Getting an electric food warmer for your food is absolutely necessary. Whether you run a buffet service, restaurant, bakery food truck, or convenience store, a food warmer is needed to protect and enhance the quality of your food, help boost the overall efficiency of service, and put smiles on the faces of your customers.
Why Electric Food Warmers?
Most people go for electric food openers, especially in areas with consistent and constant electricity. Electric steam tables are more portable and easier to install than gas food warmers. They are also better for catering and event planning where you might have to move the food about a lot.
So, how do you find an electric food warmer that meets your business's needs, accommodates the type of food you serve, and optimizes the efficiency of your business operations?
1. Assess Your Needs
Before buying an electric food warmer, you must first determine what you need it for. What kind of food do you serve? From countertop electric food warmers to steam tables, there are many types of food warmers, each with different features that make it better for different purposes.
Also, consider the volume of food you plan to serve. The number of dishes and portions you’ll serve will determine the size and capacity needed.
2. Size and Configuration Matter, Too
Based on your menu, you must decide how many food warmer trays you need. Food warmer trays separate a food warmer into sections so that different types of food can be preserved at different temperatures. For example, you can use a food warmer tray to separate the meats from the vegetables while keeping both warm at the same time.
Consider a Steam Table
A steam table is a type of food warmer that is specially designed for high-volume service. Some have one or two wells, but if you really expect a big crowd, go for a 4 well or a 5-well steam table.
3. Check the Material and Build Quality
When buying an electric food warmer, especially a steam table, it is best to choose a stainless steel model. Stainless Steel steam tables are durable, easy to clean, and corrosion-resistant.
Also, stainless steel is better for insulation: it retains heat better, which helps save energy.
4. Make Sure it Has All the Features and Accessories
Four main features must be present in an electric food warmer: temperature controls, sneeze guards, drain systems, and casters. Before buying a food warmer, inspect each of these features and ensure they work right.
Temperature Controls
There must be an individual control knob for each well in the steam table. This allows you to simultaneously store and serve different kinds of food at different temperatures.
Sneeze Guards
Sneeze guards on a food warmer are meant to protect the food from contamination. These come in really handy, especially because the steam table will likely be facing the customers most of the time.
A Drain System
A good drain system makes a steam table easy to clean. The water exits through the Watertem without any effort on your part, and it is easier to clean your equipment.
Casters
Casters allow you to move a food warmer around quickly and easily. This is very likely to happen in a buffet setting. The easier your steam table is to move around, the more efficient your service can be.
5. It Must Be Energy Efficient
Here’s a smart tip for buying electric food warmers: compare different models for energy efficiency and buy the one that is most energy efficient. The more energy-efficient your food warmer is, the more you can save on utility costs.
Some highly energy-efficient models may come with higher initial costs, but the energy savings you make over the long run can often more than justify the higher upfront investment.
6. Check Warranty Conditions
Ensure the food warmer meets local health and safety regulations. These, by the way, could vary from region to region or state to state.
Also, check for warranties or maintenance support from the manufacturer. You always want that support for your kitchen equipment if something goes wrong. Besides, a long warranty is a sign the the manufacturer is confident of their product.
7. Consider the Brand
Last but not least, choose reputable brands with positive reviews. These are more likely to give you a good product, and the customer service is likely to be more reliable, too.
Wilpreps Electric Food Warmers
Here’s a brief summary of all the above points: get your electric food warmer from Wilprep’s Kitchen. Wilprep provides a wide array of commercial food warmers of different sizes and other models and designs of food warmers to meet the needs of your restaurant or food business.
From countertop food warmers to steam tables Wilprep offers, you are guaranteed to find a suitable option with Wilprep’s kitchen.
Check out these recommendations from Wilprep’s Kitchen
12 x 20 Full Size Electric Countertop Food Warmer
This 1200W commercial food warmer is equipped with a stainless steel U-shaped heating tube, ensuring rapid and uniform heating, keeping your dishes fresh and ready to serve for extended periods.
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A stainless steel U-shaped heating tube for rapid and uniform heating.
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A depth of 6.3 inches easily accommodates generous portions of your favorite dishes
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.A built-in thermoprobe and convenient control knob providing temperature control from 0°F to 200°F
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This food warmer has an insulating ceramic fiber layer and stainless steel body for prolonged heating.
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Backed by ETL certification, this buffet server ensures superior corrosion resistance, easy maintenance, and a reliable cooking experience.
Bigger Option?
For a bigger option, you can check out the Dual Well Electric Countertop Food Warmer, which has 2 food warmer pans and two covers.
You can also check out the triple well option, with three wells of the same size and even greater heating capacity.
Wilprep’s Steam Tables
While a normal countertop food warmer works for a home kitchen or smaller food businesses, you will need a steam table for more large-scale operations or multiple dishes.
Steam tables can hold multiple pans of food, making them ideal for serving large crowds; are are more versatile and can use wet or dry heat to keep food warm and moist; and they are usually more durable and made from heavy-duty stainless steel.
2 Well Electric Steam Table with Storage Shelf
Wilprep's 2 Well electric steam table features two 304 stainless steel heating tubes designed for dry use, providing fast and even heating of up to 1000W to keep your dishes warm, fresh, and ready to serve.
Main Features
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Independent knob controls for each well, allowing you to set temperatures from 0 to 200°F.
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Integrated 30"x8" cutting board allows you to prep ingredients right at the table or change out pans.
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Certified by ETL, highly resistant to corrosion and stains.
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Aluminum silicate fiber insulation layer: keeps dishes hot and inviting with minimal electricity usage
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An accessible storage shelf, ideal for utensils, cookware, and more
Whether you’re catering an event, running a bustling restaurant, or hosting a buffet, this food warmer enhances your workflow seamlessly.
More Wells?
For an even bigger event, Wilprep has the following models:
The 3 Well Electric Steam Table with Storage Shelf which provides over 1500W,
The 4 Well Electric steam table with Storage Shelf
In addition to food warmers, Wilprep’s collection of kitchen equipment features a wide variety of commercial kitchen equipment, including commercial refrigerators, ice makers, ovens, and griddles, to help you expand your business, grow, and accomplish your food business goals.
