3 Best Food Warming Mats, Tested and Reviewed

Food warming mats are a space-saving way to keep food warm for hours. They’re silicone mats with built-in heating elements that don’t use open flames, making them a great alternative to buffet chafing sets. You don’t have to transfer food out of the pots and pans you cook in, and they’re elevated about half an inch from the surface you place them on, so you can feel confident that they won’t damage heat-resistant kitchen surfaces. Adjustable temperature settings let you control how hot food stays, and when you’re done, every model we recommend can be rolled up for easy storage.

In our lab, we tested seven models for their performance and ease of use. We monitored the temperature of each mat using trays of mashed potatoes, and compared it with a buffet chafing set. We assessed how easy each mat was to use, clean, and store.

Our testing found that each mat failed to reach the maximum temperature it was claimed to achieve or far surpassed it. (But at least one manufacturer says the temperature settings indicate the internal temperatures of the mat, not its surface temperatures.) If you can look past this, there are a few models that showed consistent temperatures across the whole surface of the mat and kept a dish of mashed potatoes warm for several hours, and they were easy to use and clean.

Sneak peek: Food warming mats don’t use much energy, according to our lab tests, with all models clocking in at just 0.1 to 0.3 kWh, so they shouldn’t affect your energy bill.