Commercial cheese melters are a smart investment for any restaurant that serves nachos, open sandwiches or caramelized dishes. They give dishes that delicious final touch of melted, bubbling cheese without overcooking the food.
But as a restaurant owner, it can be challenging to find the right model. Let's explore eight of our best-selling melters to make your decision easier.
What are Commercial Cheese Melters?
A cheese melter is designed to melt cheese quickly and evenly, but it can also be used to brown or gratinate dishes to give them a caramelized finish or to reheat or finish foods before serving them to customers.
You can use them to:
- Give pasta and casserole dishes a bubbly finish
- Melt cheese on burgers, quesadillas, nachos or subs
- Brown the top of gratin dishes
Melters have an open-fronted design, which allows for easy access and quick operation. They use overhead radiant heat to direct heat downward onto the food. Staff can easily adjust the temperature and intensity to control the degree of melting and browning.
Options are available for both electric and gas models, so you can find a unit that will fit seamlessly in your kitchen.
8 Commercial Cheese Melter Reviews
1.Admiral Craft BDCHM-36/NG
Admiral Craft's BDCHM-36/NG is a gas cheese melter for commercial use with 36,000 BTU. Ideal for finishing sandwiches, browning casseroles and melting nacho cheese, this one-piece broiler rack has a more compact design that is perfect for smaller kitchens.
This unit features a four-slot racking system and a stainless steel removable crumb tray that makes clean-up quick and easy.
If you need a melter that can handle larger volumes of dishes, this model is ideal for your restaurant.
2.Admiral Craft CHM-1200W
The CHM-1200W from Admiral Craft is an electric unit that's 24" wide, which makes this another great option for kitchens with smaller footprints. Despite its small size, this unit works efficiently to melt and finish foods. That's all thanks to the insulated body that prevents heat from escaping from the melting chamber.
The infinite switch gives you precise control over the intensity of the heat, and the multi-position food rack allows you to set the food at the ideal distance from the heat source.
This unit has a standard 15-minute timer and 6" cool-to-touch bakelite handles.
For smaller cafes, food trucks and diners, a compact unit like this will help you serve tasty dishes without a huge investment or having to carve large space in your kitchen.
3.Admiral Craft CHM-2400W
Admiral Craft's CHM-2400W is a more powerful version of the previous 1200W model. The metal sheath heating element makes quick work of melting cheese, tasting nachos and finishing dishes.
The insulated body prevents heat from escaping the melting chamber, so staff can finish food and serve customers faster.
Like the previous model, this unit also has an infinite switch that gives you more precise control over the heat intensity. The multi-position food rack makes it easy to position the food the perfect distance from the heat source.
Boasting 2400W of power, this is a unit that can stand up to higher-volume kitchens.
4.Admiral Craft CHM-4350W
The most powerful electric unit from Admiral Craft - the 4350W - is a compact countertop cheese melter that's ideal for larger establishments that need to do a lot of melting and browning.
The insulated body keeps the heat inside of the melting chamber, and like other units in this lineup, you have precise control over the heat intensity.
This unit is only slightly larger than the 2400W or 1200W options, with dimensions of 17.75" x 31.5" x 18.5." Yet it's still compact enough for use in a smaller kitchen.
5.Vulcan VICM24
The VICM24 is a gas commercial cheese melter from Vulcan with a heavy-duty design that can stand up to heavy use. Operating at 20,000 BTU, this model melts cheese and finishes dishes quickly.
This 24" unit has a single infrared burner and a 3-position rack with a removable pan for easy use. The stainless steel interior makes clean-up and maintenance a breeze.
Each unit comes with wall mounting brackets and removable spillage pans.
Vulcan also includes a one-year limited parts and labor warranty.
For kitchens with gas lines, this unit is a great option.
6.Vulcan VICM60
Looking for more powerful gas cheese melters? The VICM60 operates at 50,000 BTU and has heavy-duty pre-mix atmospheric infrared burners.
It's ideal for larger kitchens that routinely finish casseroles, brown sandwiches or melt cheese on soup. The heavy-duty rack has three positions, and the removable 60" spillage pan makes operation and cleanup easy.
A stainless steel interior means that this unit is highly durable and easy to clean.
Vulcan includes wall mounting brackets and a one-year limited parts and labor warranty. This unit holds certifications from CSA Star, NSF and CSA Flame.
7.Wolf WICM36
Wolf's WICM36 boasts a 30,000 BTU infrared burner and a 3-position rack, making this a versatile unit for restaurants.
The stainless steel design adds to the durability of this unit and makes it easy to clean.
The WICM36 also offers:
- Standing pilot ignition system
- Removable full-width spillage pans
- Gas pressure regulator
- ¾" rear gas connection
- 4" chrome-plated legs with adjustable feet
Wolf includes wall mounting brackets with this model as well as a one year limited parts and labor warranty.
8.Southbend Platinum Heavy Duty Cheesemelter
Southbend's Platinum Heavy Duty Cheesemelter is a 36" gas cheese melter that features:
- 4 infrared burners
- 5-position rack guides
- 90-second preheat time
- Dual valve control for left and right operation
- Chrome-plated rack
- 40,000 BTU capacity
Stainless steel construction makes this unit reliable and durable. This unit comes as a range mounted to a flue riser, but you can purchase this model as a countertop unit or wall mount for an additional charge.
Southbend offers a 1-year limited parts and labor warranty with this model, which is ideal for larger commercial kitchens.
The Takeaway
Cheese melters are a valuable addition to any commercial kitchen. They're excellent for finishing and browning dishes without overcooking them.
Whether you have a large kitchen or a compact layout, you're sure to find a model that will meet your needs on our list above.
Want to browse and compare more models? View our complete catalog of cheesemelters.