So you’ve invested in a cook and hold oven from Alto-Shaam – congratulations! You’re well on your way to preparing the finest quality food in the easiest and most efficient way possible. There is no excessive training required for operating this equipment – it was specifically developed to be simple to use while ensuring a final result that’s uncompromising in standards. Following is a general rundown of the basics of use for cook and hold ovens with dials – the simple control units.
The Layout
On the oven’s façade there are several items crucial for operation. Moving from left to right, the first adjuster is a power switch. Next are three buttons below a digital screen that are to: cancel cooking time in cook mode, decrease cooking time (down arrow) and increase cooking time (up arrow).
A button on the right-hand side of the digital readout shows you the oven’s internal temperature. There are two dials, one for the hold mode and one for the cook mode. The hold thermostat goes from 60-205 degrees, and the cook thermostat has a range of 200-325 degrees. A light next to the current mode will illuminate to tell you which setting it’s on.
To Use:
Here are the basics of engagement when used for cooking an 11lb. slab of corned beef.
- Turn the power on.
- Turn the cook dial to 250 degrees and the hold dial to 160 degrees.
- Using the up and down arrows, put some time on the clock so that the oven will preheat. The oven needs to preheat 30-45 minutes, and you’ll want to check the temperature before putting your food in. Determine the current temperature by pressing the button next to the readout for about four seconds. The screen will display the oven’s internal temperature.
- When your oven is preheated, put the food in. If you’re doing only one item, position it near the middle of the oven.
- Make sure the door vents are properly positioned. For corned beef, you’ll want to turn them to a 45-degree angle so that they’re halfway open – this will give your meat coloring.
- Set the cooking time. For an 11lb. slab of corned beef, you’ll want to cook it for approximately three hours and 40 minutes.When the time expires, the oven will switch over to hold mode.
- Take your food out when you are ready to serve it.
For Cleaning and Maintenance:
You’ll love how easy it is to care for your cook and hold oven. Do not use chemicals, caustic acids, or other similar products to clean it. If you properly look after it, your oven will last for years. Be sure to:
- Clean your gasket everyday. Removal isn’t necessary – simply wipe it down with soap and water.
- Remove shelves, both center and side ones, and the drip pan. They can go in the dishwasher, or you can wash them by hand.
- If your drip pan is full, a valve on the side can be opened for easy drainage. A handy grate keeps debris from clogging it.
- Wash your external drip tray daily.
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