Spent $400 on a used Rational combi oven and it paid for itself in 3 weeks

I found a beat up Rational SCC 101 on Craigslist from a diner that was closing down. The thing looked rough with grease caked everywhere but I cleaned it up and it fired right up. First week I used it to batch roast 60 pounds of chicken thighs for a catering gig and knocked out 4 hours of oven time. Has anyone else scored cheap used gear that actually worked out or did I just get lucky?

2 comments

2 Comments

ericschmidt15d ago

Did you check if the oven holds steam properly yet? That's the first thing to go on those old Rationals. I picked up a SCC 61 for $350 off a failed bakery and thought I was set. First big batch of rolls came out like hockey pucks because the steam valve was shot. Had to spend $220 on a rebuild kit plus two weekends cleaning out the drain pump. Still way cheaper than new but just keep an eye on the humidity sensor. Also grease buildup around the door seal will cook your energy bill, I'd hit that area with degreaser and a soft brush every other week. For $400 though you seriously came up, those things last forever if you stay on top of the descaling.

taylor30515d ago

3 years back I grabbed a used Rational SCC 61 for $150 from a restaurant closing down and it was a total nightmare from day one. The steam valve was fine but the control board kept glitching and throwing error codes. I spent way more time troubleshooting than I ever did baking. @ericschmidt is right about the descaling but I'd argue for that money you could buy a newer combi oven from a brand like Blodgett or even a used Vulcan that doesn't have the fancy electronics to fail. My buddy runs a diner with a 20 year old Blodgett that just cooks straight heat no sensors to mess with. For $400 I'd probably flip that Rational for parts and look for something simpler.