The commercial speed oven isn’t merely a tool, but the very heartbeat of your kitchen.
The unique combination of high-speed and excellent cooking quality makes them ideal for a variety of commercial settings, particularly those where time is of the essence and quality cannot be compromised.
If you’re in the market to buy a speed oven but not sure how to go about it, this commercial speed oven buyer’s guide is the ultimate handbook you need.
From available types to the best speed ovens in Australia, we have covered everything you need to know.
What is a speed oven?
A speed oven, also known as a rapid cook oven or high-speed oven, is a compact high-tech cooking device powered by two or more types of heat transfer technologies.
Typically, it uses a combination of microwave technology, air impingement, convection, and radiant heating.
This results in cooking times that are significantly faster than conventional ovens, often up to 10-15 times faster, while still providing the quality and consistency of traditional cooking methods.
Speed ovens are ideal for settings where kitchen space is limited, as they often have a smaller footprint.
Speed oven Vs Microwave oven
The primary difference between a speed oven and a microwave oven lies in the use of heating technology.
While a pure microwave oven uses only microwave technology, a speed oven, on the other hand, goes above and beyond by using convection or radiant or both heating methods along with the microwave technology, ensuring faster and more consistent results.
Benefits of a speed oven
Faster cooking
Speed ovens cook food faster than conventional ovens, considerably reducing wait times and increasing turnover rate.
Better quality
Despite their speed, they deliver the best quality and produce evenly cooked, perfectly browned dishes every time.
Consistent results
Speed ovens deliver consistent results, ensuring every dish comes out exactly as expected.
Versatile
They are extremely versatile, capable of baking, broiling, toasting, roasting, and more.
This allows commercial kitchens to prepare a diverse menu without needing additional equipment.
Saves space
Speed ovens combine the functions of multiple appliances, saving space in compact kitchens.
Energy efficient
These advanced ovens use less energy due to shorter cooking times, leading to energy savings.
Speed oven heating sources
Commercial high speed ovens use multiple heating sources for rapid and efficient cooking.
The different combinations of heating technology used by speed ovens include the below variants.
Impinged convection heating
These models use a combination of impingement and convection heating.
They target the convection current directly on the food being cooked by using impingement plates and fingers.
Speed ovens using this heating method are best suited for making pizzas with a crispy crust and well-melted cheese in minutes.
They are also ideal for making sandwiches, fries, toast, tortillas, and flatbread or for roasting chicken and veggies.
Microwave and convection heating
As the name suggests, these speed ovens use microwave technology along with convection heating to cook food faster.
They are best for making deliciously toasted sandwiches, crispy chicken, crunchy nachos or mouth-watering cookies.
Microwave and impinged convection heating
Microwave and impinged convection heating uses microwave technology plus impinged convection heating in the same unit, ensuring that the food cooks not only faster but also evenly from the inside with a crunchy crust from the outside.
These are ideal for cooking a wide range of dishes, from haloumi fries, chicken wings and biscuits, to nachos, toasted sandwiches, bread, veggies and chicken roast.
Microwave, convection and radiant heating
Here microwave technology is used in combination with convection and radiant heating, delivering the benefits of all three methods in a single unit.
These versatile speed ovens can bake cakes, prepare panini, or roast veggies, chicken breast or meat in minutes without compromising taste or texture.
Microwave, impinged convection, and radiant heating
Some top-of-the-line models combine microwave, impinged convection as well as radiant heating – all in one oven, delivering maximum flexibility and, of course, great results with quick cook time.
From making pizzas, fries and tortillas to roasting meat, seafood or baking muffins and signature bread – they do it all to perfection.
How to choose the right speed oven for your needs?
Manufacturers typically classify speed ovens under three categories according to their performance and capacity.
These are:
Entry-level
The entry-level models are generally less powerful compared to the other two variants.
Typically, they are less than 5000W with a cavity of less than one cubic ft.
These are also less expensive and cost around $4000 to $12000 in Australia, depending on the make and model.
High-performance
Designed for more demanding commercial use, these models are more powerful and typically have a wattage range between 3000W and 6000W, with a cavity that can be as compact as 0.50 cubic ft. to over one cubic ft. in size.
They generally cost between $9,000 and $20,000.
Max-performance
Max-performance speed ovens are ideal for commercial setups with high-volume needs where the oven is to be used daily for an extended period of time.
These are sturdy, powerful and capable of handling the quick demands of busy Australian food services.
Featuring a wattage range typically above 5600W that can go up to 11000W, these models can have a cavity as large as two cubic ft. or more in size.
They generally come with a price tag of above $12000.
To choose the best speed oven, first, understand your needs, like what you will be cooking and how much.
How much space do you have for the oven, and will you use it only for particular types of dishes or a wide range of cuisines?
These questions will help you better understand your needs and choose the right model.
Other features to consider
Speed ovens are advanced cooking equipment designed to make commercial cooking simpler while saving space and time.
They typically come with a number of high-tech features for increased efficiency and streamlined operations.
Some of these features include the below options.
Programmable
Programmable rapid-cook ovens can store several recipes, making it possible to cook a wide range of dishes with the same consistency, even if you have a new chef on the job.
These devices can be programmed easily and quickly just by pressing a few buttons on the oven or over the Wi-fi. Some advanced models can store as many as 100 or more recipes that can be quickly updated for no hassle.
Ventilation
In commercial kitchens, ventilation is a critical aspect.
Before you get any new equipment, it’s essential to confirm its ventilation specifications and if you’ll need a hood for it.
Some speed ovens, however, are ventless, meaning you don’t need any extra arrangement for ventilation, which not only saves space and money but also makes them ideal for front-of-house applications.
Wi-fi connectivity
A simple yet highly effective feature that can take your cooking game to the next level.
Wi-fi connectivity allows you to program and update the recipes stored in the oven remotely.
Some models also provide self-diagnostic reports and notifications right on your connected device, allowing you to keep track of the device’s health and performance remotely.
These particular features are extremely helpful for businesses operating in multiple location.
Speed oven cooking times
High-speed ovens can cook dishes 5 to 20 times faster than traditional ovens depending on the make and model.
Here’s a rough range of how quickly you can make certain dishes in a commercial speed oven.
Pizza – 1 minute and 20 seconds to 3 minutes and 30 seconds
Toasted sandwich – 40 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds
French fries – Less than 2 minutes and 30 seconds
Cookies and biscuits – 1 minute and 35 seconds to 6 minutes and 30 seconds
Panini – Less than 30 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds
Chicken breast – 3 minutes and 30 seconds to 4 minutes and 30 seconds
Baked potato – 10 to 15 minutes
Quesadilla – Around 1 minute
To explore a comprehensive range of speed ovens, contact Chione today and engage in a discussion with one of our consultants.
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