Frigidaire Slow Cooker And Buffet Server Review

Having people over for a meal or snacks is a lot of fun. Sometimes you want to keep the food warm longer than the duration of a sit-down meal. To do this you need a food warmer, and today I’m reviewing the Frigidaire Slow Cooker and Buffet Server to see if it can handle the job.

What is a buffet server?

So you might be wondering, what is a buffet server? I’m sure you’ve heard of a buffet. If you haven’t, it’s a type of restaurant that allows customers to serve themselves and offers up a ton of options in food warmers. A buffet server is a mini version of that for your home.

Now that we’ve established what a buffet server is, let’s determine if you need one. The point of a buffet server is to hold food at a safe temperature over an extended period of time. When serving dinner, it’s fine to let people help themselves right from the pot. However, if people are going to be munching over the course of a couple of hours, you need something that will keep food over 140 degrees.

Temperature ranges between 40 and 140 degrees are called the temperature danger zone. In this range, bacteria begin to grow and can cause you to get sick if you eat. By using a buffet server you can prevent that bacterial growth. Please note that you should only keep food warm for 6 hours at a time.

The Frigidaire E ESC3105-SS

Ok, so let’s look at the Frigidaire Slow Cooker and Buffet Server. As the same suggests, this appliance actually does multiple things. On top of being a buffet server, it is also a slow cooker. As someone with limited counter space, I like appliances that can pull double duty.

The product dimensions are listed as 25.6 x 26.5 x 8.75 inches. It’s a decent-sized appliance, and you’ll definitely need some counter space to accommodate it. The Frigidaire runs off 120v power, so you will need an outlet nearby to use it.

The capacity is listed at 7.5 quarts. However, this capacity is divided into three different 2.5-quart ceramic pots. That’s right, there are 3 different slow cookers/buffet servers in this appliance. That feature was my main reason for purchasing this model.

Each ceramic pot has its own controls. You can cook one pot on high, another a low, and the third on warm if you so desire. Each pot comes with a glass lid with a cool-touch handle. Everything is detachable for easy cleaning.

The features were all very appealing to me at first glance. This unit has a four and a half star rating on Amazon as well. I was looking for a good gift for my wife for Mother’s Day, and she loves having family over for dinner and snacks, so the Frigidaire looked like a good choice.

What to put in a Frigidaire Buffet Server

So far, the buffet server has been a hit. One of our favorite uses is holding Rotal cheese dip to snack on while watching baseball. This thing is going to be great for dips and sauces.

Other party foods like BBQ meatballs and cocktail sausages are easy recipes that utilize the slow cooker. Just add your favorite BBQ sauce and seasonings and let the Frigidaire do the rest. These are always a hit at family gatherings.

The slow cooker can also shine during BBQ season. A small pork shoulder or pork tenderloin can be slow-cooked and turned into pulled pork. You could also throw together some delicious BBQ baked beans in the slow cooker. Check out my ridiculously simple BBQ baked bean recipe and give it a try!

Come wintertime, the buffet server makes a good soup holder. If you are like me and have picky children that don’t eat the same thing, the three separate pots will come in handy. Having multiple soups will also be good for those holiday parties at the end of the year.

These are just some ideas on how to utilize this appliance. Leave a comment below on your favorite slow cooker dishes and uses for the buffet server!

The Verdict

Slow cookers are a must for any kitchen. Buffet servers are optional but very useful for certain households. The Frigidaire E ESC3105-SS is a good model that delivers what it is designed to do. It is a very good deal coming in at under $100.

If you host a lot of parties or family gatherings, this is a great buy, and I highly recommend it. If you don’t, then you might be better suited to buying a more traditional slow cooker. Something like an Instant Pot or one of the budget alternatives like the GoWise USA Pressure cooker might be a better bet.