How to Choose the Best Heated Holding Cabinet
Operators that run foodservice establishments - including those that commonly handle to-go and delivery orders or offer a catering - know it's critical to keep meals at appetizing and safe temperatures until they're ready to be served. Holding cabinets are a popular addition to these foodservice operations because they keep prepared meals sanitary. However, some styles of holding cabinets are best suited for certain applications. Learning about the different configurations and common features can help narrow down your options before purchasing a holding cabinet.
Types of Holding Cabinets
Choosing the right holding cabinet for your operation can not only make a difference in the quality of the meals you serve but can also have an impact on the health and safety of your guests. Even cooked food risks contamination if it isn't kept within proper temperature parameters. Many commercially available heated cabinets can maintain internal temperatures as high as 200 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure food remains warm after if it is prepared, plated, or packaged, meeting FDA guidelines requiring hot food to be kept at a minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit in order to inhibit bacteria growth.
Keep in mind that the types of food you're looking to store and the operational capacity it will serve might determine which cabinet style you need to purchase. For example, some items, such as bread dough, may require different conditions than a packaged delivery meal, and a holding cabinet meant for back-of-house operations is probably not the best option for grab-and-go setups.
Heated Cabinets
Standard heated cabinets, also referred to as heated holding cabinets, are designed to hold food pans at a set temperature until the food reaches the customer. These units are available as full-size or undercounter models, so even the most compact kitchens can incorporate a holding cabinet. Some models feature a glass door that allows your staff to visually check the contents without disrupting the temperature or potentially introducing contaminants into the cabinet.
The primary consideration when purchasing a holding cabinet is whether you want an insulated model. Units without insulation have lower price points and are perfect for short-term storage. While insulated cabinets might come with a higher up-front cost, they are recommended to keep food warm for longer periods of time, such as if you plan to transport meals or keep them in the cabinet for extended periods.
Heated cabinets are versatile equipment that can find a place in catering operations, back-of-house hot food storage, and more.
Proofing Cabinets
For operations like bakeries and pizzerias, a proofing cabinet can streamline the production of quality dough. Proofing cabinets differ from basic holding cabinets in that they're specialized to encourage dough rising. Proofing is a sometimes complex process requiring specific temperatures and humidity levels, which can vary depending on the type of dough you're working with.
Proofing cabinets can be set to lower temperatures than other types of heated cabinets, and many models include the option to customize the humidity level - a feature that's more crucial to achieving perfectly risen dough than it is to other holding applications.
Proofing cabinets are the only type of holding cabinet specialized for fresh dough. You'll need one if you plan to make bread or pizza crust in-house.
Banquet Carts
Rather than carrying large food pans, banquet carts transport large amounts of individual meals to guests. If your operation often services catered gatherings like banquets, private events, or assemblies, this style of holding cabinet might be the best choice. Some models are capable of holding as many as 200 plates at a time and feature precise temperature and humidity controls to help ensure prepared meals retain an appetizing texture, temperature, and appearance until they're ready to be eaten.
This type of heated cabinet tends to put more emphasis on mobility than some other styles, as most banquet carts feature convenient handles, braking casters, and bumpers to make them easy and safe to maneuver. Once the unit is preheated, it can be unplugged and moved throughout a venue as the insulation keeps the plates warm.
Although some standard heated cabinets work for catering, banquet carts are specialized for mobility and accommodating prepared plates.
Meal Delivery Carts
Especially popular in hospitals and long-term care facilities, meal delivery carts are designed to deliver prepared food trays to guests. For the busiest establishments, some models can hold hundreds of trays at a time. While some meal delivery carts require electricity to be preheated, many models do not, instead relying on insulation to help hot meals maintain their temperature.
Due to the popularity of meal delivery carts in healthcare facilities, many models are specially designed with a low profile that produces minimal noise in order to avoid disturbing patients during meal delivery.
Meal delivery carts are the optimal choice for medical applications. If you're looking for a quiet mobile food delivery option, these may be ideal.
