Opening Your Own Bakery: Essential Pastry Equipment Checklist

Is there anything more satisfying than the smell of freshly-baked goods wafting through the air? For many of us, the answer is a resounding no. There’s hardly anyone who could resist the temptation of a warm, crusty baguette or a sweet, fluffy cupcake.

If you’re one of the many people who have thought about turning your love of baking into a business, then you’re in luck. Starting a bakery is a great way to turn your passion into a money-making enterprise. But before you can start whipping up batches of cookies and cakes, you need to stack your kitchen with the right commercial pastry machine.

What Machines Are Used in a Bakery?

For most businesses, having the right equipment is key to success. Depending on the size and scope of your bakery, you may need to invest in some or all of the following machines:

Dough Mixers

These tools are the pillars of the baking industry and are used to knead large quantities of dough at high speeds. A good dough mixer will save you hours of time and help ensure that your dough is consistent from batch to batch. This is quite convenient because it saves you the hassle of having to mix the dough by hand every time you bake. Instead, you can simply set the timer and let the machine do its job.

This particular type of pastry machine also comes with a number of different attachments that can be used for various tasks, such as chopping nuts, shredding cheese, and mincing meat. All of these utensils can prove quite useful in a busy bakery.

Dough Sheeters

Also known as dough rollers, these devices are used to flatten and shape dough into thin sheets. This comes in handy when you’re making products like pizza crusts, pies, pastries, and ravioli. By using commercial sheeters, you can achieve consistent thickness and avoid wasting dough.

Generally speaking, dough sheeters come in two different varieties – roller and cutting. Roller sheeters are the more common type and work by passing the dough through two rollers that flatten it into a sheet. Cutting sheeters, on the other hand, use rotating blades to cut the dough into ultra-thin slices.

Patisserie Depositors

These pastry machines are used to portion out and dispense a variety of batters and doughs, such as cookie dough, cake batter, muffin batter, and icing. This is quite practical when you need to make large quantities of these products quickly and efficiently. Some models even come with different nozzles that can be used to create various shapes and designs.

There are two main types of patisserie depositors – volumetric and gravity-fed. The former uses a piston to dispense accurate portions of batter or dough, while the latter relies on gravity to do the work.

Commercial Ovens

Any bakery worth its salt needs at least one commercial oven. These ovens are designed to handle larger quantities of food and can reach higher temperatures than regular home ovens. This is essential for baking goods, including bread, pies, and pastries that require a high degree of heat.

When choosing a suitable model, you’ll need to decide between convection and deck ovens. Convection ovens circulate hot air around the food to ensure even cooking, as opposed to deck ovens, which use a radiant heat source.

Cookie Machines

As the name suggests, these appliances are used to make large batches of cookies in a short span of time. The way they work is quite simple – the dough is placed in a hopper and then extruded into different shapes and sizes. In this way, you can mass-produce these popular treats in a matter of minutes.

Croissant Machines

These devices are similar to their cookie equivalents but are designed specifically for making croissants. Most models come with several different nozzles that can be used to create a myriad of designs. You can even play around with these nozzles to come up with unique croissant shapes.

Doughnut Fryers

Doughnut fryers usually have a built-in oil reservoir and temperature control system to ensure that the oil is kept at the optimal frying temperature. This is essential for ensuring that the doughnuts are cooked evenly on all sides.

In addition, fryers usually come with a draining basket that can be used to remove excess oil from the finished product. The basket can also be used to hold the doughnuts in place while they’re being fried.

Commercial Refrigerators

Refrigerators are a vital part of any food business, and bakeries are no exception. These units are used to store perishable ingredients, such as milk, eggs, and butter, as well as finished products that need to be kept cool.

When choosing a refrigerator for your commercial kitchen, you’ll need to take into account the size of your premises and the amount of food you need to store. In this way, you can find a model that’s big enough to accommodate your needs but isn’t too bulky or expensive. Make sure you choose a unit with adjustable shelves so that you can make the most of the space and ensure proper storage of your baked goods.