Choosing the correct equipment for a commercial bakery may seem like an overwhelming task. But whether you are expanding your existing business, opening a new one or simply replacing some worn out pieces, picking the appropriate equipment is important. Given below are some suggestions and tips that can help you to make an informed decision:
For Dough Preparation
To make bread or some other baked item, it is imperative for the dough to be mixed properly so that the finished product has a standard texture and quality. In order to accomplish that, you might require one or more of the following tools:
- Commercial Mixer – Mixers are available in a wide range of sizes, and used for mixing small batches of fillings or icings quickly.
- Dough Dividers – These specialised equipment can portion out large dough batches into equally sized balls that may be used for making breads or pies.
- Dough Sheeters – Sheeters are used for rolling out and stretching dough balls to a specified thickness and size. These machines are extremely useful when making pizza crusts or pies.
- Proofing Cabinet – A proofing cabinet helps to proof bread dough by achieving ideal humidity and temperature levels.
- Retarder – Sometimes a dough may required to be refrigerated after proofing. But using a refrigerator may not always yield the desired results. In such cases, a retarder would be your best bet.
For Baking
Ovens are perhaps the most important components of a bakery, and you will find them available in several options. Let’s have a look at some of the popular ones:
- Convection Ovens – These are the most common type of ovens and generally used for baking a variety of items including bread loaves, cookies, pies, brownies and cakes. They use internal fans for circulating air to create even browning.
- Deck Ovens – They are generally preferred by artisan-style bakers who make specific kinds of bread.
- Revolving Ovens – A revolving oven generally comes with big revolving trays which can be loaded with the product. It has a high capacity as well as increased output capability.
For Sales and Displays
If you are going to have a retail section within the bakery itself, you will also have to purchase packaging equipment as well as requisites needed for making sales. Once the items have been packed, they will need to be displayed professionally. For that purpose, you can consider buying bakery display cases. They are available in both non-refrigerated and refrigerated styles, so your choice will depend on the products you are going to sell.
