Pro Tip: Today’s hard-working bakeries need the correct lubricant to establish proper oven maintenance.

I was raised on oven graphite. I was taught to lube tray and tunnel ovens twice weekly, religiously. Over the years, I’ve searched for better options, but I always seemed to land right back where I started. 

Today’s high-speed modern bakery is rarely down more than once each week and might not even shut down during important holidays. Combine this with the fact that graphite only performs well for about 3.5 days, and you have ingredients for accelerated chain wear. 

Two years ago, I was introduced to a new oven lube making bold statements to address all my many concerns. No “good” bakery engineer would dare risk the life of their oven chain by experimenting with an unproven oven lube, yet the perfect opportunity presented itself: the chain manufacturer offered an extended five-year warranty if we were willing to test the new challenger. 

For those unfamiliar with traditional oven graphite, let me explain the pain points. Most graphite oven lubes are mixed with a flammable carrier, such as kerosene.

The lube must be mixed before it can be applied, and the temperature at which it can be used is critical. Too hot and it could combust; too cold and the carrier doesn’t evaporate quickly, which often leads to an oven fire when the ignition system is started. It’s not food grade, it’s incredibly messy and requires users to “ping” the chains once or twice each year to remove build up.

You can see why I was excited to test this new product. Fast forward two years, and I’m happy to say I’m a believer. With dozens of ovens converted, I’m excited to share that this new lube is amazing. Equally impressive is the fact that this very lube has been available in the UK for the past 25 years.

Consider this if you are looking for a food grade oven lube for a 935, 960, 970 or a griddle, with four to six week lube intervals, little to no mess, NSF H1, Halal and Kosher Certified, no cool down or burn off time, less documented chain stretch than graphite, no smoke/fumes, nonflammable, 9% average reduction in current usage and seamless conversion.

This is the best Pro Tip I’ve ever offered to directly extend the life of an oven and lower the overall cost to operate and maintain… period. Do your own research and contact your preferred technical resource for more information. You’ll thank me later, and so will your oven.

Rowdy Brixey is founder and president of Brixey Engineering Inc.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn.