Staffing and labor are ongoing challenges across many industries, particularly food service. In the fast-paced food space, the right kitchen equipment can be a game-changer for food service operators facing staffing challenges. Here are some key points on how an Ovention oven can be a great asset to your kitchen team.

Specialized Training & Roles Not Required

All Ovention ovens, designed with a user-friendly interface, empower less-experienced staff to operate them efficiently with minimal training. Recipes for various menu items can be pre-programmed into the ovens for automated cooking. The Matchbox, for instance, features patented Auto-Load and Unload technology. Simply load the menu item onto the cooking surface, and with the touch of a button on the full-color screen, the dish will move into the cooking cavity. This simplicity instills confidence in your team, knowing they can handle the tasks effectively.

Automated cooking eliminates the reliance on highly trained chefs for specific tasks and reduces cooking errors. With precision cooking and automatic shut-off, your kitchen can operate with a smaller team, allowing employees to work freely on other tasks. Pre-programming also means that recipes will be cooked the same way every time. Consistency reduces the need for constant oversight and overcooked food due to human error, saving labor and food costs.

Each oven also comes with built-in self-diagnostics for monitoring oven components and performance! This helps ensure that your Ovention will always be working in peak conditions. Should a problem arise, your oven will be able to let our specialized techs quickly assess the situation (no clairvoyance needed) and help you get your unit back to cooking in no time.

Optimize Space and Work Environment

More and more foodservice operations are opening in non-traditional kitchen spaces. While these spaces can be new and exciting for guests, the logistics and kitchen setup can be difficult, particularly when making space for large, specialized kitchen equipment. Ovention ovens have considered this when designing their fleet of ovens.

All ovens are designed with space-saving in mind, even in the smallest of kitchens with limited workers. The MiSA and MiLO have the most compact footprints, but don’t let their size fool you. The MiSA can fit a ¼ sheet pan, and the MiLO can fit a ½ sheet pan or 16-inch pizza inside the cooking cavity. Many units, such as the MiLO, Conveyor, and Shuttle, are stackable, providing relief from space constraints and promoting an organized work environment.

All Ovention ovens are designed for 100% ventless operation. Since these ovens don’t require a hood system, they also feature whisper-quiet operation, making them an excellent choice for front- and back-of-house installation. Each unit has dishwasher-safe jet plates, making end-of-shift cleaning easier, and great for kitchens with limited workers. Cool-to-touch exteriors also help to keep the kitchen prep space at a comfortable temperature. These ovens use less energy, helping cut down on utility costs, which can balance out any extra costs so that budget can be used towards quality ingredients and retaining staff, promoting a sense of responsibility and cost-effectiveness. Yay!

Increased Flexibility & On-Demand Cooking

Ovention ovens are perfect for both pre-service prep work and on-demand cooking. For example, the Shuttle can operate as both a conveyor and a closed-cavity oven. The closed cavity feature is perfect for recipes requiring more precision cooking. Independently controlled top and bottom Precision Impingement® air with variable-speed recirculation is ideal for cooking proteins for a salad bar or scones for a coffee kiosk.

The versatility of these ovens allows staff to cook menu items on-demand quickly, reducing the need for extensive prep work and helping smaller teams manage better. FlexTemp dynamic temperature management allows a 25-degree difference between cook cycles, meaning your menu is not limited to items cooked at the same oven temperature. A standard pizza can cook in under 3 minutes and quickly be swapped out for late night cravings like chicken tenders (or dino nuggets), quesadillas, or tater tots.

An Ovention oven can mitigate staffing challenges brought on by the current market by streamlining operations, speeding up services, reducing labor, and cutting down on food waste, which allows smaller teams to handle their busy kitchens more effectively. Ready to find out how an Ovention can help you with labor shortages? Schedule a culinary consultation today.