5 Pieces of Equipment Every Bakery Should Have In Its Kitchen

Managing a bakery is difficult as it is, and cooking in one is an art, one that is discounted by many people. Most people don’t realise that bakers have to get up at four in the morning to produce that beautiful of lemon tart or those amazing cream donuts that you get on the way to work. When people are commuting to work and yawning while doing so, bakers are already halfway through their day.

When you have to wake up early and produce perfectly baked goods every time, having quality commercial equipment is necessary.

Sure you can use the hand mixer that was passed down from your mother, but you will only be able to get a few dozen baked treats out of it. Cooking in large quantities teaches you one thing. Equipment is sometimes more important than your trusty recipe.

Your amazing apple tart recipe with salted caramel is not going to do much good if your tart shell is half burned and your oven is not doing what it should – which is baking stuff at an even temperature in large batches.

Here is some commercial kitchen equipment that will make the life of any baker considerably easier.

1.       Combination Oven

Bakery means that every second dish component will need to be baked, for which you will require either a convection or a combination oven. Combination ovens are great. They can grill, steam or just bake giving you a lot of bang for your buck. They are the most basic investment that should be undertaken even if you are planning on opening a small bakery. Combinations oven from Convotherm, Unox and Baron are highly recommended and can suit any operation or budget.

2.       Convection Oven

Convection ovens are more revered for their precision and efficient cooking ability. There is no other piece of equipment in this world that will give you the same result as that of a convection oven, especially one manufactured by Birko, Impinger or Turbofan.

3.       Commercial Mixers

They are not your average hand mixers or the ones that you probably got in your wedding registry. These mixers can be used to whip up cream, prepare dough, mix cake batter and produce baked goods from cakes, to breads to pizzas. Whether you are planning to make a savoury dish or a dessert, mixers will help you speed up the process and provide flawless mixtures that will be ready to go into the oven or proofing drawer.

4.       Pizza Equipment

Pizza rollers, dividers and proofing drawers will help you perfect your dough and make sure that it has air pockets that attract the customers to your establishment. Moreover, proofing drawers can also be used to proof dough for breads and other baked dishes on your menu.

5.       Blast Chillers or Upright Freezers

Cooling your sauces or setting your custards is not the only thing that will make you yearn for a blast freezer or an upright freezer. At every step of the baking process, you will need a place to cool your food and provide chilled dishes to your customers. Blast freezers are more expensive but an excellent investment that cool down your food faster than an upright freezer. However, if a blast freezer is not in your range and is probably a future need, try upright freezers from Everlasting, Hoshizaki, Mitchel Refrigeration, and Tekna. They will keep your food fresh and ready to serve to your customers.