5 Factors To Consider When Buying A Commercial Food Warmer
Posted on: 26 March 2021
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Every busy commercial kitchen needs access to a reliable food warmer. These warmers can be used to keep everything from sauces to main courses at the right temperature while awaiting service.
A food warmer might seem like a simple piece of equipment, but choosing the wrong food warmer could compromise the safety and efficiency of your commercial kitchen. Make sure that you are considering the right factors when purchasing a new food warmer to add to your kitchen equipment.
1. Capacity
One of the most important factors to consider when buying a food warmer is the capacity of the warmer.
Most commercial kitchens use their food warmers to keep sauces and dishes warm throughout the day. This allows the kitchen to function efficiently, since not every dish must be made-to-order.
You will need to evaluate the volume of food that moves through your commercial kitchen before you invest in a food warmer. Purchase a food warmer that is large enough to accommodate your needs.
Many people find that multiple warmers in varying sizes are required to address the food-warming needs of their commercial kitchens.
2. Heat Control
Another important factor in selecting a commercial food warmer is the heat control used to power the warmer. There are two popular heat control options: thermostats and rheostats.
Food warmers equipped with rheostats only have three heat settings: low, medium, and high. This can make it challenging to maintain the right temperature for meats or dairy-based sauces housed in the food warmer.
Thermostat warmers provide you with greater control over the temperature of the foods you keep in your food warmers. You can adjust the temperature in incremental degrees on a thermostat warmer. This will prevent foods from burning or from growing too cold while awaiting service.
Carefully evaluate the stability of the foods that you place in food warmers in your commercial kitchen before deciding between a thermostat and a rheostat food warmer.
3. Mobility
The layout and function of your commercial kitchen will factor into your decision when purchasing a food warmer. You will need to consider the mobility of your food warmer. Established kitchens often utilize food warmers that are set up at a permanent station.
If you rent a kitchen or frequently engage in off-site catering activities, you will need a food warmer that provides more mobility. Some food warmers are small and can be set up on any countertop. Others are essentially their own food warming station on wheels.
By determining how mobile your food warmers need to be before you make a purchase, you can be sure you will end up with commercial food warmers that will meet your unique needs.
4. Rethermalizer Certification
One of the major problems people have with commercial food warmers is uneven heating. The last thing that you want is to discover that sections of your warmer are not as hot as they should be, leaving you with cold food to serve your guests.
A rethermalizer certification can eliminate this problem.
Food warmers equipped with a rethermalizer certification can spread and maintain heat throughout the entire warming container. This will eliminate any potential food safety and quality issues that may be caused by food warming equipment.
5. Warranty
Commercial kitchen equipment gets a lot of use. Any equipment malfunctions that you experience can seriously compromise the efficiency of your kitchen.
It's important that you invest in a food warmer that comes with a comprehensive warranty.
This warranty will allow you to make quick repairs or replace a faulty food warmer before it can have a negative effect on the function of your commercial kitchen.
To learn more, contact a commercial kitchen equipment supplier in your area.