Smart Kitchens are going to become commonplace across the hospital sector, and it’s easy to see why. There are huge benefits that come with the technological advancements to operators who are embracing the innovative tech solutions being developed.
Artificial intelligence
We’ve seen it firsthand with the positive feedback from our latest AI accessory OPTIC.Cooking in our X-Generation Combi ovens - CHEFTOP-X and BAKERTOP-X. It uses the adaptive learning capabilities of AI so that when one of the hospital catering puts a tray of food into the oven it visually recognises the contents and starts the appropriate cooking program.
This can range from a tray of sausages to a tray of croissants. Once trained, the state-of-the-art optical sensor will identify the correct product on the tray and start cooking. To activate the corresponding cooking program and timer, the operator simply needs to shut the door – it’s incredibly easy to use and gives the team one less thing to worry about.
Here the key interest is around support with operational challenges like staff turnover and training, consistent cooking results, and energy savings. For a kitchen struggling with space and staff, it’s this type of technology and all-in-one solution that can really support small teams preparing meals on mass, so they don’t have to compromise on quality or quantity.
Simultaneous cooking
The X-Generation combi also incorporate a MULTI.Time sensor that enables the user to cook a variety of dishes requiring different cooking times simultaneously in the same oven. Not only does this help save time, but it also minimises user error, reduces waste, aids kitchen management, and ensures consistency across all meals.
As these programs can be downloaded and shared across multiple ovens, this can drive consistency not only in one kitchen, but multiple sites. This means that every oven and operator can follow the same recipe and cooking process, a real benefit to management and local teams.
‘Hey Unox’
Storing recipes and cooking preferences, a connected oven provides enhanced cooking abilities for the user. With voice control features, smart ovens such as CHEFTOP-X offer hands-free cooking, activated by simple commands such as ‘Hey Unox, preheat the oven to 180 degrees’.
This allows catering team members to multi-task whilst prepping ingredients and saves time waiting for ovens to pre-heat.
Complete control
There’s also Digital.ID from Unox, which works in combination with a dedicated mobile app, enabling the operator to have complete control of the oven, no matter where and when.
Individual profiles allow a chef to configure and personalise their homepage with tailor-made widgets, icon-driven menus, and bespoke layouts.
Stored on the cloud and edited through the app or directly on an oven screen, a chef’s profile, including favourite features and menus, can be accessed in seconds, simply by logging into their profile on any Digital.ID connected Unox oven, in any kitchen, anywhere in the world.
Sustainability
On top of cooking consistency, catering teams can also utilise data from the ovens to help them cook more sustainably. The X-Generation range is complete with smart functions including SMART.Energy - a system that is capable of reducing CO2 emissions, even when the oven is running and empty.
The technology can also provide personalised suggestions to users on how to be greener while cooking – like warning the team if the door has been open for too long.
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