Merco Holding Cabinets & Food Warming Equipment

Merco got its start in the early 1950s with the development of the Merco heat tube. Eventually, this product line expanded to include farm and industrial heaters as well as foodservice equipment. In 1985, Merco was acquired by Welbilt, a global manufacturer and supplier of commercial foodservice equipment.¹ Today, Merco Savory is known for its food warming and hot-holding equipment, such as the MercoEco™ and MercoMax™ heated holding cabinets.

Designed to preserve the temperature and texture of food, hot-holding equipment enables operators to produce bulk amounts of product ahead of time. This makes it possible for establishments to serve large volumes of customers during peak periods without the added cost of investing in more space, equipment, and labor. Merco holding cabinets also are useful for storing to-go orders after the food is prepared but before it's picked up, making them great for foodservice establishments seeking innovative solutions to facilitate flexible pickup times for off-premises order fulfillment.

Comparing MercoEco and MercoMax

Merco holding cabinets are available in both economy and premium styles, offering a variety of features to fulfill any hot-holding application. Designed for freestanding installation, the cabinets come with two, three, or four tiers, ranging from 19 ¹⁄₅ inches wide to 36 ¹⁄₂ inches wide. Some have pass-through construction, enabling employees to load the warmer from one side; servers or customers can then remove food from the other side. These warmers accommodate anywhere from 4 to 12 trays, depending on the unit's size, and are suitable for moist foods, such as steamed vegetables, roasted chicken, and mashed potatoes, as well as french fries, chicken tenders, fried shrimp, and other crisp product.

All MercoEco and MercoMax holding cabinets utilize solid-state temperature control, continually monitoring temperatures to maintain a set point between 122 and 266 degrees Fahrenheit within 1 degree of accuracy. To streamline cleaning, some models feature tool-free disassembly and cleanable parts that can be removed easily. Usually, these warming units can be stacked to expand the holding area as the business grows.

MercoEco vs. MercoMax: Features & Functions

Details and Benefits

• DuoHeat: Radiant heat warms food from below as convection heat circulates around food items.
• Innovative Airflow Technology: Convective air circulation provides a steady flow of hot air over and around held product, offering precise temperature control.
• EZ Clip Air Diffuser Plates: Remove easily for cleaning.
• Radiant Heat: Heat radiates from above and below food, controlling the cabinet climate and ensuring even heating.
• Independent Zone/Shelf Temperature Management: Maintains separate holding zones for different types of food.
• CARECODE Enabled: Provides online access to operations, training, service, parts, and more.
• USB Programmability: Simple to set up with MenuConnect portal. Enables operators to standardize settings quickly across multiple units, add limited-time offers, and automate temperature settings for specific days and times.
• Cool-touch Exterior: Keeps unit's exterior cool to the touch during operation, reducing the risk of burns.
• Stainless Steel Construction: Made of professional-grade stainless steel for strength, durability, and ease of cleaning.
• Compact Footprint: Conserves space in locations wanting to expand hot holding without sacrificing prep area.

Optional Features

Select models also have unique combinations of the following optional features that are available on both MercoEco and MercoMax holding cabinets.

• Flush-mount Timer Bars: Streamline cleaning by eliminating small crevices where bacteria and food residue can build up.
• Individual Digital Bin Displays: Make it easy for operators to monitor and adjust different settings for multiple bins.
• Programmable Menu Settings: Enable temperature programming for specific times of day as well as specific zones within the unit.

Choosing a Merco Holding Cabinet

While both MercoEco and MercoMax food warmers are suitable for moist and crispy foods, they operate with different heating methods, which can affect humidity retention. Radiant heat, such as that used by the MercoEco line of food warmers, is good for holding foods that need to retain most of their moisture, such as cinnamon rolls, casseroles, and roasted meat.

Convection heat, used by MercoMax food warmers, employs hot air circulation to move heat across held food. This air movement typically dissipates more moisture than radiant methods, making it useful for holding crisp, crunchy items such as battered fish fillets, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings. However, stainless steel tray inserts are available for MercoMax models to control humidity and keep food moist while using convection heat.

When considering what size food warmer to choose, determine the volume of food that will be held at peak periods, then compare this with the pan capacities of various models. For locations where space is limited, a vertically oriented model with a narrow footprint and three or four stacked tiers can make the best use of space. For applications where accessibility constraints reduce vertical space optimization, a horizontal model with several pans placed side by side on two tiers makes a better choice.

If the Merco food warmer will be placed between the kitchen and serving area, a pass-through cabinet can double as a hot-holding and expo area. As finished orders are loaded from the back, delivery drivers, waitstaff, and cashiers can remove food from the front for streamlined service.

References

1. Merco History. Merco Products Company History. Accessed April 2021.