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Holding

The Ghost Kitchen Series: SmartHold Holding Cabinet

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In this series, we will highlight our top 4 best solutions for ghost kitchens.

In 2019, ghost kitchens (also referred to as dark kitchens and virtual kitchens) were simply an emerging trend to watch out for. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of these delivery-only kitchens in a big way. Just 15% of restaurant operators were using ghost kitchens before the pandemic, by May that number had risen to 51% (Technomic, 2020). The demand for off-premise dining options skyrocketed, creating an opportunity for operators to invest in ghost kitchens and even virtual brands.

The average ghost kitchen is only a few hundred square feet, meaning available space must be optimized and designed to operate with minimum labor. Luckily, the SmartHold Holding Cabinet can help with each of these factors while also making life easier for both operators and their staff.

Our SmartHold Holding Cabinet is just over two feet wide and can be configured half-sized to fit under a countertop or stacked to manage cooking in large batches. Precise humidity control sets SmartHold apart by creating the ideal holding environment for any food and keeping it fresh for hours instead of minutes. This holding cabinet also has proofing capabilities, saving operators the expense and floorspace of a separate proofing cabinet.

With SmartHold, ghost kitchens can also keep labor down by cooking and holding products before peak periods of high demand. We’ve got a couple of blog suggestions for anyone wanting more on SmartHold – learn more about optimal SmartHold settings for common menu items or discover more on how SmartHold brings value to any kitchen.

Henny Penny Holding Cabinets Can Save Your Bacon (In More Ways Than One)

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With the rising demand for delivery and take-out, our holding solutions can help you improve the efficiency of your kitchen and give you the flexibility to serve your customers quickly and effectively.

Restaurants, deli’s, and other retail foodservice operations put a great deal of effort into making great food. Yet without some means to preserve fresh product for a reasonable amount of time, the effort—along with a significant portion of food—is wasted. This is more important than ever with the rising demand for delivery and take-out.

UP TO 2X LONGER HOLD TIMES

Heated holding cabinets are traditionally used to keep extra quantities of food hot and tasty. But what holding cabinets REALLY do is produce extra time in the operation of your kitchen. This extra time—a function of how long foods can be held at acceptable quality— can be used in many ways. You can increase equipment utilization and improve your overall efficiency. Depending on the type of food and the quality of your holding equipment, the productivity potential can be significant.

WHAT CAN MORE TIME DO?

“Buying” extra operations time with heated holding cabinets allows you to cook well before the mealtime rush, cook in higher volume, reduce product handling and waste, and efficient menu production. These are just a few examples of how heated holding can extend beyond simply keeping something warm until you need it. In every case, the benefits grow with the length of time that food can be acceptably held – that’s why Henny Penny developed their line of SmartHold cabinets to keep food fresh for up to 2x longer than the average cabinet.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HOLDING

—It’s harder than it looks, but we make it easy.

Reliable holding equipment preserves quality, keeps food ready to serve, and allows employees to prepare for peak hours while offering additional benefits (click here to read our blog about how kitchens can “buy” extra operations time with heated holding solutions). Getting the most out of your holding equipment is easier said than done, which is why it is important to understand the science behind it.

SMARTHOLD PROOFING & HOLDING

The following chart shows optimal SmartHold cabinet settings for common menu items. In general, settings for a particular item can be applied to similar menu items not shown here. Keep in mind that some foods are more durable than others. When holding a variety of items at the same time, choose temperature and humidity settings closer to those suggested for the more sensitive foods or midway between foods with similar durability.

Food temperatures must remain above the minimum required safe holding temperatures. The USA minimum is 140°F (60°C). If the cabinet door(s) is opened frequently, temperature should be set slightly above the minimum required safe holding temperature.

Based on Henny Penny HHC 900 and SmartHold holding cabinets. Results will vary for other manufacturers.

HOLDING CABINETS, AT A GLANCE

CLICK TO EXPAND

Want to learn more about our SmartHold solutions? Click here.

Win At Takeout With a Henny Penny EPC

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Grocery shopping and grabbing meals on-the-go aren’t as simple in a world changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to make their lives easier. As a result, takeout has become increasingly popular and fast-food or dine-in restaurants aren’t the only places that can capitalize on this rise in demand. Imagine the relief of a grocery shopper who needs to pick up dinner on the way home when they come across a display containing rows of fresh chicken and sides while approaching checkout.

Henny Penny Express Profit Center

With a Henny Penny Express Profit Center (EPC), various business concepts with diverse menus can maximize takeout sales. Conventional self-serve heated merchandisers can’t avoid letting hot air out and cool air in. With Henny Penny, the FreshLock™ air curtain creates a thin wall of moving air that separates cool air in your store from hot food items in the unit.

The Right Fit

We never take a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to our customers. Different sizes, different widths, different shelf configurations… all the options that help you take advantage of impulse purchases throughout the store. Place EPC units as aisle end caps, along walls, or freestanding near checkout lanes.

Sustainable solid-state LED lighting offers brilliant product presentation with bright warm-white light, no flicker or buzz. Highly energy efficient, durable, safe to dispose but almost never need replacing. Other features include:

  • Heated shelves and deck with independent temperature controls
  • Black matte finish and stainless steel, with clear side panels for visibility
  • Easy mobility with available casters, 120 V compact plug-and-play unit

EPC’s are a perfect example of how various operations can win at takeout – it’s all about convenience and delicious food. Join the thousands of satisfied restaurant owners who trust Henny Penny quality and 24/7 global customer support.