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Cambro
In Stock
High Heat Gastronorm Food Pan Drain Shelf | 1/1 GN Drainer Tray | Kitchen Storage | Cambro DW511
£45.68
/ exc vat
£54.82/ inc vat
- High Heat Tolerance
- Wide Temperature Range
- Elevated Drainage Design
- Universal 1/1 GN Sizing
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Product Overview
Struggling to stop your beautifully fried or steamed foods from turning soggy on the hot pass? This clever bit of kit is the answer. The Cambro DW511 is a high-performance 1/1 gastronorm drain shelf that sits neatly inside your existing 1/1 GN pans, lifting food up and away from unwanted moisture and oils. It’s a simple idea, executed brilliantly, designed to keep everything from battered fish to steamed vegetables in perfect condition from the moment they're cooked to the second they're served.
Specifically designed for the fast-paced world of commercial catering, this is an essential tool for any business that uses hot-holding units, steam tables, or buffet lines. Whether you run a bustling carvery, a high-volume takeaway, or a hotel breakfast service, this gastronorm pan drainer tray helps you maintain food quality, reduce waste, and keep your customers coming back for more. It’s built from a unique high-heat material that can handle anything you throw at it, from the deep freeze to the steam table.
Featuring an incredible temperature range and built to last, the Cambro DW511 is the silent workhorse your kitchen needs. It enhances texture, improves presentation, and streamlines your service by ensuring the food you serve is as good as the food you cook. Stop letting condensation ruin your reputation and discover how a simple insert can make a massive difference to your daily operations.
Key Features and Benefits
- High Heat Tolerance: Safely use it in steam tables up to 190°C.
- Wide Temperature Range: Works perfectly from the freezer (-40°C) to hot holding units.
- Elevated Drainage Design: Keeps food perfectly crisp and never soggy or greasy.
- Universal 1/1 GN Sizing: Fits your existing standard gastronorm pans without any fuss.
- Durable Construction: Made from tough plastic to withstand a busy kitchen environment.
- Easy to Clean: A non-porous surface makes washing up quick and simple.
- Improves Food Quality: Maintains the ideal texture and taste of fried or steamed items.
- Reduces Food Waste: Less spoiled food means more profit in your pocket.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Cambro
- SKU: DW511
- Dimensions: 530(W) x 325(D) mm
- Weight: 0.42kg
- Temperature Range: -40°C to 190°C
- GN Size: 1/1 Gastronorm
- Material: High-Heat Plastic
- Colour: Amber/Yellow
Expert Review and Insights
It’s not always the big, shiny machines that make the most difference in a kitchen. The Cambro drain shelf is a perfect example of a small, smart investment that has a huge impact on daily food quality. It's incredibly robust and does its one job—keeping food away from moisture—flawlessly. For any high-volume operation, this is a must-have.
Oliver Bennett – Catering Equipment Expert View Profile →
- Top-Tier Food Texture: A genuine improvement for holding fried or steamed items on a buffet line.
- Slight Capacity Reduction: Be aware it slightly reduces the overall depth of your GN pan.
Case Study: Real Business, Real Results
"The Shipwright's Arms" in Falmouth, a popular seaside pub, was struggling to keep their Sunday carvery items fresh throughout a long service. Their roast potatoes, a customer favourite, were often becoming soft and unappetizing after an hour under the heat lamps.
"It was frustrating. We make fantastic spuds, but they were dying on the pass. Customers noticed, and we were wasting a significant amount. We tried the Cambro DW511 drain shelf on a recommendation, and the difference was immediate."
Robert Davies – Head Chef
By using the drain shelves in their GN pans, the pub saw a marked improvement in food texture and a reduction in carvery food waste of nearly 25% during Sunday service.
Installation and Maintenance Guide
Setting It Up
- Always wash thoroughly with warm, soapy water before its first use.
- Ensure your gastronorm pan is a standard 1/1 GN size for a perfect fit.
