The Canadian food service market is estimated to reach USD 85.54 billion over the next five years. That means it's on track to grow by 4%, which is a pretty outstanding achievement given the battering it took through the COVID pandemic.

If your business has weathered the storm, it's no doubt made you even more interested in keeping ongoing costs to a minimum. It makes financial sense to maintain your kitchen's commercial equipment well, to keep it working for as long as possible. It's also a more sustainable route, boosting your eco-credentials.

Let's focus on 5 key tips for maintaining your commercial oven to keep costs down and minimize downtime.

1. Perform an End-Of-Service Clean Daily

Modern convection ovens come with a self-cleaning cycle. You need to train your employees to run this every day as part of the end-of-service routine.

The self-cleaning cycle is not able to cope with baked-on stains though. They will need to be soaked and scrubbed away first before putting them through the cycle. Also, take out all the racks and clean them to remove food spills as often as needed.

Remember, a clean oven is also vital for food safety and preventing cross-contamination.

2. Follow the Manufacturer's Recommendations

Once you've figured out how to operate your commercial oven, it can be tempting to consign the manual to the back of a drawer. But the manufacturer will have included oven maintenance recommendations you need to follow.

They'll talk you through how to clean your oven correctly and what chemicals you should and shouldn't use. This will help you avoid making mistakes that could prove costly.

3. Schedule Regular Deep Cleans

Daily cleaning is essential, but there are certain tasks that need to be handled on a weekly and monthly basis. Draw up a schedule and make sure your kitchen crew sticks to it.

This should include checking door seals and ventilation. If the seals are perishing or there are blocks in the ventilation, the oven will use more energy and won't do a great job of cooking food.

4. Calibrate the Oven Temperature

All ovens can get out of whack if you don't recalibrate them regularly. Consult the manufacturer's guide on how to do this. At its most basic, you'll need a reliable oven thermometer to highlight any differences.

If it's seriously out or it's not possible to calibrate it, you may need a new thermostat.

5. Schedule Regular Maintenance

Just like you take your car for regular servicing, a professional oven needs the same treatment.

The best oven maintenance companies offer planned maintenance programs that are tailored to your appliances. They're able to service all makes of oven and they have quick access to replacement parts. They can spot and replace failing parts before they give up on you mid-service.

Trust LDI For Commercial Oven Servicing

At LDI, we have a first-time fix rate of 91%. If you call us out, chances are we'll have the parts and get your commercial oven humming again in no time. Our 24/7 emergency repair service means we're always ready when you need us.

Call us anytime at 1-866-299-9591 or contact us online to schedule a visit today!