trays and an adjustable setting from 70°C, which is above the 63°C food safety figure.
- Capacity and trays: A 4.5 litre capacity in one 2.5 litre and two 1 litre lidded trays.
- Power and size: It is rated at 200 to 300W and measures 47.5 x 38 x 15.4 cm, with a 35.5 x 35.5 cm warming plate.
- Care and safety: It has cool-touch handles and non-slip feet, and the trays are dishwasher safe.
- Best suited to: Smaller tables with two or three hot dishes.
- Pros: The 4.5L Server has the lowest price of the four and the most compact footprint of the single warmers.
- Limitations: At 4.5 litres, the 4.5L Server shares the smallest capacity with each warmer in the Set of 2.
- Who should choose another option: Choose the 4 Tray or 5 Tray for more dishes.
- Price and delivery: It costs £28.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and returns within 30 calendar days of delivery.[3]
Best Two-Warmer Set: HOMCOM 4.5L Electric Buffet Server Set of 2[4]
The HOMCOM 4.5L Set of 2 is our pick for two serving stations because it is sold as two warmers, each with one 2.5 litre and two 1 litre lidded trays.In our view, one warmer at each end of a long table lets guests serve from both sides.
- Capacity and trays: Each warmer has three lidded trays and a 70 to 95°C knob control.
- Power and size: Each is rated at 200W and 0.85A and measures 47.5 x 38 x 15.4 cm, with a 35.5 x 35.5 cm warming plate.
- Care and safety: It has cool-touch handles, anti-slip pads and a red light that shows the unit is still hot. The trays are machine washable, and the other parts are wiped with a damp cloth with the power off.
- Best suited to: Hosts who want a station at each end of a table, with a socket for each warmer.
- Pros: The Set of 2 spreads dishes across two stations, and its indicator light shows when a unit is hot.
- Limitations: The Set of 2 needs two sockets and has less room per warmer than the 5 Tray.
- Who should choose another option: Choose the 5 Tray for a single plug and customer ratings, or the 4.5L Server if one small warmer is enough.
- Price and delivery: It costs £57.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and returns within 30 calendar days of delivery.
Buying Guide: How to Choose an Electric Food Warmer
- Dishes, not guests: Count the dishes that must stay hot at once and choose that many compartments, then compare each tray’s litres.
- What it is: An electric food warmer is a plug-in unit that keeps cooked food hot in lidded trays over a heated plate. A chafing dish is a pan on a stand heated by a fuel burner, and those used in catering are not used for cooking or reheating food.[7]
- Temperature: Food Standards Agency guidance for food businesses says hot food must be kept at 63°C or above, may be displayed outside hot holding for up to two hours, once, and should then be thrown away.[5]
- Preheating and hold time: Switch the warmer on before you fill it so the trays are hot. The 5 Tray, 4 Tray and 4.5L Server hold heat for 5 minutes after shutdown.[1][2][3]
- Warming plate: Removing the trays leaves a plate of 35.5 x 35.5 cm to 70 x 33.5 cm, and metal and ceramic cookware suits it.[1][2][3][4]
- Sockets: Most extension leads are rated at 13A, but some older ones and cable reels are rated 10A or less, so add up everything on the lead against its rating.[8] Do not plug one extension lead into another.[9] The warmers are rated from 0.85A to 1.95A.[1][2][3][4]
Reviews and Evidence
The 5 Tray has 5 out of 5 from 2 customer ratings, and the other three warmers have no ratings yet.[1][2][3][4]
Safety, Delivery and Returns
All four product pages cover free UK mainland delivery, a courier fee for Northern Ireland and a 30 calendar day return window.[1][2][3][4]
- Delivery: Some products cannot be sent to Guernsey or Jersey, and Republic of Ireland orders go to aosom.ie.
- Returns: Contact us within 30 calendar days of delivery. We may charge return shipping on non-warranty returns and exchanges, and faulty goods can be refunded or replaced within 30 days.
