Best Commercial Steam Tables of 2026
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Commercial steam tables are essential for any restaurant or catering business that serves large quantities of food. These tables are designed to keep food at a safe and consistent temperature, ensuring that it remains fresh and delicious for your customers. They come in a variety of sizes and configurations, allowing you to choose the perfect one for your specific needs. Whether you need a small countertop model or a larger, freestanding unit, there is a commercial steam table that will work for you. With durable construction and easy-to-use controls, these tables are a must-have for any foodservice operation.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Commercial Steam Tables
Kratos 3-Well Electric Steam Table
The Kratos Electric Steam Table is designed to enhance your food service experience. With three 8-inch deep wells, it allows you to hold multiple full-sized food pans, ensuring that your dishes are always ready to serve. The included polyethylene cutting board provides a convenient prep area, making it easy to prepare meals on-site. Its sturdy stainless steel construction ensures durability for long-term commercial use, while the galvanized steel undershelf offers additional storage for your kitchen essentials. Each well features independent control knobs, allowing you to adjust the temperature for each dish easily.
Kratos 28W-111 4-Well Commercial Steam Table
The Kratos 4-Well Steam Table is designed to keep your food warm and ready to serve, making it perfect for busy kitchens and catering events. With four independently controlled wells, you can heat different dishes at once, giving you flexibility and control over your menu. Its durable stainless steel build ensures long-lasting performance, even in high-volume settings. Plus, the convenient galvanized steel undershelf offers extra storage space for your kitchen supplies. This steam table is a practical choice to help you maintain food quality and streamline your serving process.
Wilprep 3 Well Commercial Food Warmer 1500W
The Wilprep Food Warmer is designed to make keeping your dishes warm and fresh easy. Its stainless steel build is durable and resistant to stains and corrosion, so it stays looking good even with heavy use. The built-in cutting board and adjustable height help you prep ingredients right at the table, saving you time and effort. With two powerful heating tubes, this warmer heats food quickly and evenly, so your meals stay at the perfect temperature. Plus, you can control the heat for each well independently, allowing you to keep different dishes warm without overcooking. This makes it a great tool for catering, buffets, or restaurant use.
Wilprep 2 Well Commercial Food Warmer 1000W
The Wilprep Food Warmer is designed to keep your meals warm and fresh with its powerful 1000W heating system that heats quickly and evenly. You can easily control the temperature for each well separately, setting it anywhere from 0 to 200°F, which means you can keep everything from delicate pastries to hearty dishes at the perfect serving temperature. Made with durable stainless steel, this warmer resists stains and corrosion, ensuring long-lasting use. Plus, it features a built-in cutting board and adjustable height, making food prep convenient and comfortable right at the table. This makes it a great choice for catering, buffets, or busy restaurants.
Kratos 28W-112 Electric Steam Table
The Kratos 4-Well Steam Table is designed to keep your food warm and ready to serve, whether you need dry or moist heat. With four separate wells, you can heat different dishes at the same time, giving you great flexibility during busy service times. The stainless steel construction ensures this unit will hold up well in demanding commercial environments, while the galvanized steel undershelf provides handy storage for your supplies. Plus, it comes with a built-in cutting board, making it a practical choice for both warming and prepping food in one convenient station.
Wilprep 3 Well 1500W Commercial Food Warmer
The Wilprep 3 Well Warmer is designed to keep your food fresh and ready with fast, even heating thanks to its dual stainless steel heating tubes. You can easily control the temperature for each well independently, setting it anywhere from 0 to 200°F, so your dishes stay perfectly warm without overcooking. The stainless steel body is durable, resistant to stains and corrosion, making it safe and easy to use in any busy kitchen. Plus, it features an insulated design that keeps your meals hot longer while saving energy, so you get efficient warmth with less electricity.
Kratos 2-Well Electric Steam Table
The Kratos Electric Steam Table is designed to enhance your food service experience. With two deep open wells, it easily holds full-sized food pans, making it perfect for buffets or cafeterias. You’ll appreciate the stainless steel overshelf with an acrylic sneeze guard, ensuring food safety while keeping items within reach. Additionally, the 8" deep polyethylene cutting board provides a convenient space for food preparation, streamlining your workflow. Its durable stainless steel construction and galvanized steel undershelf offer both strength and extra storage, making this steam table a reliable choice for busy environments.
