Owner manual
5
Preheating & Recommended Food Storage Periods
Food should not be placed in a cold warming cabinet. To preheat the warming cabinet, turn it on one (1) hour before it
will be needed. Refer to pages 3 and 4 that provides instruction on how to use the V-TEMP
™
control panel to assist in
preheating and operation.
If the food has been cooked in the same pan in which it will be served, it should be left in the same pan when being
placed in the warming cabinet. However, if food is cooked and served in different pans, the food should be panned as
soon as the cooking is completed and placed in the warmer. Although the two methods mentioned may not necessarily
pertain to the requirements of daily foodservice activity, another approach for good food quality is to place the food
directly to a serving counter after cooking. The warmer keeps the food in good condition during the interval between
cooking and serving. It is recommended that food should be stored within the cabinet and in its original pan in which it
will be served.
The food should be placed in the cabinet while hot, but not until it stops giving off steam (*Note: if steam is excessive,
use a lid on pots or pans). It is possible to reheat some food without further deterioration if sufficient time is allowed for
the heat to slowly penetrate the entire mass.
Most food can be kept in best condition at a temperature of approximately 175F, but the exact temperature varies
depending upon the kind of food and method of its preparation; therefore, it is impossible to give any exact instructions
which will fit all conditions. It is necessary to experiment by increasing or decreasing the temperature of the unit until
you find the temperature at which the majority of the food kept in the unit will keep in the best condition. Once this setting
is determined, the V-TEMP
™
controller should always be kept at this setting.
Some food, such as breaded meats, fish, etc., when kept at proper temperature, requires less degree of moisture in the
cabinet to prevent sogginess. For this reason, all cabinets are equipped with vents or dampers. The damper should be
opened for such food by turning the knob in the desired direction for opening and closing. This knob opens or closes the
vent in the top of the cabinet. By looking into the cabinet when operating the knob, you can fully understand its function
and adjustment.
Some foods can be kept in good condition much longer than others, and certain foods cannot be satisfactorily kept at
all in any manner. French fried potatoes, roasts, waffles and similar foods, where the outside must be crisp and centers
steaming hot, must be prepared immediately before serving. Do not expect the impossible from the warming cabinet,
but if used intelligently it will keep food over a longer period of time and with less deterioration than is possible with any
other equipment. By reducing the deterioration between the time the food is cooked and the time it is served, the
warming cabinet will assure serving the food to the customer in proper condition. See the recommended food storage
periods table below as a reference guide.
Product Longest Time Kept Average Time Kept Approximate Temp. °F
*Crispy or Dry Foods
Baked Potatoes 2 hours 30 minutes 170 - 180
Corn Stick 2 hours 1 hour 140 - 150
Crackers 8 hours 5 hours 140 - 150
Chicken Pies 6 hours 3 hours 170 - 180
Club Sandwiches (wrapped) 1 hour 30 minutes 160
Fried Chicken 6 hours 3 hours 170 - 180
Fried Seafood 6 hours 2 hours 170 - 180
Hard Rolls 8 hours 4 hours 140 - 150
Hot Mince or Apple Pie 6 hours 4 hours 160
Meat Pies 6 hours 3 hours 170 - 180
Popcorn & Potato Chips 10 hours 5 hours 150
*Moist Foods
Baked Beans 8 hours 4 hours 170 - 180
Baked Stuff Lobster 3 hours 2 hours 170 - 180
Biscuits 1 hour 30 minutes 150 - 175
Casserole (without top crust) 8 hours 4 hours 170 - 180
Chop Suey 6 hours 4 hours 180
Deviled Crabs 5 hours 3 hours 170 - 180
Frankfurter 6 hours 3 hours 160 - 175
Hash 4 hours 2 hours 170 - 180
Mashed Potatoes 3 hours 2 hours 160 - 180
Vegetables (ready for serving) 6 hours 2 hours 170 - 180
Sweet Rolls 4 hours 2 hours 140 - 150