Commercial high speed ovens

A speed oven is a commercial appliance that uses two or more heat transfer methods to cook food: microwave, convection, impingement, and/or radiant heating.

By employing multiple heating technologies, a speed oven can cook food faster and more evenly and achieve browner, crisper results than traditional microwave ovens, for example. This makes speed ovens ideal for quick-service sites.

They’re also suitable for smaller venues as they can be placed on top of a counter and, though compact, can perform a multitude of cooking tasks, including reheating, baking, roasting, and toasting.

Speed ovens are also known as rapid cook ovens, combination microwave–convection ovens, and microwave–oven combos.

A speed oven combines microwave, convection, impingement and/or radiant heating technologies to cook food faster while browning and crisping it like a traditional oven.

In contrast, a microwave emits only microwaves, which agitate water molecules in the food, cooking it quickly but without browning or crisping it.

In summary, speed ovens allow for a broader range of cooking techniques and produce better results overall, while microwaves excel in rapid reheating and simple cooking tasks.

High-speed ovens typically use two or more heat transfer methods to cook food; here are four common combinations:

Impinged convection heating: Jets of hot air are blasted onto — “impinge on” — the surface of the food, penetrating the cold air “halo” that often lingers directly above the food after it enters the oven and reducing the cooking time significantly. It’s ideal for pizzas and pastries.

Microwave and convection heating: Combines microwave energy for rapid internal heating with convection heat for even cooking and browning on the outside. Suitable for a range of dishes, from reheated leftovers to roast chicken.

Microwave and impinged convection heating: Uses both microwave energy and intense airflow for quick and even cooking, yielding crisp exteriors and well-cooked interiors. Great for items like frozen foods and baked goods.

Microwave, impinged convection, and radiant heating: Integrates microwave energy, high-velocity airflow, and infrared radiation for accelerated cooking, browning, and crisping. Best for dishes needing a crispy texture and thorough cooking, such as casseroles and sandwiches.

Depending on the rapid cooking technology, speed ovens can cook food 5–20 times faster than a regular microwave or convection oven.

The below provides some examples of the time savings:

Toasted sub/panini

• 3:00 mins usual cooking time
• 0:40-1:30 mins speed oven time

Pizza (raw dough)

• 10:00-15:00 mins usual cooking time
• 1:20-3:30 mins speed oven time

Chicken breast (from raw)

• 20:00-25:00 mins usual cooking time
• 3:00-4:30 mins speed oven time

Baked potato

• up to 60:00 mins usual cooking time
• 3:00-4:30 mins speed oven time

When shopping for a high-speed oven, here are some of the most important things to investigate:

Wattage: Speed ovens range from about 3,000W to 12,000W. The higher the wattage, the shorter the cooking time. Ensure you get an oven powerful enough to keep up with your customer demand; and that your electrical setup is compatible.

Size: Measure the countertop area where you plan to place the oven to ensure it’ll fit comfortably. Also, check its cavity to confirm the number and size of the cooking trays can accommodate your menu items and service schedule.

Venting: Check if the oven requires external ventilation or if it's a ventless model. Ventless models with built-in catalytic converters are quicker, easier and cheaper to install as they don’t require an overhead extraction canopy.

Door: Which would be most practical for your site: An oven with a drop-down door or a side-opening one?

Features: For example, cooking modes and presets can simplify operation and ensure consistency; and wi-fi connectivity allows users to add and update presets remotely across multiple locations.

Value: When weighing up your options, don’t just consider price but also its value-for-money, including the potential savings on energy and labour costs or additional appliances.

Commercial speed ovens offer several key benefits that set them apart from other professional cooking appliances, including:

Quick cooking: As their name suggests, speed ovens cook food significantly faster than traditional ovens, including microwaves and toaster ovens; less time means faster turnover.

Versatility: Speed ovens have a range of cooking functions and modes, allowing you to cook a wide variety of foods in different ways and thus offer your customers an expansive menu.

Space efficiency: Countertop speed ovens can replicate what a convection or combi oven can do but within a smaller footprint, making them ideal for kitchens with limited space.

Ventless operation: Many speed ovens are ventless, equipped with catalytic converters that eliminate the need for external venting via an overhead kitchen hood. They can even be used at the front of house.

Consistent results: Multiple heating methods ensure even and uniform cooking results, plus browning and crisping.

Energy-efficiency: Because they’re more compact and cook food faster than regular ovens, speed ovens are generally more energy efficient.