The Revolving Oven: How Modern Baking Evolved
The revolving oven is a staple fixture in bakeries and commercial kitchens everywhere. You may not be able to picture life without it, but over 150 years ago, bakers only had one oven surface to work with at a time!
The revolving oven is a versatile, effective, dependable appliance that’s a must-have if you regularly produce bread, bagels, pizza and other similar goods. You can keep up with demand and still put out a high-quality, evenly cooked product.
Who Invented It?
Hosea Ball is credited with patenting the initial design of the first mechanical oven. These ovens started showing up in bakeries during the 1850s. The design was adapted and acted as the catalyst for the rapidly growing cracker industry that was taking off during those years.
E.O. Brinckerhoff Ship Bread & Cracker Company in New York and F.A. Kennedy Cracker Company in Massachusetts used adapted versions of the revolving oven to speed up production on a mass scale.
Revolving and Evolving
When compared to the standard oven of the time, the revolving oven offered an immense improvement on the production level bakeries were able to maintain. The initial designs featured eight to 12 iron shelves that were built around a large drum. The drum was mounted on a shaft and powered by an external motor that evenly rotated the shelves above the heat source, located at the bottom of the large chamber. Coal and wood were used at first.
As the years went by, natural gas began to replace of coal and wood. Manufacturers began insulating the chambers of the ovens with steel. External steam boilers were added to integrate steam into the baking process.
Modern Features That Make Baking Easy
Today, the modern revolving oven doesn’t look anything like models of the last century, but the same principles of even, effective baking apply.
Modern ovens are much smaller, but they have the capacity to hold more products than ever. Instead of external boilers, they now feature self-generating steam systems that save energy and use the same power source as the oven itself.
Today’s ovens have stable, controllable heat sources with circulatory systems that direct airflow throughout the chamber and reduce fuel usage. You have maximum control over baking times with programmable timers and presets for specific recipes.
Find the Model That’s Right for You
While it started as simply an idea, the revolving oven has made industry and creativity a possibility for bakers throughout the ages. If you need guidance selecting the model size and configuration that will fit your kitchen, trust Stratton Sales. We can help you choose the right appliance to meet demand.
