Keeping it Hot (the food, that is!)

It doesn’t matter who you are, or which side of the table you’re on, we all have the same goal: love at first bite. And if you’re the chef, owner, manager, or all of the above, you just want to hear those words: “Oh my…that was amazing!”

That first impression, that first bite, sets the stage for the amazing dining experience you strive to create. Every well-planned step to the table provides the opportunity to deliver it.

However you cook, bake, or fry impacts how to properly maintain both the temperature and just-cooked texture you want to serve. With that in mind, it’s important to consider features such as adjustable temperature, humidity, and built-in timers when you choose hot holding equipment.

Start with a cozy warm foundation.

Ambient temperature plates draw heat from hot foods the second they’re plated. Pre-heated plates prevent that immediate heat loss. The Hatco PW Plate Warmer holds up to 25 pre-heated serving plates to help extend the hot holding times of most foods. 

The warmer has a doorless, open design that makes it easy for staff to clean, load and retrieve plates.

Safely hold pre-prepped bulk foods.

The Universal Heated Holding Cabinet model UHS-12 keeps food fresh and hot for hours with FWE’s patented Humi-Temp heat and humidity system. With this system, humidity can be added when needed to condition circulated heat. Hot, moist air gently circulates throughout the interior of the cabinet for consistent temperatures.

This versatile cabinet holds 18" x 26" sheet pans or GN food pans on fully adjustable tray slides. Controls are up-front, easy to read and set, and include a full-range thermostat that continuously reads cabinet temperature - even without a power source.

Hold hot items right where you need them.

Keep foods like rolls, tortilla chips, or proteins like fried chicken fresh, hot, and ready for serving in the Hatco HDW-B Built-In Warming Drawer.

Each warming drawer comes with a food pan, a recessed individual thermostatic control, temperature monitor, adjustable vent slides, and its own power switch. Heavy-duty drawer slides with nylon rollers keep each drawer working reliably smooth. Warming drawers are also offered in free-standing models.

 

Keep crispy menu items crispy.

Retaining crispy food textures and protecting against mushiness during holding can be a big challenge. Built for the task, Merco CrispyMax is an effective holding solution for keeping food crispy and at the right temperature while preserving its overall quality. Designed to hold crispy products out of an oven as well as a fryer, CrispyMax can be used for a wide range of products including fries, nachos, and chicken tenders.

Countertop and drop-in CrispyMax models are available in four sizes that are user-friendly, quick to heat up, and easy to clean. Each features an open well that has perforations to allow air to circulate around the food product.

 

Maintain juiciness.

The MercoMax™ Visual Holding Cabinet  preserves the quality of juicy foods during peak serving periods. Integrated tray seals maintain the right humidity level for each food product, keeping them hot, tender, and juicy. Use without the tray seals for crispy food holding.

When food has reached its maximum holding time and is no longer suitable for serving, audible and visual alarms alert the crew that it’s time to remove any remaining product.

 

 

Protect hot, plated foods from above.

Strip heaters keep hot food hot with radiant heat from above, but without continuing the cooking process. Hatco Glo-Ray Strip Heaters are easy to install and work well for a kitchen’s back-of-house areas, waitstaff pickup stations, and customer serving counters.

These infrared heaters keep hot food hot with radiant heat from above to provide a warm landing area between 140-160° F for plated food. 

To learn more about strip heaters and how to choose the best Hatco strip heater model for your operation, click here.

Hatco Decorative Heat Lamps provide radiant heat to briefly hold food warm at kitchen work areas, wait staff pickup stations, or customer serving points. Versatile enough for almost any location, Hatco decorative lamps are available in a selection of virtually unlimited personalized choices to enhance your décor.

 

Safeguard hot foods from below.

If your orders tend to be large and plating takes longer, you may also want to consider a base heat, such as FWE's Heated Holding Shelves.

We can help you maintain amazing quality while keeping food hot from kitchen to table. To talk about your heat-retention challenges and find solutions tailored specifically to your operation, contact us.