As Ramadan begins in mid-February, millions of Muslims around the world will observe the holy month of fasting, culminating each day with iftar – the evening meal that breaks the fast.

For many restaurants, this period brings intense pressure, with kitchens required to deliver large volumes of high-quality food in a short window after sunset, while maintaining strict hygiene and halal standards.

During daylight hours, kitchens may be relatively quiet, but once the sun sets, demand rises sharply. Families and friends gather to share traditional dishes such as samosas, soups, rice and slow-cooked meats, all of which must be served quickly and consistently.

Ian Leadbetter, national corporate chef at Rational UK, says that careful planning and the right equipment are key to managing these peaks without overwhelming kitchen teams.

Leadbetter highlights the benefits of using intelligent cooking systems such as the iCombi Pro. “With a cook & chill process, chefs can prepare components in advance, blast chill them safely, and finish them just before service,” he explains.

Precise control of heat and humidity ensures food retains its flavour and texture, while spreading workloads more evenly throughout the day and reducing pressure during iftar service. For bulk cooking of dishes such as chickpea bhuna or haleem, Leadbetter recommends the iVario Pro multifunctional cooking system.

Capable of producing up to 150 litres at a time, it heats rapidly and cooks up to four times faster than conventional equipment, while using significantly less energy. Built-in intelligence guides chefs through each step, ensuring consistency even at scale.

Hygiene and compliance are equally critical during Ramadan. Automatic cleaning programmes, halal-certified cleaning agents and built-in HACCP documentation help kitchens stay compliant with minimal effort. Through the ConnectedCooking app, chefs can monitor cleaning status and safety data remotely.

While Ramadan presents unique challenges, modern kitchen technology is helping chefs deliver exceptional iftar service with confidence, efficiency and consistency.