Commercial Food Warmers

Commercial food warmers are found nearly anywhere hot food is served. Whether you need to keep to-go orders warm until they're picked up, set up a self-serve food bar, add drop-in wells to a countertop, or preserve the crispy crunch of tortilla chips, french fries, onion rings, and other fried classics, there's a style of commercial warmer for the job. Although hot holding equipment comes in many shapes and sizes with a range of temperature settings, equipment in this category is primarily designed to warm and/or hold cooked product, not cook raw ingredients.

Determining which commercial food warmer to buy starts with analyzing your menu and your fulfillment channels; think about the type of product you're selling and choose a compatible machine. Some commercial food warmers are good for general-purpose use, while others are designed for a specific type of product such as pizza, bread, soup, large cuts of meat, or pre-packaged sandwiches, biscuits, chicken strips, or burritos. Other warmers are designed for rethermalization, storing par-cooked food close to the cookline for expedited finishing, and other back-of-house uses. It's important to choose a model that's not only compatible with what you're serving but will preserve the optimal texture, moisture levels, and flavor of your menu items.

Industrial food warmers also come in handy for food delivery, carryout, and curbside fulfillment. Warming shelves and cubbies are an excellent choice for holding prepared orders waiting to be picked up, while portable warming containers can keep delivery orders hot until they reach their destination. Warming carts are perfect for transporting dozens or even hundreds of cooked meals throughout hotels, resorts, hospitals, schools, correction centers, cruise ships, and more. Thinking about how long food has to sit before it's served, how far it'll need to travel, and what method of transportation is used for delivery will help narrow your choice of restaurant food warmers.