What is the benefit of a reversible fan in the Invoq Combi & Invoq Hybrid ovens?
The reversible fan ensures uniform heat and steam distribution inside the oven chamber by automatically changing direction during cooking. This results in even baking, roasting, and steaming – ideal for delicate pastries, evenly browned meats, and consistent multi-tray cooking.
How do I use the Total Fan Control function?
Total Fan Control lets you choose between 9 fan speeds, giving you full control over air circulation:
- Low speeds : For delicate items like soufflés, meringues, or long roasts
- Medium speeds : Ideal for croissants, fish, and sous-vide cooking
- High speeds : Best for crispy-skinned chicken, roasted vegetables, and bread
Adjusting fan speed improves results, reduces product movement, and enhances consistency.
Can I cook sous-vide in the Invoq combi oven?
Absolutely. The Invoq combi oven’s precise temperature and humidity control make it perfect for sous-vide cooking. Simply vacuum-seal the product, place it in the oven, and run the CombiSpeed programme with 30% humidity. It is a gentle method that enhances flavor, retains nutrients, and ensures juicy results.
Why is my Invoq oven not baking evenly?
Uneven baking is often caused by insufficient preheating or excess humidity in the chamber. For best results:
- Preheat to 10°C above the target temperature
- Load trays quickly to avoid heat loss
- Open the exhaust to release humidity, especially when baking frozen goods like Danish pastries
Why are my pork rinds or bread crusts not turning crispy?
To create crispy textures, it is essential to remove humidity from the oven chamber. Open the exhaust during the final phase of cooking or baking to release steam. This helps pork rinds crackle and bread form a crusty exterior.
What is the benefit of preheating my combi oven?
Preheating ensures stable chamber temperature before food enters the oven, which is crucial for even cooking and consistent results. For best baking performance, preheat to 10°C above your target temperature and load quickly to reduce thermal drop.
What are CombiSense and CombiSpeed, and how do they improve cooking results in the Invoq combi oven?
CombiSense and CombiSpeed are advanced humidity control systems built into the Invoq combi oven to ensure precision and consistent quality across various cooking techniques.
- CombiSense automatically regulates humidity in the oven based on the food’s moisture release. It adapts in real-time to factors like load size, frozen items, and changing conditions – ensuring optimal texture, moisture, and colour while enhancing the Maillard reaction for crisp finishes.
- CombiSpeed offers level-controlled humidity injection that speeds up cooking by creating a high-pressure steam environment. It is ideal for faster cooking, tenderising larger cuts, and overnight cooking or holding, keeping products moist and juicy.
You can even combine the two in a single cooking program: start with CombiSpeed to reduce cooking time, then switch to CombiSense for perfect finishing.
What is the difference between CombiSteam and HybridSteam in the Invoq ovens?
- CombiSteam uses injection steam only. Water is sprayed directly onto the heating elements, generating steam quickly and efficiently. This method is energy-saving and ideal for most everyday steaming needs.
- HybridSteam combines injection steam with a boiler system, offering both speed and high steam saturation. Smart sensors select the optimal method (or both) depending on the recipe. This means maximum flexibility, performance, and uptime – even during boiler maintenance.
HybridSteam is ideal for demanding steaming, delicate products, and busy kitchens requiring consistent results with minimal energy use.
What is CareCycle, and how does it work?
CareCycle is HOUNÖ’s smart cleaning system for Invoq ovens. It uses eco-friendly detergent and descaling tabs and offers seven different cleaning programs, from quick Turbo to energy-saving Eco.
- Eco mode: Overnight cleaning with lower cost and water use
- Turbo mode: 15-minute quick clean to reduce downtime
- Smart guidance: The oven tells you how many tabs to insert
- Safe & sustainable: Phosphate-free, recirculating wash, and no chemical residue allowed post-clean
You can monitor consumption and cleaning history via Open Kitchen cloud.
What is the Fat Separation System, and when should I use it?
The optional Fat Separation System collects grease and fat during cooking into an external tray below the oven – not inside the cooking chamber. This prevents drain blockages, enhances safety and hygiene, and frees up tray space for more cooking capacity.
