Bain-marie

A bain-marie on a stovetop

A bain-marie (English: /ˌbænməˈr/ BAN-mə-REE, French: [bɛ̃ maʁi]), also known as a water bath or double boiler, a type of heated bath, is a piece of equipment used in science, industry, and cooking to heat materials gently or to keep materials warm over a period of time. A bain-marie is also used to melt ingredients for cooking.