Mid February marks the start of Ramadan, when millions of Muslims around the world begin fasting, and kitchens everywhere gear up for one of the biggest service challenges of the year. When sunset hits, it’s go time. Families and friends gather, tables fill fast, and chefs need to push out a huge variety of fresh dishes quickly, consistently, and safely.
For anyone running an Iftar service, you’ll know it’s all about speed, precision, and planning. And if you’ve got modern equipment in your corner, especially from RATIONAL, you’re already halfway to a calmer, more controlled month.
Iftar Rush? Bring it on.
The daytime might be slow, but once that sun dips, things ramp up fast. From samosas and soups to rice dishes and big trays of meat, kitchens suddenly need to deliver volume, quality, and variety all at once.
That’s where planning (and a bit of clever tech) comes into play. Ian Leadbetter, National Corporate Chef at RATIONAL UK, says prepping smartly makes all the difference, especially with help from the iCombi Pro. This combi oven basically does everything: bake, roast, grill, steam, and regenerate, all at top quality.
"With the cook & chill process, meals can be prepared in advance. The individual components are cooked to the point required for the subsequent finishing process and then blast chilled to ensure freshness and food safety. The final cooking takes place in the iCombi Pro shortly before serving, in just a few minutes."
Unlike traditional regeneration, the iCombi keeps flavour and texture spot on thanks to its precise control of heat and humidity. No drying out, no guesswork, no compromises.
Leadbetter also points out another big win:
“At the same time, kitchen teams don't usually have to adjust their shifts to the changed peak times, as the work is spread evenly throughout the day.”
A smoother day for the team? Yes please.
Batch cooking for a big crowd.
If you’re turning out big pots of chickpea bhuna, haleem, or other slow cooked favourites, Leadbetter recommends bringing in the iVario Pro. This thing replaces tilting pans and boilers entirely, and it’s built for serious capacity.
“The large models can prepare up to 150 litres at a time quickly and to a high standard.”
Thanks to iVarioBoost, it heats the entire base to 200°C in under 2.5 minutes. That means it’s up to four times faster than traditional kit while also using around 40 percent less energy. And because it monitors the cooking process itself, it tells chefs exactly when to load, stir, or move on. No babysitting required. Perfect consistency. Faster cooking. Energy savings. What’s not to love?
Hygiene, Halal standards & easy cleaning.
With any high volume service, especially during Ramadan, hygiene is everything. But cleaning shouldn’t mean hours spent scrubbing.
Leadbetter explains:
"Nothing burns in the iVario Pro, thanks to its intelligent heating technology iVario Boost, this means it can be cleaned quickly and easily with lukewarm water and a little detergent."
And for the iCombi Pro?
"The automatic cleaning programs in the iCombi Pro and the corresponding cleaning chemicals in the form of tabs or cartridges are even halal certified. This means that restaurateurs can quickly get back to work with a clean cooking system and don't have to worry about halal compliance."
As for documentation (because yes, HACCP always matters, even during Ramadan madness):
"Both cooking systems automatically record HACCP data. The ConnectedCooking app allows you to view data from the last six months and the cleaning status remotely at any time it couldn't be easier." Less paperwork = less stress.
A calm, controlled Ramadan service? It’s possible.
Ramadan can absolutely push a kitchen to its limits, but with good planning and the right equipment, it doesn’t have to be chaotic. Tools like the iCombi Pro, iVario Pro and the ConnectedCooking app help chefs deliver big quantities quickly, consistently, and safely, while also hitting halal and hygiene requirements effortlessly.
For more details on the kit mentioned, check out rational-online.com.
