In almost all commercial kitchens, space is at a premium and (let's be honest) nearly non-existent in most cases. And, while everyone in the foodservice industry recognizes the value of a piping hot plate to serve tasty food on, many kitchens overlook or skimp on plate warming solutions due to space concerns. But thanks to these three innovative space-saving solutions, you don’t need a supersized kitchen or a huge budget to preheat your plates.
1. Plate warming cabinets
Depending on your commercial kitchen’s size and configuration, a plate warming cabinet may be the answer for you. But, the catch is, you need to have space for it within convenient reach of your serving line. That way, you can grab plates easily. If you fit this description, check out Hatco's energy-efficient plate warming cabinet. And because kitchen configurations come in all shapes and sizes, our cabinet’s available as a countertop, built-in or wall-mounted solution. It holds up to 25 plates, and you can daisy-chain up to three in a series to preheat even more plates. The doorless design allows for easy retrieval, so you can grab your plates fast when peak meal times call for it.
2. Portable heated shelves
We all know heat rises, right? With that concept in mind, Hatco created heated shelves that use conductive heat.These puppies generate and transfer heat from their surface so it rises up and around your plates, keeping them nice and toasty. And the best part? You can put them anywhere. Unlike other portable shelves, these are made with aluminum extrusions, so they’re strong and sturdy enough to carry their weight — which means a bigger stack of heated plates. They come fully-loaded, with built-in thermostatic controls, so you’re in the driver’s seat. Whether you want to warm up a pizza, or heat a tray full of mouth-watering apps, they come in different shapes and sizes to keep you (and your customers) happy.
3. Supplemental strip heater
This one’s not a standalone solution, but if you really want to pack a punch, you can add strip heaters for a supplemental heat source. How do these work, you ask? Good question. Using convection heat, these warmers emit heat through the air, and plates retain that heat for maximum food holding at close range. However, mounting strip heaters overhead is a big no-no, since only the top plates stay hot that way. But, if you mount them behind a stack of plates, you’re in business. And since Hatco never forgets about the importance of versatility, you can mount our Infra-Black heaters horizontally or vertically on the back wall of cabinets. But the versatility doesn’t end there. You can also get them in single or dual models, in the event you need a deeper holding area.
Want more ideas to help you maximize your space and keep the heat?
Preventing food from losing steam is an important part of keeping customers happy and preserving food’s integrity. Beyond plate warming solutions, there’s a whole menu of heat-preserving, space-saving kitchen equipment to help you make the most of your commercial kitchen space. Check them out!