- Your statutory rights: Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality.[10] If they are not, a consumer generally has a short-term right to reject them,[11] which runs for 30 days from the day after ownership passes and the goods are delivered.[12] This is general information, not legal advice.
- Electrical safety: The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 generally cover equipment designed for 50 to 1000V AC.[13] GOV.UK says CE marking is generally recognised in Great Britain alongside or in place of UKCA marking, although rules can differ for specific products.[14]
FAQs
1. What temperature should an electric food warmer be set to?
2. How long can food stay in an electric buffet server?
Food Standards Agency guidance for businesses allows hot food to be displayed outside hot holding for up to two hours, once, and says food left out for longer should be thrown away. We treat this as a cautious reference for home hosts serving from an electric food warmer such as the HOMCOM 5 Tray, 4 Tray, 4.5L Server or 4.5L Set of 2.[5]
3. Can you wash electric food warmer trays in the dishwasher?
4. Can you plug several food warmers into one extension lead?
Only within the lead’s rating. Most extension leads are rated at 13A, but some older leads and cable reels are rated 10A or less, and the total of all appliances must stay within it. HOMCOM food warmers are rated from 0.85A to 1.95A, so add them to anything else on the lead. Never plug one extension lead into another.[8][9][1][4]
5. Can an electric food warmer reheat cold food?
Not usually. Catering buffet units are not used for cooking or reheating food,[7] and in our view the same applies to electric food warmers such as the HOMCOM 5 Tray, so heat food fully before it goes in.
References
[1] HOMCOM Electric Food Warmer 5 Tray, 9.2L Portable Buffet Server and Warming Tray with Lids, Adjustable Temperature Control and Cool Touch Handles, 450W, 3 x 2.4L and 2 x 1L, Silver Tone, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-electric-food-warmer-5-tray-9-2l-portable-buffet-server-and-warming-tray-with-lids-adjustable-temperature~1UQ13PA420G00.html
[2] HOMCOM 4 Tray Electric Food Warmer Buffet Server with Warming Plate, Cool Touch Handles, Adjustable Temperature, 300W, 2 x 2.4L and 2 x 1L Pans, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-4-tray-electric-food-warmer-buffet-server-with-plate-warmer-function-cool-touch-handles-adjustable~1J97GG2KOE801.html
[3] HOMCOM 4.5L Stainless Steel Electric Buffet Server, with 3x Trays and Lids, product page. https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-electric-food-warmer-4-tray-6l-portable-buffet-server-and-warming-tray-with-lids-adjustable-temperature~1QITUFGQPO000.html
[4] HOMCOM 4.5L Stainless Steel Electric Buffet Server, with 3x Trays and Lids, Set of 2, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-4-5l-stainless-steel-electric-buffet-server-with-3x-trays-and-lids-set-of-2~1SETNMJE1U801.html
[5] Food Standards Agency. Hot Holding, guidance for food businesses. https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/hot-holding.pdf
[6] Aosom UK. Catering Equipment, category page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/home/catering-equipment-c968.html
[7] Wikipedia. Chafing dish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chafing_dish
[8] Electrical Safety First. Electrical Safety Advice for Overloading Sockets.
https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/overloading-sockets/
[9] Electrical Safety First. Electrical Safety Advice for Extension Leads, Cable Reels and Block Adaptors.
https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/home-and-people/house-maintenance/extension-leads-cable-reels-and-block-adaptors/
[10] legislation.gov.uk. Consumer Rights Act 2015, Section 9, Goods to Be of Satisfactory Quality.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/9
[11] legislation.gov.uk. Consumer Rights Act 2015, Section 19, Consumer’s Rights to Enforce Terms About Goods.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/19
[12] legislation.gov.uk. Consumer Rights Act 2015, Section 22, Time Limit for Short-Term Right to Reject.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/22
[13] legislation.gov.uk. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 3.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1101/regulation/3
[14] GOV.UK. Placing UKCA or CE Marked Products on the Market in Great Britain.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking