Especially when visible to the front of house, rapid-cook ovens should remain clean with a spotless exterior.
Many issues on these units are preventable with proper cleaning. And most cleaning should occur on a daily basis. Proper maintenance procedures and a cleaning schedule will also minimize downtime.
Due to the compact size, rapid-cook ovens tend to attract excess grease when in use. For this reason, the interior needs frequent cleaning to prevent microwaves from arcing against the cavity. Internal messes also tend to bake on the bottom of these ovens. Food baking on the bottom can crack components and contaminate wave guides, compromising operation. Operators should wipe spills immediately to help circumvent these problems.
Rapid-cook ovens may have air filters that need regular cleaning. Operators should brush and clean cooling fans on a regular basis.
Placement is also key for seamless operation. Positioning these units too close to heat and grease-producing equipment, such as griddles and fryers, can compromise service life.
Rapid-cook ovens will show an error code if there is a problem yet may still be operational. In this instance, call a service tech to check on the issue sooner rather than later; otherwise, the problem may get worse and more costly to fix.
Oven service life depends on cycle times rather than years of use. These units tend to operate for about five years, depending on volume. When the cost of repair is more than half the price of a new unit, it’s time for it to be replaced.
