Starting a business involves a significant amount of planning, and one of the most important things to know is what items you will need. For a bakery, the equipment needed goes far beyond the needs of a home kitchen. Ideally, there will be multiple people baking at any given time, and the baked goods will be on display throughout the day. Here are a few of the essential items to consider when opening a bakery. 

Ovens

In order to open a bakery, you need to be able to bake. Commercial ovens work better than traditional ovens for massive amounts of baking. Convection ovens and double convection ovens work best for making bread and cakes. These ovens come in gas and electric models, so find the one that works best for your facility. Whatever ovens you buy, you’ll want to make sure to have plenty of extra racks.

Mixers

Baking for customers can involve several different types of mixers. A few basic necessities are a large dough mixer, an emulsion blender with whisk attachments and countertop mixers. Hand mixers help with small tasks like whipping, beating and mashing. Look for mixer add-ons like dough hook accessories to help streamline tasks. The more automated the processes are, the less room for error, and the less physical labor the bakers need to do.

Refrigerators

Commercial refrigerators come in many shapes and sizes, offering different functions depending on what you need. Some of these include undercounter, dual temperature and milk coolers. Ideally, your refrigerators will be big enough to give you room to grow your business while still fitting in your space. You can never do too many measurements to make sure your refrigerators will fit before ordering them.

Display Cases

Bakery display cases are absolutely essential, and you need to know that they’re not one size fits all before shopping for one. Some cases are refrigerated and best suited for desserts that require refrigeration like pies and cakes. Others are “dry” and suitable for items that will hold up without refrigeration like cookies. Consider what you’ll be selling before you buy your bakery cases, and do plenty of measurements to make sure it’s a good fit for your location. You’ll want to make sure your goods are visually appealing, especially since customers take pictures while they wait.

Prep Tables

To create baked goods, you’ll need a suitable space for preparation. Wood top prep tables work best for kneading dough, flouring and other prep tasks. Stainless steel tables are another option that some find more versatile and easier to clean. You’ll want to buy prep tables that are a good size and easy to work on.

Kitchen Tools

Many other items will be required to suit your bakery’s needs, but we’ve covered most of the large equipment you will need to open up shop. Here are other items you should consider, depending on what you’re making:

• Commercial food scales
• Dough proofers
• Mobile tray racks
• Quality bakeware and utensils
• Bread slicers
• Dry storage containers

Opening a bakery involves many types of equipment that need to be maintained. All Temp is here to help with your commercial St. Cloud industrial cooking equipment needs. We can help if you’re in need of installation, maintenance or repair. Contact us online or give us a call at (407) 857-7800 to schedule an appointment.