Pasta Cookers, Bratt Pans & Kettles

Pasta cookers are dedicated boiling units that hold water at a rolling temperature so your team can cook and refresh pasta continuously through service. Bratt pans are large tilting vessels used for braising, frying, poaching and boiling — one piece of equipment covering many cooking methods. Kettles are jacketed or direct-heat units built for producing soups, sauces and stocks in bulk without constant stirring or monitoring.

You'll find gas and electric pasta cookers, gas and electric tilting bratt pans, fixed and tilting boiling pans, and jacketed mixing kettles including combi kettle models. Brands stocked include Waldorf, Metos, Blue Seal Evolution, Cleveland, MKN, Baron, Lotus, Zanussi, Mareno and Joni. The range spans compact countertop pasta cookers through to large floor-standing kettles with integrated mixers.

A bratt pan suits kitchens that need one vessel to do multiple jobs: sear, braise, shallow-fry and boil. The tilting action makes it fast to empty and clean. A kettle is the better choice when your primary output is liquid — stocks, soups, sauces or porridge — especially if you need a mixer attachment or a jacketed vessel for gentle, even heat. Many busy kitchens run both side by side.

Think about your peak cover count and how many batches you want to run per service. Smaller operations often find a mid-range bratt pan or pasta cooker handles the load without tying up floor space, while high-volume canteens and production kitchens tend to step up to larger-capacity kettles. Most units in this range sit somewhere between compact countertop sizes and 200-litre floor-standing models, so there's a fit for most service volumes.

Gas models heat up quickly and suit kitchens already plumbed for natural gas or LPG, making them a practical choice where gas is the primary cooking fuel. Electric models, including indirect-heating boiling pans, offer more precise temperature control and are easier to install where a gas connection isn't available. Steam-heated jacketed kettles are worth considering for production kitchens that already run a steam supply, as they deliver very gentle, even heat.

Most floor-standing bratt pans and kettles are designed for a fixed position and require a hardwired electrical connection or a gas line, along with a drain connection for tilting units. Countertop pasta cookers are more flexible and can sit on a bench with a standard electrical supply. Your team should confirm clearance requirements and local trade plumbing and electrical codes before installation, as these vary by state.

The tilting mechanism is your biggest cleaning advantage — tilt the pan forward to drain residue directly into a floor drain or pot. Wipe down while the surface is still warm, as cooled fats are harder to shift. Avoid abrasive scourers on stainless cooking surfaces, as they create microscopic scratches that harbour bacteria over time. Check the manufacturer's guidance for any specific cleaning agents, particularly on units with coated or enamelled pans.

Scale build-up inside the jacket is the most common maintenance issue, particularly in areas with hard water. Descaling on a regular schedule — frequency depends on your water quality — protects the heating elements and keeps efficiency up. Inspect the lid seals, agitator shaft (on mixing kettles) and tilt lock mechanism periodically. Keep a log of service dates so your team can catch minor issues before they cause downtime during a busy service.

Smaller gas and electric pasta cookers are well suited to cafes and mid-sized restaurants that run a pasta-heavy menu. Compact bratt pans fit into tighter kitchen footprints and handle the kind of batch cooking that saves time during a busy lunch or dinner service. The range at Chefs Depot covers a wide spread of sizes, so you don't need a large canteen kitchen to make these units work for you.

Pricing across this range varies considerably depending on capacity, energy type and brand. Compact pasta cookers sit at the more accessible end of the scale, while large-capacity mixing kettles from brands like Metos represent a significant capital investment. Members save off RRP across the full range, so it's worth logging in before you add to cart. We'll show your member price on each product page once you're signed in.