Iwi/ Hapu Cooker Operation Guide for Prepacked Hangi

Set Up:

-We recommend setting up your cooker outdoors on a sealed surface and well ventilated, ideally sheltered from the elements (wind and rain).

-It is important to check all gas hose connections are nice and tight, spray soapy water on connections and look for bubbles. No bubbles, No gas leak

-Igniting your burners:  Place your 1-2 x 3 ring burners in position (rear burner on an angle to the right. Front burner on the right hand side), Turn on the centre ring only and ignite with a kitchen lighter (Only open the gas bottle tap as you are ready to light to stop gas build up and a backflash).  Turn on the other burner rings slowly starting from the centre working your way out until all rings are ignited 

-While cooking the KCC will get very HOT, we recommend wearing oven mitts when opening the door and handling the trays. It is recommended that small children be kept well away from the cooker.

-When opening the cooker to load, unload, or check your kai, it’s important to be careful when opening the door and stand back with your face away. A lot of hot steam and air will bellow out as you open it.

Getting the cooker ready:

This is to be done 35-45mins before your first baskets go in, as you get your prepacks ready.

1) Open the cooker, remove baskets and set aside

2) Place rocks in water tray above where the burners will sit

2) Fill water tray with 30L of water or to 1 inch below the top. 

3) Ignite the burner as per instructions above then position under your water tray

4) Turn all rings

Prepping your prepacks:

We recommend that your meat is at room temperature when you put it in your packs for a nice tender Hangi. It is important to cut your veggies to avoid uncooked bits in your finished product. The Potato and Kumara are generally the last thing to cook. Par boiling before hand is a big help when possible, 

-Cut Cabbage into thin slices. Cut the pumpkin portions no more than 2cm thick and then approx. 70g in size. Cut Kumara and Potato portions into 35-40g in size and no more than 2cm thick.

-We suggest using meat portions like Chicken drum and thigh with Lamb or Pork chops roughly 100g in size

Pack Layout:

Please find examples of a functional lay out for your prepacks below.

1) Line the bottom of your trays with approx. 70g of finely sliced Cabbage

2) Add 1x 70g Pumpkin, 2 x 35g Kumara, 2 x 35 Potato to the middle of the tray

3) Add your Chicken on one side and Pork/Lamb on the other side (ours were a bit big so we cut them in half)

4) Place down your stuffing portions on to the veges and pat down (Stuffing is the key to gaining a Hangi flavour in prepacks. See www.kiwicookers.com.au for our recipe). Liquid smoke is recommended for a more smoky flavour.

5) Wrap neatly in foil and load into the baskets. (We recommend wrapping the top in foil as opposed to using the lids provided as it cooks better and quicker)

Consistency with each pre-pack will help all packs cook evenly throughout and at the same time. The cooker can hold 150 packs but for best results we cook 140 packs with the centre packs removed to allow for steam flow through the cooker.

Loading your baskets and cooking:

- As you finish packing your baskets load the centre basket, then 2nd from the top, 2nd from the bottom then 30mins later add the top and bottom baskets. This will ensure that the cooker temperature remains high and cooks evenly throughout.

- Close up the cooker for further 2.5 hours (Approx time until the water runs out. Check your self every 30mins for your first cooks and top up if needed earlier)

-Add 15L more water then close up and leave to cook for a further 2-2.5 hours (top up water if needed)

-Open up the cooker and check the centre packs of the each tray to make sure that they are cooked. If cooked, you can get ready to serve. If not close for a further 30mins.

We always recommend allowing yourself at least a 1 hour window between the end of the cook and your intended serving time. The Cooker will stay warm with the burners on the lowest settings

Time to enjoy your Kai! We hope you have enjoyed using your Kiwi Commercial Cooker.