Perfect Potatoes

With winter drawing in, customers are always looking for a warming and traditional dinner to keep the cold at bay and make them feel festive. The list of favourites often features hearty dishes such as stews, pies and jacket potatoes, which can often need to be made in large quantities. For those who find themselves striving for the crispest skinned, fluffiest jacket potato, it is well worth investing in a specifically designed jacket potato oven.

Designed to hold and perfectly cook large quantities, a jacket potato oven can vary through a large range of sizes and styles. Some are designed to fit into a busy restaurant kitchen, and are as small and cubic as possible, to complement existing equipment. Most models will comprise an oven and a smaller storage area above, to keep cooked potatoes warm until they are ready to be eaten. Alternatively, there are models available for positioning on counters or worktops in view of customers. These tend to have more elaborate designs and are available in a variety of colours and styles, often concentrating on more traditional models with cast doors and coloured enamelled panels. These can often be a good investment for cafeterias or areas where serving counters are used daily. This style of jacket potato oven also incorporates a display area to keep cooked potatoes warm, which enables serving staff to fill orders quickly and easily. Some customers also like to see their food being served directly from the oven in front of them, and this style of serving and presentation can enhance the freshness of dishes. The potatoes will also be as warm as possible when served in this manner.

A traditionally styled jacket potato oven is also an ideal way to cook hot food outdoors, at a winter market or event. The display cabinet for keeping the food warm will ensure that there is always a supply of hot food ready for customers, and the wonderful smell will attract plenty of hungry people! This use of a jacket potato oven can also be expanded upon, and may be suitable for catering large events such as parties or weddings. It is possible to purchase larger ovens with wheels for ease of use and transportation, and many cookers will run on gas, another benefit for mobile catering. Larger models are able to accommodate around fifty to sixty potatoes in the main cooking compartment, and the same amount in a display cabinet which will keep cooked food warm. Therefore, it is possible to cook and serve over one hundred potatoes from a larger unit, making them ideal for catering large events or for selling at outdoor occasions. Some potato ovens also incorporate a 'bains marie', using the heat from the oven to create a warm area which can be ideal for keeping hot toppings warm until they are needed. When considering purchasing a jacket potato oven, it is also ideal to find a model with a good warranty agreement, to protect against any problems in the first few years of use.

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