Ramekins, Sauce Cups & Gravy Boats

57 products

Small vessels do a lot of work: dips with appetizers, dressing on the side, ketchup with fries, gravy at the carvery and baked custards from the pastry station. This collection gathers ramekins, sauce cups, sauce bowls and gravy and sauce boats in porcelain, ceramic, melamine and stainless steel, from 1.5 oz portions up to 12 oz boats.

Brands include Browne, Carlisle, Vollrath, Steelite, Cameo, G.E.T., Libbey and TableCraft. Find matching plates and bowls in our Dinnerware range.

Types of ramekins, sauce cups and gravy boats

  • Porcelain and ceramic ramekins – Browne, Steelite, Cameo and Rabco ramekins and custard cups for crème brûlée, baked dips and table sauces.
  • Melamine ramekins – Carlisle, G.E.T. and Elite Global Solutions round, square, fluted, double and molcajete styles for casual and patio service.
  • Stainless steel sauce cups – Browne, Libbey and Magnum cups from 1.5 to 4 oz, some with one or two handles, for burgers, wings and seafood.
  • Spouted ramekins – Vollrath handled ramekins with a pour spout for drawn butter, syrup and jus.
  • Gravy and sauce boats – TableCraft stackable boats and Browne gadroon-base boats from 3 to 12 oz for gravy, hollandaise and dressings.

What to consider when choosing ramekins and sauce cups

  • Portion size – 1.5 to 2 oz suits ketchup and dips; 3 to 4 oz suits dressings and shared sauces. Matching cup size to your portion spec helps control food cost.
  • Oven use – choose porcelain or ceramic for anything baked or torched; melamine is for cold and room-temperature sauces only.
  • Breakage and noise – stainless and melamine survive drops in busy bars and fast casual; porcelain gives a more finished look at the table.
  • Stacking – stackable ramekins and sauce boats save a lot of space on the line and in dish racks.
  • Lids and pairing – check whether a lid is available if you prep sauces ahead, and pick a colour or finish that suits your plates.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a ramekin and a sauce cup?

Ramekins are usually ceramic or porcelain with straight sides and can go in the oven for baked dishes. Sauce cups are typically stainless steel or melamine and are used only for serving condiments.

What size ramekin is used for crème brûlée?

Most kitchens use a shallow 4 to 6 oz porcelain ramekin so the custard sets evenly and gives a wide surface for the sugar crust.

Are melamine ramekins dishwasher safe?

Melamine handles commercial dishwashing, but avoid bleach-heavy soaks and abrasive pads, and never put it in an oven or microwave.

Prefer to talk it through? Find a Russell Hendrix representative.