About

500-watt food warmer keeps cooked food hot and fresh for up to 3 hours

Preheats in minutes; variable heat; spacious interior will fit 2 16-inch pizzas

Unique venting system helps keep moist food moist and crisp food crisp

Folds flat for storage; base can be used as a warming tray; storage bag included

Measures approximately 20-4/5 by 19-4/5 by 15 inches

Keep cooked food hot and fresh for up to three hours with this 500-watt countertop appliance. The unit preheats in minutes and offers a spacious interior that will accommodate any of the following--two 9-by-13-inch pans, two 16-inch pizzas, two 2-quart casseroles, or two 11-inch dinner plates. Stoves, microwaves, and toaster ovens can be used for warming, but all too often they leave food over-cooked, tough, and completely dried out. The food warmer features a unique venting system that helps keep moist food moist and crisp food crisp. Since the food warmer's not designed to cook, it does its sole job effectively, while also freeing up space in the oven or microwave to continue cooking. Plus, it doesn't take up valuable room on the counter like typical appliances. It cleans easily and folds flat in seconds for compact storage in a cupboard or pantry. Even more, the top of the food warmer can be removed, transforming the base into a warming tray for use on a buffet table. Other highlights include one-button control, a variety of heat settings, a see-through door with a generous handle, and a cool-touch exterior. A handy storage bag comes included for keeping everything together and ready to use. The food warmer measures approximately 20-4/5 by 19-4/5 by 15 inches.

  • Type: Food warmer; warming tray
  • Color: Metallic, black
  • Model: AW-1000
  • Weight: 19 lbs
  • Made In: China
  • Warranty: 1 year
  • Dimensions: 20-3/4” x 19-3/4” x 15”
  • Composition: Stainless steel, plastic, tempered glass
  • Manufacturer: Salter

Ambitions

Apparent goal: kids gift/registry home kitchens restaurants everywhere
Intended audience: novice advanced beginner good home cook gourmet professional
Diet/nutrition: does not apply scary empty promises helpful essential
Green?: not especially neutral mixed blessing earth friendly green!
Innovative: step back standing still progress trendy genius
Problem solving: no better baby steps solid steps giant steps a revelation
Competition: outclassed follower in the pack strong challenger likely champ

Utility/Quality

Ease of use: impossible frustrating OK simple child's play
Intuitive: Ph.D. required barely logical effortless brilliant
Instructions: missing incomprehensible adequate unnecessary excellent
Quality: cheesy questionable good years of service impressive
Parts to lose: inevitable some/many one-piece self-storing not a problem
Power source: none hands batteries outlet/car green
Clean-up: nightmare wipe clean soap & water scouring pad dishwasher
Does it work?: not at all adequately well very well perfectly
Availability: airfare required online kitchen store department store supermarket

Packaging

Easy to open?: impossible maddening tolerable good opens itself
Green?: fills a landfill huge waste passable minimal waste impressive

Economy

Time saving: time wasting not really modest substantial huge
Labor saving: less efficient marginal a bit noticeable remarkable
Money saving: money wasted none $ $$ $$$
Beats the old way: worse no change better infinitely entirely new
Where will it live?: garage/attic drawer cabinet countertop elsewhere

Summary

Fulfills ambitions: falls short almost there satisfies exceeds home run
How often used: once/twice ≥daily ≥weekly ≥monthly ≥yearly/holidays
Worth the space?: no does not apply w/unlimited space w/limited space absolutely
Need it?: a luxury discretionary basic equipment for serious cooks get it
Value: ouch! a little pricey worth splurging on the money a deal
Overall rating: skip it fair good very good excellent

Comments: People need more cooking and oven space, especially around major holidays. More people send us messages bemoaning their full planned menus and lack of warming space. Quite a few also want to keep food warm while they travel. We make sympathetic clucking noises, but there's only so much one can do – especially when they write us only hours before 23 relatives are set to arrive.

The Salter Food Warmer is an elegant solution on many levels, and it hides out of the way when you don't need it.

First of all, it is a true warmer that keeps food hot for up to 3 hours. It has three settings – low, at 140°F, medium, at 175°F, and high, at 200°F. There is a vent on top, which you can close to keep moisture in, or open, to keep crisp foods dry. There is a rack that can be placed in the middle of the warmer or near the bottom (to allow air to circulate). It will accommodate two 9-by-13-inch pans, two 16-inch pizzas, two 2-quart casseroles, or multiple 11-inch dinner plates.

We think it's a great warming oven, but there are three features that we are nuts about. First, the top, sides, back and door can come completely off, so that you can use the base as a warming tray for a buffet. (Additionally, the top, sides, back, and door can be cleaned in the top of the dishwasher (but they take up a boatload of room.) Second, the unit can be powered by an included car charger, so you can – given enough flat space in your car – keep your food warm for several hours on the way to Aunt Mildred's and Uncle Fred's. Third, the entire unit can be taken apart (once cool), folded flat, and stored in its own carrying bag. So you can store it in a small space when you don't need it, or you can carry it to Aunt M's and Uncle F's for their holiday dinner, even when you don't need to use it on the drive to their house.

An awful lot of people need a warming oven, but they're often more trouble (or large or expensive) than they're worth. This one is so useful and loaded with features that it more than makes up for the cost and the required space. If you have the space for it all the time, you'll forever be keeping pizzas, leftovers, and dinner components warm, proofing bread, and warming dinner plates.

Just don't wait until a few hours before your green-bean casserole comes out of the oven to decide to purchase one. This requires some pro-active thinking on your part.