Electric chafing dish arrived.. is the pan supposed to be floating?

[rlatta]

Can anyone using this chafing dish
http://onesource-international.amazonwebstore.com/ELECTRIC-CHAFING-DISH-WATER-PAN-CATERING/M/B0017CYTC0.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
answer a question?
The steam table insert I got seems to be floating in the water, I am concerned that if I add too much milk to it,  it will overflow and sit on the heating element.
Did you use some kind of spacer or does the pan I ordered not fit correctly?

Thanks in advance.
Robert

(if I keep posting i will need to introduce myself eventually, won't I?)

[DeejayDebi]

Robert
yes that is the one I have and yes the pan will float when empty. Try adding a few gallons of milk to the steam pan first then the water to the chaffer and you won't over flow the chaffer.

[rlatta]

DJDebi,
How do you keep the pan from sitting on the element like that? It seems to be a bit above the hole.

Thanks for responding.

[DeejayDebi]

The bottom is tappered slightly and the pan is flat so it doesn't touch even though it looks like it should. Make small adjustments as you go! I find when using milk right out of the icebox it is quicker to pre warm the milk bottles if posible in the sink in hot water. Or to pour very hot/boiling water into the chaffer to get it started.

What size hotel pan did you get? I have a 6 inch deep and an 8 inch deep pan. The 8 inch will hold 7.5 gallons and the 6 inch only 5 gallons if I remember right.

[rlatta]

I got the 6 inch pan...still waiting for milk withdrawal after worming...grrrrr.

[DeejayDebi]

I think you will love using it - so easy compared to a small round pot. I ften just use the chaffer to maintain temps and add water to temperature to the chaffer. You can syphon the water out of the chaffer.

[Alice in TX/MO]

Asking the dumb question here....

What are you using this for?  Pasteurizing? 

[rlatta]

nah, we don't pasteurize our milk.
It will be used for holding temp on the curds.
Easier to control then a double boiler.
Search the forums for 'electric chafing' and you will see some pics of Debi going it.

Milk withdrawal done... targeting wed for Stilton attempt #2.

[DeejayDebi]

Alice it used as a cheese vat. Works wonderfully just limited by the size of the hotel pan.