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What is a Holding Cabinet?

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  • #Equipment Spotlights & Guides
  • #Holding & Warming Equipment
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Pizza holding cabinet

Holding cabinets are used in the foodservice industry to ensure fully cooked foods are maintained at the proper temperature, keeping them fresh until served. Each unit can be adjusted to change the temperature, humidity and more for each specific food. You can find holding cabinets in many different sizes and styles. Take a closer look at the available options below.

10 Types of Holding Cabinets

There’s a wide variety of different holding cabinets available. Some of these options differ in terms of heating element, size and fan varieties. Take a closer look at each below:

  • Cook and Hold - This type of cabinet allows you to prep food the day before and hold it at the correct temperature. Typically, you can stick a probe into the food to measure a precise internal temperature that will automatically switch the unit from cooking to a hold temperature.
  • Heated Banquet - Using this unit is perfect for holding covered plates. It can hold 96, 128, 144, 180, 192, and 200. Most Heated Banquet Cabinets have an electric heater, though some have canned fuel heating. A big benefit to these is the included whiteboards and clipboards for instructions and labeling.
  • Institutional Holding - These units are often heavy-duty, customizable models made for school cafeterias, banquet halls, hospitals and other large operations.
  • Correctional Holding - Correctional holding units are used to hold correctional trays and specially designed to be sturdy and difficult to remove without the use of special tools. Anything that is normally screwed into place has either tamper-proof safety hardware installed or is welding in place. There are also door-locking mechanisms. 
  • Pizza Holding - There are two different types of holding units for pizzas. First are Pass-Thru Cabinets that help with production flow from the line to the checkout counter and then there are higher-capacity models that are built to accommodate boxes, bags and pans depending on the model
  • Holding and Display - In some instances, these are also referred to as Merchandising Cabinets. These typically have windows on 3 or more sides so the customer can view the product. Some can also rotate carousels to help keep the food evenly warmed.
  • Modular Holding - If you need a small, stackable holding unit for one or more bins, this is the option for you. These are commonly placed on the counter or a shelf holding cooked food prior to plating. 
  • Hot Food Transport - Units like these are specifically built for mobile catering or delivering food to institutions that use remote kitchens. Depending on the model you need, you could find one with battery-run fans to keep the warm air circulating, big castors, bumpers and secure tray fittings.
  • Proofing Cabinet - Also known as a Proofing Box, a Proofing Cabinet is designed to heat and hold breads and pastries at a lower temperature. Humidity control is also a must.
  • Holding Proofer Combo - This combo unit is a real space saver while giving you the convenience of both a holding unit and proofing unit. This way, the dough goes into proof, comes out to go into the oven then goes back into the same unit for holding.

Holding Cabinet Benefits

When it comes to the benefits of Holding Cabinets, there are two very important ones to consider. Those are food safety and operation efficiency. Food that’s held at an unsafe temperature for too long will expedite the growth of pathogens. Within two hours of improper storage, and even faster in hot weather, it can cause foodborne illness according to the CDC.

Any chef that can prepare food in advance is able to serve more food during lunch or dinner rushes. Completing upfront prep and holding the food at the proper temperature can save you more in terms of less wasted foods and keep you ahead of the game.