A drawer warmer is the right holding unit when you need to keep a few items hot, such as rolls, tortillas, baked potatoes or cooked proteins, in closed drawers right where plates are built. Choose one by the number of items you hold at the same time, whether each item should stay soft or crisp, the pan each drawer takes and the power at the station.
Shop the equipment in this article: Prepline DW1 single freestanding drawer warmer, Prepline BDW2 double drawer warmer, 900W and Prepline BDW2N double narrow drawer warmer, 900W. Freight is included on every order.
What a drawer warmer does well
Each drawer is a small closed compartment with its own pan. Opening one drawer does not let the heat out of the others, and the food is not sitting under a lamp that dries the surface. That makes drawers a good fit for bread service in a steakhouse, tortillas in a Mexican kitchen and portioned proteins waiting for a banquet plate-up.
If you need to hold a dozen full pans for a large event, a cabinet is the better tool. Our proofer and holding cabinet guide covers that choice.
One drawer or two
Count the separate items you hold during your busiest service, not an average night. One item that needs one setting, such as dinner rolls, fits a single drawer unit like the Prepline DW1. Two items, or one item plus a backup batch, call for two drawers. The Prepline BDW2 has two drawers, and the BDW2N is the narrow two drawer version for tighter spots on the line. Both two drawer models are in our drawer warmers category.
If you hold three or four items, two units side by side usually work better than forcing two foods with different needs into one drawer.
Pan size and what fits
The DW1 and BDW2 each come with a 12 x 20 x 6 in. stainless pan per drawer. That is the full size steam table pan footprint, so food can be portioned into a standard full size pan and moved straight into the drawer without repacking. The BDW2N takes a narrower pan; check its product page before you order spares.
A 6 in. deep pan holds a lot of rolls or potatoes, but deep layers of moist food heat unevenly. For proteins, a shallower layer holds better.
Vents: soft or crisp
All three Prepline models have adjustable vents. Close the vent to keep moisture in for rolls, tortillas, rice and steamed vegetables. Open it to let steam out for breaded or fried items, which go soft in a closed drawer.
Write the item and its vent position on a label on each drawer front. When every shift uses the same setting, the food comes out the same way every night.
Temperature and food safety
The thermostats on these units run from 80 to 220 F. The Food Code requires hot food to be held at 135 F or above (Virginia 12VAC5-421-820, which adopts FDA Food Code 3-501.16). Set the dial by probing the food, not by the number on the dial.
A drawer warmer is for holding, not reheating. Food that was cooked and cooled has to be reheated to 165 F within 2 hours before it goes into hot holding (Virginia 12VAC5-421-760, FDA 3-403.11). Preheat the drawers before loading, probe the food during service and set a maximum hold time for each item, because texture fails before the food becomes unsafe.
Power and placement
All three units run on 120 V. The DW1 draws 450 W (3.75 A) and the two drawer models draw 900 W, so they plug into a standard outlet. Check what else shares that circuit before you plug in next to a toaster or a soup well.
Place the warmer at the plating end of the line so cooks reach it without crossing traffic, and keep the vents clear of walls and other equipment.
Mistakes to avoid
- Loading cold food and expecting the drawer to bring it up to temperature.
- Holding crisp and soft items in the same drawer.
- Leaving the vent setting to whoever is on shift.
- Overfilling a pan so the drawer does not close fully.
- Buying a drawer warmer when the real need is a dozen full pans for catering.
Cleaning
Pull the pans and wash them at the end of each day. Once the unit is cool, wipe the drawer interiors and the slides. Crumbs on the slides are the most common reason drawers start to stick.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a drawer warmer be set to?
Set it so the food stays at 135 F or above when you probe it. Start in the middle of the range, probe after 30 minutes and adjust. Moist items often need a lower setting than you expect once the vent is closed.
Can a drawer warmer reheat cold food?
No. It is built to hold hot food. Reheat cooked and cooled food to 165 F on the range or in an oven first, then move it to the drawer.
Will a drawer warmer keep fried food crisp?
It does better than a closed cabinet if you open the vent, but fried food is still best held for a short time. Cook it in smaller batches during service.
Should I buy a single or a double drawer warmer?
Buy one drawer per item you hold at peak. If you hold two items, one double unit is simpler to place and plug in than two singles, and on our site the double is priced only a little above the single.
Next steps
Compare models in drawer warmers and the larger food warmer and proofer cabinets. The Prepline MPN1812 undercounter cabinet listed below is on backorder at the moment. For plated food waiting at the pass, see heat lamps and strip warmers.
Models in this guide at a glance
The models linked above are listed here with the main points from each product page, so you can compare them side by side before opening the full listings.
Prepline DW1 Single Freestanding Drawer Warmer- 450W, 120V (model DW1)
- Brand: Prepline
- Temperature range: 80-220°F
- Adjustable vent for moisture control
- Includes 1 stainless steel pan
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Prepline BDW2 Double Steel Drawer Warmer, 900W, 120V (model BDW2)
- Brand: Prepline
- Explore the Prepline BDW2 Double Steel drawer warmer’s efficiency, maintaining food from 80°F to 220°F for all your food service requirements.
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Prepline BDW2N Double Narrow Drawer Warmer- 900W, 120V (model BDW2N)
- Brand: Prepline
- Prepline BDW2N
- Heavy-duty stainless steel.
- Thermostatic control: 80-220°F.
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Prepline MPN1812 Undercounter Half Size Non-Insulated Heater Proofer (model MPN1812)
- Brand: Prepline
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Before you order
- Measure the space and every doorway on the delivery path, and compare them with the dimensions on each product page.
- Check the spec sheet for power, gas or water requirements and match them to what your building has.
- Compare capacity with your busiest day rather than your average day.
- Read the warranty terms for the brand before you order.
Delivery, warranty and payment
- Delivery: delivery within the continental US is included in the price on the product page, and freight orders include liftgate service.
- Warranty: each product carries its manufacturer warranty. Terms by brand are on our warranty page.
- Financing: lease-to-own financing through Clicklease is offered on items of $500 and up. See how financing works.
- Quotes: buying for a business and need a written quote? Call +1-877-558-2253 or use our contact page.
Not sure which model fits?
Call +1-877-558-2253 with your space, power supply and daily volume, and we will help you narrow it down.