For many, baking is a creative outlet and some wish to eventually turn the hobby into something profitable. Bust starting up a bakery isn't as easy as it looks. The bakery industry is steadily growing and if you can get your business on its feet during these difficult times of COVID-19, it won't be long until you begin to see profits rolling in. But before you dive into your bakery plans, you're going to need specific equipment to create your perfect pastries:
1. Standup Mixer
Anywhere between $1,000 and $6,000
Whether you're starting a professional cake bakery or a food truck bakery, a standup mixer is key to reaching success. Seeing that a standup mixer will be a significantly larger expense to your bakery, be sure that whichever you choose to invest in will fit all your needs. A few things to consider while shopping for a standup mixer is the size of the mixer itself and the number of attachments, such as different types of dough and wire hooks, it can hold.
Understand that replacement parts for mixers aren't cheap, so investing in a good quality mixer will save you the hassle of replacing parts, time, and money.
2. Ovens
Commercial Price: $6,000 -$60,000 | Retail Price: $1,000 - $15,000
When shopping for an oven, consider what it is you'll be cooking. The most common bakery ovens are listed below:
Convection ovens are the most popular in bakeries as they use fans to distribute heat evenly throughout, eliminating cold spots whilst taking greater advantage of energy usage. Convection ovens are ideal for bakeries needing to produce big batches in a short amount of time.
Standard ovens are the simplest kind of oven and the most affordable. They have a single heating element at the base of the compartment that transmits radiant energy throughout. But because of this, it doesn't have as much heat control needed to cook delicate food. Often times it can leave the inside areas of the food undercooked all the while burning the outside.
Deck Ovens have heating elements at the top and bottom of the chamber. These are preferred for those making pies or hearth bread as they desire to have a crusty top whilst the middle remains chewy and moist.
High-Speed Ovens are a relatively new concept. These combine convection and microwave ovens to produce stable results 15-20 times faster than traditional ovens. These ovens are known for their efficiency as they remain cool to the touch while in session, but they are small ovens. This being said, it's uncommon for a bakery to rely on high-speed ovens and these ovens are typically add-ons, or accessories to a bakery.
3. Bakeware
Investing in quality bakeware when starting up your bakery will save you time and money in the long run. With quality bakeware, you reduce the possibility of damaging and having to replace pans in the future.
4. Restaurant Smallwares
Whether you make professional cakes or bread, smallware is the backbone of every bakery. These items will be used daily - which is why it's not a good idea to cut costs with this equipment. Because of the wide variety of smallware - such as spatulas, measuring tools, knives, etc. - it's a great idea to make a list of what you'll need within your bakery.
5. Refrigerator
A bakery isn't complete without a refrigerator. Keep common ingredients such as milk, eggs, and cream refrigerated to maintain good results in your products. When deciding what refrigerator is best for your bakery, keep these questions in mind:
- How much can you spend on a refrigerator?
- What kind of space do you have for a refrigerator?
- How much space do you need in a refrigerator?
- Do you need to move it from one place to another?
- Do you need digital displays?
- What type of shelving do you want?
- Does it have a warranty?
Buying commercial Refrigeration can be a tedious and tiring process. Realize, though, that the equipment you buy will be something you and your staff use on a daily basis. Cutting corners to reduce costs shouldn't be your go-to.
There are under-the-counter and bar refrigeration options that may suit your workspace better if your bakery kitchen can't surrender extra real estate for anything bigger. Reach-in refrigerators come in many shapes and sizes and can easily accommodate your kitchen plans. These are the most common refrigerators in bakeries and give you much-needed space for your ingredients. Reach-in options are equipped with wheels on the bases of each refrigerator for easy movement.
6. Work/Prep Tables
From $100 - $3,000 (Not Including Accessories)
Worktables are truly the heart of a bakery. This is where the batter is mixed, where the dough is kneaded, and where the cookies are cut. This is where your employees will spend the majority of their time. These are going to get cut on and wiped down multiple times throughout the day, and replacing a broken worktable is not an enjoyable process. Investing in quality stainless steel worktables is the way to go.
These tables come in many different shapes, sizes, materials, and shelving. Stainless steel worktables are recommended for kitchens which get humid often as they won't rot away over time. When searching for a worktable, find one that you can add accessories to - such as casters, undershelves, drawers, and cutting boards.
7. Dry Storage
Dry storage is important for every bakery. This is where you'll be storing dry ingredients such as flour, baking soda, baking powder, corn starch, etc..
8. Dough Proofer
Dough proofers are essential to bakeries as they create a perfect environment for bread and donuts. this is where your dough goes for rising, just before it's baked.
9. Display Case
Display cases are a great way to increase sales within your bakery. Choosing the correct display case will promote your products as well as your store's appearance. While shopping for a display case, keep in mind the space you have for one, as well as the capacity you need. Buying too big of a display case will give a negative appearance to your bakery, so be sure you can fill the shelves comfortably. Note the color, shape, and material of your display case to promote your bakery and it's products as much as possible.
10. Sheet Pan Racks
From $50 - $500
Sheet pan racks are used for food storage and cooling. Most sheet pan racks come with casters to make food transport easy throughout your bakery.