How to Extend the Life of Your Steam Oven & Combi
Steamers, steam kettles, and combi ovens are powerful tools in your commercial kitchen. These machines are subjected to all types of foods, but with a little care, your unit can perform at top efficiency for years to come.
Cleaning Tips
Here are some helpful tips to maximize the life of your steam oven, kettle, or combi:
- Only use cleaners as recommended by your manufacturer’s service manual.
- Make sure your drain cover is in place to prevent waste from accidentally going into the drain.
- Don’t use scrapers, wire brushes, or abrasives on your oven. These will scratch the stainless steel and possibly cause corrosion. Typically a cloth with hot soapy water is all that’s required. Many steamers and combis have a sprayer attached for easy rinsing.
- If your unit has a food probe, clean it after each use using hot soapy water, and follow up with a rubbing alcohol cloth. Make sure the probe is dry before replacing.
- Clean your gasket daily with hot soapy water. If left uncleaned, acids in food will break the gasket down over time. Without a proper seal, water and steam will escape the unit and increase cooking times.
- If you have a boilerless and connectionless model, your steamer needs to be drained using the spigot at the bottom of the unit.
- If your model has a smoker option that you use, be sure to clean it before cooking anything that isn’t smoked to avoid transferring flavors.
- Delime your oven on a monthly basis. Some models come with an option to delime at the push of a button. Otherwise, follow manufacturer guidelines for delime or descaling.
Maintenance Tips
Maintaining your oven properly will also help extend its life in your commercial kitchen space. Here are some helpful maintenance tips to follow:
- Never dispose of grease, fat, or other solid waste in the oven drain. Blockages will cause water to back up into the condenser and make your oven inoperable. Dispose of solid waste in a trash bin or proper garbage disposal, and grease into your grease trap.
- Check for leaks in the water line. Leaks will cause your unit to work harder and use more energy.
- Change water filters regularly. The water in a commercial steamer directly touches the food inside. Unfiltered water can alter the taste of your food, and, as discussed in a previous post, greatly reduce the lifespan of your machine.
- If you have a boiler model, you still need to ensure the water drains properly; water in the steam cavity must be cooled before being drained, so proper drainage also involves checking the cooling component.
These simple steps will ensure your steam oven, steam kettle, or combi oven lasts longer and continually puts out top quality food for your customers.