Introduction
Aluminum foil steam table pan made of thick aluminum foil. It has good thermal heat and corrosion resistance and is usually rectangular.
Foil steam table pans have sturdy side walls and flat or ribbed bottoms, in line with the foil pan design concept. Foil steam table pans are sized by their dimensions. Common ones include full size foil steam table trays and half size foil steam table trays. Its shapes are rectangular, square, round, and oval.
How Aluminum Foil Steam Table Pan Developed
Early 20th Century
The early application of aluminum foil materials
Aluminum foil is a lightweight material that resists high temperatures and is easy to shape. Both food packaging and cooking use foil. It is mostly used for large dining events, like in the military and big factory cafeterias. Olden aluminum plates were just one size and mostly used for big feedings, like in the military.
Mid-20th Century
The first appearance of aluminum foil cooking utensils
With the rise of the fast food industry, aluminum foil table trays began to be used in fast food chains and school cafeterias. Foil trays got more diverse in size and style to make table trays.
Late 20th Century
Functionality gradually improved
Modern foil trays are thinner, lighter, and stronger, with new shapes and better insulation to keep things warm. There are now foil plates in many sizes and shapes to fit different foods, such as big, small, long, and round plates.
Foil Steam Table Pan Classification
Full-size foil steam table pans typically measure 20 inches x 12 inches x 2.5 inches (50.8 cm x 30.5 cm x 6.4 cm). It is rectangular, with straight sides and a flat bottom. You can put the pan directly on the steam table and it heats up fast and evenly because of its special foil design.
Standard foil steam pans are usually 12.75 inches long, 10.38 inches wide, and 2.56 inches deep. It has strong edges and a flat bottom to keep it stable and heat food evenly.
Foil Steam Table Pans Size
Foil Steam Table Pans come in four sizes: small, half, 1/3, and full size. The following is the specific size specification table of aluminum foil steam table pans:
| Name | Top Out | Top In | Base | Depth | Capacity |
| Small steam table pan | 11 5/8” x 9 5/16” | 10 11/16 “ x 8 3/8” | 9 3/16” x 6 11/16” | 2 5/8” | 85 fl.oz |
| 1/3 size steam table pan | 12 9/16” x 6 9/16” | 11 3/4” x 5 3/4” | 10 1/4” x 4 1/8” | 3 1/8” | 78 fl.oz |
| Half size steam table pan | 12 5/8” x 10 1/4” 12 5/8” x 10 1/4” 12 5/8” x 10 1/4” 12 5/8 ” x 10 1/4” | 11 9/16” x 9 3/16” 11 3/4” x 9 7/16” 11 5/8” x 9 1/4” 11 5/8” x 9 1/4” | 10 7/16” x 8 1/16” 10 7/16” x 8 1/16” 10 3/16” x 7 11/16” 9 11/16” x 7 5/16” | 1 5/8” 2 1/16” 2 9/16” 3 1/2” | 71 fl.oz 96 fl.oz 105 fl.oz 128 fl.oz |
| Full size steam table pans | 20 11/16” x 12 13/16” 20 11/16” x 12 13/16” 20 11/16” x 12 13/16” | 19 9/16” x 11 11/16” 19 9/16” x 11 11/16” 19 9/16” x 11 11/16” | 18 7/16” x 10 1/2” 18 7/16” x 10 1/2” 17 13/16” x 9 15/16” | 1 1/2” 1 13/16” 2 15/16” | 152 fl.oz 216 fl.oz 287 fl.oz |
Which Steam Table Is Best
When choosing the best foil steam table pan, there are a few key factors to consider depending on your specific needs and preferences:
Quality: Choose a steam pan made of strong, good-quality foil that can handle hot temperatures.
Size: Consider the size of the foil steamer pan based on the amount of food you typically need to serve. Make sure the pot fits in the steamer pan or hot pot. The most common and popular is the 9×13 foil pan, which basically meets all your needs.
With Lid: Some foil steam trays come with lids that keep food warm and prevent spills. Close the lid tightly to seal it.
Disposable vs. Reusable: Decide whether you prefer a disposable foil steam tray or a reusable tray. Reusable steamers are usually more cost-effective in the long run.
How to Use
Full size foil steam table pans and half size foil steam table pans are kitchen utensils used to steam food. Large pans are for big ingredients, and smaller pans are for tiny ones, but you can use more than one small pan if needed.
Place 2 half size aluminum pans inside a full size aluminum pan to achieve a similar “double boil” effect. You can also use the steam to keep the full pan warm, then place your dishes in it to heat them up.
The main advantages of this combination include:
- Improve cooking efficiency and save energy
- Dishes are displayed more clearly, making it easier for guests to choose
- Insulation and heating are more stable and ensure the taste of dishes
- Transferring and serving dishes is more orderly, improving the overall dining experience