Jinyun shaobing. [Photo/Tide News]

A new automatic oven, independently developed by entrepreneur Li Tufu from Jinyun county of Lishui, Zhejiang province, is exploring a fresh path for promoting traditional Jinyun shaobing, a kind of bucket-baked roll, by relying on innovative ways of delivering an authentic taste.

Resembling a standing refrigerator, the machine produces a golden, fragrant shaobing in about two and a half minutes. Its taste and appearance are nearly identical to the traditional barrel-oven version.

The machine's advantage is particularly notable compared to microwave ovens, which tend to make the crust soft, or conventional ovens, which require manual temperature control and longer, more complicated operations.

The fully automated and foolproof process precisely locks in the filling's tenderness and perfectly replicates the traditional crispy crust.

Li Tufu, a 57-year-old grassroots inventor, said his initial goal was not just to sell equipment but to enable people nationwide to enjoy authentic Jinyun shaobing conveniently.

With prior experience in electroplating and handicrafts, he founded a food company four years ago, aiming to automate the labor-intensive snack production.

Developing the machine involved overcoming challenges in precise temperature and timing control to avoid burning while ensuring quality. After over a year of trials, the current model can heat four rolls at one time with consistently good results.

Li's team plans to showcase the equipment at upcoming food festivals in Wenzhou and Shanghai to raise market awareness of it. They hope to promote this model to more urban and rural areas, turning shaobing shops across the country into windows for spreading the taste of Jinyun.