Hot Food Bars - Bain Maries

95 products

Hot food bars, also known as bain maries, are designed to hold cooked food at serving temperature. Ideal for displaying your products such as roast meats, fried food, curries and more to catch the attention of potential customers walking past. At Commercial Equipment Online we offer a range of quality commercial hot food displays for your restaurant or shop in a variety of sizes and options including straight glass, curved glass, square glass and open bain maries, there is a style and size to suit all requirements.

Hot food bars are one style of commercial bain marie. To compare every style, including refrigerated display bars and counter top units, see our full range of bain maries.

95 products

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Buying guide

Choosing a hot food bar

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Styles of hot food bar

  • Straight, curved or square glass display bars, in single or double rows of pans
  • Open bain maries with no glass, for serving from behind the counter
  • Countertop bain maries with round pots or gastronorm pans
  • Countertop hot food displays

Compare every style, including chilled bars, in bain maries.

What is the difference between a bain marie and a hot food bar?

A bain marie holds food in pans over gentle heat. A hot food bar is a bain marie built into a display, with glass so customers can see the food while staff serve from behind.

Wet or dry heat?

A wet bain marie heats a water bath under the pans, which gives gentle, even heat and stops food drying out, but the water needs topping up. A dry bain marie heats the pans directly, with no water to manage.

How many pans do I need?

Count the dishes you want on show at once. The display bars on this page run from 4 to 12 pans, in single or double rows, and gastronorm pans can be split into smaller sizes so one bay holds two or three dishes.

What temperature should hot food be held at?

Hold hot food at 60C or hotter. A bain marie keeps food hot; it is not built to cook or reheat it, so heat food through before it goes in, and check it with a probe thermometer.

What about plated food at the pass?

For plates waiting at the pass or a carving station, see heat lamps.

Need a hand choosing?

Our AI assistant can answer questions on size, power and gas. Prefer a person? Email or call the team.

Ask our AI assistant

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Related types

All food display cabinets