Heated Display Case Buying Guide: Countertop, Open-Air and Pizza Cases
Buying Guide · Food Holding & Warming
Choose a Heated Display Case That Fits Your Counter, Your Service Style and Your Power
A heated display case keeps hot food at serving temperature while customers see it. The right case sells more of what you make; the wrong one dries food out, blocks the counter or needs power you do not have.
Use this guide to compare countertop glass cases, pass-through cases, open-air showcases and pizza cases, then check the size, power and holding temperature before you buy.
Start With What You Sell and How It Is Served
List what goes in the case: pastries, savoury pies, samosas, breakfast sandwiches, wrapped burritos, pizza slices. Then decide who takes it out: staff, customers, or both.
Unwrapped food usually sits behind glass. Packaged food can go on open self-serve shelves. That choice, plus the counter or floor space you have, narrows the case type quickly.
Best-Fit Operations
This guide is for counters that sell hot food on view, from a single café case to a grab-and-go wall.
Which Type of Heated Display Case?
Glass case, open-air showcase or pizza case.
Countertop glass cases sit on the counter and hold food on adjustable shelves behind glass. EFI Versa Display cases come with curved, square or slanted front glass, and as pass-through models with doors on both sides.
Heated open-air showcases are tall, floor-standing units with open shelves at the front for packaged grab-and-go food. The EFI models have a pull-down curtain to close the front and sit on casters.
Pizza display cases keep whole pizzas turning on a rotating shelf for slice sales. Heated shelf merchandisers such as the APW Wyott Racer use a heated base and overhead heat with glass sides.
Quick guide
- Countertop glass: unwrapped baked goods and hot snacks.
- Pass-through or slanted: self-serve from the front, restock from the back.
- Open-air: packaged grab-and-go.
- Pizza case: whole pizzas for slice sales.
Heated Display Cases
EFI Versa Display cases, showcases and pizza case, plus APW Wyott.
Countertop Food Warmers
Pan warmers, heat strips and soup kettles.
Display & Showcase Cases
Refrigerated and dry display.
Takeout Containers
Packaging for grab-and-go.
| Type | Best for | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countertop glass (curved or square) | Staff-served pastries and hot snacks | Compact; food protected behind glass | Staff handle every order |
| Pass-through or slanted glass | Self-serve from the front | Customers serve themselves; staff restock from behind | Needs access on both sides of the counter |
| Open-air showcase | Packaged grab-and-go | Large capacity; fast self-serve | Floor space and 220V power |
| Pizza display case | Pizza by the slice | Rotating shelf and humidity control | Built for one product |
| Heated shelf merchandiser | Wrapped items on a heated shelf | Heated base plus overhead heat | Fewer shelves than a glass case |
Who Serves the Food?
The door layout decides the service style.
Staff-served: EFI curved and square glass cases have fixed front glass and rear sliding doors, so staff take every item out from behind the counter.
Self-serve with staff restocking: EFI pass-through and slanted glass cases have sliding doors on the front and back. Customers open the front; staff load from the back.
Self-serve, packaged only: open-air showcases have open shelves. Use them for wrapped or boxed food, and close the curtain when the counter is not staffed.
Ask before you choose
- Will staff serve every item?
- Is the food wrapped?
- Can staff reach the back of the case?
- Will the case face a queue or a walkway?
| Case | Doors | Service style |
|---|---|---|
| EFI curved or square glass | Fixed front glass; rear sliding glass doors | Staff-served |
| EFI pass-through | Sliding glass doors front and back | Self-serve front, restock back |
| EFI slanted glass | Sliding doors front and back | Staff or self-serve |
| EFI open-air showcase | Open front shelves; pull-down curtain | Self-serve, packaged food |
| EFI pizza case | Double doors; glass on two sides | Staff-served slices |
How Big a Case Do You Need?
Measure the counter, then size the case to your peak display.
Start with the counter. The EFI curved, square and pass-through cases are 22.4" deep and 27" high; the slanted glass cases are 19.1" deep. Leave room around the case for air and for the doors to slide.
