What Is Food Warmer?
A Food Warmer Is typically a table-top device used to maintain the serving temperature of prepared food. It is used both in homes and restaurants.
Whether you are cooking for a buffet, catering an event, or running a food truck, food warmers are useful when preparing large quantities of food for crowds. They ensure you are serving the freshest food possible to your guests while also helping your staff operate more efficiently.
Purpose of Food Warmers
The purpose of food warmers is to keep food temperatures above the Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point (HACCP) danger zone. The HACCP danger zone is identified as 41°F to 135°F, which is the temperature range where most pathogens will multiply in foods. Between 70°F and 125°F, pathogens grow most rapidly. Therefore, food that is held between 41°F and 135°F may become time-temperature abused and could lead to serious or fatal illnesses in guests.
Types Of Food Warmers
Food warmers and rethermalizers can help to keep food at safe holding temperatures. Food warmers keep hot, prepared food above the danger zone; chilled or frozen food that is placed in a warmer will not reheat and rise above the danger zone, resulting in time-temperature abuse. If you are reheating food, it must be warmed by other means (e.g. a stovetop, an oven), then placed in a warmer. Unlike regular food warmers, rethermalizers can heat chilled or frozen foods through the danger zone to a safe holding temperature in the same unit.
Food Warmers
- 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.
Soup Kettle Warmers
- 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.
Rethermalizers
- 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.
Important Factors for Food Warmers
When choosing which countertop food warmer or rethermalizer is right for you, the unit’s capacity, the food pan or inset configurations needed, the control type, and any included safety features are all factors to consider prior to purchasing.
Capacity
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.
Pan Configurations and Depths
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.
Control Type
Food warmers typically come with two options for control type: infinite and thermostatic.
What Temperature Is a Food Warmer?
Take Temperatures
Be aware that some warmers only hold food at 110 °F to 120 °F, so check the product label to make sure your warmer has the capability to hold foods at 140 °F or warmer. This is the temperature that’s required to keep bacteria at bay.
How Long Can You Keep Food In A Warmer?
A minimum temperature of 135 degrees for a maximum of 8 hours, or a minimum temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit indefinitely also would be adequate to ensure food safety.
Advantages Of Food Warmers:
Keeps The Food Fresh
Food Remains Warm
Lower Chances Of Sickness
Easy To Clean
Food Warmer Prices In Ghana:
Cooking Lunch Box/Portable Electric Lunch Box / Food Warmer GH₵ 160.00
SQ Professional Food Warmer GH₵ 200.00
Food Warmer Morphy Richards GH₵ 550.00
Insulated Food Warmer GH₵ 600.00
Food Warmer Stainless Steel GH₵ 650.00
Commercial Food Warmer GH₵ 11,000.00