Types of Countertop Warmers, Soup Kettles, and Rethermalizers

• Designed to hold food that is already heated to the appropriate serving temperature.
• Holds a wide range of food such as vegetables, pasta, hot dogs, eggs, and bacon.
• Ideal for concession stands, buffets, caterers, food trucks, and any establishment that periodically needs to keep food hot and ready-to-serve for several hours.
• Great for self-service applications.
• Also great for back-of-the-house applications to hold prepared foods, which saves space in the kitchen and improves ticket times.
• Available in a variety sizes to accommodate a wide range of needs.

• Designed to hold food that is already heated to the appropriate serving temperature.
• Best suited for liquid-based foods like soups, stews, sauces, and gravies.
• Rounded edges prevent contents from becoming stuck in corners.
• Ideal for delis, cafeterias, quick-service restaurants, and any establishment that periodically needs to keep food hot and ready-to-serve for several hours.
• Great for soup and salad stations.
• Also great for back-of-the-house applications to hold prepared foods, which saves space in the kitchen and improves ticket times.

• Reheat chilled or frozen foods to a safe serving temperature.
• Eliminate the need for thawing or defrosting foods, while also ensuring that foods are quickly carried through the danger zone to a holding temperature.
• Ideal for kitchens that prepare and freeze large batches of food ahead of time.
• Best suited for frozen prepared foods like soup, sauces, and vegetables.
• Can be used to thaw packaged meats.
• Come in both countertop and floor models.

Capacity is the most important factor to consider with food warmers. Look for each warmer's capacity prior to purchase so you know that it can accommodate your needs. Soup kettles can range from 4 quarts to 22 quarts, while countertop warmers are usually classified by the size and number of pans they hold.

Some countertop warmers can fit a combination of different size pans and insets. This is helpful for restaurant kitchens that need to keep certain foods together in one location for ease-of-serving or space constraints. A full-size warmer could hold one full-size pan, two half-size pans, three 1/3 pans, or it could fit one 2/3 pan and one 1/3 pan. There are many food pan sizes to create a layout that works well for your needs.

Pan depths also vary from 3/4" to 8" or more. Look at the depth of your warmer, leaving at least one inch of space for water, to determine the depths your pans should have.

Food can fall into the danger zone if water levels are too low in your countertop warmer and the machine itself can be damaged. To help your staff monitor and maintain more than one warmer along a buffet line, some units include a water indicator light that turns on when the water gets too low in the machine. When the low water indicator light comes on, your staff will know it's time to refill the machine without the hassle of lifting out pans of food to check the water level. This also reduces the chance for cross-contamination by ensuring your staff is only moving food pans and refilling the well when absolutely necessary.