Which Combi Oven Is Best For Your Kitchen?

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It goes without saying that the commercial oven is an essential element of professional kitchen equipment. An appliance that meets your demands as well as providing the type of cooking you need proves invaluable in a commercial kitchen, but getting it right requires a bit of thought. How can you ensure you’re choosing the right combi oven for your commercial kitchen?

Even though the main job of combination ovens are the same, there are different features and specifications available to ensure you get the most out of yours. We’ve put together a few things to consider before you settle on a specific oven – as always, if you need any further assistance, speak to the Swift experts by calling us on 0121 505 4001.

Freestanding/Countertop

This is a consideration when looking at the size of your kitchen. If you have limited free space or a smaller kitchen, a countertop model may be your best bet. Bigger kitchens with a high demand for service will most definitely need a bigger, freestanding option. No matter which option you choose, there are many ovens to choose from to suit your needs.

Holding capacity and controls

Knowing how often your combi oven will be used and the volume of meals being prepared will help when identifying the ideal holding capacity for your new oven. Observe the number of orders and how many meals are being distributed, so you know how much needs to be prepared simultaneously.

The controls for your combi oven will also depend on the complexity of your menu. Automated controls that are programmed into the oven will come at a greater expense, but are often needed for more precise cooking. Manual controls from a chef will provide a more personalised touch, but of course, there is still room for human error.

Ease of cleanliness

Kitchens can be hectic environments and when cleaning time comes around, you need to be able to do your duties quickly and effectively. With many modern combi ovens for commercial kitchens boasting advanced technology, self cleaning features are becoming more common, saving time and resources. However, most ovens have an easy clean guide to help reduce the time it takes to get an oven ready for its next service.

Budgets

The price you pay for your commercial combi oven will vary depending on the needs of your kitchen. However, if you can afford the investment, your new oven will prove to be very worthwhile, as it will save time, money and resources in the long run by performing cooking tasks with ease, and being something you use with each and every kitchen service.

If you have any questions about costing or all the options that are available to you when purchasing your oven, get in touch with the team.

Rely on Swift for the best combi ovens for your kitchen

The right oven will depend on your business and needs. We select commercial kitchen equipment that is high-quality and able to withstand the demands of busy food service. If you’re in need of a new combi oven upgrade or even additional ovens for a thriving kitchen, get in touch with the team at Swift today on 0121 505 4001 or use our contact form here.

Commercial Design For Care Home Kitchens

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It’s crucially important for care home kitchens to be well designed to ensure that they work for a specific home. Here at Swift, we understand that each care home is different, each with different sized and shaped spaces to work with. Not only that, but the regular need to serve hot meals to residents must be considered too. It can be a tricky job, but that’s exactly why we’re here – and we’ve got the best team to help make care home kitchen visions a reality!

There are a number of steps we take to ensure that our commercial design for care home kitchens meets the needs of the care home staff, making their jobs safer and more effective.

Meeting hygiene criteria

Now more than ever, care homes need to be thoroughly protected from the spread of germs as many residents will be in a vulnerable category. Our commercial design for your care home kitchen will take this into account and ensure that surfaces and equipment are easy to clean and suitable for frequent cleaning and disinfecting. It’s also important to remember handwashing facilities and sanitising stations too, for both staff and residents.

If you need any help or advice for what your care home kitchen should include, speak to Team Swift.

Maximising space

In the past, we’ve managed to help many establishments make the most of their available space and to create a kitchen environment that works for them. See our refurb of the Duke of York, Litchfield here,where we came up with a cost-effective way of giving their kitchen a much needed makeover. Our design team are experts when it comes to maximising space to ensure you get the most out of it. Give us a call if we can help your visions come to life.

Storage and equipment

Depending on the size of your care home, you may need more storage space for equipment and food, and thankfully, we’re experts in space saving design. Our team will closely liaise with you in order to establish your goals and specifications, and we’ll then guide you throughout the whole process, selecting the finest kitchen equipment and installing them to ensure your kitchen never lets you down.

For more information about exactly what we can bring to your new design, see our catering equipment supply.

Comfortable environments

A lot of the time, care home staff who look after residents day in, day out are also the kitchen staff, so a kitchen environment needs to be as comfortable and as bearable as possible. We offer commercial kitchen ventilation to ensure your staff members remain cool while preparing hot dishes for residents.

Looking for help with your care home kitchen design project?

We are a kitchen design team that offers a complete service, from the initial concept through to the finished project. With more than four decades’ experience in the industry, we can turn your care home kitchen visions into a reality. Whether you are looking for a small upgrade or to completely redesign your kitchen, our talented team will give you the best service and products available.

Call the Swift team today on 0121 505 4001 for more information.

Common Maintenance Issues In The Commercial Kitchen

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Even though it can be a tough job, it’s one of those jobs that needs to be done; maintenance. A commercial kitchen can be a busy place, and maintenance can sometimes take a back seat when there’s food preparation to be done and customers to serve. It can also be difficult to know how to do it the right way to ensure equipment works as it should and your kitchen flows well.

