Sustainable Cornish hospital initiative chooses ‘Hackman-Metos’ kettles

The Cornwall Food Production Unit will transform hospital meal provision across the county by maximising the use of local produce and increasing nutritional value and freshness.

Shared by all five NHS Trusts in the region, the CFPU is situated in a 2,400 sqm facility at Barncoose and will provide economic and environmental benefits to Cornwall, as well as the highest quality patient meal service. Food miles will considerably reduce as much of the ingredients for around 3,000 meals daily will be locally sourced.

HRH Prince Charles endorsed the scheme, saying: “This shows what can be achieved within the very real constraints of NHS budgets.”

HACKMAN-METOS AND CORNWALL

Mike Pearson, Head of Hotel Services at Cornwall Healthcare and Support Services is Project Director. He explained the initiative provides a good, nutritional meal for all hospitals in the region and forges stronger links with local farmers.

“The CFPU has installed five Hackman-Metos cooking kettles including 200 and 300 litre models,” says Pearson. “This is, I believe, the largest single order in one go for Hackman-Metos in the UK!

“We had used Hackman-Metos kettles for 12 years in our old kitchen. They were very, very good and stood up to the rigours of a busy NHS kitchen. We chose them for that reason and because of their advanced technology. Hackman-Metos is, quite clearly the brand leader.

“The kettles could be producing over 50% of the menu. We can cook 500 portions of casserole or mashed potato in one go. Cornwall is still very much a traditional meal service so we are still roasting potatoes in the oven, for example.

“We chose kettles with jackets that can automatically chill food once cooked using mains water. The CFPU is state of the art and we have five of the best kettles you could purchase.

“The new kettles are so much more efficient; I am sure they are using far less energy than the older models, which were smaller.”

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HACKMAN-METOS KETTLES?

Hackman-Metos kettles present a solid and safe production solution for every professional kitchen. They can cook, mix and cool almost any kind of food and provide comprehensive menu options and labour and energy-saving kitchen concepts.
Europe’s market-leader in cooking kettles, Hackman-Metos manufactures 40 litre models through a range of sizes up to 300 litres.

Here is a shortlist of the main features of the range.
• Chefs can focus entirely on cooking, rather than moving pots, pans and opening oven doors.
• Temperature control is precise and easy.
• ‘BurnPrevent Control’ ensures food does not overcook, providing better quality and easier cleaning. Even proving dough is safe and easy.
• Cook and hold programmes ensure food is ready when you are.
• Fully automated kettles do not need user supervision once food is loaded.
• Electric tilting makes it safe to pour food.
• Thermal insulation cuts heat loss and increases safety.
• Energy is also saved because full power is only used when needed; otherwise power reduces to suit the cooking programme.
• A variety of mixing options ensure all kinds of food, cold and warm, are mixed effortlessly and efficiently.
• Collecting HACCP can be automatic during the whole process.
• Optional cooling is operated by tap or iced water. Food is prepared from start to finish in the kettle – it cooks, mixes and cools.
• Hackman-Metos beats all existing chilling norms. With its ‘SmartIce’ system using liquid, pumpable ice for example, 200 litres of goulash can be taken from +98°C to +3°C in about 45 minutes!

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