Bakery Equipment Every Bakery Needs

Opening your own bakery will not only make you happy as you get to sell your own delectable sweets, but you will also make plenty of people with a sweet tooth happy. Whatever type of bakery you may be opening, whether it is focused on cookies, cakes, or even donuts, you need the bakery equipment to make creating your desserts easy as pie. There are pieces of bakery equipment that nearly every bakery will need to invest in.

1. Bakery Ovens

The oven is by far one of the most important investments you can make in your bakery. There are very few types of bakeries that can get by without a bakery oven to bring all of their goodies to life. The oven you place in your bakery is an important investment in your overall business. You need to take the time to consider the types of products you want to produce and find an oven that can meet all of your needs. Here are some bakery ovens that you might want to consider having in your shop.

• Convection Ovens – Convection bakery ovens use fans to circulate hot air throughout the baking chamber. They are very popular and common choices because of their price and that they are used on a wide range of products including pies, cakes, and cookies. This type of oven is better for bakeries that have lower production amounts.
• Rotating Rack Ovens – These ovens are for higher production bakeries than convection ovens and allow one or two racks to bake at the same time. These ovens are great for the products above and also for breads and bagels.
• Revolving Tray Ovens – These bakery ovens are very versatile and can handle different volumes, and this makes them the right choice for many bakers. The shelves in this type of oven are placed on a carousel that rotates horizontally. With these ovens you can bake a variety of different products at the same time.
  
  

2. Mixers

If you are a baker, you probably agree with most other bakers in that the bakery mixer is where most great baking starts. The mixer you choose will be based on the type of products you bake and the amount of those products.

• Vertical Mixers – Also called orbital and planetary mixers, these are the most common mixers found in a bakery. The design allows the mixing arm to emulate the baker’s hand. The mixing arm will move around the mixing bowl as the bowl turns.
• Spiral Mixers – This bakery mixer uses a fixed position spiral mixing arm with a rotating bowl This is well suited for minimizing dough punishment and flexibility. Spiral bakery mixers are used in all sizes of bakeries.

3. Dough Divider/Rounder

This bakery dough equipment is great when making buns, rolls, and small loaves of bread. A dough divider/rounder will create consistent and uniform divisions of dough. Typically, dough divider equipment is available in square round, and octagonal shapes.

4. Reversible Dough Sheeter

A reversible dough sheeter is a multi-tasking tool that many bakers find invaluable. This versatile bakery equipment uses a table to allow you to pass dough back and forth between two large rollers. In most cases there is the capability to attach additional pieces of bakery equipment such as a cutting attachment.

5. Bakery Proofboxes

If your bakery requires you to use rising dough, then you will definitely need a proofbox or proofing cabinet. A bakeryproofbox will allow you to have control over the temperature and humidity your product is placed in.

Deciding on your bakery equipment is an important process. You want equipment that lets you create your product no matter the type or volume. You should consider equipment that will last as your bakery grows or incorporates newer products.

Source:  The Bakery Network

The Different Types of Bakery Mixers

Many professional bakers will attest that the mixing process is the most important step when it comes to producing quality dough to use in their bakery. Each type of food found in a bakery more than likely requires a different type of mixing equipment. For the most part deciding on a bakery mixer depends on the level of business you would like to produce.

Vertical or Planetary Mixers 

Topos 60 QT Planetary Bakery Mixer

Planetary bakery mixers also known as vertical mixers get their name from the orbital motion the dough agitator makes, which are circular orbits along the inside wall. The mixing bowl used stays in place while this happens. Planetary mixers are great to have for businesses that need to produce smaller batches at a time. Otherwise planetary mixers are very versatile.

• Pros
  
  • Planetary mixers use a broad range of attachments, which make them very versatile.
  • The attachments turn on an offset shaft while the shaft rotates around the bowl.
  • Planetary mixers are capable of mixing, whipping, blending, and stirring various types of dough mixtures.
  • These mixers will normally come with a wire whisk, stainless steel bowl, dough hook, and beater blade.
    
    
• Cons
  
  • Planetary mixers are not able to mix as much dough at one time as other mixers.
  • They tend to be slower than other bakery mixers.
  • Since they mix smaller batches of dough, planetary mixers must use downsized bowls and agitators.

