Lay out dish size and type to help narrow down the choice of commercial food warming equipment

Will you be keeping food warm in a deep roasting pan, a cookie sheet pan, a service tray or other dish? Will you need adjustable racks or just one size?

I recommend: Zesco Products has warming equipment in sizes for anything from soup to pizza to hot drinks. Burkett and Sons, Inc., has countertop warmers, plate warmers, cabinets and lamps. Red Hot Restaurant Equipment has food warmers for soups, nachos, hot dogs and more.

Determine the volume of food you need to warm with commercial food heaters

How much food is your business keeping warm? Do you need equipment for four trays or 20? How many warmers will your business require? Does your business require portable food warmers for banquets, buffets or other events? These questions will help you narrow down the equipment to buy.

I recommend: FWE Equipment Specifications has a chart of their commercial food heating equipment by capacity. Hubert has food warmers for all sizes, from compact to food warming drawers to commercial food heat lamps. AAA Commercial Products sells portable food warming equipment.

Make sure commercial food warmers keep temperatures steady for food safety

Get equipment that maintains the temperatures your food requires to remain at safety standards. Find the temperatures that will keep the food you are serving safe. Choose equipment that will store and remember the temperatures needed. Check out the national standards for food warming in your industry.

I recommend: Thermodyne Foodservice Products, including food warming carts, are built to maintain temperatures at safe levels. Mission Restaurant Supply sells food warming supply drawers with multiple temperature controls.