Conveyor Pizza Oven: Industries Top Oven Of Choice

As a pizzeria owner, you know that a good oven is the foundation of your business. It’s where the magic happens – where you turn a pile of dough, sauce, and toppings into a delicious, steaming hot pizza. But with so many different ovens on the market, it can be tough to know which one is right for your establishment.

Conveyor pizza ovens have become increasingly popular in pizzerias in recent years and for good reason. These high-tech cooking appliances may not be as traditional as a wood-fired oven, but they pack a wallop when it comes to efficiency and consistency.  In this article, we will explore the features and benefits of these cooking machines that make them so popular for pizza baking.

How Conveyor Ovens Work

These specialized machines, which are generally large-sized, include a gas or electric burner to evenly heat the oven to an exact temperature necessary for cooking restaurant-quality pizzas. Conveyor pizza ovens are designed to run non-stop and can easily handle multiple kitchen tasks. This makes them a great asset in any commercial kitchen.

At their most basic, the ovens consist of an enclosed baking cavity with a conveyor belt running through the middle. The belt is made of a fire-resistant material like treated woven PVC material and is designed to continuously move through the oven.

The conveyor belt plays an important role in the baking process. It is driven by a motor or other mechanical device with the speed of the belt being adjustable depending on the desired cooking time. As the food is placed on the conveyor, it is carried through the cooking cavity where it is exposed to heat from the heating elements on either side.

The heating elements are responsible for generating the heat that cooks the food. These elements are located above and below the conveyor belt and are usually made of heat-conducting materials. As the belt moves the food through the oven, the heating elements radiate heat, cooking the crust and melting the cheese, resulting in a perfectly baked pie.

Types of Conveyor Ovens

There are three main types of conveyor ovens: forced air conveyor ovens, infrared conveyor ovens, and radiant conveyor ovens.

Forced Air Conveyor Ovens

Forced air conveyor ovens are a type of oven that uses hot air circulated by burners and fans to cook or dry products on a conveyor belt. The high-speed heat transfer provided by the forced air quickens the baking process and produces a high-quality finished product with a desirable texture.

Forced air ovens have been proven to reduce baking times by as much as 25% when compared to ovens without forced air technology.

Infrared Conveyor Ovens

Infrared conveyor pizza ovens are the culinary superheroes of the food industry. Thanks to their ceramic elements, they heat the air and generate friction that can cook even the most stubborn of food products. These ovens cook your food to perfection in the blink of an eye as a result of the efficiency of infrared heating.

Imagine your meal as a daring adventurer, venturing through the heating chamber on a conveyor belt, braving the intense heat generated by the ceramic elements until it emerges on the other end perfectly cooked and ready to be devoured.

Radiant Conveyor Ovens

They are ideal for cooking food quickly and evenly using the heating elements located at the top and bottom of the conveyor belt to ensure the heat is distributed evenly throughout the process. This allows for a consistent output with each batch cooked.

The heating elements emit radiant energy that is absorbed by the food, giving it that perfectly cooked, lip-smacking deliciousness.

Pizzas Types Best Baked in Conveyor Ovens

When it comes to conveyor pizza ovens, Neapolitan pizza and New York-style pizza really shine.

Both of them have thin crusts that cook quickly and evenly, making them a perfect match for a conveyor oven. The continuous movement of the conveyor belt helps to ensure that the crust is cooked to perfection, with no burnt or undercooked areas.

Of course, there’s no reason you can’t try out other types of pizza as well. The oven can handle just about any thin or medium-crust pizza type you throw its way.

Properties of a Conveyor Oven

What makes a conveyor pizza oven so special, and what should you consider when shopping for one? Here are some key properties to keep in mind:

Dimensions

A commercial pizza oven with conveyor belt comes in a range of sizes; from small countertop models to large, freestanding units. Their dimensions typically range from 100 to 180 cubic feet.

Consider the size of your kitchen and the amount of food you’ll be cooking when choosing the right size for your needs.

Heating Method

It uses either convection heat or thermal radiation to cook food.

Efficiency

Commercial Conveyor pizza ovens are not typically designed with energy efficiency in mind as there is heat loss at both ends. Some larger ovens, nonetheless, have adjustable gas valves that can help increase their energy efficiency.

Also, ovens that have a standby mode use less energy when they are not in active use. When an oven is in standby mode, it enters a low-power state, which helps to reduce energy consumption. This saves energy and reduces operating costs for businesses.

Adjustable Conveyor Speed

The speed of the conveyor belt can be adjusted to accommodate different cooking times or to cook different products. It determines how long it takes for the food item to pass through the heating chamber and how long it will be exposed to the radiant heat and hot air inside the heating cavity. Faster belt speeds result in shorter cooking times, while slower belt speeds result in longer cooking times.

Price

They can range in price from around $5,000 to $30,000 or more.

