2026 Central Kitchen Oven Buying Guide: From Convection to Combi-Steam — Time to Upgrade

With the national standard for prepared foods officially taking effect in late 2025, food processing equipment now faces more stringent requirements in temperature control accuracy and sanitation. Entering 2026, demand for central kitchen equipment upgrades and retrofits is surging, and the selection logic for commercial ovens — a core piece of equipment — is undergoing a profound shift.

2026 Oven Selection: New Trends

1. Combi-Steam Ovens in High Demand

In Q1 2026, search volume for combi-steam commercial ovens surged 67% year-over-year. The reason: in prepared food reheating scenarios, the steam-plus-hot-air combination delivers far better texture and moisture retention. The Shunxiang Central Kitchen JS Series combi-steam oven supports 9 programmable steam-bake programs, precisely matching the requirements of different ingredients.

2. Smart Temperature Control Goes Mainstream

In March 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation published the

Technical Specification for Temperature Control Systems in Food Processing Equipment (Draft for Comment)

, requiring commercial ovens to maintain temperature control accuracy better than ±1.5°C. Traditional mechanical thermostats are being rapidly replaced by PID-based intelligent temperature control.

3. Energy-Efficiency Mandates Tighten

Multiple provinces have rolled out carbon emission control regulations in 2026, placing central kitchens under key energy-user management. When selecting an oven, three indicators demand attention: thermal efficiency, standby energy consumption, and insulation performance. Shunxiang Central Kitchen's newly launched E-Series convection ovens achieve 92% thermal efficiency — 15% higher than the industry average.

Shunxiang Central Kitchen Oven Lineup

Series Type Temp. Accuracy Best For
JS Series Combi-Steam ±1°C Prepared food reheating, multi-product baking
HF Series Convection ±1.5°C High-volume standardized baking
IR Series Infrared ±2°C Surface searing, meat processing
Contact Shunxiang Central Kitchen for a free oven selection consultation: 185-2101-3919