The right maintenance in your kitchen can help save money and energy in the long run, so to make sure you don’t neglect your kitchen, we’ve put together some common maintenance issues in the commercial kitchen, some of which may seem very familiar!

Lack of cleaning

Grease build-up is inevitable if you don’t regularly clean your equipment, and this build-up can pose so many problems later down the line, such as component breakdown or the slowing of equipment when in use. For the best possible results, you should get a professional clean at least once every six months, and ensure you also clean equipment yourself regularly. For more information about Service and Repair from Swift, get in touch with our friendly team.

Your ventilation system

Not only can your kitchen equipment and appliances gather a build-up of leftover food and grease, but your ventilation system can suffer too. You may notice a change in the airflow in your kitchen, which is a sign your ventilation may be struggling to work at its best. Again, a professional clean is best to not only ensure your ventilation is running smoothly, but it also eliminates the need for extensive manual cleaning yourself. Get in touch if we can help!

Not replacing parts

Equipment doesn’t last forever and prolonged use can really take its toll on certain components. If your equipment is starting to slow down, or you notice that some of your components are deteriorating, it’s always best to organise replacements before a breakdown is imminent. This will ensure equipment can always be running, instead of forcing your kitchen to close because you have equipment that has broken down. Not the best thing to happen at the lunchtime rush!

Failing to implement a maintenance plan

It’s all well and good ensuring your equipment is clean for a day or two, but are you keeping up with your maintenance efforts through a schedule? Having a maintenance plan encourages whoever is responsible for this area of your business to ensure regular maintenance checks are carried out and can prevent a breakdown of your equipment. A schedule can help keep your entire kitchen running efficiently and most importantly, make sure your customers are given the service they deserve!

Need a little maintenance help?

When your ventilation or catering equipment malfunctions, you can always rely on Swift Maintenance to get your operations back up and running again as smoothly as possible. With accredited technicians situated throughout the UK, we aim to be by your side within four hours of your call if required.

Get in touch with us by calling 0121 505 4001 or by using the contact form on our website.

Ventilation For Kitchens Reopening After The Pandemic

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It’s not the first time that kitchens across the country have had to close their doors due to the ongoing global pandemic, and here we are again wondering when things will be back to normal. With tougher restrictions meaning many foodservice establishments are closed once again, we should be making the most of this time, and putting plans into place for when it is safe to reopen.

Kitchen ventilation is something that may often be overlooked, but without regular usage, it could cause a whole lot of problems when your kitchen is fired up again. What are some of the points you should keep in mind when reopening a kitchen and how can you ensure your ventilation system is working as it should be?

Using ventilation after being idle

If a commercial kitchen has been closed for a while, appliances and ventilation may not have been touched since the last time you were serving food. Not only is the lack of use a problem, but over time, it will have gathered dust, meaning that if you want a perfectly working system, you’ll need to invest time, and potentially money, into giving your ventilation system a good clean before it’s used again.

Filters may also need to be changed and to make sure the job is done properly and safely, we’d always recommend getting a professional out to do the job for you. Our services include planned preventative maintenance for ventilation systems, so if you have any questions or have a job for us, get in touch.

Improving ventilation during the pandemic

With coronavirus spreading so easily, transmission through ventilation may have crossed your mind. With news of an outbreak through air conditioning in China, it’s become a worry for some that ventilation systems may not be the best idea. However, without ventilation, restaurants and kitchens pose an ever bigger risk of transmission, preventing fresh air from entering, and confining any trace of the virus in one space.

The right ventilation is so important to maintain a comfortable working environment, even in current times. Talk to the Swift team for help and advice about the best options for you, and just how we can help with all your ventilation needs.

What steps should kitchens working through takeaway and delivery services take?

Of course, if you’ve regularly been using your ventilation system through takeaway and delivery preparation, you won’t need to take immediate action. It’s still important to ensure your system is clean regularly to ensure the whole system is working as it should. If we can help shed a little light on the situation and give you some advice, we’re always available for a chat.

Can we help with your ventilation needs?

We have over four decades experience in the design, manufacture and installation of all types of commercial kitchen and industrial ventilation systems, as well as planned preventative maintenance. We offer nationwide coverage and our aim is to provide a complete service. For more information about what we do or if you need any ventilation advice, get in touch with us by calling 0121 505 4001 or by using the contact form on our website.

Swift Shortlisted for Kitchen and Equipment Award

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Catering Insight and Foodservice Equipment Journal have recently joined forces to create a special awards programme, honouring the extraordinary efforts of individuals and businesses during the most challenging year in the industry’s history.

You may have heard that nominations for the Kitchen and Equipment Awards are in, and we were delighted to find out that we’ve been shortlisted for the Service & Maintenance Provider of the Year award!

This category was open to both specialist service companies and distributors that operate dedicated service businesses, with maintenance proving particularly vital in this disrupted year.

We’re incredibly thankful for the nomination and for being shortlisted. It really means a lot to the whole team and we’re so proud of each and every staff member who continues to work so hard in such uncertain times.

Keep up to date with the awards progress on the Catering Insight website here – we’ve all got our fingers crossed for a win!

