All the Reasons Why a Mug Warmer Is My Best Friend in Winter
There are several ways to keep drinks warm: an insulated cup, a smart mug, and a flat plate mug warmer. Smart mugs and even insulated cups can be quite trendy, but they can also come with a hefty price tag. You’ll probably feel like they’re being touted for this gifting season, but I say resist! The humble platform mug warmer may not look pretty, but it’s a million times more useful thanks to its versatile shape.
While I’ve always heard that the Ember Smart Mug is truly a joy, it’s still a cup, and a cup that needs to be paired with its specific base. You’re limited to both sides of the design – only the things that can fit in the cup get hot, and you can’t change what kind of cup it is. The same goes for insulated mugs; although they do not require a base, they do not actively warm, but simply maintain the original temperature as much as possible.
I offer heating pads that are completely flat in design so that containers of any shape can be warmed.
I’ll admit, I once viewed a mug warmer as a one-job wonder, and as a slow drinker, I needed that one job done well. While it does help keep my coffee from getting too hot, it’s not on the list of why it’s my best cold weather friend these days. The simple platform mug warmer is a humble hot plate, so it will heat up anything you throw at it (within reason). As long as the bottom of the container is heat resistant and fits on the platform, you’re warm,” guys.
You can proof the bread on a mug warmer.
It should be called an all-purpose warmer because it is great for eating too. I first realized this when I was baking bread on a cold day last March and the dough was barely rising while proofing. It was too cold in my apartment, and the windows faced north, so even the sunlight couldn’t help. I decided to try a mug warmer. I placed a ceramic dish on the heating plate and a cloth oven mitt on it. Then I placed a metal bowl of dough on top. I used an instant read thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature since the yeast doesn’t like to get too hot. On the lowest setting and my semiconductor barriers, the dough temperature was 85°F and it rose like a puffy cloud of carbs. (You can read the full experience of proofing bread on a mug warmer here .)
Use a mug warmer for soups and sauces.
Keeping my coffee hot and proofing my bread is already worthy of applause, but I use a heating pad for even more. For lunch, I keep bowls of soup warm, stir butter until smooth, and solve the age-old problem of keeping cheese sauces warm. You don’t have to constantly throw spinach and artichoke dip into the microwave or silently carry cold, congealed buffalo chicken cheese dip. Plug in an electric mug warmer and place a bowl of sauce on top. Your cheese sauce may not be hot overnight, but it will be around 135°F or so. This is useful when you’re eating the sauce alone, but especially for parties.
Tips for optimizing mug warming
Nothing can be placed on top of the mug warmer, so check the packaging to see what materials are recommended. Mine can be used with tempered glass (like a coffee decanter), ceramic cookware, and metal. My everyday bowls are ceramic, so I use them for sauces and soups.
Increase the heating power of your mug warmer by giving the bottom of your mug or bowl more contact points. If your cookware is completely flat on the bottom you’ll be fine, but most stoneware has a round edge and a central depression called a “foot” on the bottom. The air pocket in the center isn’t too deep, but there’s enough room to make the heating less efficient. I usually place a quarter in the center of the mug warmer and place the mug on top. The quarter can then conduct energy to the center of the mug, providing faster and more accurate results.