Alto-Shaam Cook & Holding Ovens

Alto-Shaam Cook-and-Hold Ovens: What You Need to Know

Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold units are unique pieces of commercial restaurant equipment that combine a slow-cooking oven with a heated holding cabinet. These ovens can prepare slow-cooked proteins without the shrinkage that comes with traditional ovens, providing a quick return on investment.

Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold models utilize proprietary Halo Heat® technology to provide a gentle, consistent heat throughout the cooking cavity, ensuring your product doesn't burn in some spots and remain undercooked in others. These ovens also don't use humidifying effects or fans, as Halo Heat surrounds the product in heating elements, removing the need for dehydrating air circulation. Cook-and-hold ovens come in several sizes and have various features to make them even easier to use. Drip trays, ventilation options, and reversible doors can add versatility to your unit and to the way you use it.

Common Questions About Alto-Shaam Cook-and-Hold

What are cook-and-hold ovens used for?

Cook-and-hold ovens cook foods slowly at low temperatures and then – upon reaching a determined time or internal temperature – will cool down to a holding temperature to keep product warm, tasty, and ready for serving. This functionality is incredibly useful for menu items that must be slow-cooked or smoked overnight, as the food will not overcook and will remain at a safe temperature until morning. These ovens are also useful in that they can cook and hold menu items in preparation for high-traffic periods, such as a dinner rush. As every operator knows, the quicker you can serve your customers, the quicker you can get new customers in – resulting in greater profits.

Many restaurants also get a lot of use out of an Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold smoker. These machines can use real wood chips to give your food a smoky flavor without adding anything artificial to the mix. Because the Alto-Shaam smoker oven already cooks food slowly, smoke has time to really penetrate the outer layers of whatever you're cooking and impart a deep, rich flavor that will set your products apart. Many Alto-Shaam smoker ovens come with sample bags of different types of wood so you can experiment to find which flavor best suits your dishes.

What sizes are available?

Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold ovens come in three main sizes: full-size, half-size, and undercounter. Smokers are usually half-size, though there are a few larger units. Full-size units are more than 70 inches high, which means they will require significant kitchen space, but will also hold and cook the most food. Full-size options are floor models. Half-size units are approximately half the size (go figure) of full-size models and can be more than 40 inches high, while undercounter units are usually around 31 inches high. Individual models will have slight variations in height, but you can check our product specifications page on the model you're interested in to verify it'll fit where you need it.

Are all Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold units also smokers?

No, the Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold smokers are listed as such in their product description. The smoking functionality requires a special smoker box to be installed, which not all models have.

Can I cold smoke with an Alto-Shaam smoker?

Cold smoking enables operators to create unique smoked products that will entertain and intrigue your customers. Smoked cheeses, fruits, and delicate desserts will delight your customers' palates, and with cold smoking, you can impart flavor without overcooking the food. However, not all Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold smokers can do cold smoking. Check the product specification page to ensure the model you're considering has all the functionality you're looking for.