Oh, the smell of fresh-baked goods filling the morning air...there is something very appealing about starting your own bakery. However, running a successful bakery takes more than a passion for baking; having proper skill and the right pieces of pastry equipment is vital to get the job done right every day. If you are thinking of opening a bakery, here is a list of the essential piece of pastry equipment you will need to set up your business for success.
An Assortment of Ovens
Ovens are essential items for any bakery and the type you use will depend on the size of your business and the items you plan to bake.
- Convection ovens - these ovens use forced hot air and bake rapidly allowing bakers to increase the volume of production. These ovens are especially suitable for batches of cookies.
- Rotating racks and revolving tray ovens - these ovens are recommended for large-volume baking. Rack ovens, for example, allow for an entire cart of stacked trays to be rolled into the oven for baking and then rotated out for another batch. Revolving racks move within the oven like a Ferris wheel, allowing for even baking on all the trays.
- Deck Ovens -this is a type of oven where cakes, pizzas and breads are loaded directly onto the flat baking surface.
Proofing Boxes
In some baked goods, the dough must rise before it is baked. Proofing boxes are a useful tool as they speed up the process and maintain moisture in the air during the rise. A standard proofing oven first allows the dough to rise and then bakes it. Units that come with steam injection, regulate the amount of moisture to ensure crispy crusts.
Mixers
As with ovens, a range of mixers is available on the market. The type of mixer you need also will depend on the type of baked goods you are preparing and the expected volume of your business. If you will be mainly working with cakes, cupcakes and other light batters in a small-scale environment, a planetary mixer may work well. Planetary mixers feature a stationary bowl with rotating attachments including a paddle, dough hook and whip. With spiral mixers, both attachments and the bow rotate, allowing the dough to develop the proper gluten structure that is essential for bread-making. Whether type you choose, make sure you purchase quality industrial bakery equipment as these will be able to withstand continual use and high-volume production.
Racks and Tables
In a bakery, not everything is a large piece of equipment. There is a lot of tools that are small such as individual pans used for creating shaped cookies. cakes and rolls. Items like baguette pans, hot dog roll, doughnut cutters ad pie pans are essential small tools. Decorating tips, spoons, mixing bowls, spatulas, spoons, measuring cups and rolling pins are other necessary items for every bakery.
