The Secret Behind Subway's High Speed Ovens

What Type of High-Speed Oven Does Subway Use to Heat Its Sandwiches?

If you enjoy your subs toasted, you may wonder: how does Subway toast their sandwiches? The speed comes from the kind of oven they use—and no, it's not just a microwave. The secret behind Subway's heated subs is its high-speed commercial ovens, specifically the TurboChef Bullet and the Merrychef CONNEX16.1 Built for high-volume operations, these ovens feature sophisticated heating technology involving three heat sources. The result is an oven that toasts subs with the same quality as a conventional oven in a fraction of the time. TurboChef's Bullet oven toasts an 8-inch sub in just 20 seconds.2

How do Subway Ovens Work?

TurboChef and Merrychef ovens use a combination of radiant heat, high-speed air impingement, and microwave technology to heat product. Variable settings for each heating method help speed up cooking times without harming food quality, thoroughly warming a sub's contents while leaving its bread toasty and fresh. Each high-speed oven comes with a recirculating catalytic converter for ventless operation, a touchscreen display, and programable menus that can store hundreds of recipes.

The Benefits of High-speed Ovens

In a chain restaurant like Subway, consistency is one of the most important factors. You want a Subway sandwich in San Francisco to have the same quality as one in Boston. Sandwiches are one of the most popular fast-food choices in the U.S. In a national survey of 2,000 adults, 33 percent said subs and sandwiches are their preferred fast-food category, ranking just behind pizza and Mexican food. That popularity puts pressure on chains like Subway to deliver toasted sandwiches quickly and consistently, which is why high-speed ovens play such a critical role in their kitchens. Subway toaster ovens help provide Subway's consistent, efficient service.

  • Tri-heat technology: Enables easy and quick heating
  • Ventless operation: Provides versatile placement options and minimal installation cost
  • Programmable menus with USB and WiFi compatibility: Allows for customizability and consistency in multiple operations
  • Stainless steel construction: Durability for high-volume environments
  • Touchscreen controls: Easy to use with minimal training

How Subway Ovens Can Elevate Your Operation

TurboChef and Merrychef ovens are great for warming subs, but that's not the end of their usefulness. They can bake small pizzas, chicken, and desserts much faster than conventional ovens; these foods can all be programmed into the oven's menu memory.

Sitting at just over 21 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 19 inches high, The TurboChef Bullet's compact design is ideal for operations with limited space, but its quick turnaround makes up for its size. It can be double stacked with a separate stacking kit, allowing users to maximize vertical space. The Merrychef CONNEX16 has a slightly larger cooking space, but it maintains a small footprint at just over 18 inches wide, almost 27 inches deep, and 243/8 inches high.

The small size of high-speed ovens helps with efficiency and quality; rather than heating up a large oven while juggling multiple orders, employees can focus on made-to-order meals, providing the freshest customer experience. These ovens are ideal for fast-casual operations, fast-food snack shacks, or cafes.

TurboChef Bullet Cooking Times2

8-inch Sub 20 sec
Nachos Grande (1-2 servings) 35 sec
Chicken Satay 40 sec
Toasted Breakfast Sandwich 50 sec
14-inch Pepperoni Pizza 2 min 15 sec

High-speed ovens are also designed to be easy to maintain, with a small surface area to clean and ventless operation that avoids grease buildup. Watch a video on how to clean a TurboChef Bullet here.

Subway ovens help a restaurant elevate its speed, quality, and product delivery. Whether you're starting your own brand or upgrading a sandwich shop, you can use TurboChef, Merrychef, and other high-speed oven brands from KaTom to put your own spin on Subway's delicious subs.

References

  1. Oven Catalog and Pricing Subway Equipment Refresh. Accessed January 2025.
  2. Bullet TurboChef. Accessed January 2025.