What is Gastronorm (GN)
Gastronorm is an internationally recognized standard for commercial kitchen containers and trays, first introduced in Switzerland and included in the European standard EN 631 in 1993.
It uses a fractional system—GN 1/1 (530 × 325 mm) is the base size, and other sizes are derived as fractions or multiples, allowing all GN containers to be interchangeably used in compatible equipment.
This standard ensures that GN inserts are compatible with most commercial kitchen equipment, including ovens, combination ovens, refrigerators, prep tables, bain-maries, display counters, and food carts.
Common GN Sizes (External Length × Width)
| GN Size | External Dimensions (mm) | Typical Use / Notes |
| GN 2/1 | 650 × 530 | Extra-large capacity for banquets, high-volume cooking, storage, refrigeration, or hot holding |
| GN 1/1 | 530 × 325 | Full-size standard; versatile for main dishes, bulk cooking, refrigeration, and steaming |
| GN 2/3 | 354 × 325 | Large portions, side dishes, buffet service, hot or cold storage |
| GN 1/2 | 325 × 265 | Half-size for side dishes, salads, prep, and storage |
| GN 1/3 | 325 × 176 | Small portions, sauces, side dishes, prep work |
| GN 2/4 | 530 × 162 | Narrow design for limited-space equipment or special uses |
| GN 1/4 | 265 × 162 | Small portions, condiments, sauces, and prep items |
| GN 1/6 | 176 × 162 | Mini portions, sauces, small prep ingredients |
| GN 1/9 | 108 × 176 | Tiny portions, condiments, or garnishes |
Note: Some suppliers offer less common sizes (e.g., GN 2/8, GN 1/12), but the above sizes are standard.
Depth Options & Capacity
GN inserts come in various depths, which affect container capacity and use. Common depths include 20 mm, 40 mm, 65 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm, and 200 mm.
Shallow (20–40 mm): Ideal for displays, salads, cold dishes, pastries, and small items for easy access.
Medium (65–100 mm): Versatile for hot dishes, prep, storage, steaming, or chilling.
Deep (150–200 mm): Suitable for soups, stews, bulk ingredients, large-scale prep, hot or cold storage.
For example, a GN 1/1 × 200 mm deep insert is perfect for soups or bulk storage, while a GN 1/3 × 65 mm insert is ideal for prep, side dishes, or small-portion items.
Advantages & Recommendations of ChangWen GN Inserts
High Compatibility
Following the GN standard (EN 631), ChangWen Stainless Steel Inserts are compatible with most GN-compliant ovens, refrigerators, hot-holding cabinets, prep tables, display racks, and food carts on the market, eliminating concerns about size mismatches.
Flexible Combinations & Space Optimization
Using the GN fractional system, 1 × GN 1/1 can be replaced with 2 × GN 1/2, 3 × GN 1/3, or 6 × GN 1/6, allowing flexible arrangement according to dish or ingredient type. This modular design significantly improves space utilization and workflow efficiency in high-demand kitchens such as restaurants, hotels, and central kitchens.
Multi-purpose — Cooking / Storage / Display / Hot & Cold
ChangWen stainless steel GN inserts can be used for oven cooking, steamers, combination ovens, hot-holding cabinets, refrigerated storage, prep, transport, and display. Depending on depth, they can handle everything from cold salads to hot stews, small side dishes to large main courses.
High-Quality & Durable Material
ChangWen GN inserts are made from food-grade stainless steel (e.g., 304), offering heat resistance, corrosion resistance, easy cleaning, and warp resistance, making them suitable for long-term, high-intensity use in commercial kitchens.
How to Choose the Right GN Inserts for Your Kitchen or Foodservice Business
When selecting ChangWen GN Stainless Steel Inserts for your kitchen, restaurant, hotel, or food processing center, follow these steps to ensure you choose the right size and depth:
Determine the Purpose
For refrigeration, cold dishes, salads, cold platters, pastries, or display → choose shallow depths (20 / 40 / 65 mm).
For regular cooking, hot dishes, side preparation, or daily prep → choose medium depths (65 / 100 mm).
For stews, soups, bulk ingredient preparation, or large-scale storage → choose deep depths (150 / 200 mm).
Select GN Size Based on Equipment / Storage Space
For devices (ovens, stoves, refrigerators, hot-holding cabinets, or food carts) designed for GN 1/1 full capacity → choose GN 1/1, 2 × GN 1/2, 4 × GN 1/4, or a mix of smaller sizes.
For smaller prep stations, condiment areas, or side-dish stations → choose GN 1/3, GN 1/4, GN 1/6, or GN 1/9.
Consider Flexibility and Future Expansion
Purchasing multiple sizes and depths allows your kitchen to adapt to different dishes and menu changes.
GN standard ensures that if you upgrade or expand equipment in the future, you can continue using existing inserts without needing a full replacement.
Recommended Configurations (Examples)
| Use Case | Recommended Size & Depth | Notes |
| Refrigerator / Cold Prep / Salad Bar | GN 1/2 × 65 mm / GN 1/3 × 65 mm | Easy access to fresh ingredients, space-efficient |
| Hot Dishes / Medium Batch Cooking | GN 1/1 × 100 mm / GN 2/3 × 100 mm | Suitable for main dishes, hot holding, and cooking |
| Soups / Large Volume / Bulk Storage | GN 1/1 × 150 mm or 200 mm | Large capacity for soups, stews, and high-volume prep |
| Buffet / Display / Portion Control | GN 1/3 × 65 mm / GN 1/4 × 65 mm / GN 1/6 × 65 mm | Modular layout for different dishes, sauces, or sides |
Conclusion
By following Gastronorm standards, ChangWen Stainless Steel Inserts provide a standardized, modular, and highly compatible storage solution for any commercial kitchen. Whether you run a restaurant, hotel, central kitchen, catering service, or mobile food operation, selecting the right GN size + depth ensures efficient workflow, space optimization, and long-term usability.
ChangWen offers a variety of GN sizes and depths so your kitchen equipment stays compatible, flexible, and efficient — supporting professional operations and maximizing productivity.
We recommend selecting GN inserts based on your kitchen equipment (stoves, ovens, refrigerators, steamers) and your cooking needs (cold dishes, side dishes, main courses, storage). ChangWen offers a wide range of GN sizes and depths to ensure your kitchen equipment remains highly compatible, efficient, and flexible.
