Lincat BS3 Dry Heat Bain Marie with Round Pots

The Lincat BS3 is a countertop dry heat bain marie supplied with two stainless steel round pots. Rather than maintaining temperature through a heated water well, it uses radiant heat beneath the pots to keep food at a consistent serving temperature throughout service. It is a straightforward, self-contained unit with an adjustable heat control that allows operators to set an appropriate holding level for different preparations.

In practice, dry heat bain maries are well suited to holding sauces, gravies, soups and similar preparations during a service period. The BS3 is commonly used in smaller restaurants, café kitchens, pub serveries and front-of-house counters where a compact unit is more practical than a larger built-in installation. The adjustable control gives a reasonable degree of flexibility across different menu items.

Compared to wet well units, the dry heat format offers some practical day-to-day advantages:

• No water to fill, monitor or drain — simpler setup and end-of-service breakdown
• Easier to reposition without spillage risk
• No scale or mineral build-up to manage during cleaning
• Generally lower energy draw for the holding capacity provided

It is worth noting that dry heat holding is less forgiving for preparations that skin or dry out quickly. Dense sauces and soups tend to hold well; more delicate items may need more frequent stirring during service. For operations holding a wider variety of preparations simultaneously, or running higher service volumes, a larger multi-pot or wet well unit may be a more appropriate choice.

The BS3 connects to a standard electrical supply and requires no specialist installation, making it accessible for most catering settings without additional infrastructure.

If you are weighing up dry heat versus wet well holding for your operation, we are happy to talk it through before you commit.