- Simply drop the drain shelf into the clean, empty GN pan. It's ready to go!
- The shelf is designed to leave a gap at the bottom for liquids to collect.
Keeping It Going
- Clean after every use to maintain hygiene standards.
- The shelf is fully commercial dishwasher safe.
- Avoid using abrasive metal scourers or harsh chemicals which could scratch the surface.
- Periodically check for any signs of wear and tear, although it is extremely durable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Cambro DW511 dishwasher safe?
A: Yes, it is designed to be perfectly safe for use in commercial dishwashers for quick and easy cleaning.
Q: Will this fit inside my stainless steel gastronorm pans from another brand?
A: Yes, it is manufactured to universal 1/1 Gastronorm sizing, so it should fit perfectly inside any standard 1/1 GN pan.
Q: Can I use this drainer tray for cold applications, like draining salads?
A: Absolutely. Its wide temperature range makes it just as useful in a cold prep station or refrigerated display as it is in a hot unit.
Q: Can I use the DW511 directly in a hot oven?
A: It is rated for use up to 190°C, making it suitable for most hot holding units and steam tables. For conventional or combi ovens, always check that the temperature does not exceed this limit.
Q: How much space does the shelf take up inside the pan?
A: It raises food by about 1.5cm from the bottom of the pan, which creates the perfect gap for effective drainage without sacrificing too much capacity.
Q: Will strong-coloured foods like curry or tomato sauce stain the plastic?
A: The high-quality, non-porous material is highly resistant to staining and odours, helping it stay looking professional use after use.
Q: Is this better than just using a perforated GN pan?
A: It offers superior performance for certain foods. A drain shelf creates a larger, more effective gap for liquids to drain into, promoting better air circulation to keep fried items much crisper.
Q: Is the plastic material food-grade and certified safe?
A: Yes, all Cambro food contact products are made from high-quality, food-safe materials that meet stringent international safety standards.
The Cambro Commitment: Smarter Kitchens, Better Food
When you buy a Cambro product, you're not just buying a piece of plastic; you're investing in over 70 years of industry-leading innovation focused on a single goal: making foodservice operations safer, more efficient, and more profitable. This Cambro DW511 drain shelf is a perfect embodiment of that philosophy. It's not a complicated gadget, but it solves a real, everyday problem that directly impacts your bottom line. By preventing food from becoming soggy and unappealing, it drastically cuts down on waste. In a busy kitchen, that translates to tangible cost savings week after week. Its durability means you won't be replacing it every few months, and its smart design improves the consistency of your final product, which is key to customer loyalty. This is the Cambro advantage: thoughtfully engineered, long-lasting solutions that work tirelessly behind the scenes to make your business better.
Explore more from CambroWhy a -40°C to 190°C Temperature Range Matters
When a product description says 'high-heat plastic', what does that actually mean for your kitchen? This isn't the same material as a standard takeaway container. This high heat GN food pan insert is made from a specialised polymer engineered to perform safely and consistently at extreme temperatures. It's designed not to warp, crack, or leach chemicals when holding food on a 190°C steam table, and equally, it won't become brittle and shatter in a -40°C blast freezer.
Think of it like car tyres. You have summer tyres for grip in the heat and winter tyres for safety in the cold, but this material is like an all-season, high-performance tyre for your kitchen. You can take a batch of blanched vegetables, freeze them on this very shelf, and then move the entire shelf directly into a steam table for reheating. This versatility saves time, reduces the need for extra containers, and minimises handling, which is a massive win for kitchen efficiency and food safety.
Who Should Buy This?
- Pubs & Carveries: Keep roast potatoes, parsnips, and Yorkshire puddings perfectly crisp on the hot deck.
- Fish & Chip Shops: A fantastic tool for holding fried fish and sausages in the hot box.
- Hotel & Buffet Caterers: Ideal for draining everything from bacon and sausages to steamed broccoli and carrots.
- Event & Mobile Caterers: A lightweight, durable solution for maintaining food quality in any location.
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