Then match the width to how much you display at your busiest time. In the EFI curved and square cases, display space runs from 120 L in the 27" model to 202 L in the 48" model, on three adjustable chrome-plated shelves. The open-air showcases offer 430 L to 760 L on four adjustable shelves, at 80" tall.
Two smaller cases can be easier to manage than one large one if you hold different products at different temperatures.
Sizing questions
- How deep is the counter?
- How many items at peak?
- One product or several?
- Floor space for a showcase?
| Model | Widths | Depth x height | Display space |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curved or square glass countertop | 27", 34", 48" | 22.4" x 27" | 120 L, 160 L, 202 L |
| Pass-through countertop | 27", 34", 48" | 22.4" x 27" | 125 L, 165 L, 205 L |
| Slanted glass countertop | 14", 27", 35", 48" | 19.1" x 27.3" | 3 adjustable shelves |
| Open-air showcase | 26", 34", 46" | 29.4" to 29.5" x 80" | 430 L, 560 L, 760 L |
| Pizza case (HGPZ-2333) | 22.4" | 25.2" x 32.5" | Pizzas up to 18" |
Power: 120V or 220V?
Countertop cases plug in. Open-air showcases need a 220V circuit.
The EFI countertop glass cases run on 120V with a NEMA 5-15P plug. The curved, square and pass-through models are listed at 15 amps, so give them a circuit that is not shared with other equipment. The slanted glass models draw 5.4 to 12.6 amps depending on width.
The EFI heated pizza case is 120V and 1300 W (11.8 A, NEMA 5-15P). The APW Wyott DMXD-36S Racer is 120V and 1600 W (13.3 A).
The EFI open-air showcases are 220V units with a NEMA 6-30P plug, drawing 13.6 to 18.3 amps (3000 W to 4000 W). They need a matching 30-amp receptacle, so plan the electrical work before the case arrives.
Check before you order
- Voltage and plug type on the listing.
- A matching receptacle and circuit.
- Other equipment on the same circuit.
- An electrician for 220V showcases.
| Model | Electrical | Plug |
|---|---|---|
| EFI curved, square and pass-through glass | 120V, 15 A | NEMA 5-15P |
| EFI slanted glass | 110-120V, 5.4 to 12.6 A | NEMA 5-15P |
| EFI heated pizza case | 110-120V, 1300 W, 11.8 A | NEMA 5-15P |
| APW Wyott DMXD-36S Racer | 120V, 1600 W, 13.3 A | See listing |
| EFI open-air showcases | 220V, 3000 to 4000 W, 13.6 to 18.3 A | NEMA 6-30P |
Temperature, Humidity and Food Quality
A display case holds food. It does not cook or reheat it.
Load food that is already hot. Hot food that needs temperature control should be held at 60°C (140°F) or higher, as Health Canada advises. The EFI countertop and pizza cases adjust from 30°C to 90°C (86°F to 194°F) with a digital controller; the open-air showcases adjust from 30°C to 70°C (86°F to 158°F).
Dry heat can dry out bread and crusts over time. The EFI pizza case adds a digital humidity controller. For other cases, rotate product often, display smaller batches and keep backup stock in a holding cabinet or food warmer.
Packaging matters for self-serve: choose takeout containers rated for the case temperature, and label items so staff know when to pull them. Check temperatures with a probe thermometer and follow your local health authority on holding times.
Daily habits
- Preheat the case before loading.
- Load only hot, fully cooked food.
- Check product temperatures during service.
- Rotate and pull product on schedule.
- Clean glass, shelves and crumb areas daily.
