1
A 13A version
of Electrolux’s
SpeeDelight will
soon be available
through RH Hall.1M
ore and more catering
equipment suppliers
are stepping into
the portable high
speed ovens market, giving a useful
alternative to microwaves and other
quick cookers. So who are the fi rst
adopters of this technology and what
are the essentials that distributors
should know? Catering Insight asked a
selection of fi rms for pointers.
At RH Hall, it supplies both the
Electrolux Speedelight High Speed
Panini Grill and the Maestrowave
Combi Chef 7, the latter exclusively.
According to sales director Kris
Brearley: “High speed combination
microwaves off er a great deal more
versatility than standard microwaves,
combining conventional cooking
methods such as convection and grill,
with microwave speed.
“Th is enables operators to cook a
greater variety of menu items, including
those not usually associated with
microwave cooking – such as pastry
items, pies, pizza and paninis. In
addition, they have a compact footprint,
making them ideal for premises that
are short on space, ‘grab & go’ and on
demand establishments, such as
coff ee shops.”
For dealers looking to specify these
swift appliances, he advised: “Look at
the menu items being prepared and
consider the key cooking methods
required to achieve optimum results.
Many high speed ovens use microwave
and convection heat only, so consider if
grill functionality is required.“Combination microwaves also
require a higher investment than a
standard microwave, so additional time
should be taken to ensure that the right
unit is supplied. Look for a supplier
who can provide demonstrations and
training, and perhaps food trials and pre-
programming for larger chain operators.”
When it comes to portability versus
power, he commented: “In order to
operate from a ‘plug & play’ 13A power
supply, the balance of microwave and
convection cooking is paramount.
Often, when operating in combination
mode, the advertised microwave or
oven wattage will be reduced to allow
for 13A operation.”Regarding the future of the
accelerated cooking equipment
market, he predicted: “As technology
moves forward, more suppliers will be
looking to off er their high speed ovens
with a 13A option – off ering moreHIGH SPEED PLUG AND PLAY OVENS ARE CARVING OUT A NICHE IN A CROWDED
MARKET DUE TO THEIR MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY, BUT HOW DO THEY COMPARE WITH
OTHER SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES AND WHAT SHOULD DEALERS LOOK OUT FOR?FASTER THAN THE
SPEED OF LIGHT
EQUIPMENT
“We’ve been tasked
by some operators to
target 60 seconds for
heated food as this
is the time it takes
the barista to make
a coff ee.”26
LIGHT EQUIPMENT / PORTABLE HIGH SPEED OVENS
C AT E R I N G INSIGHT / FEBRUARY 2018 / http://www.cateringinsight.com