Instore - July 2018 - 46

EQUIPMENT

Getting by with less space
by John Unrein

ulti-function bakery and cooking equipment proved the highlight of the 2018
National Restaurant Association Show,
where operators discovered numerous innovative and labor-saving features.
Baxter, recognized for superior, durable baking and cooking equipment, featured a completely new kind of oven, the VersaOven.
Providing a unique level of versatility, speed
and simplification for busy kitchens, the
VersaOven combines the best features of
convection, rotisserie and combi ovens into
an easy-to-use, all-in-one, self-cleaning oven
that can save kitchens time, money, space
and headaches.
Alto-Shaam showcased its full-size and
countertop Vector Multi-Cook Ovens. With
a single oven, Alto-Shaam chefs prepared
items like cinnamon rolls, breakfast sandwiches, pizza and more in a single oven.

"As kitchen equipment does get smaller, it
can make the back of the house smaller.
This favors multi-function players," says Bill
Davis, sales manager at Edward Don & Company, a leading distributor of foodservice
equipment, who spoke at the 2018 National
Restaurant Association Show.

"As kitchen equipment does get
smaller, it can make the back of
the house smaller. This favors
multi-function players."

46 * JULY 2018 * commissary INSIDER

Magna Industries introduces the
Stainless Steel Modular Ingredient
Dispensing System. Modular
design allows for unlimited
capacity of dry and liquid
ingredients. Bins are removable
for easy manual or automatic
washer cleaning. Start with one bin
and build on to unlimited quantity.
For more information,
visit www.magnaindustries.com

BILL DAVIS, EDWARD DON & COMPANY

TurboChef rapid cook ovens feature a
combination of two of more heat transfer
mechanisms (air impingement, microwave,
convection), which decrease cook times by
more than 80 percent without compromising
quality. TurboChef ventless ovens have internal systems for eliminating grease-laden
vapor prior to the grease escaping the oven.
The Panini model is a great fit for making
grilled focaccia bread and toasted sandwiches, while the Bullet model is perfect for
8-inch toasted subs and 14-inch pizzas.
"They help with inexperienced cooks because they're programmed; you can program
the oven on a pad and hit 'pizza,'" Davis says.
"I really like to the concepts like Blaze Pizza
and MOD Pizza. They cook pizzas in 3½ minutes while customers are going through the
line. It is old-school technology combined
with bright young minds."

For smaller applications, rapid-cook ovens
can provide versatility. Photo: TurboChef

MODULAR
DISPENSING
SYSTEM

Built to offer the cooking advantages of rotisseries, rack ovens and combi ovens in one
convenient and consolidated package, Baxter's VersaOven features a rotating interior
oven rack for even cooking results, and a
95,000 BTU/hour in-shot burner system. The
VersaOven is also built with a patented, selfcontained steam system that generates more
steam than a standard mini-rack oven. Designed to handle the daily cooking demands
of the busiest delis, grocery stores and retail
kitchens, the VersaOven has the capacity to
fit 10 18-inch by 26-inch sheet pans.

Photo: Magna Industries

"The Baxter VersaOven is truly unique because it handles so many kinds of food
and styles of cooking with terrific results,"
says Michelle Bridges, Baxter's manager of
bakery/culinary support. "Cooks of all skill
and experience levels can easily use the
VersaOven to cook racks of rotisserie-style
chicken, steam vegetables and bake moist,
flavorful cakes."
And while versatility and the latest technology are built in, Baxter says its designers
made ease-of-use a priority. The VersaOven
allows users to intuitivly input recipes using
programmable touch-screen controls in less
time than some combi ovens. Bulk oploading of recipes is possible as well through an
easily accessed USB port.
"The VersaOven is probably one of the easiest ovens to clean and care for that we've
built to date," says Steve Wright, Baxter's

http://www.magnaindustries.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Instore - July 2018