A warming cabinet keeps your foods at just the right temperature for consumers. With the right model, you can keep a freshly baked pizza warm, bread nice and soft, and other food items at adequate temperatures until they're served.
However, your need for a proofing cabinet will depend on the service you offer.
If you host a lot of events where you might need to keep dozens of plates warm because they need to be served at relatively the same time, warming cabinets are crucial to the service and experience you offer.
We're going to share reviews of the top warming cabinets in our catalog and a buying guide to help you find the right warming unit for you.
What to Look for When Buying Heated Holding Cabinets
Warming cabinets are an investment in your business, and you need to select the right model for your unique needs. A few of the options that you'll need to consider when going through the models below are:
- Heating system: Bulk heated cabinets are ideal for larger volumes of food. Passive moisture control models add moisture to the unit to prevent foods from drying out, and precision models give you further control over your internal moisture and humidity.
- Cabinet style: Reach-in models have front doors, and you'll reach into the unit to add or remove dishes. Pass-through units allow you to pass the food through the unit, connecting multiple spaces with ease.
- Insulation: How long will the cabinet keep your food warm? Better insulation helps reduce energy consumption and keeps food at the right temperature with a lower risk of drying out.
- Door style: Multiple door styles exist, such as solid, glass and Dutch options.
If you infrequently need a warming cabinet, you may want to choose models that are smaller and on casters.
7 Best Commercial Warming Cabinets Reviews
1. Atosa CookRite ATHC-9 Insulated Heater
The Atosa ATHC-9 holding cabinet is small yet robust, with holding spaces for nine 18" x 26" pans and a stainless steel design. Ten proof modes help you customize interior humidity levels, and heating is adjustable between 80°F and 220°F.
Foam insulation prevents heat loss and helps improve the unit's energy efficiency.
A transparent polycarbonate door has a unique 90° stay-open feature that makes it fast and easy to load the ATHC-9.
2. Turbo Air M3H24-1, 1 Solid Door Heated Cabinet
Turbo Air's M3H24-1 is a tall and slender cabinet with a height of 78" and a width of 30.75". Stainless steel and fully self-contained, you can control and monitor the system using digital temperature systems.
If you need to adjust the temperature up or down, you can do so with 140°F ~ 18°F range options.
An internal, ducted fan air distribution system adds moisture to the unit's interior to prevent food from drying out. Internal wire shelves are made with PVC-coated materials and are quick and easy to adjust.
3. Turbo Air M3H47-2-G-TS, 2 Glass Doors Heated Cabinet
The Turbo Air M3H47-2-G-TS is a more compact hot holding cabinet with a durable design and the ability to hold temperatures at 140°F to 180°F.
This unit features:
- A digital temperature control and monitoring system to ensure that food is held at the appropriate temperature.
- Adjustable, coated wire shelving.
- A ducted fan air distribution system.
- 4" swivel casters with locks for easy transport.
Featuring stainless steel construction, this is a unit that will give your establishment many years of use.
4. Carter-Hoffmann BB1600, Door Heated Banquet Cabinet
If your establishment provides catering services, the Carter-Hoffman BB1600 is a fitting choice for keeping food at safe temperatures while serving at events.
This food warming cabinet is mobile and ideal for holding pre-plated food (up to 150 covered plates). It's well-insulated, too, featuring 1" thick, wrap-around fiberglass insulation and 1.5" thick insulation on top.
A stainless steel construction ensures durability, and the 6" built-in casters allow for easy transport. Inside, you'll find nickel-plated, removable wire shelves. The canned fuel drawers can easily be accessed without opening the cabinet.
Capable of heating up to 200°F in 20 minutes, this unit is an optimal choice for catering.
5. Hatco FS3HAC-4226, Air Curtain Heated Display Cabinet
Hatco's FS3HAC-4226 is an air curtain heated cabinet designed to be a self-service model with three adjustable shelves, digital controls and sliding rear doors.
It's called a heated air "curtain" because the cabinet forces warm air downward, just like a cabinet.
For flexibility and convenience, you can install the removable shelves horizontally or slanted, and each shelf has a removable sign holder.
For easy cleaning and maintenance, this model has a built-in crumb tray and a powder-coated finish. Convenient features like LED interior lights and removable glass sides make this model a great addition to your kitchen.
6. Turbo Air PRO-77H-G 3 Glass Doors Heated Cabinet
The Turbo Air PRO-77H-G is a food-holding cabinet offering a holding temperature range of 140°F to 180°F.
This unit features:
- Ducted fan air distribution system
- Self-closing doors with a stay-open function at 120 degrees
- Swivel casters with locks for easy repositioning in the kitchen
- LED interior lighting with a dimming option
The digital temperature control and monitor system ensures food is held at safe temperatures. With three glass doors, 9 shelves, and 73.9 cubic feet of storage space, this heated cabinet is ideal for larger operations.
7. Vulcan VBP5ES, Mobile Heated Holding Cabinet
Vulcan's VBP5ES is a mobile-heated holding cabinet with adjustable tray slides for flexible storage options. Offering an ambient temperature range of up to 190°F, this proofing cabinet is ideal for maintaining an optimal food storage environment.
The unit comes equipped with a forced air blower, recessed control panel, and side-mounted push handles for convenient use. An under-counter design and stainless steel construction ensure durability and easy integration into just about any commercial kitchen.
Summary
As the food service industry continues to lean more towards curbside, delivery, and take-out options, warming cabinets have become essential in commercial kitchens. They allow restaurants to keep foods at safe serving temperatures and preserve that "just cooked" flavor without compromising on efficiency. The 10 models above are some of our top sellers and reliable options for restaurants of all sizes.