bain-marie

American  

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

noun

plural

bains-marie

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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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

Yes, you really have to whip the eggs for 5 minutes; you really have to use a bain-marie; and you really have to cover it in foil and then remove the foil.

From Salon • Jan. 6, 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

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

Unlike a spoon rest, a bain-marie keeps the utensils submerged in water so I don’t end up with dried-out food stuck to their sides.

From Slate • Aug. 8, 2018

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

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton