Professional kitchen equipment from RATIONAL.

Commercial kitchen appliances are cooking systems that are used in professional kitchens in the hospitality industry, i.e. commercial kitchens. They differ from household appliances in that they are generally much more powerful and can therefore prepare large quantities of food quickly and to a high standard. They are usually made of stainless steel and impress with their robust design and outstanding quality, which are essential for demanding kitchen operations and a long service life.

The kitchen appliances used in a professional catering kitchen depend largely on the type of food they produce. Today, however, combi ovens in different sizes are standard equipment in every commercial kitchen. In large production kitchens, these are usually floor units with up to 20 racks. Smaller combi ovens are also often found in service centres. Modern, intelligent, multifunctional appliances that work with contact heat are also part of the equipment. What both appliance groups have in common is that they are designed for different cooking applications. This allows numerous foods to be produced flexibly in a small space. These types of appliances are, of course, also ideal for à la carte restaurants or supermarkets. Modern kitchen appliances are now characterised by the ability to roast, grill, braise, steam and bake in a single appliance. In addition, the use of modern technology in commercial kitchens saves energy and water, significantly increasing their sustainability.

A professional commercial kitchen needs a wide range of connections, depending on the equipment. In addition to normal power supply, modern kitchen appliances often require high-voltage current to operate at full capacity. This ensures fast heating times and high heat transfer to the food and ensures consistent results even with large quantities. The following must be considered: A high connected load does not necessarily mean high energy consumption, since the maximum power is only used when required. The intelligent control of the units also ensures the optimised use of resources and the best possible food quality. A modern commercial kitchen also requires water connections for cooking and modern rinsing and cleaning technology. Modern intelligent cooking systems can be networked to provide an overview of all cooking systems and make working even easier and more convenient. Therefore, network or WiFi connections in the kitchen are highly recommended if you want to use all the features of the cooking systems.

Although the restaurant industry is not typically seen as a pioneer of digitalisation, it is also making progress in this area. Modern kitchen appliances often come with intelligent assistants that allow you to monitor and control your cokoing systems with precision. Here, ConnectedCooking is an example of a way to update the unit software, distribute cooking programs to several units at different locations, or simply document HACCP data.

The equipment required for a commercial kitchen depends on the types of food offered and the level of preparation needed. Producing convenience products on a large scale requires different equipment to producing everything fresh. The same applies to the cooking process. Whether you want to implement Cook & Hold or Cook & Chill has an impact on the kitchen design as well as, of course, the availability of skilled staff. Modern intelligent cooking and kitchen technology is now indispensable here, too. The monitoring and support functions of intelligent cooking processes free up kitchen staff to focus on other tasks. Units such as the iCombi Pro combi oven or the iVario Pro multifunctional unit notify users when they need to be unloaded or loaded, or when other activities such as stirring or adding liquid are required. These multifunctional cooking systems also save valuable space, as they can replace a convection oven, boiler, or sometimes even a stove in the kitchen block.

The extractor hood and ventilation should also be selected to match the cooking technology. However, people often spend too much on these due to outdated standards. Modern cooking systems, such as those from RATIONAL, are controlled in such a way that, despite the high cooking performance, only the heating power that is required at the time is always called up. In addition, they are highly efficient and often eliminate the need for other equipment. This allows for smaller fan equipment and reduces investment costs.

In addition to food warming, modern, sustainable dishwashing technology is an essential consideration in kitchen design. The same applies to basic refrigeration equipment. As with cooking appliances, the focus here should be on modern, economical, high-quality technology.

Well-thought-out planning that is tailored to the kitchen workflow is required to enable efficient and smooth operation. The layout and equipment of the kitchen should be tailored to the specific needs of the catering concept. The layout should prioritise space-saving and short distances.

The basic equipment for a commercial kitchen includes appropriate appliances, refrigeration and dishwashing technology, as well as stainless steel furniture and utensils. The oven and stove are the heart of every commercial kitchen. Attention should be paid to powerful, high-quality cooking systems (e.g. the iCombi Pro), as well as to efficient energy consumption.

Our network-compatible iCombi Pro, iCombi Classic, iVario Pro and iHexagon cooking systems meet the requirements of Article 3.3 of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which will be binding throughout the EU from 1 August 2025.

Thanks to our implemented security mechanisms, we can guarantee:

• Protection of network infrastructure (RED 3.3 d)
• Protection of personal data (RED 3.3 e)
• Protection from fraud (RED 3.3 f)

Cybersecurity has been validated according to EN 18031-1.

From 1 August 2025, all new cooking systems will come equipped with the latest software version as standard, thus meeting the requirements of Article 3.3 of the RED Directive.

We will provide new security functions for existing cooking systems free of charge via a software update.

• Units that are networked with the ConnectedCooking digital kitchen management system will receive the update automatically.
• Alternatively, the update can be downloaded manually from our website. Software update . This can then be transferred to the iCombi Pro, iCombi Classic, iHexagon or iVario Pro via a USB flash drive.

Yes, the RATIONAL units iCombi Pro, iCombi Classic, iVario Pro and iHexagon meet the requirements of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) Article 3.3. Cybersecurity has been validated according to EN 18031-1.