in cooking, a large pan containing hot water, into which other smaller pans are set in order to cook food at low heat (below 100C or 212F), or to keep food warm
A cooking utensil consisting of two nested pans, designed to allow slow, even cooking or heating of food in the upper pan by the action of water boiling in the lower. a pot for cooking food, consisting of one pan resting on top of another pan with hot water in it