If you are a part of the food and hospitality industry then you know that one of the essential items you need in serving food is a food warming heat lamp. It will stop customer’s food from getting cold if you are busy completing their table, but it will also keep the food at a safe temperature in keeping with the health and safety requirements needed.
Restaurants that have buffet style food also use these food warming heat lamps, and if you are serving a high volume amount of food it is paramount that they all keep a safe temperature when they are served, this is where the heat lamp can offer lots of stability within a food serving workplace.
There are lots of different options when it comes to finding a new food warmer but typically they fall under two categories, bulb, and strip warmers. If you choose a bulb warmer you will be able to heat small surfaces for short periods of time, but strip warmers are much better for larger restaurants where a larger space for longer periods of time is needed.
It’s time to get your hands on a food warmer and leave those complaints about cold food in your establishment behind.
Top 6 Heated Lamps For Food
1. Chef-Masters Professional Heat Lamp
When serving food at a cafe, diner, or restaurant a food warming heat lamp is a crucial piece of equipment, but sometimes rather than choosing a large strip warmer that is going to be oversized, a smaller bulb version from Chef-Master can be a great option.
It only covers a 10 x 12-inch area but will provide any food you have with enough warmth to keep it ready until you need to serve. Cosmetically this unit looks great, being a perfect choice fitting with a lot of different kitchen environments. The stand is made from chrome plating and the bulb shade features an aluminum material, plus the added extra of non-slip feet that will make sure you will not move around.
The bulbs that are used in the Chef-Master are in keeping with UL-EPH safety and sanitation requirements, they are 250-Watt, shatterproof bulbs. It is great, it will not dry your food out just keep it delicious and warm ready for your customers to enjoy.
Features
- 250-watt shatterproof bulbs
- 3-piece construction
- Easy to assemble
- Non-slip feet
- 20 x 12 Inch serving area
- Stand is adjustable
- Aluminum shades and chrome plating
2. Bon Home Culinary Heat Lamp
The great thing about the Bon Home Culinary Heat lamp is that it can be used both commercially or at home, whether you are waiting for customers or waiting for your family to get home from school the Bon Home food warming heat lamp is great for the entire family.
The heat source is a ceramic heating element that provides high-quality infrared heat, while the adjustable arm ensures that your food heat source is a suitable distance away from what you have cooked, or to target more appropriate areas of your food. All at a great size for your home at 19 x 18-inches.
The robust zinc and stainless-steel that comprises of the entire unit help this product have sustainability and durability. When you have stopped using it the food heat lamp will fold away for easy storage also making it a very convenient unit. The years warranty gives you the best customer service and peace of mind knowing you have bought a product with that added safety net of a warranty.
Features
- Ceramic Heating
- Fully adjustable arm
- Collapsible design
- 1-year warranty
- Robust cast zinc and stainless steel construction
3. Woods Heat Lamp With Wire Grill
Compared to the other options on our list this heat lamp is much more suited to homes, offices, garages, and workshops. It is an extremely high-quality heat lamp that will continue to keep food warm and impress everyone who uses it. Not only is this product affordable but the Woods heat lamp with wire grill has multiple ranges of different uses.
The unit comes complete with a five and a half-inch wire bulb protector and a clamping grip that is great for a better hold. Plus these food warm heat lamps are adjustable so that you can target specific areas if they are needing specific heating.
All of this is powered by the 150 watts, so when you require heat in a specific area you will find that these food heat bulb warmers will tick a lot of boxes you are looking for. Buy this best heat lamp for your garage, office, workshop, or even your home and benefit from all of the high-quality things this lamp can produce.
Features
- 125-Volt
- 150 watts
- 5.5-inch bulb protector
- The lightbulb is not included
- Non-marring clamps for better grip
4. Carlisle Aluminum Bulb Heat Lamp
With lots of different options available, you are sure to find the Carlisle aluminum bulb heat lamp ticks all of the right boxes when it comes to food service equipment. You will be impressed with whatever options you choose whether it is the lamp on its own, the lamp with a board, or with a board and clamp.
There are multi-functions that come with this food heating source with it excelling in catering, banquets, and buffets. Plus also working great for rental companies and in hotel chains. Anywhere you need to keep food warm for your customers this food warming lamp will continue to deliver time after time.
This single-arm lamp uses a 250-watt heat-generating red bulb that runs on a 110-120 volt power outlet. This heat source is contained in a robust spun aluminum flared rim lampshade as well as being resistant to rust making it a very convenient piece of kitchen equipment.
The Carlisle aluminum bulb heat lamp is easy to maintain and clean and also offers you peace of mind knowing that it has been certified by the UL health and safety food group. When it is time to replace your food heating lamp there really should be no better choice than the Carlisle bulb heater.
