Ramadan and Iftar: a stress-free fasting month with intelligent equipment

In mid-February, millions of Muslims around the world will begin the month of Ramadan. This includes iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast. For many restaurateurs, this is a time for peak performance as it involves preparing large quantities of food in a short amount of time, as well as strict adherence to hygiene regulations. Those who rely on modern kitchen technology from RATIONAL can get through this period without stress.

Things are usually quiet during the day, but after sunset, when the fast is broken, many restaurants are extremely busy. Friends and families come together to eat. Large quantities of fresh, delicious and varied dishes must be served within a short period of time, ranging from samosas and soups to meat and rice dishes.

Careful planning is essential for restaurateurs to meet these demands. Ian Leadbetter, National Corporate Chef at RATIONAL UK advises preparing dishes at different times, for example using the iCombi Pro. This intelligent combi oven can bake, roast, grill and steam, as well as regenerate food to the highest quality. “With the cook & chill process, meals can be prepared in advance. The individual components are cooked to the point required for the subsequent finishing process and then blast chilled to ensure freshness and food safety. The final cooking takes place in the iCombi Pro shortly before serving, in just a few minutes.” The main advantage is that unlike conventional regeneration, the food’s consistency and flavour are retained because the combi oven regulates heat and humidity so precisely that it is cooked to perfection without any loss of quality. “At the same time, kitchen teams don’t usually have to adjust their shifts to the changed peak times, as the work is spread evenly throughout the day,” says Leadbetter.

For large quantities of chickpea bhuna and haleem, Leadbetter recommends the multifunctional iVario Pro cooking system, which replaces tilting pans and boilers. “The large models can prepare up to 150 litres at a time — quickly and to a high standard.” This is made possible by iVario boost technology system, which heats the entire pan base to 200 °C in less than 2.5 minutes. This makes the iVario Pro up to four times faster than conventional kitchen technology while using around 40% less energy. At the same time, the iVario Pro independently monitors the cooking process and tells the user what to do next, such as when to load or stir. This means that restaurateurs can produce large quantities in a short time and rely on consistent high quality.

In addition to planning personnel and quantities, hygiene also plays an important role, including thoroughly cleaning kitchen equipment. “Nothing burns in the iVario Pro, thanks to its intelligent heating technology iVario Boost, this means it can be cleaned quickly and easily with lukewarm water and a little detergent,” explains Leadbetter, adding: “The automatic cleaning programs in the iCombi Pro and the corresponding cleaning chemicals in the form of tabs or cartridges are even halal-certified. This means that restaurateurs can quickly get back to work with a clean cooking system and don’t have to worry about halal compliance.” And what about documentation? “Both cooking systems automatically record HACCP data. The ConnectedCooking app allows you to view data from the last six months and the cleaning status remotely at any time – it couldn’t be easier,” says the expert.

Ramadan can be a particular challenge for restaurateurs, but with the right planning and modern kitchen technology, it can be overcome without stress. Intelligent solutions such as the iCombi Pro and the iVario Pro, as well as the ConnectedCooking app, help to produce large quantities of food quickly and to the highest quality. They also ensure that halal requirements are met, and that hygiene data is documented effortlessly.

Further information on iCombi Pro, iVario Pro and ConnectedCooking can be found at rational-online.com.