Small wonders: Compact cookers that take seconds, not minutes

Compact convection

The ability to stack compact cookers appealed to Lawns Farm’s Loft Café near Rotherham when choosing its cooking equipment. It plumped for the Panasonic NE-SCV3 high-speed convection oven, which can be double-stacked and offers microwave, grill and convection technology, using Panasonic’s twin inverter for consistent heat distribution.

“We’ve basically cut our wastage down to almost zero as we no longer need to hold our pies and sausage rolls hot – they can be cooked to order”

The farm’s manager, Anthony Ross, says the appliance has been revolutionary: “We’re able to cook our bacon and sausage sandwiches in seconds, we’ve added extras like hash browns, which the team upsell, and we’ve basically cut our wastage down to almost zero as we no longer need to hold our pies and sausage rolls hot – they can be cooked to order.

“The way the unit packs so much technology into such a small space is incredible. Thanks to its compact size and footprint, we’ve been able to position it in the corner in full view of our customers. It looks so much better and performs at a completely different level to the equipment we were using previously.”

Iain Phillips, managing director at Regale Microwave Ovens, a Panasonic supplier, says: “The NE-SCV3 has become one of our most in-demand models for good reason. It’s capable of cooking, toasting, baking, grilling and reheating – all in one small footprint. It’s the ideal solution for operators needing speed and quality without expanding their kitchen real estate.”

Regale recently conducted operator trials within high-footfall travel hubs and compact food-to-go kiosks where the NE-SCV3 has helped reduce customer waiting times by up to 50%, while improving menu consistency and reducing food waste. One transport café said it had doubled its toasted sandwich output during the morning rush using two stackable units without increasing staffing levels.

Latest launches

This year Unox introduced the Speed.Compact Eco for quick-service restaurants. The unit can cook a waffle or muffin in just 30 seconds, and a filled or club sandwich in just 75 seconds. “It has a rapid and compact design that allows it to fit perfectly in environments where space is at a premium, and aims to simplify usability with its easy-to-operate interface, enabling the best return on investment for our customers,” says Unox UK managing director Scott Duncan.

“With a depth of only 60cm, this oven boasts one of the smallest footprints on the market, making it ideal for placement on any countertop while promoting operational efficiency.”

Another new accelerated cooker arrival to the UK market is Prática, for which Foodservice Equipment Marketing (FEM) has picked up master distributor status. The Brazilian brand’s high-speed ovens heat food using a combination of air impingement and microwave technology, allowing them to cook a wide range of fresh, chilled and frozen foods.

FEM commercial director Mark Hogan says: “This combination of cooking methods is significantly faster than traditional methods. For example, the Prática Fit Express double magnetron high-speed oven can heat up a sub-style sandwich in just 55 seconds or cook a 30cm pizza from frozen in under three minutes.”

Taylor UK’s marketing manager David Rees says the TurboChef Sota Touch is “the most precise rapid cook oven in its class, thanks to the independently-controlled top and bottom impinged air cooking systems. The oven’s microwave power ensures that the food’s core reaches the correct temperature quickly so that quality results are guaranteed – and up to 10 times faster than conventional cooking methods.”

Its compact footprint (406mm wide by 757mm deep and 635mm high) means it should easily fit into small outlets too.

Elsewhere, Welbilt’s Merrychef conneX12e claims to cook up to 70% faster than a conventional oven, toast a teacake in 35 seconds, warm a Danish pastry or croissant in 20 seconds and prepare an open ham and cheese panini in 50 seconds. Popular food items are pre-programmed, which means staff only have to press the relevant image on the 7” HD touchscreen to operate it.

All this equipment innovation means that life in the fast lane is there for the taking at hospitality venues large and small.

Suppliers

FEM www.fem.co.uk

Panasonic www.panasonic.co.uk/professionalkitchen

Rational www.rational-online.com

Regale Microwave Ovens www.rational-online.com

Taylor UK www.taylor-company.co.uk

Unox www.unox.com

Welbilt www.welbilt.uk

Main photo: Przemek Klos/Shutterstock