Operational Cost

Some common costs associated with using a conveyor oven include replacing worn or damaged parts, cleaning and maintenance, and energy costs for operating the equipment.

Automated Loading and Unloading

With an industrial conveyor pizza oven, the items are loaded onto the conveyor at one end of the oven, and the conveyor will transport them through the heating chamber and then unload them at the other end. This automation streamlines the baking process and increases the efficiency of the oven.

Etch

Belts in conveyor ovens can be more susceptible to etching due to the high friction and movement of the carrying medium. The faster the belt moves, the more likely it is to produce an etching pattern.

Additionally, be sure to use appropriate cleaning products to clean your conveyor oven, as abrasive products can cause more etching.

Pros of Using a Conveyor Oven in a Pizzeria

These machines may not have the rustic charm of a traditional pizza oven, but they more than make up for it with their many benefits.

Speed

One of the main benefits of a conveyor pizza oven is its ability to cook large quantities of food quickly. Because the food is continuously moving through the oven on the conveyor belt, there is no need to manually rotate or flip items, which saves time and labor. This makes conveyor ovens particularly well-suited for high-volume operations where speed is a priority.

Consistency in Cooking

Unlike the average oven, conveyor ovens are more consistent for an even cooking process. It is exposed to the heat source for a consistent amount of time, resulting in more even cooking. The end product has the same consistency every time.

Ease of Use

With a conveyor oven, you can simply set the desired temperature and conveyor speed, wait for the oven to warm up, and then place your food items on the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt carries the food through the oven where it will be cooked to perfection.

Compared to other commercial cooking equipment, operations with the appliances are effortless and convenient. Because the food is cooked automatically, there is less need for close monitoring and attention. This makes it easier to train staff to use the oven and potentially allows for the use of less skilled labor, which can help to reduce labor costs.

Tough to Undercook or Overcook With It

With a conveyor oven, you have the advantage of avoiding under and overcooking food as it is cooked with a consistent and controlled heat source. Many conveyor ovens have temperature controls and other settings that allow the user to adjust the cooking conditions to ensure that the food is cooked to the desired level of doneness.

Easy-to-Use Recipe Programming Features

Conveyor ovens have lots of options for baking multiple types of meals, taking the hassle out of prepping a meal. Some have a port that allows users to upload or export food recipes so it is easy to standardize the cooking process and ensure consistent results. This is especially useful in a commercial kitchen setting where consistency is vital.

Ideal for Kitchens with Limited Space

If you’re struggling to find space in your kitchen for all your cooking gadgets, you may want to consider getting a conveyor oven. These compact ovens are perfect for kitchens with limited space as they can be installed without taking up too much room.

Because they do not require a lot of space, they can be a good choice for small businesses or kitchens where space is limited.

Versatility

Their versatility has made them a necessity in commercial kitchens and other food service outlets. These ovens are designed to bake several food products including bread and pies. They can also be used to reheat food like sandwiches, pizzas, and other food items.

Cons of Using a Conveyor Oven in a Pizzeria

While conveyor ovens can offer some benefits in terms of versatility and ease of use, they also come with some drawbacks. So before you decide to purchase one, let’s delve into the potential downsides of using a conveyor oven.

Limited Menu Options

It may not be able to bake a variety of food items simultaneously because the temperature and cooking time may need to be adjusted for each type of dish. This may require you to reduce meals on your menu and only offer items that can be baked simultaneously.

May Not Impart the Same Depth of Flavor as Brick Ovens

Some clients may prefer the unique flavor that can be achieved by baking in a brick oven. However, pizzas baked in conveyor ovens may lack the complex flavor and smokiness of a traditional brick oven. To achieve authentic Italian taste, it is necessary to use a wood-burning oven.

High Energy Consumption

Conveyor ovens consume higher amounts of energy in comparison to other oven models, leading to a rise in your energy bills.

Have Slower Cooking Times

They have a longer cooking duration than convection ovens, making them comparatively slower.

Higher Maintenance and Repair Costs

They may demand more maintenance and repair in comparison to other varieties of ovens, potentially leading to higher operating expenses.

The conveyor belt and other mechanical components of the oven require regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure they function properly. Also, the moving parts are prone to wear and tear resulting in the need for repairs over time.

To Round Things Up

Ultimately, the decision to use a conveyor oven (or any type of oven for that matter) comes down to your unique business needs. Whether you’re a small shop looking to turn out pies as fast as possible or a high-end restaurant looking for that perfect wood-fired crust, there’s an oven out there for you.

While conveyor ovens have their fair share of drawbacks, they can still be a valuable asset to any pizzeria. Sure, they may not be as classic as a wood-fired brick oven or as precise as a deck oven, but these handy machines can still bake delicious pizza in a fraction of time.

You may have to deal with the potential for a limited menu. Nonetheless, for fast-food chains or pizzerias, its automation can make it easier to produce pizzas in large quantities quickly and efficiently.

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