bain-marie

American  

[beyn-muh-ree, ban-ma-ree] / ˈbeɪn məˈri, bɛ̃ maˈri /

noun

bains-marie plural

1. (in cooking) a receptacle containing hot or boiling water into which other containers are placed to warm or cook the food in them.

2. British. a double boiler.

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bain-marie British  

/ bɛ̃mari /

noun

1. a vessel for holding hot water, in which sauces and other dishes are gently cooked or kept warm

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• bains-marie
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bain-marie

1815–25; < French, Middle French, translation of Medieval Latin balneum Mariae literally, bath of Mary, reputed to be a Jewish alchemist who devised such a heating technique, and sometimes identified with Moses' sister Miriam

Example Sentences

Safety tip: wear oven mitts or use potholders when you remove the bowl from the microwave or bain-marie, as it will be super hot.

From Salon • May 12, 2022

The solution: fill a large shaker tin or bowl halfway with boiling water and then place a smaller shaker tin or metal bowl inside it, creating a kind of bain-marie.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2020

Nowadays, nine out of 10 chefs cook creme brulee in a bain-marie in the oven with milk, whole eggs and what have you.

From The Guardian • Dec. 8, 2019

Heat over a bain-marie, whisking constantly, until it thickens, then remove from the heat, slowly stir in the butter and leave to cool.

From The Guardian • Dec. 15, 2018

It was, quite simply, the first pressure cooker, a sealed bain-marie.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton