Over the last few years, one of the most impressive and innovative developments to occur in the world of commercial catering is the invention of the high-speed oven. These ovens are particularly good for smaller operations where speed and consistency are key, e.g.
- Cafés
- Convenience stores
- Quick service restaurants
- Canteens
- Hotels with food service
- Fast food chains
As opposed to traditional convection or combi ovens, commercial high-speed ovens are driven by microwave power, which is what speeds up the cooking process. All the major brands have now developed their own versions…
| Merrychef | E1S, Connex 12, Connex 12e, Connex 16 |
|---|---|
| Turbochef | Eco, iSota, i3 & i5 |
| Lincat | Cibo & Cibo+ |
| Unox | Compact Eco |
| Xpress Chef | Jetwave High Speed Oven |
| Lainox | Oracle |
| Panasonic | NE-SCV3 |
…just to name a few! They vary in price, quality and efficiency, so we have tried and tested them all. The one that we consider the best in all categories is the one we promote the most, the Merrychef Connex 12.
Let us expand, taking it point by point.
Speed
The name high-speed oven doesn’t lie. The Merrychef Connex 12 will normally cook up to 80% faster than a conventional oven. This means that what you would normally cook in multiple minutes, you now cook in seconds. In a busy café, you can prepare and cook a sausage roll in the time it takes to make your customer’s coffee. Serve up pastries and rolls with perfectly crispy exteriors and perfectly tender interiors.
Technology
How does the Merrychef deliver those speeds and perfectly cooked items? Through a combination of three technologies: Microwave, Impingement and Convection. Convection is the traditional heat that you find in traditional ovens, while impingement is where very hot air is forced through the oven and onto the food. The results are exceptional; food is never soggy on the inside and always crispy on the outside.
Consistency
The Connex 12 is designed to maintain consistent results. The combination of technologies gives it a unique ability to control the temperature in the chamber. It reaches and maintains accurate cooking temperatures, and unlike traditional gas ovens, it achieves evenness of temperature throughout the oven. It is the ideal way to prepare sandwiches, pizzas, pastries or other snacks.
Versatility
In fact, they can do much more than cook snacks and pastries. These ovens can bake, broil, roast, toast and grill. They can reheat pre-cooked items, but also cook fresh from frozen. With a cavity of 311mm x 311mm, they can deliver higher output than many other commercial high-speed ovens out there.
Ease Of Use
The interface of the Merrychef Connex 12 is an intuitive touchscreen, easy to use. It comes with 100 pre-programmed recipes, but you can also load your own if you’re making something new! Your staff does not have to be highly trained in order to cook your menu items because your oven is. They will just have to press a few buttons, and the oven will deliver perfectly cooked items every time. Your chef can also monitor cooking remotely because Merrychef high-speed ovens are cloud-connected.
Space Saving
Since the Merrychef Connex 12 is able to perform so many functions, it is actually space-saving. It has a small footprint, especially when compared to more traditional ovens, and thanks to its versatility, it also saves you from needing to have multiple appliances. This is especially important for operations in smaller premises: cafes, coffee shops, kiosks and service stations.
Cost Effective
Commercial high-speed ovens like the Merrychef Connex 12 use a lot less energy than traditional ovens. They cook so quickly that once the oven is on, it can produce a lot of food within a short amount of time. This is compounded by its fast recovery time, heating up fast between batches. They also don’t require ventilation – this can be a very high cost for a business, especially if they have to put a ventilation system in from scratch. This also means they can be used front-of-house if a very small café doesn’t have a back kitchen.
Hygiene
Built in stainless steel, these ovens meet all the requirements that an HSO would expect. They are easy to clean with Merrychef cleaners, but as an additional accessory, Merrychef also offers cavity liners. This is a silicon lining that is inserted into the oven and protects the inner chamber from splashes. The oven liner comes out of the oven and straight into the dishwasher, which reduces cleaning times dramatically.
Maintenance & Service
Merrychef are an excellent manufacturer offering great support for their customers. Under a standard 2-year warranty, they will attend to any breakdowns within 48 hours of a callout. They also offer an extended warranty: 2 years or 3 years, with upgrade to attendance within 24 hours, 7 days a week, including Bank Holidays, which also includes an annual service visit. Customers who have purchased the Connex 12 rely on it as the main oven in their business, so for them, having backup in case of failure is essential.
Why Kitchen Solutions Is The Best Place To Get Your Merrychef Oven
Here at Kitchen Solutions, we pride ourselves on being one of the UK’s leading distributors of Merrychef Connex 12. It is an excellent oven that is turning smaller businesses around, increasing their incomes while reducing their outgoings in the long run. We offer free training with every purchase, where a demo chef will show you best practices and help you become confident in programming your own recipes.
Check our range of Merrychef high-speed ovens for more information on each specific product.
