The guide of gastronorm containers, GN standard

How many of us, restaurant owners and other catering professionals have ever wondered what the GN standard for gastronorm containers is??

Here is a little reminder to better understand and help you choose

The guide to choosing your GN containers or Gastro Norm containers in restaurants

What is the gastro bac?

The gastro tray, also called GN tray, is a container made mostly of stainless steel or transparent polycarbonate, widely used in professional kitchens for the transport and storage of food, to receive waste related to the preparation of dishes, but also to serve as a container for all kinds of gratins for example.

It exists in several depths, from 20mm to 200mm, solid, perforated, with handles, in standard stainless steel or stainless steel AISI 304, with reinforced edges or not...

And the GN standard then?

The GN standard was introduced in Europe on November 17, 1964 to standardize sizes in order to facilitate the exchange of containers in professional kitchens. This standardization has proven itself over the years in Europe and is now used by restaurateurs all over the world..

The main purpose of this standard is to be able to adapt any container to an oven, a refrigerator, a cold room, a freezer, or a stainless steel ladder, without having to change the container, which is extremely practical.

Let's take an example: You prepare a gratin in a GN 1/1 container. You can then place it directly in the slides of a GN1/1 refrigerated cabinet, then later put it in the oven without having to change the container, and then insert it in a GN1/1 insulated box to transport it. This standardization of formats saves precious time in the kitchen, simplifies the steps and avoids handling as much as possible.

There are 9 sizes of the most commonly used GN containers, which you will find in the illustration below:

The most common size is the GN1/1 pan size representing a dimension of 530mm x 325mm, the other gastronorm pans are only multiples or sub multiples of this basic pan.

Example: the GN1/1 container is half of a GN2/1 container, but also the double of the GN1/2 container, the quadruple of the GN1/4,...

Summary of the most common Gastro Norm dimensions:

Other sizes of Gastro Norm formats:

We hope to have enlightened you on this very important subject, to help you choose the best format for your needs.

Find all our gastronorm containers and lids by clicking HERE! Also think about the Suitable lids, solid or perforated.