Features
- Single-arm heat lamp
- Suitable for multiple uses, catering, rental companies, hotels, and banquets
- 250-watt heat-generating red bulb
- Flared rim lampshade made from spun aluminum
- 110-120-volts
- UL-recognized
- Rust-resistant
5. Nemco Bulb Food Warmer
When it comes t a larger event such as serving food in a buffet or banquet, smaller products are just not going to cut the needs that some places may have. That is why the Nemco Bulb Food Warmer is a great choice is ats bulb set comes in a number of different sizes, one being the 8 bulb set.
This lamp houses 8 heat bulbs on a suspension bar that is the perfect size for serving food ina larger setting, and although it is big it doesn’t mean it is not efficient on the power that it uses. The entire unit runs on a 120-Volt power supply that keeps all of your food items warm and still doesn’t drain all of the power from your energy supplier.
When it comes to quality, this food warming lamp company takes pride in its products. As one of the best bulb warmers this food warmer will last the distance, impressing its users with its sustainability and durability in the robust construction that comes from this lamp.
Nemco is a trusted brand within the food service industry and you can be assured at how good these heating elements will be, lasting the test of time.
Features
- Construction is robust
- Multiple different lamp choices
- Hanging suspension bar
- 120 Volts
- High-quality Nemco brand
6. Adjustable Food Heat Lamp Warmer
This amazing food warming power heated lamp as an irradiation area of 44 cm which is great for nearly all of the thermal insulation needs that most foods require. The adjustable length is great for both choosing the perfect distance for different kinds of food and in order to choose specific areas of a plate you want your heat source to cover.
The great heat reservation lets this device be used in places such as hotels, cafes, restaurants, or even at home. There is a 1-year warranty which will give you the kind of peace of mind you are looking for in a purchase like this. The stretch wire is really durable and can stretch and hold around 100000 times.
The bulb is not included in the set but they are easily found on websites such as amazon with all kinds of different levels of heat that can be provided for all different kinds of jobs. Comes in a beautifully modern shape that will match with pretty much any contemporary kitchen, and even look good in a more retro setting.
There are lots of different colors available so there are lots of choices to meet anyone’s needs. The heating uses infrared heating that doesn’t only keep the temperature of the food at a great level but it will also no make it dry out which can happen with a lot of these food warming lamps keeping food fresh and delicious as if it had just come from the stove.
Features
- Limited warranty
- Lots of different color choices available
- Adjustable
Best Budget Heated Lamps for Food
In our opinion, the best budget heated lamp for food is the Bon Home Culinary Heat lamp. It offers not only commercial use but for home use which is great for someone with families that all come in at different times with different schedules going on. This way you can cook for the whole family and keep everything warm as if it had just come from the oven rather than having to blast the dishes in the microwave.
Considerations Choosing a Heated Food Lamp
Size
Heated food lamps come in all sorts of different sizes and shapes so it is best to check what kind of work you are wanting to put yours through. The larger models are much more powerful but are obviously a lot bigger taking up a lot more room, so if you have a small kitchen or you are simply not producing high volumes of food then a smaller bulb style could be the better option to choose from.
Price
When it comes to your budget there are always lots of things to think about. The more expensive models will do more but sometimes they are just not needed. Again it is better to check out your own kitchen size to see if it is worth paying that little extra bit of money.
Bulb or Strip Light
There are two different kinds of heating solutions that can be used on these food lamps a bulb or a strip. The strip versions are usually much larger in size great for buffets and larger spaces with high volumes of food orders were all of the food needs to come out at the same time and all be at the same temperature. If you choose a bulb version you are looking for something that is more suited to single food plates and specific areas. A lot of these single bulb devices have adjustable arms which are great for choosing specific areas of your plate to heat up and keep warm.
What are the heat lamps used for in food?
The main reason that people buy heat lamps is to keep food warmer for longer periods of time. When it comes to things such as buffets and banquet type food places it is very easy for foods to go cold while waiting for the next customer to come along. The use of a heated food lamp helps keep your food warm as if it had just come from the oven.
It is worth noting that a food warming heat lamp is not suitable for keeping food warm for a long period of time due to the fact that it uses dry heat which will often change the texture of food and sometimes even change the taste when left under the heat for too long.
The more commercial style heat lamps are not recommended for very dense food such as mashed potatoes or casseroles due to the fact that the heat will not be able to penetrate through the surface very effectively. In these cases, the purchase of other food warmers such as holding cabinets or drawer warmers could be better suited for that kind of job.
How long should you leave a heat lamp on?
There are many varying factors when it comes to how long food should be kept under a heat lamp and how long a lamp should be kept on. In normal working hours, it is recommended that you do not leave your heat lamp on longer for any longer than 10 hours. This is to ensure there isn’t too much strain on the equipment, they are made to be on for long periods of time but anything more than this can really damage and potentially cause a hazard within the kitchen.
