Hotel Pan vs Steam Table Pan: OEM Sizes and Fit

Same pan, two names

A hotel pan and a steam table pan are the same stainless insert. The name changes by region and by setting: steam table pan in a service line, hotel pan on a banquet spec. Because they are one product, the sizes, depths and well fit are identical, and you can mix brands as long as the fraction matches.

Why the names differ

The steam table name comes from the heated well the pan drops into. The hotel pan name comes from banquet and hotel service, where the pan carries food from the kitchen to the event. Buyers meet both terms, so spec sheets often list them together to avoid confusion.

Size is by fraction

Both names use the same fraction system: full, two third, half, third, quarter, sixth and ninth. A full size hotel pan is the same footprint as a full size steam table pan, so it drops into the same well. The fraction is the only size mark you need to match a pan to a station.

Depth and use

Depth is independent of the name. A 2-1/2 inch pan suits sauces, a 4 inch pan carries an entree, and a 6 inch or 8 inch pan holds a deep roast or a casserole. Pick depth by the food, not by the name on the spec.

Anti jam and perforated

Hotel pans and steam table pans both come in anti jam and perforated versions, with the same corner and hole benefits as the standard line. If your well runs hot and the pans are washed and stacked warm, choose anti jam in either name.

Ask us for the pan you call it

IEQUIPMENT supplies hotel pans and steam table pans under one range, in stainless steel 304, full size through ninth, solid and perforated, anti jam or standard. Tell us the name your kitchen uses and the wells you fill, and we will send the size chart and samples.

Talk to Our Team

Building or sourcing racks, shelving or carts for your operation? IEQUIPMENT supplies aluminum and stainless steel equipment as OEM, ODM and knock-down (KD) programs, shipped in containers from Shanghai or Ningbo (FOB/CIF). Browse our bun pan racks or contact our team with your spec.