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Why space-age technologies have practical value in your brand's kitchen

Automated technologies are operating everything from ventilation hoods to ovens, which help commercial kitchens save time, increase energy efficiency and achieve higher food quality. The included examples demonstrate thhe potential smart kitchens have in today's world.

August 5, 2016

By Jason Cocco, VP of business & product development, Restaurant Technologies

In the pilot episode for the 1960s cartoon show "The Jetsons," Rosie the Robot cooked dinner and pineapple upside-down cake for George Jetson and his family using elaborate robotic contraptions and whimsical gadgets. Since then, people have dreamed of having such technology available to prepare their food.

When it comes to your fast casual restaurant, the future is now.

This revelation comes at an apt time for owners. Restaurants are faced with labor shortages and high turnovers, so any solution – high tech or otherwise – that promises greater efficiency and productivity is a welcome one. For many younger employees, new technology is intuitive. Society's digital connectivity means new hires expect to work with the latest technology, particularly in a restaurant's back of house (BOH).

Automated technologies are currently operating everything from ventilation hoods to ovens, which help commercial kitchens save time, increase energy efficiency and achieve higher food quality. The following examples demonstrate the potential smart kitchens have in today's world.

Touch-screen control panels

Refrigerators and blast chillers with visual interface/touch-screen control panels enable users to easily recall saved instructions and temperatures to safely chill food and pull up recipes. Users can also print labels and reports directly from the equipment to meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) requirements.

Induction cooktops

These cooktops require magnetic cookware to heat the cooking vessel. Induction cooktops are faster, safer, cleaner and less expensive than traditional gas or electric ranges. They also require less counter space.

Closed-loop oil management system

This system replaces fryer oil with the flip of a switch. A closed-loop oil management system and fryer filtration monitoring boast fewer changeovers, require less labor, increase efficiency and ensure safety.

Automatic ventilation

This method turns air vents on and off and determines the amount of exhaust needed based on the temperature of the air above the stoves. Additional available technology can automatically clean the hood, flue and fans and eliminate the hazardous buildup of grease.

High-speed ovens

These ovens cook food from frozen to finished, using infrared (IR) heating elements that alter the IR wavelengths. High-speed ovens penetrate the heat deep into frozen products, baking them from the inside out while retaining product moisture.

Robotic burger production

This technology can shape burgers from ground meat, grill them to order with a specified amount of char, toast buns, slice and add tomatoes, onions and pickles and then place the finished product in a sealed bag.

Ventless warewashers

These warewashers capture water vapor and steam for use in heating incoming water for increased energy efficiency while cleaning dishes.

Central control

Kitchen-management systems control up to 30 combination oven-steamers, or combi-ovens, from a central computer.

Data tools

Data tools can handle BOH tasks such as invoicing and inventory management as well as store details on freezer temperatures and bathroom-cleaning schedules. RFID technologies can be used to track ingredients from loading dock to the consumer. All of these tasks can be completed remotely via mobile devices or laptops.

The Internet of Things (IoT)

It is estimated that the connected kitchen could save the food and beverage industry at least 15 percent by 2020. The IoT is currently being used in commercial kitchens to connect POS devices, thermometers, fryers, refrigerators and food suppliers. It can remotely monitor ovens and other cooking equipment, track energy usage and report on food temperature to maintain the freshness of ingredients. Alerts can be sent to a mobile device when the dishwasher is finished or when equipment maintenance is necessary. The IoT can automatically order supplies to help streamline inventory.

Technology is the innovation of the future, but humans are still needed

Commercial kitchens still need the human touch, but technology can help fill in the gaps to ensure efficiency, employee safety, food quality and sustainability. Modern technologies are closer than you think, accessible to all types of operations. Talk to industry experts about innovations that work best for turning BOH operations into a smart kitchen of the future.