If you're fitting out or upgrading a commercial kitchen in Australia, gastronorm pans are one of the most important investments you'll make. Used in restaurants, cafés, bakeries, catering operations, and food production facilities worldwide, GN pans are the global standard for food storage, cooking, and service — and for good reason.
At Hospitality Connect, we supply a full range of commercial gastronorm pans to hospitality operators across Australia. This guide covers everything you need to know before you buy.
What Are Gastronorm Pans?
Gastronorm pans — also called GN pans or Gastro pans — are standardised containers designed for use in commercial kitchens. The sizing system was developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and is now the accepted global standard, ensuring pans are compatible across ovens, refrigerators, bain-maries, holding cabinets, and transport equipment from any manufacturer.
That compatibility is the core value of the system. When your GN pans match your equipment, kitchen operations become faster, cleaner, and easier to manage.
Gastronorm Pan Sizes: A Complete Guide
GN pans are sized using a fractional system based on the full-size 1/1 pan. Here's a complete reference:
| GN Size | Dimensions (mm) | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 2/1 | 650 × 530 | Large-scale cooking, high-volume storage |
| 1/1 | 530 × 325 | Standard oven trays, bain-marie inserts, refrigerator storage |
| 1/2 | 325 × 265 | Buffet service, half-rack applications |
| 1/3 | 325 × 176 | Salad bars, condiment stations, portioned prep |
| 1/4 | 265 × 162 | Garnishes, sauces, small-volume storage |
| 1/6 | 176 × 162 | Tight spaces, compact prep stations |
| 1/9 | 108 × 176 | Toppings, individual condiments |
GN Pan Depths
Size is only half the picture — depth matters just as much for your application:
| Depth | Common Use |
|---|---|
| 20mm | Shallow inserts, display trays |
| 40mm | General prep and storage |
| 65mm | Standard all-purpose depth |
| 100mm | Soups, sauces, bulk storage |
| 150mm | High-volume liquids, overnight storage |
| 200mm | Deep storage, large batch cooking |
Gastronorm Pan Materials: Which Should You Choose?
Stainless Steel
The most widely used material in commercial kitchens. Handles high temperatures, resists corrosion, cleans easily, and lasts for years under heavy use. Suitable for direct oven use, bain-maries, blast chillers, and commercial dishwashers.
Best for: Cooking & hot holdingPolycarbonate
Transparent for easy content identification, lightweight and shatter-resistant. Ideal for cold storage and refrigeration. Not oven-safe.
Best for: Cold storage & prepPorcelain & Melamine
Offer a more aesthetic finish with good thermal insulation properties. Commonly used in buffet displays and front-of-house service setups.
Best for: Buffet presentationWhat Are Gastronorm Pans Used For?
Cooking
Oven-safe stainless GN pans work with baking, roasting, steaming, and sous vide. They fit directly into combi ovens without adapters.
Storage & Refrigeration
Stack efficiently in cool rooms and refrigerators with tight-fitting lids. Clear polycarbonate options allow fast visual stock checks.
Food Preparation
Prep, label, store, and move mise en place in the same container — reducing handling time and cross-contamination risk.
Buffet Service
Drop into bain-maries and chafing dishes for hot or cold buffet service. Porcelain options elevate front-of-house presentation.
Transport & Catering
GN pans fit securely in Eutectic transport boxes and catering carriers — essential for catering and events businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a 1/1 gastronorm pan?
A full-size 1/1 GN pan measures 530mm × 325mm. It's the base size from which all other fractions are derived and is the most common size used in commercial kitchens.
Are gastronorm pans oven safe?
Stainless steel gastronorm pans are oven safe and suitable for high-temperature cooking. Polycarbonate and melamine pans are not oven safe and should only be used for cold storage or cold holding.
What depth gastronorm pan do I need?
For general all-purpose use, a 65mm depth is the most versatile. For soups and liquids, choose 100mm or 150mm. For display or shallow inserts, 20mm or 40mm works well.
Are gastronorm pans dishwasher safe?
Stainless steel GN pans are fully dishwasher safe. Polycarbonate pans are typically dishwasher safe on lower temperature cycles — check the manufacturer's specifications for your specific product.
What's the difference between GN 1/2 and 1/3 pans?
A 1/2 pan (325 × 265mm) is larger — two fit across a full-size rack. A 1/3 pan (325 × 176mm) is narrower — three fit across a 1/1 space — making it better suited for smaller portions or tighter setups.
Buy Gastronorm Pans in Australia
We stock a full range of stainless steel and polycarbonate GN pans with fast dispatch from our Sydney warehouse. Trade pricing available.
