Pot & Utensil Washers

A pot and utensil washer is a heavy-duty washing machine built for oversized cookware — stockpots, baking trays, mixing bowls and gastronorm inserts — that are too tall or too heavily soiled for a standard pass-through dishwasher. The wash chamber is significantly deeper, the spray arms are positioned to reach inside large vessels, and the cycle parameters are set for tougher soiling. Standard dishwashers are optimised for crockery and glassware, not the baked-on residue that accumulates on commercial cookware.

The range covers two main configurations. Front-load pot washers — such as the Eswood SWUT20 and Meiko FV 250.2 — open at the front and suit kitchens where overhead clearance is limited. Hood-type machines, including several Hobart Profi and Premax models, lift a hood over the load and tend to suit higher-volume operations where speed of loading matters. Extra-wide variants are also available for trays and sheet pans that would not fit a standard-width tub.

Front-load machines generally have a smaller footprint and fit neatly under a bench, making them a practical choice for smaller kitchens or operations where pot washing is a secondary task. Hood-type machines allow faster loading and unloading because the operator does not need to reach inside; they suit high-throughput kitchens where pots move continuously through service. Consider your ceiling height, available floor space and how many pots your team turns over per service before deciding.

Start with the largest item you need to wash — a full-size gastronorm insert, a stockpot or a hotel pan — and check the internal tub dimensions against that item. Then think about throughput: how many loads per service, and how long your team can afford to wait between cycles. Machines in this range vary considerably in tub size and cycle speed, so matching those two factors to your actual service pattern will point you toward the right unit more reliably than a rough seat-count rule.

Most commercial pot washers require a direct cold-water inlet connection and a floor drain or standpipe for the outlet. Some models also need a hot-water feed to reach operating temperature quickly. A licensed plumber should connect the supply and waste lines before first use. Check the specification sheet for your chosen model — inlet pressure requirements and drain flow rates vary across the Hobart, Meiko and Eswood ranges, and an undersized supply line will affect wash performance.

Most commercial pot washers in this range run on three-phase power, though some smaller front-load units operate on single-phase. The draw varies by model — hood-type machines with built-in heat recovery or auto-lift mechanisms tend to draw more than basic front-load units. Always confirm the electrical requirements from the product specification before ordering, and have a licensed electrician assess your switchboard capacity before installation.

Several Hobart Profi models include exhaust heat recovery, which captures waste heat from the exhaust air and uses it to pre-heat incoming water — reducing energy draw over a long service. Heat recovery makes the most sense in kitchens running the machine heavily throughout the day. Auto-hood-lift features, available on certain Hobart units, reduce operator fatigue and speed up the cycle, which indirectly saves water and energy by cutting idle time between loads.

At the end of each service, drain the wash tank, remove and rinse the filter basket, and wipe down the interior walls and spray arms. Check spray arm nozzles regularly for blockages — food debris caught in a nozzle reduces wash pressure across the whole cycle. Descaling frequency depends on your water hardness; in hard-water areas, a regular descale schedule is essential to protect heating elements and pump seals. Use detergents and rinse aids specified for the machine brand to avoid voiding any service arrangements.

Yes, that is precisely the use case these machines are built for. Sheet trays, perforated gastronorm inserts, colanders, mixing bowls and large utensils all wash well in a pot washer, provided they fit within the tub dimensions. Eswood's rack system, for example, includes purpose-made glass and cup racks as well as open-format racks suited to irregularly shaped items. Confirming rack compatibility with your chosen machine before purchase means your team can load mixed items without improvising.

Pot washers span a broad price range depending on configuration, tub size and feature set — compact front-load units sit at one end of the scale, while large hood-type machines with heat recovery and auto-lift sit considerably higher. Members at Chefs Depot save off RRP across the full range. If you are comparing models across brands such as Hobart, Meiko, Eswood and Winterhalter, the product pages carry current member and non-member pricing so your team can make a direct comparison before ordering.