Maintenance Tips for Commercial Dishwashers and Warewashers

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Here at Swift, we’re proud to offer our customers the very best in commercial dishwashers. Commercial catering equipment has to be both efficient and durable to do its job effectively, and all of our machines have been chosen for their high-quality user features and reliability.

However, without the right maintenance checks regularly, it’s impossible to identify anything that could potentially trigger a breakdown in your equipment or prevent you from getting the results you need with each wash. Regular maintenance ensures that you catch any problems early and enables you to continue using equipment that does its job at its prime.

Here are some maintenance checks that we’d recommend to really get the most out of your equipment and ensure dishwasher and warewasher life is prolonged.

Daily washes

After use, daily washes of your dishwasher or warewasher will prevent a build up of old food and grease left inside the machine. Ensure you wash down internal walls reaching all the corners, ensuring no residue is left. It’s also important to clean the arms and jets inside the machine to remove any stray bits of food and ensure this doesn’t get trapped inside the machine on a new wash.

Empty the filter

Giving your machine a good wash is great for inside, but all the leftover food and residue will then travel through to the filter. Emptying and cleaning the filter will prevent any blockages. Large pieces of food can be put directly into the rubbish, then all that’s left to do is to give your filter a good wash down to ensure it’s grease free.

Leave machine open

When not in use, it’s a good idea to leave your machine door open after cleaning. This enables air to circulate around the machine, eliminating the chance for new bacteria to build up in those hard to reach areas. This also ensures your machine is as clean as possible for the next wash.

Check detergent levels

In order for your machine to work and clean at its best with every wash, always check the detergent levels. If detergent runs low, the cleaning of equipment will not be as thorough as you’d like, meaning food and grease may still remain after the clean is complete. Make it a habit to check this before every wash and ensure the right level of detergent is maintained.

Have an annual service

New replacement parts for a commercial dishwasher or warewasher can be expensive, so in order to ensure you don’t need to replace parts often, schedule an annual service for your machine at the very least. Depending on how often the appliance is used for and the length of time it runs, this may increase the need for a more regular service regime.

A technician will check all components in your machine for wear and tear and check general operation to ensure there are no problems. This will reduce the chance of a breakdown and can identify anything that could soon become problematic, allowing you to fix the problem before it arises.

Looking to upgrade your commercial dishwasher?

Swift takes great pride in providing the finest standard of commercial catering equipment to businesses throughout the UK. We can provide you with the best dishwashers in a range of sizes to suit your exact requirements. Speak to our professional team today for help and advice by calling 0121 505 4001 or by using the contact form on our website.

Gas Safe Regulations for Commercial Kitchen Extraction

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Commercial kitchens can be dangerous places, so it’s important to do all we can in order to reduce the risks. The correct ventilation is a requirement in a commercial kitchen, which means you have a duty to follow the correct procedures to ensure your commercial kitchen extraction is as safe as can be and poses a minimal fire risk.

The right design of ventilation and cooking equipment is important to protect the health of kitchen staff and everyone around them. This involves looking closely at the hazards of gas use and the by-products of cooking in a commercial kitchen environment. What are the Gas Safe Regulations for commercial kitchen extraction and how can you reduce the risks associated with gas use?

  1. Adequate ventilation and ductwork.

It’s a legal requirement to ensure your kitchen has an appropriate supply of air to reduce levels of carbon monoxide, which can be fatal if inhaled in high levels. Ensure your ductwork is sealed correctly for a good flow of air too.

  1. Train staff on the use of the appliances/equipment.

Staff should always be trained in how to use all appliances and equipment correctly and safely,  and to spot the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.

  1. Suitable interlocks with the gas supply

A gas interlock system helps prevent explosions that are normally caused by unburned gases. The installation of gas safety interlocks has been required by law since 2009 in order to meet Gas Safe Regulations in all new kitchens.

  1. Adequate maintenance, cleaning and servicing.

It’s a requirement that you ensure your commercial kitchen ventilation is cleaned regularly and that regular maintenance/service checks are carried out to make sure everything is working as it should and reduce the risk of fire.

  1. Flame supervision devices.

A FSD or flame failure device is essential for any gas appliance in the kitchen. It helps to prevent wastage and prevents hazards that flammable gas can cause by cutting the supply of gas if a flame is extinguished, ensuring it stays off until it is reignited.

  1. Installation of Carbon Monoxide alarms.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odorless, and tasteless flammable gas which can be fatal if inhaled in high amounts. Carbon monoxide alarms are an effective way of identifying this gas in the air and alerting you before it becomes dangerous. CO alarms should be installed in every room with a fuel-burning appliance with a one metre space from the appliance to the alarm at least, and five feet from the ground.

For the latest information about Gas Safe Regulations in commercial kitchens, check the gov.uk website.

Is your establishment gas safe?

It’s the duty of every employer to ensure any gas appliance is maintained to prevent risk of injury to any person. Ensure your appliances are running safely and efficiently with regular gas safety checks. Here at Swift Maintenance, our Gas Safe registered engineers are approved installers and comply with the latest regulations. For more information and advice about our services, give us a call today: 0121 505 4001.