Wilprep 2-Well 7000BTU Natural Gas Steam Table
The Wilprep 2-Well Gas Warmer is designed to keep your dishes hot and fresh with two burners delivering a total of 7000 BTUs. This means you can serve meals that taste just right every time. You get separate knobs for each well, so you can easily adjust the temperature for different foods—perfect for keeping soup hot while gently warming sauces. Made from durable stainless steel, this unit resists stains and corrosion, making it easy to clean and maintain. Plus, it includes a large cutting board and adjustable height, so you can prepare ingredients right at your station. It also offers the flexibility to switch from natural gas to propane if needed.
Kratos 43" Steam Table Overshelf with Sneezeguard
The Kratos Steam Table Overshelf is a practical addition to your Kratos electric steam table. It gives you extra space to store supplies or serve food, helping you stay organized and efficient. The built-in acrylic sneeze guard is designed to keep your food safe by protecting it from germs and contaminants. Made from durable stainless steel, this overshelf is built to last and withstand daily use. Plus, it comes with pre-drilled holes, making installation quick and hassle-free. This upgrade is perfect if you want to improve your existing Kratos 3 well electric steam table setup with added convenience and safety.
Chromalox 342140 Steam Table Element
The Chromalox Steam Table Element is designed to keep your food warm and ready to serve. This heating element fits commercial steam tables, making it ideal for professional kitchens. With a power rating of 1000 watts at 208 volts, it provides consistent and reliable heat, ensuring your dishes stay at the perfect temperature. Plus, the option for 2nd Day Air shipping from Global Appliance means you can get your replacement or new element quickly, minimizing downtime in your kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a commercial steam table used for?
A commercial steam table is used to keep hot foods at a safe holding temperature in high-volume businesses like kitchens, buffets, cafeterias, or hotels. It features compartments to hold full-size or smaller pans and is designed for efficient food service.
2. How hot does a commercial steam table get?
A commercial steam table can maintain food at a temperature above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring that it remains hot and safe for consumption.
3. What are the different types of steam tables?
There are two commonly used types of steam tables: saturated steam tables and superheated steam tables. These tables are used to determine the properties of steam and are not related to commercial food-holding equipment.
4. How long does food last on a steam table?
There is no set time limit for how long food can be held on a steam table as long as it maintains its temperature above the danger zone. However, it is important to consider food quality and freshness when deciding how long to keep food on a steam table.
5. What can you cook in a commercial steamer?
A commercial steamer can be used to cook a variety of foods, including vegetables, meat, fish, tortillas, eggs, and rice. It is a versatile piece of equipment that can quickly cook or reheat different types of food while retaining their nutrition, color, moisture, and texture.
6. Can you use a steam table without water?
Using a steam table without water in the reservoir can cause uneven heating and hot spots, potentially leading to burns or food quality issues. It is important to always use water in the steam table reservoir and bring it to the appropriate holding temperature before adding food pans.
7. How do you keep food crispy in a steam table?
To keep food crispy in a steam table, you can take the following steps: undercook vegetables slightly, cook small batches, serve vegetables in 2-inch pans, and lightly oil the bottom of the pan and stir the vegetables before placing them in the steam table.
8. Is it safe to reheat cold food on a buffet steam table?
It is not safe to reheat cold food on a buffet steam table. Reheating food on a steam table or buffet line can take too long and may result in dangerous bacterial contamination. It is important to handle and reheat food safely to prevent foodborne illnesses.
During our commercial steam table research, we found 24 commercial steam table products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 2,515 customer reviews through our big data system to write the commercial steam tables list. We found that most customers choose commercial steam tables with an average price of $313.32.
The commercial steam tables are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of commercial steam tables, including Kratos, Wilprep, Chromalox. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 254 consumers with an average rating of 4.5.
Brian Howie is a content writer and senior industrial designer. After graduation from Westminster College, he has been engaged in product design and manufacturing for 18 years. Brian Howie has always found great pleasure in designing industrial products and sharing his ideas and experience online.