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Digital Kitchen: The Cloud as Chef de Cuisine

Featured photo by Elle Hughes from Pexels

How does the commercial digital kitchen work, and can you use this technology in your restaurant or catering business?

In the digital kitchen, devices on the kitchen’s network continuously collect and process data. This helps smart assistants prepare delicious dishes faster.

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Find out here what the current developments and trends look like for the digital kitchen.

Digitizing in Commercial Kitchens Yields Greater Efficiency

Commercial kitchens must adhere to strict benchmarks. Governmental regulations impose precise rules for hygiene, the chill chain, storage of items, protective clothing, and cleaning. Moreover, restaurant management must document each step in the process, slowing operations and delaying progress in the kitchen.

Digitization is the key to meeting these challenges. In the digital kitchen as described in the online magazine KTCHN Rebel, for example, all devices are connected via a network and continuously exchange data. Notebooks, tablets, or smartphones analyze and control individual procedures.

Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash

The “fast slow food” movement in particular has begun to exploit the advantages of digitization. With this technology, a restaurant’s kitchen staff can more quickly and easily prepare precise and therefore exquisite meals.

The digital kitchen starts with the networking of kitchen appliances. But the guests, too, participate in this process. They do this by choosing the ingredients for their meals by way of an app or an iPad.

Before they do, though, they can review the nutritional values of the ingredients they are choosing. Frequently, customers who are accustomed to digital devices have fewer reservations about using this new technology than the kitchen staff.

Naturally, the restaurant sector will benefit from the digital kitchen. For example, devices such as digital kitchen scales, smart kitchen machines, intelligent refrigerators, and voice-activated lighting optimize day-to-day work.

Self-cooking appliances carry out all work processes. Roasting, grilling, steaming, poaching, blanching, and frying can all take place on a small surface. These improvements bring every convenience that a kitchen team might wish for.

What Does the Digital Commercial Kitchen Look Like?

A digital kitchen appliance comes with sensors that continually supply data to the digital kitchen’s network. Smart appliances control temperature, air speed, and humidity and adjust these parameters automatically.

For example, independently of the operator, meat is roasted as required, whether rare or well-done, and with or without crust.

Moreover, cloud-based solutions are the current trend for the smartest of smart kitchens. The network transfers the data it collects, then displays it on the end user’s computer or mobile device.

Functions for some appliances can even be directly controlled via remote access. The future will belong, however, to the digital devices, which will completely take over evaluation and adjustment in the cooking process. The cloud as chef de cuisine prevails over even the most stressful situations characteristic of the restaurant and catering industries.

With a Digital Kitchen You Can Monitor Work Processes from Wherever You Are

In the digital kitchen the appliances themselves automatically regulate the cooking processes. They also cook dishes in parallel, thus saving a great deal of time and money.

This convenience also affects staff planning. For example, the digital kitchen sends warnings and error messages to kitchen staff as needed.

But the smart catering kitchen controls more than just the cooking process. Restaurant management can connect the network to other business partners if necessary. For example, if the restaurant is running low on cleaning materials, the digital kitchen network informs the supplier directly.

Even better, restaurant owners and managers can access the digital kitchen from anywhere. In short, those responsible can see all the relevant information from anywhere. They can then intervene directly in the work process as needed. This continuous monitoring ultimately ensures a longer lifetime for kitchen appliances, faster service for customers, and more delicious dishes on the table.