Deck Ovens

Deck Ovens Are The Champions Of Bread Baking

A commercial oven is the core cooking equipment for food service facilities since it can bake loads of food items in multiple cooking methods. There are many different oven types on the market, but deck ovens are the most prevailing in restaurants, bakeries, pizzerias, and catering businesses.

They work with two heating systems: conduction and radiant heating. In conduction, baked products receive heat directly from the preheated baking deck. The baking process is brought to perfection with radiant heat waves diffusing into the items on the deck. This dual heating technology creates beautifully browned crusty bread loaves, making deck ovens the champions in bread baking.

The Benefits Of Commercial Deck Ovens

Commercial ovens fall into two broad categories based on how they transfer heat to baked products. Commercial convection ovens use hot air blown and circulated inside the cooking chamber through fans. Deck ovens do this with a combination of conduction and infrared heat waves. The preheated ceramic or stone baking deck conducts heat to the dough while the radiant heat waves penetrate it. Thus, the base and the inside of the product cook evenly. Deck-type ovens also utilize hot steam to produce a crusty top. The steam injection and venting system in the oven deck regulate the humidity.

Deck ovens are usually heavier and larger than convection ovens, occupying more space. They are also less versatile; convection can provide more customizable flavors. However, deck-type ovens apply gentler and more even heat compared to the more forceful and harsher hot air in convection ovens. Plus, individual temperature controls in double deck ovens allow temperature adjustment separately for each deck. You can also control the top and bottom parts of the baking deck independently. 

Your choice between deck or convection depends on the primary item you bake. If your menu is rich with pizzas with a crispier crust, you should opt for deck ovens. The increasing popularity of artisan-style bread makes the deck-type a hot priority for artisan bakeries, too. The good news is that some commercial deck ovens also have convection fans. 

Deck ovens are simpler in design. You can easily bake different products in each baking deck with individually customizable programs and temperature controls. Besides, these ovens have fewer moving parts, so they promise hassle-free maintenance and a longer lifespan. The durable stainless steel exterior construction, ability to bake batches of bread, and energy efficiency all make them more sustainable with lower operational costs.

How To Choose Your Deck Oven

1. Size of Deck Ovens: When choosing any piece of cooking equipment, the primary consideration is the size. The volume of baking needs and the amount of floor space will specify the size of your deck oven. If you need to produce pastries, pizzas, or bread in big batches, you may consider buying a double deck oven. With four decks, you can create different menus in large quantities within the same horizontal footprint. 
2. Gas or Electric Deck Ovens: Power type is another crucial point. Gas deck ovens offer lower running costs, making them ideal for high-volume pastry kitchens, pizzerias, and bakeries. The downside is they may require additional expenses for installation. Electric deck ovens may be better suited for lower production due to electricity consumption. Because electricity is the standard power source in all the establishments, an electric deck oven means mobility, mainly if you buy one having legs with casters.
3. Design of Deck Ovens: Finally, you can prefer a range match or a freestanding structure. Freestanding deck ovens can occupy larger vertical and horizontal space. They are more suitable for catering kitchens, full-size restaurants, busy pizzerias, and bakeries. They can have legs at varying lengths with heavy-duty casters for portability. Range match is the restaurant-type oven that can fit under a kitchen range with its compact design. It is a real space saver for cafeterias, quick-serve restaurants, and food trucks.

You have a large selection at Chef's Deal when it comes to the manufacturer of commercial deck ovens. Blodgett deck ovens are already well-recognized on the market, and other big names are AMPTO, Bakemax, Bakers Pride, Doyon, LBC Bakery, Peerless, and Zesto. You may also wish to see more commercial ovens to find the best equipment for your business.