Residents of retirement and nursing homes want more variety and quality from their homes when it comes to catering. Food is no longer a minor matter, even in hospitals. Being able to offer a varied, healthy and high quality menu requires more than just good ingredients. Many operators of homes and chefs are under cost pressure, as a result, production must be maximized and cooking times minimized. Energy consumption and operating costs must also be kept as low as possible.
Our two cooking systems could be the possible solutions to all these challenges: the iCombi Pro and iVario Pro. They will help you optimize cooking processes, minimize energy consumption and ensure the highest food quality.
Each cooking system supports your staff in different ways. Together however, they are unbeatable. They replace more than 95% of all conventional cooking applications, are intelligent and use the same operating system. They can be operated by anyone and at the same time manage to produce large quantities quickly. They also meet the hygiene requirements of companies such as hospitals and retirement homes.
Your company follows a well thought-out schedule and plan for nursing work and patient care. All processes are regulated, all schedules are up-to-date and all actions are practiced. Why should it be any different in the kitchen? Although, this requires good planning, because no two kitchens are the same. Your guests may also have different needs and wishes when it comes to catering. That’s why RATIONAL supports you not only with intelligent cooking systems, but also with individual consulting services. From operational and needs analysis to well-thought-out training concepts. RATIONAL takes time to get to know your company and your ideas for a new kitchen to accompany you in the best way possible.
Whether it's in nursing or in the kitchen, skilled workers are scarce. Finding and retaining qualified employees is a challenge that you have to face every day. Added to this is the cost pressure. Wage and energy costs as well as food prices - what they all have in common is that they currently only know one direction; upwards. But should you have to reduce the quality of your catering because of costs? With a well thought-out kitchen concept and the right cooking systems, the answer is clearly "no". Because if you optimize production processes, reduce the use of raw materials and achieve good food quality all at the same time, you save exactly where it doesn't hurt.
The challenges are clear, but that doesn't make them any smaller. You have to feed many people at the same time. For you, this means large quantities. On the other hand, your business is complex and there is often a production kitchen and many different dispensing stations. But the goal is the same: every patient should be served hot food on every ward. For this, a well thought-out food distribution system is fundamentally important. Especially if you also host elective patients. This is where RATIONAL supports you. For example, using the analysis of your menu RATIONAL can provide you the optimal capacity design of the cooking systems, or design the production and serving kitchens.
The shortage of skilled workers in kitchens is not a challenge, but a full-blown problem. But it doesn't have to give you sleepless nights. With the iCombi Pro and iVario Pro you not only get the best technology, but also the know-how to use it. So that even unskilled workers can easily prepare the dishes. Start-up training for each new cooking system is free of charge when you buy a unit. At the online events and Academy RATIONAL, which are also free of charge, you will learn how to get the most out of your cooking systems. Professional, practical and in small groups. If you would like further advice, RATIONAL will also support you with the In-house Academy and operational support.
A sustainable kitchen not only helps the environment - but also your wallet. With RATIONAL cooking systems, you save energy and water. The iCombi Pro and iVario Pro also score points when it comes to spacing requirements. They save up to 30% of space compared to conventional cooking technologies. This reduces investment costs as the purchase of numerous cooking systems won't be necessary. These cooking systems are as efficient as can be. Due to optimal preparation of food, you use less raw materials. You won't have to worry about weight and quality loss due to water leakage either. And since you can always reproduce quickly, overproduction and unnecessary waste is also avoided.
Your guests want variety. Dishes should be healthy and rich in vitamins and at the same time look appealing. How do you do that? With smart cooking technology, of course. The iProductionManager of the iCombi Pro shows you which dishes you can prepare at the same time in just one cooking chamber. The system monitors each rack individually, so that the cooking times are intelligently adapted to the quantity and desired result. You decide whether the food should be ready at the same time, or whether you want to start production at once.
And with the iVario Pro, flexible preparation is also easy thanks to iZoneControl. With this method, you can separate the pan into four different zones, which you can alter in size, shape, and temperature. This allows you to prepare multiple dishes at the same time or with different ending/start times.
What connects both cooking systems is the same cooking intelligence and the customization options of MyDisplay. Simply create your own cooking programs and adapt the display to your menu. Load images of your dishes into the cooking systems and make them easier to use, even for unskilled staff. Because the iCombi Pro and the iVario Pro can be easily adapted to your needs.
Cook-&-Serve or rather Cook-&-Chill? Only fresh ingredients or high-quality convenience products? None of this is a problem with the RATIONAL iCombi Pro and iVario Pro cooking systems. Produce fresh, large quantities such as 160 cordon bleus with just one load in the iCombi Pro 20-half size. Or use the sous-vide method for a gentle, vitamin-preserving technique of cooking.
It can get hectic at lunchtime when many different dishes are waiting to be served at the same time. What if you could schedule your production times? This is easily possible with RATIONAL technology and iCombi's iProduction Manager. Pre-produce and regenerate ready-made food directly in the GN container. All that will be left to do it portion it and you're ready to go. Even elective patients food requirements will be a breeze. RATIONAL finishing technology also works with arranged plates, without loss of quality.
The iCombi Pro and iVario Pro are not only intelligent when it comes to cooking, but also when it comes to saving. In terms of energy and water consumption, space requirements, use of raw materials, and fat consumption. You also won't have to sacrifice quality. The iCombi Pro and iVario Pro ensure optimal preparation of your dishes and thus the best possible food quality. See for yourself - the results are impressive.
Short preheating times eliminate the need for standby mode. Continuous loading with the iProductionManager in the iCombi Pro and zone heating of the ladle with iZoneControl in the iVario Pro save energy.
Routine tasks such as turning, checking and adjusting are no longer necessary. The ultra-fast cleaning in the iCombi Pro and the super-easy cleaning in the iVario Pro save time. This frees up 1-2 hours of time per day.
Together, the iCombi Pro and the iVario Pro replace around 90% of conventional kitchen equipment. Be out with the tilting pan, the boiling pan and the deep fryer - for more freedom of movement. Or for additional retail space.
The iCombi Pro intelligently adjusts the cooking processes, which reduce weight and cuts losses. Nothing burns or boils over in the iVario Pro, with almost zero percent loss. All this results in 25% less raw material consumption.
A reliable system is important for a smooth routine in companies. Today many things are managed digitally such as shift schedules, patient data, visitor management and much more. This is for good reason: better audit ability, controlled access for all employees, and greater security. Why should it be any different in your kitchen? You can centrally control everything from your desk from recipe transfer, device control, hygiene data, software updates, MyDisplay settings, shopping carts and service remote access with ConnectedCooking networking solutions. This is available for all networked RATIONAL cooking systems, at any location. You can also retrieve and store HACCP data from all your cooking systems. All you need is a PC, smartphone or tablet. Standardization couldn't be easier.