Why boilerless? Stellar developed boilerless steam equipment because steamers have traditionally been one of the most troublesome items in a kitchen, and all because of that boiler. Out of sight and out of mind, the boiler requires frequent maintenance which often is overlooked. When a boiler needs to be replaced, it often costs as much as purchasing a new steamer. Additionally, boiler-based steamers can use as much as 90 gallons of water an hour. Stellar's steamers were tested by an independent lab and found to use less than 2 gallons an hour. Imagine the cost savings. Electrical and gas consumption is also about half that of boiler-based steamers. You can save the cost of buying a Stellar steamer very quickly. What's different about Stellar's steamers? We designed our steamers from the inside out, looking at the function of a steamer and how to increase efficiency and reduce problems. The properties of aluminum present a huge advantage. Aluminum can be heated easily and will hold heat for a long time. Stainless steel is just the opposite (think of how quickly a steam table pan cools off after being removed from heat). We make our cooking compartment out of cast aluminum. It's ¼ inch thick and uses very little energy to get hot and stay hot. That means when you open the door to remove and reload food, the steamer will come back up to cooking temperature very quickly. Stellar's Firsts We were the first to add convection fans and automatic waterfill to our boilerless steamers, in 2001. We did it because operators found boilerless steamers to be much slower than they were used to. And they didn't want to stop cooking in order to add water. We were the first to add a gas boilerless steamer to our line, in 2002. And we'll continue to improve all of our products to make sure you get the most for your money (and spend the least later on water, energy and maintenance). Steamers Stellar manufactures the broadest line of boilerless steamers: gas and electric, connected to plumbing or connectionless, countertop sizes (4- and 6-pan) and floor models (8-, 10- and 12-pan). We have designed these steamers from an operator's perspective - they are easy to install, easy to use and to clean, your food will look and taste great and they save you money. We offer options that allow you to buy the steamer that best suits your kitchen. And we will help you make the most of your new steamer by providing training to you and your staff. Mini-Catalog available here