It is ideal for fatty products like:
- Chicken, ribs, sausages, and bacon
- Especially useful in PassThrough ovens and roll-in configurations
The system is factory-installed, steam-tight, splash-proof, and helps meet environmental regulations.
What is CookTimeCorrection (CTC) and BakeTimeCorrection (BTC), and how does it improve results?
These adaptive cooking features automatically adjusts cooking and baking time if the oven temperature changes unexpectedly (e.g., door opens or load size varies). Intelligent sensors detect the shift and compensate without user input, ensuring perfect results – every time.
CTC (for Invoq Combi and Hybrid) and BTC (for Invoq Bake) are active during both recipe and MenuPlanner modes and prevents:
- Under- or overcooked items
- Burnt edges or collapsed products
- Wasted batches due to staff error
How does Delta-T cooking and Cook & Hold work in Invoq ovens?
Delta-T cooking slowly raises the oven temperature in sync with the product’s core temperature, resulting in:
- Maximum yield
- Tender, juicy texture
- No resting time needed before carving
Cook & Hold maintains the ideal temperature after cooking, perfect for overnight roasting or service prep, especially for large cuts of meat.
This method:
- Saves on staffing during off-hours
- Reduces energy use
- Improves food quality and profit margins
What is RackTimer, and how does it help with à la carte cooking?
RackTimer links a timer to each rack in the Invoq oven, making multi-product cooking stress-free and accurate. The oven alerts you when each dish is ready and compensates for door openings by adjusting time.
Benefits:
- Supports up to 10 timers
- Intuitive display with green/red flash alerts
- Great for teamwork in busy kitchens
- Ideal for à la carte service and varied menus
What is SmartChef and SmartBaker, and how does it support intelligent cooking and baking?
SmartChef for Invoq Combi and Hybrid and SmartBaker for Invoq Bake simplify cooking and baking by guiding you through a smart process:
- Select product
- Choose cooking method and temperature
- Let the oven handle the rest
It automatically adjusts for load size, ensures consistent quality, and stores HACCP reports. You can save, edit, and replicate recipes for complete consistency – perfect for QSR, chains, or staff with varied experience levels.
What is MultiRack and how does it benefit my kitchen?
MultiRack is HOUNÖ’s flexible rack system for Invoq designed to maximize oven capacity and versatility. It allows you to use multiple tray sizes simultaneously in the Invoq Bake, Combi or Hybrid ovens, including:
- 1/1 GN trays
- 400 x 600 mm baking sheets (EN)
- US full-size sheet pans
- Hotel pans (e.g. 1/1 GN, 65 mm)
This means you can cook a wide product mix at once, such as artisan bread, pastries, snacks, and full meals – without changing equipment.
MultiRack is perfect for bakeries, QSRs, and mixed-production kitchens looking to increase throughput and flexibility with minimal investment.
What can I use the steaming mode for in a combi oven?
The steaming mode is ideal for cooking vegetables, rice, pasta, seafood, and sous-vide dishes. It uses steam to gently cook ingredients while preserving nutrients, texture, and colour. It is also perfect for reheating food without drying it out.
Use it when you want precision, moisture retention, and healthy results.
What is combi mode used for, and why is it so effective?
Combi mode uses a mix of steam and convection heat, making it the most versatile cooking function. It is ideal for roasting meats, baking casseroles, cooking gratins, or regenerating meals. The humidity prevents shrinkage and drying out, while convection ensures an even, golden finish.
When should I use convection (dry heat) mode in a combi oven?
Use convection mode when you want a dry heat environment – perfect for roasting, baking pastries and bread, grilling, or crisping items like potatoes or pork crackling. Air circulates at high speed for uniform browning and crisp textures.
For best crust results, open the exhaust at the end of the cooking process to remove excess moisture.
Can I grill or pan-fry in a combi oven?
Absolutely. With the right grill trays or accessories, the combi oven can be used for grilling steaks, pan-frying vegetables, or cooking bacon. The high heat and controlled humidity help achieve caramelisation and searing, while keeping the inside moist.
