Commercial Heat Lamps

The key function of Commercial Heat Lamps is simple. However, there are plenty of options to choose from and picking the best option for your kitchen requires some consideration.

The first thing to settle is the format you need. Strip heaters run above the pass and cover a whole line of plates, while pendant lamp style heaters bring some styling to front of house. Countertop multi-level models hold plated food at the bench, and chip dumps are made specifically to hold fried chips hot while the next batch is frying.

Depending on whether you want a balance of heat and light, or only want reliable heating, you’ll need to choose between quartz and infrared lights. Quartz lighting is the option to choose if you need both illumination and heat, though they don’t generate as much warmth as infrared options. They’re a good choice for kitchens that need heating at front of house or in the kitchen itself. Quartz lighting often has more visually appealing options, including pendant lights.

Infrared lamps, also referred to as convection lamps, offer lower light levels but are more energy efficient and heat your food more efficiently and directly rather than heating the air around it. They’re the perfect choice if you’re trying to keep energy bills down and already have adequate lighting in your food storage area.

The next consideration is whether you want pull-down lamps or mounted lamps. Pull-down lamps, as the name suggests, can be moved easily and put back into place when you’re not using them. They offer both heating and light, making them perfect for merchandising to display your stock. These are especially beneficial for food trucks, along with options like countertop hot food displays. They’re a convenient option but generally offer less heat than mounted lamps.

If your kitchen needs something that offers more reliable and far reaching heat, mounted lamps are a better option. They not only deliver more power and heat but they’re also often slightly larger.

Regardless of whether you choose a pull-down heat lamp or a mounted model, you’ll be able to choose from quartz or infrared. For high-capacity hot holding, you may also want to consider hot food displays or bain maries.

The energy consumption of your Commercial Heat Lamps will depend on the wattage, whether you choose quartz or infrared heating and how much you’re using them. Wattage is one of the key things to look at when choosing a model, with higher wattage models requiring more power to run, either by generating light and heat or heat alone.

Infrared light Commercial Heat Lamps operate by generating light on a non-visible spectrum, which is transferred into the atmosphere as heat. This penetrates your food more deeply, ensuring it’s warm on the inside as well as on the surface. Their heat is instantaneous, warming your food as soon as you switch them on. They’re the most energy-efficient option, though they generally offer less illumination.

Traditional Commercial Heat Lamps also heat the air around the food but offer more light. They generally take longer to come up to temperature, meaning they’ll consume slightly higher volumes of electricity and will need to be switched on in advance. Brands like Roband offer both traditional and infrared Commercial Heat Lamps to suit your preferences.

To ensure even heat distribution, we recommend keeping your heat lamp around 35cm to 45cm above your food. Each heat lamp will come with specific guidelines, we recommend checking the instructions for the unique model you’ve chosen.