Commercial Rapid Cook & High-Speed Ovens

Common Questions About High-speed Ovens

What cooking processes do commercial speed ovens utilize?

The first thing to consider when you're shopping for a high-speed oven is which combination of cooking technologies you want. To make your choice, it may help to read over this brief primer on the different cooking methods you'll find in these ovens.

• Convection units employ a small fan inside the cabinet that circulates hot air around the food. While this method provides more even results, its real strength is in speeding up the cooking process. Moving the heat helps eliminate cold patches in the oven that can envelop your foods and prevent them from cooking efficiently.
• Models that incorporate microwave technology produce electromagnetic waves that move through the cabinet and the food inside it. That movement bumps the molecules in the food around, which creates friction that heats the food from the outside in. Though this provides rapid cooking, it's famously inconsistent. Pairing it with one of the other cooking types in this list not only further speeds up the process, it also helps eliminate some of the unevenness of using microwaves. For instance, a commercial convection microwave oven employs this method.
• Impingement is the newest method of cooking in this list, but the concept behind it is fairly simple. Units that use it force hot air through small openings, creating a powerful jet of heated air that busts through the "halo" of cold that surrounds uncooked foods. This technique speeds cooking by surrounding your foods in heat.
• Infrared radiants, which are typically found on equipment like charbroilers and outdoor grills, may seem like an odd choice for a high-speed oven, but they address one of the issues with combination ovens – that they don't offer the browning provided by more traditional cooking. Infrared heat not only provides the browning needed for preparing foods like poultry, it also enhances toasting, which adds flavor and crunch to foods.

Do these ovens have programmable controls?

Many of our commercial convection microwave ovens come with programmable controls, which help in producing a consistent product. The controls may range from the simple ability to store cooking specifics for a given dish to recipes that can be updated at every location of a chain through Wi-Fi or a USB flash drive. This feature enables you to provide consistent results from week to week and location to location, without having to train staff for every new recipe. It also reduces the chance of product loss from operator error and frees up employees to work on other things as your items are cooking.

To further simplify use, opt for a model with icon-driven controls. They make operation as easy as pressing an image of a given dish or cook cycle. Not only does this further reduce the potential for operator error, it also makes setting the cook cycle faster, freeing up even more employee time.

Should I get a conveyor unit?

Conveyor units make high-production cooking even easier with a conveyor belt that moves food through the cooking chamber. Inside, a souped-up impingement system cranks out heat even more efficiently than a standard impinger, which is already a rapid way of cooking. Conveyor models offer their own special features that aren't found on other units in this category. For instance, you can opt for a ventless oven that has been UL-approved for use without being under a hood. However, you'll need to check with local codes and enforcement officers to ensure you'll actually be able to do that in your area. Models with a split belt have two sections that can be operated independently so you can cook foods with different cook times at once. If you're using an oven with a split-belt design, you can cook eggs and meats at different speeds in the morning, then for lunch, you can set both parts of the belt to move at the same speed to cook pizzas or toast sandwiches.

Common Questions About High-Speed Ovens

What cooking processes do commercial speed ovens utilize?

High-speed ovens incorporate a variety of cooking methods to achieve fast results.

Convection: A fan circulates hot air for even cooking, speeding up the process and ensuring consistent results.

Microwave: Electromagnetic waves heat food from the inside out to provide rapid cooking, though it can result in uneven heating. Many ovens pair microwaves with other technologies like convection to enhance performance.

Impingement: Hot air is forced through small openings to cook food faster by surrounding it with heat.

Infrared: This method provides browning and toasting, especially useful for poultry and foods that benefit from a crispy texture.

Do these ovens have programmable controls?

Yes, many high-speed ovens feature programmable controls, which allow for consistency and ease of use. Some models can store cooking settings for specific dishes, reducing the need for constant monitoring. Features like Wi-Fi or USB-driven recipe updates help ensure consistency across multiple locations. Icon-driven controls simplify operation, speeding up cooking cycles and reducing the likelihood of operator error.

Should I get a conveyor unit?

Conveyor units can improve high-production cooking with a moving belt that transports food through the cooking chamber. These ovens offer enhanced efficiency, with some models featuring a split belt for cooking foods with varying cook times simultaneously. Conveyor ovens may include ventless options that don't require a hood, but be sure to check local codes. Conveyor units are a great choice for busy kitchens that need to cook large quantities at once, such as cooking eggs and meats in the morning or pizzas and sandwiches at lunchtime.

Advantages of High-Speed Ovens

High-speed ovens excel in both speed and versatility, allowing kitchens to cook a variety of items quickly without sacrificing quality. Their combination of cooking methods ensures that food is evenly cooked with the right texture, whether you're baking, toasting, or broiling. Programmable controls ensure consistency, reducing the likelihood of errors and saving time during busy periods. Conveyor models are particularly beneficial for high-volume kitchens, offering the ability to cook different items simultaneously with minimal user intervention. With options like ventless systems, these ovens can also be more convenient and space-saving.