Food pans are an extremely versatile part of your commercial kitchen.
Often used during food preparation as well as for food displays, they are a service essential. But where do you start? Our buying guide will show you the different types of pans, sizes and material options to best suit your business.
Food Pan Size Guide & Layout Options:
Most food pans follow the Gastronom size guidelines, a unique size standard for containers used in the catering industry. The standard unit (GN1/1) approximately measures 650 × 530 mm, and all other sizes are calculated as a variation of these dimensions. The main idea behind a standardised sizing system is to offer kitchen and caterers with an interchangeable and versatile system, which allows a single pan to be transferred across a variety of appliances.
Your specific food pan layout/sizing options will depend on your intended use and quantities you expect to deliver. At Taldara our food pans vary from GN1/1 to GN 1/9 and require an adaptor bar key to connect the food pans together, either lengthwise (1/1) or widthwise (2/1).
Below are some of the most common food pan layouts used in commercial kitchens and catering:
Depths & Capacities
In addition to various dimensions, food pans are also available in different depths, offering a large range of configuration options for your kitchen (Taldara food pans vary from 25mm to 200mm deep across the range).
Food Pan Depth Variations
The capacity/size/depth charts below show the different capacities available per GN size. This is a general guide only, capacities may vary slightly according to the manufacturer:
Pan Size |
Pan dimensions |
Pan Depth |
Pan capacity |
Full size: 1/1 |
530 x 325 |
25mm |
4.0 Lt |
65mm |
8.5 Lt |
||
100mm |
13.0 Lt |
||
150mm |
19.5 Lt |
||
200mm |
25.5 Lt |
||
Half-size 1/2 |
325 x 265 |
25mm |
1.8 Lt |
65mm |
3.9 Lt |
||
100mm |
6.5 Lt |
||
150mm |
9.0 Lt |
||
200mm |
11.5 Lt |
||
Third size 1/3 |
325 x 175 |
65mm |
2.5 Lt |
100mm |
4.0 Lt |
||
150mm |
5.5 Lt |
||
200mm |
7.0 Lt |
||
1/4 size |
265 x 162 |
65mm |
1.5 Lt |
100mm |
3.0 Lt |
||
150mm |
4.5 Lt |
||
1/6 size |
176 x 162 |
65mm |
1.0 Lt |
100mm |
2.0 Lt |
||
150mm |
2.5 Lt |
||
1/9 size |
176 x 108 |
65mm |
0.6 Lt |
100mm |
1.0 Lt |
Materials
Food pans are available in many different materials including stainless steel and polymers (plastics such as polypropylene or polycarbonate), allowing for flexibility across hot and cold food stations.
Stainless Steel Food Pans
Ideal for extreme temperature changes, stainless steel moves effortlessly from the freezer to the oven. It is very common in restaurants who use cook-chill techniques, as well as catering and buffet food displays. Stainless steel also offers high resistance to scratches and is easy to clean.
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Polypropylene Food Pans
Polypropylene food pans are translucent making them ideal for fast identification and food storage, they're also microwave-safe and can withstand temperatures of -40oC to 70oC.
Polypropylene-based food pans are an economical option for preparation tables, takeaway bars, vending carts and food trucks. They are ideal for cold storage, are BPA free, shatterproof, resistant to oils and food acids, and easy to clean.
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Polycarbonate Food Pans
Polycarbonate pans are designed to be non-porous and non-stick, making cleaning easier and preventing flavour transfer. They are also shatter-resistant and resilient in the busiest of kitchens. Most are safe for foods are up to 100oC and are dishwasher and microwave safe. They are ideal for cold food display. Available in clear or black finishes.
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Additional features
Food pans also come with additional features designed to enhance your kitchen workflow. The most common features are:
- Anti-jam stacking (all Taldara food pans have this feature)
- Reinforced rims
- External graduation for better visibility