The Advantages of Rack Oven Baking

When baking is your livelihood a good quality oven is a key element in your success. Since its invention in 1958, the Rotating Rack Oven has gained worldwide popularity in Supermarkets, Pastry Shops and Bakeries of all sizes. They are ideal for a wide range of baked goods including cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries, pan bread, artisan bread, bagels and so much more. If you're in the market for a new oven then a Rotating Rack Oven may be just what you're looking for!

So what makes the Rack Oven so invaluable, and why might you consider adding one to your bakery's equipment line-up? Here are some of the advantages the Rack

Product Flexibility

In our industry flexibility is important. You need an oven that will not only provide you with the ability to bake the products you offer now but also the freedom to quickly adjust your product line to accommodate emerging trends. Rack ovens offer this versatility. A wide variety of sweet goods - cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, pastries, croissants, to name just a few - are ideal for rack oven baking. Turn on the steam and you can produce amazing breads and bagels. Savory items like roasted meats and vegetables are also an excellent rack oven choice. The potential is almost endless!

Consistency

By design, rack ovens bake with convection heat. When compared to radiant heat ovens, a rack oven will cook your product faster and more evenly. Low velocity fans distribute hot air evenly from top to bottom throughout the baking chamber. The steady rotation of the rack within the oven ensures an even bake from front to back as well.

Unlike ovens that have to be loaded and unloaded one pan at a time rack ovens allow you to load and unload the entire chamber at once. This means that all of the product you load bakes for exactly the same amount of time, eliminating the "first-in, first-out" effect whereby some product my sit in the oven longer as it waits for the baker's attention.

Ease of Use

One of the most attractive features of the rack oven is its ease of use. Racks can be loaded with product the night before and stored in the retarder overnight for a morning bake. When the morning shift arrives, loading and unloading the oven is as simple as rolling the rack in and out of the baking chamber. Product can be left right on the rack for cooling and storage until ready for packaging or use.

Many of today's rack ovens feature a programmable control panel. Programs can automatically control temperature, timing, steam generation and more. Your operator will need only to load the oven and select a bake cycle, leaving them free to attend to other tasks until the buzzer sounds. In fact, this means one operator can manage multiple rack ovens - which can help you experience a significant labor savings.

Space Efficiency

When space is at a premium the size of your oven is a big concern. Thanks to their vertical baking chambers rack ovens are able to fit a higher pan capacity per bake in a smaller footprint than comparable oven selections. This allows them to provide the highest productivity per square foot of any oven.

What to look for in a Rack Oven

With so many models available, how will you know which Rack Oven will best meet your needs? Here are some things to look for when considering you rack oven purchase:

Heat Distribution

Even heat distribution is a key element in the consistent baking you should expect from a rack oven. Look for a quality heat exchanger, one that will provide maximum heat transfer and uniform distribution. Air flow in the baking chamber should be low velocity. It should be strong enough to distribute the heat properly, but not so strong that it dries out your product as it bakes. Look for adjustable vents within the chamber as a further method of control over airflow.

Easy to Use Controls

Look for a control panel that is easy to understand and not overly complicated. Ensure that displays are easy to read and the controls are large enough for easy handling. Also, programmability can prove to be very advantageous. Look for a control panel that will allow you to save several multi-stage baking profiles for future use.

Steam Generation

Steam is an essential ingredient in high quality breads, bagels and more. External steam systems are inefficient so look for a self-contained, high-volume steam system. Steam should be distributed evenly throughout the chamber and should work in conjunction with the airflow in the chamber, not fight it. The damper should be sufficient enough in size to evacuate the steam when needed.

Manufacturing Quality

You're looking for an oven that will give you years and years of reliable use so get out there and kick the tires a bit. A reliable piece of bakery equipment should not feel "flimsy". Look for solid construction and heavy duty parts. The outer walls should be sturdy Stainless Steel making them easy to clean and corrosion-resistant. The rack lifting system should be strong and capable of handling large product loads. Rotation should start and stop gently and the rack should attach and detach from the assembly easily so as not to damage sensitive products. Key elements , such as the burner and heat exchanger, should be durable and accessible for routine maintenance and adjustment.

Continued Support

Perhaps the most important, and often most forgotten about, aspect of any equipment purchase is continued support. Be sure to partner with an equipment company with a history of reliable support and service. Let's face it, no one wants to think about their oven going down in the middle of production. But if you do have to pick up the phone at 2am, shouldn't you know that you have a reputable, reliable supplier there to take your call?

Thanks to its versatility and ease of use it's easy to see why the Rotating Rack Oven is an excellent choice for so many bakers. Talk to a qualified equipment representative today to find out if a rack oven is right for your needs. After all, baking is the final testament to your art - and you deserve the very best!