Infrared oven solves in-flight pizza problem
An infrared, cheese grilling and browning oven from Heraeus Noblelight has helped Food Point of Dubai to solve an in-flight house-keeping problem as airlines try to meet the passenger demand for pizza slice snacks. By pre-grilling and browning prepared slices in Food Point’s food production facility, the packaged slices can now be baked on board the aircraft in the minimum of time without burning the bread base. A light crisp texture is achieved in only 15 minutes of the dedicated aircraft ovens, with the cheese topping already having a baked, brown appearance prior to cooking.
From its factory in Dubai, Food Point – which is 90% owned by Emirate Airlines Group – produces meals to be served on all Emirates Airline flights as well as supplying other commercial carriers and non-airline customers. Pizza slices have become increasingly popular over recent years as an in-flight snack, especially during long-haul journeys to the US and Australasia. Without being pre-baked, the cooking time for the 120 gram pizzas would result in either undercooked cheese, or a burnt bread base.
To solve the problem, Food Point contacted Heraeus and the Neston company sent an infrared test unit out to Dubai for trials. These were so successful, both in melting the cheese satisfactorily and in providing the browning to improve the overall pizza appeal, that a full-scale oven was ordered and retrofitted at the facility. The oven features six, 2.3kW carbon medium wave emitters, with a total power of 13.8kW. It has been designed for a throughput of 1500 pizza slices per hour, and has been coupled up with a state-of-the-art cryogenic freezing system, capable of achieving a -18°C core temperature in seven minutes straight from the infrared oven.
“The infrared oven has helped to ensure the high quality of our food products, right up to point of use,” comments Steve Carlyon, senior operations manager at Food Point. “Its introduction into our production line, from pre-production tests to final installation and commissioning has been easy and seamless. As a Halal certified producer, Food Point product is in demand throughout the Middle East and enquiries for client bespoke solutions such as pizzas are on the increase. We required a quick turnaround and Haraeus turned out to be the perfect partner.”
Heraeus specialises in the production and application of high-quality energy sources covering the electro-magnetic spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared. It has over 40 years experience in infrared technology and offers the expertise, products and systems to provide efficient and effective solutions to drying, heating and curing problems.
