Member - Russell B (SA) replied:

No, just eat faster.

Regards
Russell

Member - Chrispy (NSW) replied:

David

Jenny and I use lexan (polycarbonate) plates from GSI. It's relatively expensive, but will probably outlast us. We have noticed that food doesn't go cold very quickly because of the good insulation qualities.

Failing that - take some good old thick porcelain crockery and sit the plates next to the fire to get nice and warm before serving. Extra weight, but you wouldn't have bothered to post this question if it didn't peeve you :)

Lone Wolf replied:

I remember, a long, long time ago, when my 2 were babies, we used to have these little bowls for them. The bowls were double skinned, and we used to pour hot water into the hollow area, to keep the food warm.

Maybe a variation on this would be of the order. Trouble is with any metal, is that it is a fantastic absorber of heat,, and the heat it absorbs, is the minus 2 degrees!

Plastic will be a good start.

Wolfie

Peter 2 replied:

We use melamine plates, they can be heated/warmed near the fire and do insulate better than crockery or metal.
We gave up using enamel campware years ago for the same reason, both cups and plates.

Steve replied:

Heat retention in any (china) plate is dependent to a large extent on the amount of aluminium in the 'mix' !! So get in contact with a decent supplier in your area ..main city..and get a couple of good quality commercial plates..pre heat them and they will help your problem..will beat a piece if tin any day, but clearly wont stay warm forever on a cold night !!!

Mike Harding replied:

There is no real solution. Two plates stacked together helps but if the meal gets too cold cover it in aluminium foil/saucepan lid (or muslin/cotton, before foil) and place it over the top of a large pan of gently boiling water and steam it warm again - age old practice.

Mike Harding

troy35 replied:

It got down to minus 2 and your worried about keeping your meals hot. I am amazed you were able to keep yourself warm in those sort of temps. I cannot even imagine camping when it gets that cold at night.
How do you light a fire inside your tent???

D-Jack replied:

Cheap paper plates over the metal ones. Then throw plates (paper ones!) onto fire, no washing up and food stays a bit warmer. I would me more worried about the ambient temp cooling the food than just a bit of tin on the bottom at those sort of temps though!

D-Jack

Kiwi Kia replied:

Simple is best. Stand your hot saucepans on your plates for 30 seconds before you dish up the food. The heat in the bottom of the saucepan will heat your plates.

Ingenious replied:

I know your going to think I'm crazy BUT I just put the meal back in the Waeco 12 volt microwave oven for 2 mins & hey presto steaming hot dinner again. Works just as good when the cuppo goes cold cause somebody stops by for a chat.
I guess this doesn't help you if your in a tent but if ya got a van there worth every cent.
Cheers.

David T replied:

Thanks for the replies.

I had warmed the plates by stacking them at the back of the gas stove before serving up - still only helped for 2-3 minutes though...

It was quite cold, but that only gives more reason to stay close to the wife at night!

Thanks again

David T

gottabjoaken replied:

Try getting wicker holders for the plates - sometimes people use them for paper plates - then you can really heat up the metal ones.

probably last all of an extra two minutes !!!

Just eat faster. Bettre still, eat from the pot!

ken

flappa replied:

Eat off the BBQ plate

Mad Dog (Australia) replied:

So you're saying the food cools down too quick because the ambient temp is very cold. Well if thats the case then you need a higher air temp...easy....eat in your vehicle with the heater going....too easy eh!