A device for tempering food held in rectangular pan-shaped containers of standardized sizes. The device has two opposing side walls and a cover panel connecting the side walls at the top. A rectangular opening is provided in the cover panel. The size of the opening is determined as a function of the standard-size containers to be placed in the opening. A laterally projecting opposite edges of the containers extend beyond the opening. Two opposing groove-like slots are on each of side walls below the opening. A tub for the purpose of tempering has two opposing, laterally projecting edges which are dimensioned to extend over the edges of the opening when the tub is placed in the opening, and which can be slid into the opposing slots in the side walls.