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Holding

holding school food

Your CVap® oven doesn’t just cook. It can also serve as a holding cabinet. CVap technology delivers incredible temperature precision and controls how crispy or soft your food is held.

Food placed in CVap equipment maintains just-cooked freshness, temperature, and texture for extended periods. You can prepare well before the rush and keep serving through peak periods, delivering a one-two punch to labor and food costs. It’s fresh food without sacrifice. CVap ovens can automatically switch from cooking to holding mode, freeing up your staff from babysitting the oven.

What is Food Holding?

Food holding involves maintaining hot food at a safe temperature until it is served. Although many manufacturers offer cabinets and ovens that can hold food hot, they’re not all the same. Depending on the design of the equipment, the amount of time food can be held before its quality degrades can vary widely. CVap cabinets and ovens are unique in their ability to hold food at a precise temperature while maintaining the exact desired texture, for extended time periods. It’s a difference your customers will notice.

What is the Purpose of Food Holding?

Proper food holding is crucial to food safety and quality control in the foodservice industry. Here are some critical purposes of food holding:

  • Temperature Control: Different foods require specific temperature ranges for safe holding. Consult CVap guidelines to determine the proper air and vapor temperatures for particular foods.
  • Quality Preservation: Proper food holding helps preserve the food’s texture, flavor, and nutritional content. Maintaining optimal conditions prevents deterioration and ensures that the food remains appetizing.
  • Timing for Service: In foodservice, hot holding is often used to coordinate the timing of different dishes in a meal. This ensures that all meal components are ready to be served simultaneously.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Many health and safety regulations mandate specific guidelines for holding food to prevent contamination and ensure public health. Adhering to these regulations is critical for food establishments to operate legally and safely.

Benefits of the Food Holding Process

  • Food Safety: Maintaining hot food at the appropriate temperature helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses. The danger zone for bacterial growth is between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C). Keeping hot foods above 140°F helps to inhibit bacterial proliferation.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Hot food served at the proper temperature is more enjoyable for customers. The overall dining experience is enhanced when food is served hot and fresh.
  • Extended Holding Time: The CVap hot holding process allows for extended holding times, which can benefit busy kitchens or buffet settings. This flexibility enables foodservice establishments to prepare food in advance and serve it when needed without compromising quality and safety.
  • Energy Efficiency: Holding food hot at a specific temperature requires less energy than cooking it from scratch when an order is placed.

What Foods Can You Hot Hold?

Cooked Meats: Items like roasted chicken, grilled steak, or smoked brisket can be held in a CVap oven or holding cabinet to maintain their temperature and prevent them from drying out or overcooking.

Soups and Stews: Liquid-based dishes such as soups, stews, and chili can be held to keep them at a safe serving temperature. Because CVap technology is based on heated water vapor, CVap excels at holding moist foods.

Fried Foods: Fried items like chicken tenders, fries, and onion rings can be held to stay crispy while maintaining their internal temperature. Because crispy foods are typically held at higher temperatures (around 180°F), they often have shorter holding times than more moist foods. It’s important to monitor these products and follow your organization’s quality guidelines on when food should be discarded.

Pasta Dishes: Many pasta dishes with sauces can be held hot and ready for service.

Vegetables: Steamed or roasted vegetables can be held in a CVap to keep them hot without overcooking.

Grains: Rice, quinoa, and other grains can be held hot to maintain their texture.

Casseroles: Baked dishes like lasagna or casseroles can be held hot and ready for serving. Like soups, casseroles’ moist texture is ideal for holding in a CVap.

Breads, Rolls, and Other Baked Goods: CVap ovens and holding cabinets have a proofing setting, making them perfect for both proofing and holding bread, rolls, and other baked goods at a consistent temperature.

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