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EQUIPMENT COMPARISON Contemplating COMBIS Choices abound when it comes to combis. Various model sizes, ventless options, enhanced controls and expanded cooking modes give you plenty to consider. The combination convection oven/steamer, or combi, has been a fi xture of more up-to-date commercial kitchens for quite a while—a couple of generations in Europe, and the better part of a generation in the U.S. Adoption in American kitchens was slow at fi rst, held back by the expense Contributing Editor of these units and the industry’s perception that they were complicated and delicate. But changing conditions (including smaller kitchen footprints, the need for more versatile equipment to prepare a more varied and health-centric menu, and the rise of millennial chefs who are trained in combi cooking and comfortable with technology in general) have made these ovens more popular than ever before. By Rita Negrete-Rousseau, Rita Negrete-Rousseau, By In large-scale kitchens, cooks tend to use combis in conjunction with other cooking equipment including convection ovens, steamers, fryers and smokers. But in smaller or more specialized settings, a combi can sometimes do the en- tire job. “Some operators are still focused on the idea that ‘I need a convection oven, a six-burner range and a fryer,’” says one source. “But the more sea- soned, progressive or strategic operator knows that one combi can potentially eliminate all three pieces of equipment. And you can get greater throughput in a shorter amount of time.” Combis today are more reliable, durable and offer substantial advancements in technology. Mini models and ventless options proliferate, as do power-en- hancing, energy-saving and water-conserving features. Makers have combined new or improved touchscreen and touchpad controls with automated features RATIONAL’s SelfCookingCenter 62 marks that enable combis to do more. They’ve expanded cooking modes, including one example of the market’s latest sophisticated the addition of a smoker feature, and enhanced self-cleaning technology. Sim- combis. Here Chef Daniel Solomon tends to menu pler maintenance is backed by better service networks. ingredients at Beacon Tavern, Chicago. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these developments. Photo courtesy of RATIONAL. 32 FEBRUARY 2018 fermag.com fermag.com FEBRUARY 2018 33 EQUIPMENT COMPARISON Base Model Combis With 6 18 x 26 Sheet Pan Capacity (Or Closest Equivalent) MAKE PAN MAX LOAD NO. FAN BOILER-B GAS/ DIMENSIONS CONTROL RECIPE SMOKER VENTLESS SELF-CLEANING?/ MODEL CAPACITY (Lb.) SPEEDS BOILERLESS– ELECTRIC WxDxH (In.) STYLE STORAGE/ OPTION? OPTION ON HAND SPRAY (18x26 Sheets) BL STEPS PER RECIPE ELECTRIC? HOSE? 3 3 3 Small Wonders, Self-Contained Hoods ALTO-SHAAM 8 168 5 BL Both 43 /4 x 46 /16 x 37 /16 Touchscreen Unlimited Y Y Y/Y COMBITHERM (B opt.) In the past few years, a number of combi manufacturers CTP7-20E have introduced mini tabletop models (holding four to six 3 29 13 12 x 20 x 2½ hotel pans or half-size 18 x 13 sheet pans). ANGELO PO 8 205 6 BL Both 46 /8 x 42 /32 x 36 /16 Touchscreen 150/18 Y Y Y/Y These ovens are an attractive option for small operations COMBISTAR & Dial (2018) FX82G3T* with minimal needs (and limited space), and for larger kitchens requiring extra capacity. Purchasing a stack of 1 7 5 BKI 6 113 6 BL Both 44 /4 x 36 /16 x 34 /8 Touchscreen 200/9 Y N Y/N two small combis rather than one floor-model unit means COMBI-KING & Dial the ovens can be used for different applications at the ETE062, ETG062 same time—such as one for cooking, one for holding—and 11 7 1 BLODGETT 5, 6 w/opt. 132 9 BL Both 44 /64 x 37 /16 x 31 /3 Touchscreen 500/15 Y Y Y/N that there’s a backup oven functioning if one goes down. BLCT-62-E rack Another option is the ventless hood, which some manu- BLCT-62-G facturers offer factory-installed for tabletop combis only and others offer as an option for small, large and stacked CONVOTHERM 6 132 5 B & BL Both 44 x 39 x 33 Touchscreen T-399/20 Y Y Y/Y C4ET & C4ED & Dial D-99/9 models. Forgoing a standard hood is a major cost savings, 6.20 since the cost per linear foot to install a permanent hood is 9 13 substantial. A combi with a ventless hood still needs elec- ELECTROLUX 6 106 3 BL E 47 /16 x 42 x 31 /16 Touchscreen 1,000/16 Y N Y/Y Opt. trical access (the ventless option Air-O-Convect & Dial Touchline 62 Makers