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How Do I Choose the Best Catering Pans?

By D. Nelson
Updated May 17, 2024
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People who work in catering provide food and drinks for people who are attending events. To choose the best catering pans, you first should make sure that you have found a reliable supplier that offers products for the right cost, and if you lease items, you should make sure that contracts are sensible. It also is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different materials that catering pans are made from, as well as their different shapes, sizes, and uses.

When people talk about catering pans, they normally are referring to big aluminum pans that are used to serve large amounts of food. For example, entrees might be served on one large catering pan, and appetizers might be served on another. While pans for food that can be served cold or at room temperature might be free standing, some catering pans are made to be placed over heat or as part of a buffet.

One of the most important aspects of finding the best catering pans is making sure that you have a supplier whom you trust. If you have colleagues in the catering business, find which suppliers they use for their catering equipment. It might be a good idea to get recommendations from caterers who work the same kinds of events you do or from those who work with the same kinds of numbers in terms of guests and food count.

It also might be a good idea to consider if you would like to buy or lease catering pans. Many pans are made from aluminum and actually are disposable; instead of having to clean pans after serving guests, you simply throw pans away, saving time. If you are on the market for disposable pans, you should look to buy pans as opposed to leasing them. It probably is a good idea to buy these pans in bulk since you might use them often.

Some people choose to use nicer catering pans that are not disposable. These can be nice accessories for fancy events, such as banquets. In these cases, you might want to lease catering equipment. If you choose to go this route, it is important that you become familiar with the terms of a contract prior to signing it. It also is important that you have some technical support if your catering pans are part of larger heating systems or a buffet set.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

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