Ideas to keep food hot while transporting

tboo

Once or twice a week I plate up an extra meal and take it to my elderly mum's house, roughly a 5 min drive.

I have, up until tonight,  been using foil but this seems so wasteful and unnecessary.

So today I used a plastic microwave cover but it was a bit too large and was difficult to cover the plate correctly.

I thought of a clean tea towel.

Cling film is again wasteful.

The other alternative is to put it into a covered container but then it means plating it up again at my mum's, which then means 2 lots of things to wash. I suppose she can eat it from said container.

Rather than go out and buy something more appropriate, which I would rather not do, can you dear lot suggest something to suitably transport a hot meal?

tacpot12

How about a foil pie/flan dish to put over the hot plate? I was thinking you could reuse these a number of times, and then recycle them when they can't be used any longer. Lakeland and catering suppliers retailers sell them. You could pop a teatowel over the foil to act as insulation. 

Making sure the plate is properly hot before you serve her meal will give you the best chance of getting to it her hot.  

Brie

The old fashioned way was to have it in a metal container (perhaps on a plate in the metal container?) and then put it in the engine where the heat would keep it nicely toasty.  I used to know someone who had a car with an engine that had a big gap large enough for a large casserole dish which they would load with a joint, veg, stock and after driving for a couple of hours would have a nice stew waiting to be eaten.  Obviously with some very compact engine compartments this is no longer possible.

MandM90

It's hard if you don't want to box it up, but if boxed I'd suggest a small insulated lunch bag or even wrap well in a sleeping bag!

maman

Is there any mileage in reheating when you get there so that mum can choose when to eat? Microwave? 

tboo

Thanks everyone.

tacpot12 said:

How about a foil pie/flan dish to put over the hot plate? I was thinking you could reuse these a number of times, and then recycle them when they can't be used any longer. Lakeland and catering suppliers retailers sell them. You could pop a teatowel over the foil to act as insulation. 

Making sure the plate is properly hot before you serve her meal will give you the best chance of getting to it her hot.  

I'll have a look at these. Will look in Macro & Costco when next there.

MandM90 said:

It's hard if you don't want to box it up, but if boxed I'd suggest a small insulated lunch bag or even wrap well in a sleeping bag!

I do have a small insulated lunch bag that I can utilise for any puds that I take sometimes

Brie said:

The old fashioned way was to have it in a metal container (perhaps on a plate in the metal container?) and then put it in the engine where the heat would keep it nicely toasty.  I used to know someone who had a car with an engine that had a big gap large enough for a large casserole dish which they would load with a joint, veg, stock and after driving for a couple of hours would have a nice stew waiting to be eaten.  Obviously with some very compact engine compartments this is no longer possible.

Wow, that sounds yummy.

My car doesn't have an engine space, but I could put it on the heated seat.

maman said:

Is there any mileage in reheating when you get there so that mum can choose when to eat? Microwave? 

I can use her microwave. Didn't think doh. Was trying to get the meal hot to her.lol

You have all giving me ideas to ponder over. ty.

JGB1955

A thermal casserole cover like this?
Insulated Round Thermal Casserole Food Carrier for Lunch, Picnics, Teal and Grey : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

Shropshirelass

How about a microwaved hottie beanbag under the plate, wrap the  lot in clean tea towel, cover with blanket? I do something like this to keep pancakes warm while cooking the next batch. Or pack in a basket to transport.

tboo

JGB1955 said:

A thermal casserole cover like this?
Insulated Round Thermal Casserole Food Carrier for Lunch, Picnics, Teal and Grey : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

This is a good idea, I shall look at the dimensions etc later,

I may well buy it for the youngest's school packed lunch.

Shropshirelass said:

How about a microwaved hottie beanbag under the plate, wrap the  lot in clean tea towel, cover with blanket? I do something like this to keep pancakes warm while cooking the next batch. Or pack in a basket to transport.

I do have a flat square hottie beanbag, so I shall try this technique next time I venture out while researching the other great ideas.

beckstar1975

I have these airline style trays with snap on lids that are pretty durable and resuable. And tend to wrap things in a towel, then plonk on cushion and wrap with fleece blanket - I use as a wonderbag to cook beans etc but also keeps things hot for ages

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meal-Prep-Containers-Compartment-Pack/dp/B07MLSSZZF/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=plastic+trays+with+compartments+and+lids&qid=1634232786&qsid=258-2587953-5424964&sr=8-16&sres=B071VQXPCV,B07YXCL7YC,B094XTKQZC,B084X618D7,B08C338K58,B0937932JX,B017KNFDOM,B08124VVQB,B08YPB3MVS,B0194XCD80,B078RJPTY8,B07MLSSZZF,B07VF6LYJN,B06XDJP3M2,B096FGFPCK,B077Y2THNJ,B073N49WSY,B0936D8KL1,B01J93IP3C,B088YW6Q55

tboo

beckstar1975 said:

I have these airline style trays with snap on lids that are pretty durable and resuable. And tend to wrap things in a towel, then plonk on cushion and wrap with fleece blanket - I use as a wonderbag to cook beans etc but also keeps things hot for ages

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meal-Prep-Containers-Compartment-Pack/dp/B07MLSSZZF/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=plastic+trays+with+compartments+and+lids&qid=1634232786&qsid=258-2587953-5424964&sr=8-16&sres=B071VQXPCV,B07YXCL7YC,B094XTKQZC,B084X618D7,B08C338K58,B0937932JX,B017KNFDOM,B08124VVQB,B08YPB3MVS,B0194XCD80,B078RJPTY8,B07MLSSZZF,B07VF6LYJN,B06XDJP3M2,B096FGFPCK,B077Y2THNJ,B073N49WSY,B0936D8KL1,B01J93IP3C,B088YW6Q55

Oh my, I have just looked at these and I realised I have something similar in the cupboard that is a possibility, so ty for the above suggestion.

As this thread gets longer I am finding out I do have suitable vessels etc lol