A clever food-warming hack is popping up online, but is it safe? Here's how it works—and why one kitchen tool can do the same job.
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Hosting a house full of hungry holiday guests is a joy … right up to the moment you’re juggling a dozen dishes that need to stay piping-hot. Between the casseroles, appetizers and your aunt’s “famous” dip (that nobody actually requested), it’s no wonder home cooks turn to clever hacks to stretch their oven space—and their sanity. This holiday season, one surprisingly primitive idea is making the rounds on social media: heating up rocks to keep your food warm.
So what’s the purpose of heating rocks in the oven?
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While the practice may be ancient, the idea started making the rounds on social media when the Instagram account @dinneranswered shared a video about it. The video shows a disposable pan filled with smooth rocks going straight into a hot oven. Once they’re warmed through, they’re placed under a folded dish towel and a serving bowl of hot dip is nestled right on top.
In theory, it’s clever. The rocks hold heat beautifully, the towel buffers the temperature and your spinach-artichoke dip stays melty and delicious while you’re off refilling cocktail glasses.
Is it dangerous to heat rocks in the oven?
Here’s the catch: Not all rocks are created equal. Many collected rocks—especially ones pulled from lakes, rivers or damp soil—can trap moisture inside. When heated, that moisture expands rapidly, which can cause the rock to crack or even explode. Several commenters pointed this out under the viral video, and they’re not wrong. Geologists and outdoor safety groups warn against heating wet rocks for this exact reason.
If you like the concept but want to avoid the risk, there’s a much safer alternative: a bread-warmer stone. These are designed specifically to be heated in an oven then tucked into baskets or under towels to keep bread (or dips!) warm at the table. They’re fired in kilns, so they don’t contain hidden pockets of moisture—meaning no unexpected rock fireworks in your oven (or on your holiday table).
You can find terracotta, ceramic or even soapstone bread-warmer stones meant for use with everything from cornbread to queso. They all deliver the same steady, gentle heat you’d get from rocks, but without the need for protective eyewear.
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