If you’ve had any foodservice training, you know the importance of keeping food in the proper temperature zone to avoid the risk of food borne illness. Beyond the health risk, your customers can tell you that food tastes better and looks more appealing when it’s at the right temperature and kept moist and fresh. While buffet style serving has been discontinued for the most part due to the pandemic, as different regions within the US reopen restaurants and other foodservice outlets, buffets are making a comeback. If you plan on re-establishing a buffet or thinking of adding one to your restaurant or dining service, you will need to do some research on all the necessary foodservice equipment and buffet service supplies to find the right products or your dining outlet.
Knowing the importance of keeping your hot foods fresh as well as at safe serving temperatures, we’ve reviewed our food warmers, heated shelves, buffet servers, hot plates and other warming equipment and below are a few of our most popular value-priced buffet food warming items:
Electric Chafers & Buffet Warmers from Cadco – You’ll find that these warmers offer you a great deal of versatility because the warming surface can be used on its own or with the steam table pan holder and pans. Choose from the WTBS-3RT with three 1/3 sized steam table pans or the WTBS-2RT with two half sized steam table pans, both units are 26”W x 13-1/4”H x 15-1/4”D. The warming surface, with variable heat control, is 20-1/2” x 14” and can accommodate a full sized steam table pan, two half sized or three 1/3rd size pans. The roll top lid fits over the steam pan holder and allows customers to easily see and access contents and keeps fresh by holding moisture and heat inside.
Electric Food Warmer from Winco – Electric food warmers are great for the buffet because you can be sure that the contents will stay at a consistent temperature for the entire event or day part. The Winco FW-S500 is a very well-priced countertop food warmer that holds a full size pan up to 6” deep. To allow for a variety of foods, there are three temperature settings; low / 140 degrees, medium / 170 degrees or high / 200 degrees. It has a heavy-duty stainless steel body which provides a clean presentation for front of the house events as well as increases longevity for many years of service.
8-quart Chafer from Winco – When electricity isn’t available, the best food warming and serving option is a chafer. The Winco C-4080 features stainless steel construction for an attractive and durable look. With an 8 quart capacity, it will hold a full sized hotel pan, two half sized pans or three 1/3rd sized pans. Additionally, this chafer features a folding frame, an added bonus for convenient storage and quick tear down. When you order the Winco C-4080, you receive the water pan, food pan, frame featuring two build -in cover clips to hold the lid upright, and two fuel holders.
Finally, if you want to add cooking capabilities to your buffet, these Portable Hot Plates & Ranges from Cadco are a great value priced option. The KR-S2 Buffet Range is a single burner cast iron range that features a 7-1/8” heavy duty cast iron element. This buffet range is ideal to hold foods at a simmer or even boiling and is safer than a butane stove because there is no open flame. The metal housing is easy to clean and the 11-1/2” x 14” x 3”H takes up a minimal amount of space on your buffet. Hotplates are an easy way to finish pastas and sauce, cook eggs or many other foods. Cadco has a single hot plate, the CSR-1T or a double hot plate, the CDR-1T. Both units feature a durable stainless steel surface, easy-to-operate infinite controls, 6” heating elements and power light to know that the burner is on. With a minimal investment, you can add made to order omelets, pastas and other menu items to your buffet and elevate your customers dining experience.