offer touch- is not available for gas models) as 3 3 7 screens, touchpads, well as a water hookup and floor ELOMA 6 66 5 BL Both 36 /8 x 31 /4 x 34 /8 Touchscreen 400/20 Y Y Y/Y dials or combinations. drain, so there are limitations on Genius MT 6-11 Will skilled chefs or where it can be placed. On the 1 1 HENNY PENNY 6 103 5 BL Both 39 /4 x 31 /2 x 31 Touchscreen 350/20 N/A N Y/Y entry-level employees other hand, the hood mounts di- FlexFusion Platinum (Elec.) SpaceSaver operate the combi? rectly to the combi and there’s no FTE & Only This will help determine overhead air clearance required FTG 621 See Gallery what controls to specify. above the combi-and-hood duo, 1 7 HOUNO 6 N/A 9 B E 35 /3 x 32 /10 x 32 Touchscreen 500/15 Y Y Y/Y Courtesy of Alto-Shaam. which means it can squeeze VISUAL COOKING 1.06 3 MVP AXIS 6 132 2 BL E 38 /5 x 35 x 34 Touchpad 99/4 N N Y/Hose AXCL-06** on manual only Digital 1 3 RATIONAL 62 6 132 5 B Both 42 x 38 /4 x 30 /4 Touchscreen 1,200/12 Y Y Y/Y SelfCooking- Center 62 7 11 1 UNOX 6 119 4 BL Both 33 /8 x 37 /16 x 33 /4 Touchscreen 999/10 Y Y Y/Y XAVC-06FS0-EPR XAVC-06FS- GPR 1 1 VULCAN 7 N/A Only On BL Both 42 /5 x 43 /2 x 35 Dial 0/Manual N N N/Y ABC 7E P (Probe) ABC 7G ModeIs * Jan. 2018, according to company; **Manual version w/dial also avail. 34 FEBRUARY 2018 fermag.com fermag.com FEBRUARY 2018 35 EQUIPMENT COMPARISON Mini combis (some sealers required for the bags, so ASAP. The baking stages would be pre-heat, high-humidity This combi does not at 20-in.W) work well “you’ll have to have a HACCP combi stage, then convection with the vent open.” require a cleaning after in c-stores, cafés or plan.” Here’s another example of a program recipe: for smoked running a smoking restaurants with smaller Specifiers considering a combi chicken wings, 80 minutes in the combi’s smoker mode, cycle. While it has footprints that want to with a ventless hood should be followed by 10 minutes at 300°F in convection mode with a ventless option, it produce high-quality aware that these systems differ. a high fan speed, followed by 15 minutes at 410°F in con- requires a regular hood foods, such as fresh- Some, which combine a cata- vection dehumidifying or “crisping” mode at top setting. when smoking. Cour- baked pastries. lytic system with a condenser to Result: smoked wings that are crispy on the outside, moist tesy of Convotherm. Courtesy of Blodgett. catch steam, may mean the combi on the inside. (Note that convection ovens don’t have the should not be used to cook raw same humidity-removing mode.) programmable recipes or skin-on meats. (One maker says its catalytic ventless The sophistication of these combi ovens is remark- with up to six cooking system, but not others, is appropriate for raw proteins.) able. One manufacturer offers a twin control system that stages each. Others, which combine a dispos- includes a dial and a touchscreen, touting simplicity and A third combi mak- able charcoal filter for odors with a ease of use. Entry- er differentiates itself into smaller spots than units under washable steel filter for grease, are level users can with new “multi- conventional hoods. (One manufac- appropriate for heavier-duty appli- set the time and touch” technology that allows users to control a large, 7-in. turer even has combi units that are cations such as grilling meats. One temperature, with display screen by sliding, swiping or scrolling. A stroke UL-listed ventless for use without manufacturer offers two combis the oven determin- of the finger can set the temperature and the percentage of any separate hood; local codes pre- that have an integral system for ing the appropriate humidity. There’s a quick mode for standard handling of vail.) The pairing is ideal for small limiting emissions of grease-laden predetermined operating sequences, but there’s also the op- operations without the usual kitchen vapors and are UL-listed for cook- Newer models portunity to program up to 400 hookups, kitchens in old or historic ing without any separate hood or sport energy and recipes and upload photographs Use a mobile oven buildings that forbid installation of venting. Local code requirements water efficiencies. denoting each one. The system rack accessory to roll new ventilation hoods, and bigger may vary. This model preheats remembers the last 20 cooking pans of food out of operations that need to find a Many combis water up to 176°F programs used.