Pizza Holding Cabinets
If your establishment specializes in pizza, you might benefit from a pizza holding cabinet. These units are optimized for holding pizza boxes, keeping finished pizzas warm and appetizing until they're picked up or sent out for delivery.
Full-size, half-size, and undercounter pizza holding cabinets are available to fit kitchens of any size, even for small pizza joints. If you prefer to have boxed pizzas on display – common in convenience or grocery stores with grab-and-go stations - some pizza holding cabinets are designed with glass walls to merchandise your pies.
One of the most specialized holding cabinets, pizza cabinets are specifically for warming or displaying prepared, boxed pizzas.
Food Lockers & Takeout Shelves
The convenience of takeout and delivery has become an increasingly common expectation in the foodservice industry. From small cafes to large, busy fast food restaurants and everything in between, food lockers and takeout shelves are one way for restaurants to keep meals fresh and warm until they're picked up.
A takeout shelving unit is typically designed to be a stationary part of a designated pickup area where customers quickly grab prepared takeaway orders. Food lockers are often built into walls for a compact footprint and feature locking doors that customers or delivery drivers can open with a provided code.
Takeout lockers are often a permanent installation. Make sure you have enough space available before making a purchase.
Choosing the Right Holding Cabinet
Although there are several types of holding cabinets, they often share a few common features. Most types of holding cabinets offer the choice between an insulated or non-insulated cabinet and glass or solid metal doors. In addition to considering the capacity your holding cabinet needs to have, you'll have the option of purchasing a reach-in, roll-in, pass-thru, or reach-thru unit.
Ready to shop for your new holding cabinets? Below, we'll explain some of the factors you'll want to keep in mind as you search for the right holding cabinet for your foodservice operation.
Choose an insulated heated cabinet for greater heat retention over longer periods of time. Uninsulated heated cabinets are a suitable choice for shorter holding periods and tend to come at a lower price point, perfect for operators on a budget.
Heated cabinets with glass doors allow for checking the cabinet's contents at a glance without disturbing the internal temperature. Metal doors restrict visibility, but they can be more effective at holding in heat.
Reach-in and roll-in units feature doors on just one side of the cabinet. These are ideal for back-of-house installation or when positioned against a wall. Roll-in units are designed to allow large pans to easily slide into place for storage.
Pass-thru and reach-thru cabinets will feature doors on both the front and the back of the unit. These are primarily utilized to bridge back-of-house and front-of house areas, allowing staff to load from one side and customers to choose from the other.
Many holding cabinets are fitted with a caster set, allowing for easy mobility. For transporting food to catered events or between prep and service areas, mobile holding cabinets are the ideal choice. Many models feature recessed handles and safety bumpers.
Stationary holding cabinets don't have casters and are designed to store hot food in a fixed location. These models are typically not utilized for delivery or catering, but they are ideal choices for merchandising hot food or creating takeout stations.
- Determine your application. What do you plan to keep in your heated cabinet? This may play a big role in your decision, as
- Know what size you need. How much space you have - and how much food you need to warm at once - can determine the unit you need. If you run a spacious kitchen, a full-size unit might be right for you, as opposed to an undercounter unit in a small food kiosk.
- Choose your unit's mobility. While many types of heated cabinets include casters, some don't. Decide if a mobile unit is essential to your operation - keep in mind that although larger cabinets boast impressive capacities, they may take more effort to maneuver.
- Evaluate size and placement. Measure the area where you'll install the dishwasher and choose a model that fits into your existing lineup and under your counter height.
- Decide if your unit should be insulated. As discussed above, some heated cabinets are insulated and some aren't. Weigh the pros and cons of each to help guide your purchase. If you're looking for long-term storage or want to transport your food, an insulated cabinet is the way to go.
- Pick your door type. Many types of heated cabinets offer a choice between solid metal or glass doors. Glass provides easy visibility for letting staff check inventory or for putting products on display in the front of the house, while solid metal doors tend to be slightly better at retaining heat.
- Select a configuration. Reach-in and roll-in configurations are most common, but establishments such as bakeries and cafeterias may require a roll-thru or pass-thru unit to allow access from both the prep line and the serving line.
