The Pros and Cons of Gas vs. Electric Steam Tables
Commercial steam tables and their accessories enable buffets, cafeterias, caterers, hotels, and more to safely provide guests with large amounts of warm food for hours at a time. These units are designed with two or more compartments that hold multiple small pans or one full-size pan. Commercial steam tables can display multiple food items simultaneously but aren't designed to cook foods or bring them up to serving temperature.
Restaurant steam tables keep food warm by heating water to produce steam that gently heats food pans, providing an even heat so all product is kept at desired temperatures. Some units heat food pans without water, a process called dry heating, while other configurations utilize moist heat to keep food warm. No matter which design you need, your steam table will be powered by either electricity or gas.
- Simple to install, electric steam tables normally only have to be plugged into an appropriate outlet for operation. These units are for outlets of varying power levels, so you need to select a steam table your building can handle.
- Gas steam tables are powered by propane or natural gas. The former is ideal for businesses needing a mobile fuel source, while the latter is optimal for facilities with access to a gas line.
Choosing Between Gas vs. Electric Steam Tables
When it comes to choosing between gas and electric steam tables, the first thing to keep in mind is the unit's location in your building. If you're interested in a steam table that runs on gas, it needs to be placed in an area with a gas connection; otherwise, you must invest in a propane steam table, which requires purchasing tanks of propane over the long term. Neither electricity or gas is better than the other, but their differing features are more beneficial to different operations.
Commercial steam tables running on electricity are constructed with simple, precise temperature controls and are more energy efficient than gas units, though they also take longer to heat up. Because of their simplistic design, gas steam tables are less likely to malfunction but will raise the temperature of the room where they're being used – a drawback not found in electric units. The cost of both utilities varies by your geographic location.
More on Gas-powered Steam Tables
Foodservice equipment that runs on gas is a staple of commercial foodservice establishments. Gas units are further divided into two categories, based on the two types of gas available:
- Propane is an extraction of petroleum gas and crude oil. This concentrated fuel delivers high output and can be stored safely under pressure in bulk tanks or small cylinders – refillable at grocery and convenience stores for a fee. If your operation experiences high levels of traffic, you can arrange a delivery system with a propane supplier. This fuel is popular in remote areas because of its portability.
- A fossil fuel extracted from the ground, natural gas consists of carbon dioxide, helium, methane, and nitrogen, among other gases. This fuel is classified as a nonrenewable resource but is still considered a cleaner alternative to comparable fossil fuels. Natural gas is easily accessible in most urban buildings because they're constructed with gas lines.
Because natural gas goes through fewer refinement procedures than propane, it's the economical option. However, costs fluctuate based on location and demand, and propane steam tables heat faster and use less fuel than gas-powered units performing the same tasks, though the biggest differences in food quality come down to your buffet steam table. The heat available during warming is limited by the unit's BTU output, not by its source of fuel.
