Hot food tables, sometimes referred to as steam tables, are used by restaurants, caterers, hotels, buffets, cafeterias and other foodservice professionals to maintain safe hot food temperatures. These tables hold hot food at ideal serving temperatures throughout meal service by way of either moist or dry heating, depending on whether or not water is used in the pan or well above the heat source. They are not intended to cook nor warm food from cold temperatures.
Both sealed and open well steam tables can utilize moist heating, which involves using water to create steam to gently heat the pans from underneath. Water is poured into sealed well units and a food pan is set into the opening. Open well units may use wet or dry heat. If moist heat is required, a double pan system is required. A deep water pan is inset into the opening, and a shallow food pan is set above the water pan. Only open well steam tables can use dry heating, which is the process of heating the pans without water