Topos Open Frame Double Sigma Horizontal Bakery Mixer

Horizontal Mixers

Horizontal mixers typically contain a bowl that moves around around beaters. The beaters are driven horizontally within the bowl on one or two shafts. How the dough is cut depends on the shape and speed of the blades. When two shafts are used the bowl makes a 'W' shape, and the shafts rotate in opposite directions. These horizontal mixers are commonly known as 'Z' blades.

• Pros
  • Very powerful mixers, therefor, able to produce tough dough more rapidly.
  • Good and accurate control of the temperature of the mixing bowl from a jacket with constantly circulating water or refrigerant.
  • Ingredients can be added through the roof of the horizontal mixer while the beaters are moving.
    
    
• Cons
  • The beaters tend to throw materials up to the roof of the mixer.
  • The horizontal mixer's lid totally encloses it so the progress of the mix can not be totally observed.
  • The beater shape allows for blending, dispersion, and kneading, and this could lead to each action being less than ideal.
  • As the size of horizontal mixers increases, kneading efficiency tends to decline relative to heat build up due to friction.

Spiral Mixers

Topos 300 KG Double Spiral Bakery Mixer

The spiral-shaped dough agitator give spiral mixers their name. Unlike the planetary mixing bowl that remains stationary, a spiral mixing bowl moves while the agitator remains in place. Spiral mixers are often the mixer of choice for bakeries. Spiral mixers are often referred to as “one-bagger” or “three-bagger.” This represents the amount of 100-pound bags of flour or dough they can hold.

• Pros
  • The sturdy dough agitator found in spiral mixers is typically more effective than traditional beaters and even dough hooks when mixing heavy, stiff dough.
  • More dough can be mixed at once in a spiral mixer.
  • There is less resistance on the spirals, and this help to control the temperature of the dough and will ensure proper rising and easier kneading.
  • There is no need to use downsized bowls and agitators to mix small batches.
    
    
• Cons
  • Spiral mixers are only suitable for mixing dough and not mixing or whipping.

Source: Food Service Warehouse, The Biscuit Doctor

What Bakery Equipment Is Needed to Run a Donut Shop

There are many areas that you will need to consult on if you have dreams of running your very own donut shop. However, if you do not have the proper bakery equipment, it will be rather difficult to have a successful shop. It is important to get the correct equipment to ensure your donuts come out not only looking great but as efficiently as possible.

Mixers

Any type of bakery will require an industrial sized bakery mixer. A start up company should be all right with a 40 quart mixer. Larger production requirements might want to use a a mixer that will hold 140 quarts or more. Horizontal mixers are usually the mixer of choice for a larger business.

Fryers

A fryer is the key bakery equipment to running a donut shop – not an oven. A donut fryer can be either gas or electric and should be able to make between 80 dozen to 150 dozen donuts per hour.

Proofers

A donut proofer is needed to make yeast-raised donuts. This will allow the dough to set on racks at room temperature and be able to rise. A good idea is to have a mobile proofer that can hold multiple sheet pans at the same time and be transported to different areas of the donut shop. It would definitely be a good idea to look into proofers made specifically for donuts.

Icers, Glazers, and Sugar Coater

This bakery equipment can either be several pieces or combined into one. An icer station is definitely needed if you own a donut shop. What kind of donut does not have glaze? A glazer can be attached to the icer to make sure the donuts are given their nice, shiny coat. Additionally, a sugar tumbler can be added so the donuts are all evenly coated in sugar.

Cutters and Depositors

There are various other pieces of bakery equipment that would serve any donut shop owner very well. These are all gadgets that will make running your shop as easy and seamless as possible. A cutter, for one, is necessary to make bar shapes and other raised donuts from dough. These can be built into a dough sheeter or hand-held. Another piece of equipment is a depositor. These put the dough into the donut shape before dropping it into the fryer.

Oven

Like most bakeries, a donut shop will probably have a few extra pastries to serve their guests. If this is the case, an oven will most likely be necessary. If you will not require many extra desserts, it might be a good idea to look for a smaller oven – like a proofer/ oven combination.

Source: ehow.com, chron.com