Aldi is releasing a new Ambiano Warming Plate for £24.99 from Thursday, November 5, designed to keep Christmas dinner side dishes hot without taking up oven space. The flexible silicone mat joins a range of festive items and gadgets arriving in UK stores this week.
According to the product description, the mat is intended to "keep food warm with ease," from side dishes to gravy while the turkey roasts. Key features include an adjustable temperature from 40°C to 100°C with a digital display, a one-to-eight-hour timer, automatic shut-off after 8 hours, a child lock, water and oil resistance, a rollable design with a Velcro storage strap, a 60 x 40cm warming area, a 180cm power cord, and a three-year warranty.
Solving the Christmas Side-Dish Problem
The gadget addresses the common holiday challenge of keeping multiple side dishes hot simultaneously when oven space is limited. By placing the mat on a countertop, cooks can keep roast potatoes, stuffing, and pigs in blankets warm without overcrowding the oven.
It also suits buffet-style meals or families who go back for second helpings, allowing serving bowls and gravy jugs to stay steaming on the dining table. After use, the silicone mat can be wiped clean, rolled up compactly, and stored away, unlike bulky traditional metal buffet warming trays.
Comparison with Dunelm's Version
Aldi's warmer is similar in design to Dunelm's Portable Roll-Up Food Warmer, priced at £30. Dunelm describes its product as having a rollable, space-saving design with three temperature settings and heat insulation, offering a range from 60 to 98 degrees.
Both products feature a flexible silicone surface, a roll-up design, and a similar size of roughly 60cm by 40cm, with built-in heat insulation and easy wipe-clean surfaces. However, the Aldi version is more advanced, with a digital display, precise temperature control from 40°C to 100°C, a countdown timer, automatic shut-off, and a child safety lock, while the Dunelm model uses three fixed settings without a digital screen or timer.
At £24.99, the Aldi warmer is £5 cheaper than Dunelm's £30 model and includes a three-year warranty. Aldi products are limited "Specialbuys," whereas the Dunelm version is a regularly stocked item that is easier to find online.
