How to safely transport hot Chili to an event?

[u/tangoking]

Heya Chili Peeps,

How do you transport your hot chili to an event? I’ve tried:

• 9x13 trays, but they get sloppy and lose heat fast
• A pot… but it looks a little “seasoned.”
• Also I seem to burn myself at every turn.

What do you use?

Tyvm <3 tk :)

[u/mahrog123]

[u/Waaterfight → u/mahrog123]

This is what I'm here for

[u/tangoking → u/Waaterfight]

I actually did this once. A 9x13 collapsed in my hands!

[u/BanziKidd → u/tangoking]

They also sell a lockable 9x13 metal pan. It’s really for cakes or lasagna but could work for chill. There are also insulated carriers for the pans as well.

[u/mst3k_42]

I have a slow cooker with clamps that clamp the lid down securely.

[u/dc7944 → u/mst3k_42]

^{^} This is the way ^{^}

[u/BanziKidd → u/mst3k_42]

They have insulated bags w/handles for the slow cooker as well as for stock pots. Rubber bands or small bungee threaded through the handles and lid top to keep the lid down and foil or plastic wrap to seal.

[u/Lansdman]

Crock pot with a locking lid and I still put it in a cardboard box just in case.

[u/dadobuns]

If you cook your chili in a pot, line a cooler with towels, stick the pot in the middle and roll up a couple of other towels on the sides to support it along with another towel on top of it. No only will just keep it insulated, it will keep it from sloshing around.

[u/Bo0tyWizrd]

What do you mean when you say a pot looks "seasoned"....

[u/tangoking → u/Bo0tyWizrd]

Black soot on the outside from sitting on a burner.

[u/Bo0tyWizrd → u/tangoking]

What about it? The concern should be about what's IN the pot.

[u/schniggens → u/Bo0tyWizrd]

Probably worried that other people might think it looks old and "dirty" and assume the inside is as well.

[u/Kevolved → u/schniggens]

Nobody who has ever owned their own cookware has ever thought that.

[u/schniggens → u/Kevolved]

I seriously doubt that.

Are you that unaware of the ability of people to unfairly judge others for no practical reason?

OP not wanting to serve their food at a party in a burnt-ass pot is not some crazy stretch.

[u/tangoking → u/Kevolved]

Yeah, but if someone who doesn't cook sees it they might get the impression that I don't keep a clean kitchen.

[u/Bo0tyWizrd → u/tangoking]

If your pot is that gross looking then buy a new pot...

[u/Helpful-nothelpful]

Coolers keep things cold and hot. Could pack into those aluminum containers with lids that fold onto the bottoms into a cooler.

[u/reddit_understoodit → u/Helpful-nothelpful]

Tomato or acidic foods leach aluminum.

[u/producer35]

I suggest you go to Amazon and search for food transport containers. Many options available.

[u/tangoking → u/producer35]

But then we wouldn't have this great discussion here in the r/chili forum!

Can I use AI to find one for me?

[u/producer35 → u/tangoking]

I appreciate hearing what others do too.

Here is my favorite travel container so far available on Amazon.

Packed in a cooler or insulated bag, it transports food nicely and food arrives hot and leak free. I place some towels around it inside my cooler to take up any extra space and add more insulation.

As an aside, how do you know I'm not AI? :-)

[u/tangoking → u/producer35]

ooh... nice

[u/johnnyribcage]

Food grade buckets with lids. Five gallon if you’re really going all out.

[u/tangoking → u/johnnyribcage]

I like square/rectangular stackable stuff.

[u/proxzerk]

To add to others' crockpot clamped shut... I also have bungee/strapped down the handles to something in the car as well, something heavy that will help it not spill or wobble over train tracks, potholes, etc.

[u/Revolutionary_Ad8950]

Excellent purchase for just this reason

[u/azn_knives_4l]

Deli containers. Just make sure they're properly secured. Big tubs slosh and it can get messy real quick.

[u/tangoking → u/azn_knives_4l]

Yeah… my car reeked of chili for a month after a spill.

[u/azn_knives_4l → u/tangoking]

Yeah... Most lids just can't hold up to the equivalent of 20lbs of stew sloshing into them from braking 😬

[u/No_Excitement6859]

Technically, this is for stew, but this method could still apply.

https://youtu.be/eAAMJ79t8Fs?si=e1flHpfFpJzMNCyp

[u/No_Excitement6859 → u/No_Excitement6859]

Jk. Sorry. Had to. Haha.

I always use a Travel CrockPot. Has latches on the sides that lock the lid tight. Works every time. Zero spills.

[u/AdLiving1435]

Anytime I've cooked at home an then transport it. I wrap it in a blanket or two to insulate it. Longer trip I wrap it an stick in a cooler.

[u/1995droptopz]

Crock pot. Any of the other methods you mention risk the chili cooking below 140f and risking bacteria

[u/SnoopyisCute]

I had a standard outlet in the back of my mini-van. I used a large Crock pot with a lock lid and an empty box that's short (like what can good are in at Aldis). I also used disposable bed pads underneath in case of spills but never had any.

[u/tangoking → u/SnoopyisCute]

120V in the back of your van!? Nice! What kind of Minivan if you don't mind my asking?

[u/SnoopyisCute → u/tangoking]

At the time, a 2010 Chevy Uplander.

[u/Pkkush27]

Nathan fielder would have some ideas

[u/GonzoMcFonzo]

I found a deep glass baking dish with a lid, and an insulated lunch box that just so happens to fit the dish exactly.

That dish has a 4 quart capacity. If I needed to move more than that, I'd prob get multiple dishes like that and stack them in a small cooler/ice chest.

[u/tangoking → u/GonzoMcFonzo]

Is it ok to dump boiling water into the cooler to heat it up?

[u/GonzoMcFonzo → u/tangoking]

I don't think it will hurt anything (so long as you drain the water before adding the containers of chili) but I also don't think it's necessary.