Contract Catering Green Issue
The simplest way to save energy in the professional kitchen is to switch on appliances only when they are required, and to switch them off immediately when not in use. Rational cooking systems are characterised by extremely fast heating times compared to conventional appliances which reduce waiting and set-uptimes during cooking.
Thanks to intelligent applications and innovative technology, Rational’s iVario Pro and iCombi Pro demonstrably save resources and increases productivity in the kitchen, delivering a truly sustainable solution.
With the iVario, production is practically instantaneous. It is no longer necessary to keep the cooking systems warm in order to have a hot appliance available in time when needed. For example, the heat-up time to 200 °C (for searing meat) is less than 2.5 minutes with theiVario Pro L and the iVario Pro XL models (that‘s up to five times faster than a conventional tilting pan).
Moving to Rational equipment has had positive effects on working life at healthy meal prep company Replenish Kitchen. “Replacing six pieces of equipment with two has really changed how we work here,” says Tom Wilkinson owner of Replenish Kitchen. “For example, we’ve gone from having to use three pans on burners to prepare a batch of rice to one pan on the iVario Pro.It’s freed up a lot of space, which gives our chefs more room for meal prep.”
With sustainability an increasingly important factor for businesses, the energy saving delivered by the iCombi and iVario are significant. “The kitchen no longer requires gas, just electricity,” says Tom “Our bills are 25% less than they used to be, which demonstrates the reduced environmental impact the Rational cooking systems provide. And paying less money on bills always helps!”
The multifunctional bratt pan also offers 70% lower water consumption and 35% further reduction in cooking time with the pressure cooking option. It’s also up to four times faster than conventional cooking appliances delivers maximum flexibility for the operator with the ability to boil, deep fry, shallow fry, and pressure cook.
In June 2021 the iVario won the IFSA’s Energy Efficiency Innovation award, where judges hailed it as ‘a market leader in energy efficient cooking.’
Similarly, the Rational iCombi Pro combi steamer offers up to 50% higher productivity, 10% shorter cooking time and 10% lower energy consumption compared to its predecessor – which was already the market-leading model.
Gordon Halladay, kiosk manager at Hibernian Football Club’s Easter Road stadium, oversees the fourteen kiosks that serve over 20,000 hungry fans on matchdays. The reduced cooking times the iCombi Pro allows also help to lower energy consumption, which was an important consideration for Gordon. “Hibernian FC is aiming to be the greenest football club in Scotland, so improving our sustainability is a big priority for us,” he says. “Being able to cook 150 pies in 12 minutes is a huge advance, and not having to use lots of difference appliances, constantly turning them on or off, means we’ve seen a significant reduction in the amount of energy we use.”
In its latest publication of January 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed with the ENERGY STAR® certification that the entire iCombi Pro family steamers achieve higher energy savings compared to other non-certified standard ovens and exceed the more stringent EnergyStar 3.0 limits. This was achieved through improved insulation, optimised controls and enhancement of the door glass coating. In its report, the EPA estimates that certified combi-steamers are around 30% more energy efficient than comparable standard models.
Both the iVario and iCombi Pro feature Rational’s ConnectedCooking platform, helping to create the most efficient kitchen management system. By ensuring appliances are working to optimum efficiency and minimising downtime, ConnectedCooking is leading to a more energy efficient and sustainable foodservice kitchen. It is becoming increasingly important to be able to control the carbon footprint of a professional kitchen by keeping an eye on the relevant data and taking action.
The new Energy Dashboard function available exclusively in ConnectedCooking gives users an overview of the energy requirements of the iCombi Pro and its predecessor model the SelfCookingCenter and enables Caterers to identify potential savings.
The Staff Canteen Christmas Competition – MEMBERS ONLY! 
