The answer to this question will depend on the options you want to offer your guests and, of course on the size of the salad station that you have. If you want to offer an unlimited salad combination, then more food pans will be preferable to you, and the larger the salad station, the more space it will have for the pans you need. Even as you consider the number of food pans, it may be worth choosing a station with additional storage shelves or drawers, particularly if your salad station is popular and the ingredients need to be replenished regularly. This is a matter of preference and how well you know your clientele.