Is it possible to use a commercial oven range in the home?
I'm moving house soon, and the kitchen needs a complete re-fit. I've always been disappointed with the power of my current gas hob, where even the 'fast' ring is only 3kW, and while looking for a more powerful hob noticed that you can get commercial oven ranges for much the same price as decent domestic equipment.
For example, the Lincat OG7002/N has 6 x 6.1kW burners and can be picked up for little over £1000 if you shop around.
I realise that the commercial oven ranges tend to be a bit deeper than normal domestic kitchen equipment (~700mm rather than 600mm) but assuming that can be designed around, are there any other potential problems with installing a commercial oven range in the home?
Best Answer
You seem to be speaking of gas, but I am not entirely sure. Gas might be easier. A commercial electric oven needs more electricity than usual, in Europe they go on a 380 V line. I don't know if there are 380 V lines in the USA, I think I remember seeing somewhere that they manage it somehow with 240 V for commercial.
The other point is that there may be regulations. You are not allowed to operate any electric or gas device you want to. This is why you can't import a range meant for sale in another part of the world. I think ranges must pass some tests after they are installed in a kitchen, and I can imagine that the safety criteria and maybe even the overall legality differ between home and commercial type ranges. So you should clear that with your regulation body (I have no idea who this might be, just that they exist) before you spend any money.
A completely different thing to consider is that there is an optimal temperature for preparing most kinds of food. If you are making steak on a 3 kW burner turned all the way up, you are doing it very wrong. A stronger burner won't give you steak faster, it will give you raw meat with a charred shell. There are foods which need the high temperature (anything prepared by strong boiling or deep frying, some stir-fry dishes), but for normal cooking amounts of them (4-6 portions at once), a 3 kW gas burner is more than adequate. You will need more power if you are preparing bigger batches at once. If not, the problem may be with your cooking method and not the burner.
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Quick Answer about "Is it possible to use a commercial oven range in the home?"
The answer is a conditional "Yes." While you can have a commercial range installed, it means ensuring it's installed in accordance with commercial building codes. In most cases, this will simply mean a visit from your local building inspector to verify requirements. You may also need to invest in a separate hood.What is the difference between commercial oven and regular oven?
In general, commercial ovens are larger in size and greater durability that allows them to handle far more food over a much longer useful life than ovens typically found in the home. In addition, commercial ovens have a number of extra features that allow them to cook more safely and more economically.What makes a range commercial?
Commercial ranges require a high powered hood/ventilation system in order to maintain a safe cooking environment. The amount of grease-laden particles produced is far higher when using a commercial range versus a residential range. Only masonry and stainless steel furniture should be in the area of a commercial range.What is difference between an oven and a range?
An oven is the enclosed cavity that cooks food by heating the air inside. A stove or range is the kitchen appliance with both an oven and a stovetop combined.What ranges do professional chefs use at home?
But Viking, Thermador, Wolf, Dacor, Garland, DCS, GE Monogram, FiveStar, Jenn-Air and KitchenAid all offer professional-style ranges with hefty grates and insulated gas ovens (and burners capable of up to 15,000 B.T.U.'s compared with up to 11,000 for a regular range).Why Can't I Use a Commercial Range In My Home? | GoFoodservice
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Answer 2
Some of the drawbacks with commercial ranges I've encountered that made them less than ideal for home use:
- Difficult to light individual burners (I was working on older models so these probably have improved, but I would think the design assumption for professional ranges is that the burners are on most of the time rather than the opposite.)
- Very hot oven doors and handles and no safety catches to keep the knobs from being turned (I have a little one running around)
- Burners were not sealed so cleanup is more difficult
If these aren't issues for you then I say go for the professional range. You'll never regret having higher output burners, especially if they're dual-ring so they can be turned down to simmer levels easily.
Answer 3
Why not? The only limit is what you are willing to spend on electricity and such. If you're not happy with 3Kw, go for 6Kw.
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