Cheese Melters & Food Finishers
Cheese melters enable you to crisp toppings and melt cheese without cooking the food beneath it . A commercial cheese melter is great for adding finishing touches to a dish right before you take it to your guest.
Commercial Cheese Melters: What You Need to Know
A cheese melter is basically a lightweight broiler, which delivers direct, radiant heat from above the cooking racks with a gas burner or electric element. Unlike a convection oven, which circulates heated air to cook food, the heat from a top-mounted burner or element is direct. This lets operators heat the very top layer of food items quickly and intensely without continuing to cook the interior. These units are used only for finishing rather than baking.
There are different configurations of cheese melter available, meaning you can find one that fits your needs. Traditional, cabinet-style models have the same basic structure as a toaster oven, and some have a clear, hinged door that opens downward, like toaster ovens. Other models feature conveyors, where you place the dish to be finished on one end and it automatically is taken through the unit. These have a landing platform on the other side for picking food up. Other units feature a deck style with an open front, where you can slide pans in and out on a steel or chrome rack. This simplifies monitoring the progress of heating food.
Common Questions About Primary Keyword
What do you use a cheese melter for?
These units are great at doing just what the name implies – melting cheese over the top of finished dishes such as sandwiches, French onion soup, nachos, and more. A cheese melter also can be used to finish and brown other types of food, from toasting bread to caramelizing the outside of desserts just before serving.
Should I get an electric or gas cheese melter?
Cheese melters can operate on electricity, natural gas, or propane (LP). The choice between these may be as simple as understanding which utility is available in your area. Some locations may not have access to natural gas or propane, which means you'll need an electric cheese melter. In other regions, the difference in cost between gas and electricity will be your deciding factor.
Advantages of Commercial Cheese Melters
Quick, Efficient Finishing: Provides direct, radiant heat to the top layer of food, allowing rapid melting and browning without overcooking the interior.
Versatile Cooking: Ideal for finishing sandwiches, nachos, and French onion soup, or even caramelizing desserts just before serving.
Various Configurations: Available in multiple styles, including traditional cabinet-style, conveyor models, and deck-style units, offering flexibility to fit different kitchen setups.
Ease of Use: Conveyor models automate the process, while deck-style units allow easy monitoring and sliding pans in and out, simplifying operation.
Energy Source Flexibility: Available in electric, natural gas, and propane options, allowing you to choose based on available utilities or cost preferences in your area.