Steam Pan Dimensions
All steam pans sizes are based on the full size steam pan which is approximately 12″ x 20″. Smaller size steam pans are fractional sizes of the full size steam pan.
For example, two 1/2 size steam pans would occupy the same space as one full size pan. Likewise, nine 1/9 size steam pans would equal the same space as one full size steam pan.
A “spillage pan” is a special kind of full size pan. It is slightly larger in all dimension so that standard fractional size pans can sit inside it. We use a 6″ deep spillage pan for a steam table in the E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart. We then place 4″ deep fractional size steam pans inside the spillage pan in any combination we choose depending on the foods we want to serve.
In the image below the two half size perforated pans are sitting in a 6″ deep spillage pan over a burner. We keep about an inch of water in the spillage pan to produce steam. The pan lids are omitted in this picture for clarity. The 1/2 size steam pan on the left sits over it’s own burner for boiling.
We use smaller steam pans to hold smaller quantities of foods, especially hot toppings such as cheese or chili. They also make great cold condiment containers for chopped onions, tomatoes, pickles, etc.
There are specialty inserts to hold round containers (called “bain maries”) for soup or other liquids.
Smaller steam pans can be placed in a row using steam table adapter bars. These bars sit across the spillage pan or steam table and give the smaller pans something to sit on.
No discussion of steam pans would be complete without mentioning false bottoms. These are perforated platforms that sit above the water in a steam pan. This allows you to steam buns in a standard or fractional size pan.
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