What Is Bain-marie?
Bain-marie: A gentle heating method where a container sits in or over hot water instead of directly on the heat. It can mean a water bath in the oven or a double boiler on the stove.
In the kitchen
In the oven, a baking dish of custard sits in a larger pan filled with hot water, which keeps the edges from overcooking and stops the top from cracking. On the stove, a bowl set over barely simmering water gives lemon curd and sauces gentle, even heat.
The water also caps the temperature near boiling, so delicate egg mixtures are far less likely to scramble. Keep the bowl above the water rather than touching it, and stir steadily.
See it in our recipes
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