Back to Blog
Kim Dowrey
Learn
09.3.19

Steam Kettles 101 - Considerations When Choosing A Commercial Kitchen Kettle

Steam kettles offer more productivity to your kitchen. This piece of equipment has all of the same capabilities of range top cooking, but they provide a significant increase in productivity and energy efficiency.

Steam kettles can be an excellent addition to any sized commercial kitchen. More advanced than a stockpot on a range, your kettle can boil grains, simmer sauces and prep stocks and soups without supervision. They can be partially automated and set up to your kitchen’s specific needs, which can help reduce labor and cooking time.

Which Steam Kettle is Right for Your Commercial Kitchen

When purchasing a steam kettle for your business, there are a few models you can choose from. The capacity of a steam kettle can range between 6 gallons and 150-gallon capacities, allowing for kitchens of all sizes to take advantage of their efficiency. Before getting into the details of these models, it’s important to understand the construction of a kettle.

Steam kettles are enclosed by something called a "jacket." The jacket refers to the outer wall of the unit that contains the raw steam. This fundamental piece of the kettle creates a circulation of steam to provide even cooking and heating. Some steam kettles are crafted with a full jacket while others have a ⅔ jacket. Units made with a partial jacket are typically tilting units; therefore, they need room to rotate for an even pour.

Stationery kettles generally are fitted with a full jacket, as they do not need to move or tilt. Both jacket sizes produce and maintain an intense heat and are typically modified to fit the design of the kettle.

Electric & Gas Kettles

Like many other pieces of commercial kitchen equipment, steam kettles come in both gas and electric models. Most sizes of steam kettles come in both power options and is primarily a matter of preference and utility availability for your business.

Related Posts

Chef-Approved: Commercial Cooking Equipment for the Holidays

Read More

Exploring Vulcan Combi Ovens: A Guide for Commercial Kitchens

Read More

Going Electric: Vulcan’s Full Line Up Solutions for Tomorrow’s Commercial Kitchens

Unlock the potential of all-electric commercial kitchens with Vulcan’s state-of-the-art electric equipment. Perfect for chefs, restaurant owners, and sustainability advocates aiming for a greener kitchen.
Read More

Maximize Your Oil Savings with Vulcan's QuickFry™ and KleenScreen® PLUS

In the fast-paced world of commercial kitchens, efficiency and cost-saving measures are crucial. One often overlooked area that can significantly impact both food quality and operating costs is oil filtration.
Read More

PreciPan™ and TCM: Your Dynamic Duo in the K-12 Kitchen

Speed scratch cooking blends convenience with freshness. See our example of partially prepared ingredients to speed up prep and cook time, while permitting customization and freshness.
Read More

The Ultimate Holiday Helper: Vulcan VCH16 Cook & Hold

Learn why a Vulcan cook and hold oven can be a valuable addition to your busy holiday season menu.
Read More

Tiny Space, Massive Flavors: How the Vulcan Minijet™ is Changing the Game

Tiny kitchens have met their match with the Vulcan Minijet™. This little powerhouse is all about doing more with less, fitting into snug spaces while throwing down just about any cooking method you need.
Read More

The Benefits of Scratch Cooking in K-12 Kitchens

Hoping to minimize processed, pre-packaged ‘heat-and-serve’ school meals, many schools use scratch cooking as a way to keep students full, nourished and growing.
Read More

5 Tips to Keep School Kitchen Cooking Equipment Clean

Routinely cleaning your K-12 kitchen cooking equipment not only supports efficient cooking operation, but also extends the life of your equipment. Follow these best practices to keep your Vulcan equipment performing its best for years to come.
Read More

Is a garden right for your school kitchen?

Everything from understanding plant biology while planning the garden to the architecture of a garden while building it. Kids of all ages can see first-hand what it takes to go from a seed to food.
Read More

QSR Food Safety: Safe Handling of Takeout

These days, customers enjoy having as many options as possible when it comes to safely picking up their meals.
Read More

Why Your Commercial Kitchen Needs a Steam Kettle

Steam kettles can provide your kitchen with immense benefits. Equipped with advanced technology, steam kettles can change your kitchen’s operations completely.
Read More

Restaurant Staffing Issues Continue. What Can You Do?

Restaurant work has not had the best reputation among workers, who may view it as fast-paced and stressful, thankless, low paying, lacking benefits and hard on family or social life with night, weekend, and holiday hours.
Read More

Proper Use of a Salamander Broiler

A salamander can do everything a cheesemelter can do and more. Its higher range of heat gives it versatility and much-needed speed, especially in busy commercial kitchens.
Read More

Utilizing Modularity in Heavy Duty Range Design

Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to designing and specifying heavy-duty ranges. In the current climate, there is a growing emphasis on the ability to pivot and adapt. Strategies and menus change quickly—so should your equipment.
Read More