Explore the grill trays and other oven accessories here.
For best results, use high fan speed and finish with the exhaust open to crisp the exterior.
Invoq Combi & Hybrid ovens: Precision and versatility in a commercial Oven
The Invoq Combi & Hybrid ovens redefine what a commercial oven can accomplish, offering unparalleled flexibility for diverse cooking needs. This oven combines the power of combi steam and convection cooking, allowing chefs to explore a vast range of cooking methods – be it roasting, baking, steaming, or grilling – all from a single unit. Equipped with advanced temperature and humidity controls, the Combi & Hybrid ovens enable precise cooking results, ideal for demanding commercial kitchens where consistency is key.
A unique feature of Invoq Combi & Hybrid ovens is their ability to switch seamlessly between cooking modes. Whether you are looking to cook delicate vegetables with steam, bake crispy bread, or roast meat to perfection, the Invoq Combi & Hybrid oven adapts to your needs effortlessly. For commercial kitchens aiming to improve efficiency and reduce downtime, the Invoq Combi & Hybrid ovens come with HOUNÖ’s innovative self-cleaning technology, which saves time, water, and energy while ensuring that hygiene standards are met consistently.
Invoq Bake Ovens: The essential commercial oven for bakers
For bakeries and pastry kitchens, the Invoq Bake oven is a specialized commercial oven that optimizes baking quality and efficiency. Engineered to provide consistent, even heat distribution, Invoq Bake ovens excel at creating perfectly baked goods – from artisan breads and pastries to cakes and cookies. This oven is designed with a high capacity, making it ideal for commercial bakeries where large volumes of baked goods are prepared daily.
The Invoq Bake oven includes steam functionality, allowing bakers to create the perfect crust on breads and achieve the moist interiors that customers love. This professional baking oven also features a PassThrough option, which minimizes cross-contamination and enhances workflow by allowing goods to move directly from the kitchen to the display area. The result is a seamless baking process that improves productivity and product quality, meeting the demands of high-volume commercial baking.
CombiSlim ovens: The space-saving solution for compact commercial kitchens
Space is a valuable asset in any commercial kitchen, and HOUNÖ’s CombiSlim oven is designed to make the most of it. This compact commercial oven offers the full functionality of a combi oven in a slim, space-saving design. Despite its smaller footprint, the CombiSlim oven delivers all the power and versatility needed for commercial cooking. Ideal for urban kitchens, food trucks, and restaurants with limited kitchen space, the CombiSlim oven enables chefs to roast, bake, steam, and grill in one versatile unit.
Equipped with intuitive controls and customizable cooking programs, the CombiSlim oven simplifies daily operations, making it easy for chefs to achieve consistent results. The optional condensation or ventless hood ensures safe and compliant use in various kitchen environments, allowing the CombiSlim to fit seamlessly into any professional setup. Additionally, with HOUNÖ’s cleaning, the CombiSlim uses minimal water and energy, offering eco-efficiency without compromising on performance.
Why choose HOUNÖ commercial ovens for your kitchen?
Each HOUNÖ commercial oven is crafted with the needs of professionals in mind, offering advanced technology, reliability, and durability to meet the demands of commercial kitchens. Whether you choose the versatility of the Invoq Combi & Hybrid, the specialized design of the Invoq Bake, or the space-saving efficiency of the CombiSlim, HOUNÖ’s series empowers culinary teams to elevate their cooking while optimizing efficiency.
With features like precise temperature control, self-cleaning cycles, and energy-saving capabilities, Invoq commercial ovens represent a commitment to innovation and quality. Chefs and kitchen managers around the world trust HOUNÖ to deliver the tools they need for consistently excellent results.
Embrace the power and versatility of HOUNÖ’s commercial ovens and see how our cutting-edge designs can make a difference in your kitchen. HOUNÖ is dedicated to helping professionals achieve success, one oven at a time. Visit our product pages to explore the full range of options and find the ideal commercial oven to suit your needs.