Heated Display Cases at Russell Hendrix
Our range is built around EFI Versa Display, plus the APW Wyott Racer.
| Model | Type | Sizes | Notes (per listing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFI HGCM | Curved glass countertop | 27" · 34" · 48" | Rear sliding doors; stainless; LED lighting |
| EFI HGSM | Square glass countertop | 27" · 34" · 48" | Rear sliding doors; stainless; LED lighting |
| EFI HGSM-SF | Pass-through countertop | 27" · 34" · 48" | Front and back sliding doors |
| EFI HGCS | Slanted glass countertop | 14" · 27" · 35" · 48" | Sliding doors front and back |
| EFI HGOCM | Heated open-air showcase | 26" · 34" · 46" | 80" tall; pull-down curtain; casters; 220V |
| EFI HGPZ-2333 | Heated pizza case | HGPZ-2333 | Rotating shelf for pizzas up to 18"; humidity control |
| APW Wyott | Heated shelf merchandiser | DMXD-36S | 36"; heated base and overhead heat; final sale |
Need refrigerated or dry display instead? See display & showcase cases and the Bakery Display Cases Buying Guide.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most display case regrets come down to service style and power.
Choosing glass style before service style
Decide who serves first, then pick the doors.
Ignoring counter depth
Measure the counter; the cases are 19" to 22" deep.
Ordering a showcase without 220V
Open-air showcases need a 30-amp receptacle.
Sharing a circuit
Countertop cases draw up to 15 amps.
Using the case to reheat
Reheat first, then display.
Overfilling the shelves
Smaller batches stay fresher and hotter.
Unwrapped food on open shelves
Use open-air for packaged items only.
No backup holding
Keep restock product hot behind the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most about heated display cases.
What is the difference between a heated display case and a food warmer?
A heated display case holds food on shelves behind glass, or on open shelves, so customers can see it and buy it. A food warmer holds food in pans or under heat at the line or a service counter.
Should I choose a pass-through or a curved or square glass case?
Curved and square glass cases have sliding doors at the back only, so staff serve every order. Pass-through and slanted glass cases have sliding doors on both sides, so customers can serve themselves from the front while staff restock from the back.
Do heated display cases need a special outlet?
The EFI countertop cases, the pizza case and the APW Wyott Racer plug into 120V, and the countertop cases use a standard NEMA 5-15P plug. The EFI open-air showcases need 220V with a NEMA 6-30P plug, which takes a 30-amp receptacle installed by an electrician.
What temperature should a heated display case run at?
Hot food that needs temperature control should be held at 60°C (140°F) or higher, as Health Canada advises. The EFI countertop cases adjust up to 90°C (194°F) and the open-air showcases up to 70°C (158°F). Check product temperatures with a probe thermometer and follow your local health authority.
Open-air showcase or glass case?
Open-air showcases suit packaged grab-and-go food that customers pick up themselves. Glass cases protect unwrapped food and suit staff-served counters or doors-both-sides self-serve.
Can a heated display case cook or reheat food?
No. Load food that is already cooked and at serving temperature. The case keeps it hot and on view.
What size pizza fits the EFI heated pizza case?
The EFI HGPZ-2333 takes pizzas up to 18" on a self-rotating shelf, with a digital humidity controller to help keep the pizza from drying out.
When to Involve a Specialist
Some display decisions are easier with your counter and power in front of us.
A specialist can review your menu, counter dimensions, service style and electrical supply, and help you choose a case and plan the circuit.
Bring in Sales when
- You are planning a grab-and-go wall or a new counter.
- You need a 220V open-air showcase.
- You are choosing between staff-served and self-serve.
- You need a size or style not listed online.
Go Deeper
Guides that go deeper on display, holding and counter service.
Countertop Food Warmers Buying Guide
Warmers, rethermalizers and heat strips.
Bakery Display Cases Buying Guide
Refrigerated and dry bakery display.
Holding and Proofing Cabinet Buying Guide
Backup holding behind the counter.
Café Cooking Equipment Guide
Equipment for cafés and coffee shops.
Pizza Shop Cooking Equipment Guide
Ovens, prep and display for pizza.
QSR Cooking Equipment Guide
Equipment for quick-service lines.
Decide the Service, Then Choose the Case
The strongest choices connect the menu, the service style, the counter, the power and the backup holding before any purchase is final.
Planning a whole kitchen? The Opening Journey walks through the concept, menu, space, workflow and equipment list in order.
