The food delivery ecosystem is evolving at a rapid pace in India, driven primarily by three factors—technological innovation, evolving taste & eating patterns, and a significant rise with regard to the gig economy. In this era of quick commerce, the essence of time is becoming increasingly critical for any food business, especially the likes of cloud kitchens, which rely completely on the delivery and takeaway model. While Swiggy and Zomato amazed us with their speediness till sometime back, it’s almost a passé now with the advent of Zepto and Blinkit, which are now delivering quick meals within the 10–15 minutes timeframe. And facing the brunt of it are cloud kitchens as well as restaurants, left scrambling for faster meal preparation options.
A simplistic solution can be resorting to reheating pre-cooked food upon every order, but it is bound to compromise the quality of food served. It is all the more complex for cloud kitchens that bank completely on the traditional cooking methodologies, wherein preparing any meal within 2–5 minutes is nearly impossible. This further suggests that there is an urgent need for tools and cooking methodologies that can help chefs prepare fresh meals without hampering the quality of the food. Thankfully, the status quo is gradually being disrupted with the invention of newer innovations such as AI-based combination cooking technology, engineered to cater freshly cooked, hot, and excellent-quality food as per the preference of each customer.
A particular highlight is its prowess at frying—conventional methods typically require 15–25 grams of oil per 100 grams of a fried item such as samosas, whereas this advanced device can do the same using less than 8 grams. Not only does this yield substantial savings on oil costs, but it also reduces calories and retains more nutrients in the finished product. Equally impressive is the speed: frozen samosas, for instance, can be fried in as little as 3–4 minutes, ensuring a faster turnaround without sacrificing taste or quality.
Another key advantage of the new combination cooking device lies in its “frozen-to-plate” technology, allowing certain dishes to be fully cooked and ready to serve in as little as four minutes. This 6-in-1 device dramatically reduces cooking space requirements—by up to 70%—and slashes labor costs by at least 30%. With built-in, error-free cooking cycles and automated processes, chefs can ensure consistent results, reduced wastage (by up to 50%), and a quicker turnaround time for orders. The device’s integration with POS systems also makes it possible to add new cuisines without incurring extra overhead, unlocking untapped menu potential for cloud kitchens.
Beyond space and labor savings, the device’s high-efficiency approach can shorten cooking times by up to 80% and reduce “time to table” by as much as 50%. Its combination of induction, microwave, and other cooking modes not only increases yield by at least 20% compared to traditional methods but also supports more sustainable operations. By eliminating the need for disposable containers and multiple heavy-duty appliances, cloud kitchens can significantly lower their ecological footprint. Less heat generation, simplified cleaning (no large utensils needed), and easier overall workflows reduce the cognitive load on chefs while minimizing water usage and waste.
The boons of this advanced cooking technology are innumerable for cloud kitchens: lighter environmental impact, more sustainable processes, and happier, less-stressed staff. The onus, however, is on the stakeholders to integrate the right tech.
