Bakery Equipment: What You Need to Know About Commercial Ovens

Few people can resist the mouthwatering aroma of pastries fresh out of the oven. The smell of warm bread, cookies, pies or croissants makes our taste buds tingle. That’s why bakeries are always full of people. So, if you love baking, opening up your own bakery is a great idea. Not only will you earn a living by following your passion, but you’ll also make people happy by selling them their favourite treats.

When opening up a bakery, it’s essential to choose equipment that’s reliable, efficient and meets your needs. Especially the oven – the heart and soul of any bakery. But an oven used in a bakery is completely different from the oven used at home. You will need to choose a commercial model, as standard ovens simply don’t have the capacity to meet your needs. That being said, here’s a list of the things to consider when it comes to commercial ovens for bakeries.

Find the Right Size

Space is a premium in any bakery. You need to use your available space wisely in order to fit all the necessary equipment and ensure an uninterrupted flow of work. Larger establishments can obviously get away with multiple ovens and larger units, but smaller bakeries need to analyse their floor plan more carefully.

Besides available space, another factor to consider is whether the oven can keep up with customer demand. How many goods can it bake in a single batch? How long will each batch need to be cooked? And how long are you willing to keep hungry customers waiting? Answering all these questions can give you an idea of how big the oven needs to be.

Is a Gas or Electric Oven Better?

Commercial grade ovens can be gas or electric. A gas rack oven heats up very quickly, unlike electric ovens. As a result, it can save you a lot of time. This is very useful when you need to prepare greater quantities of products. If your establishment already comes equipped with a gas line, purchasing a gas rack oven is obviously the more cost-effective option. In addition, gas ovens cost far less to use in the long run since gas is more affordable than electricity.

Because the electric oven has coils that heat slowly, it needs more time to heat up. However, since this type of oven produces less intense heat, the food doesn’t burn easily. Plus in general, electric ovens cost less than gas ovens and are very easy to install – you simply plug them in an outlet and they are ready to be used.

Consider the Types of Pastries You Want to Make

Are convection ovens good? Well, it depends on what kind of pastries you want to bake. While convection ovens are versatile, some delicate pastries tend to collapse under the circulating air of the convection oven. For instance, if you want to produce artisan bread, cheesecakes and custard desserts, you will find a deck oven more useful. Convection ovens are nevertheless perfect for baking standard bread, cakes, cookies and plenty of other items in high volumes.

Energy Efficiency Goes a Long Way

Commercial ovens are expensive, which is why it’s important to pick an energy-efficient model that will allow you to save some money on utility bills. An oven with an energy-efficient design consisting of ECU and ECO internal parameters and an advanced airflow system can result in a quick return of investment. In addition, a door that’s at least 10cm thick offers more insulation which also boosts the energy efficiency of the unit.

Pay Attention to the Racks

Oven racks serve to load and support the pastries as they’re being baked. For greater ease of use, they need to be able to roll out and in smoothly. Picking a gas rack oven that can rotate will make loading and unloading them much easier. Some ovens also have adjustable racks allowing you to place them closer or farther away from the heating elements in order to create the desired result.

How to Clean a Commercial Oven

No matter what type of oven you choose, it’s crucial that you clean it on a basis in order to avoid violating any food safety standards
. In addition, leaving grease and debris sitting onto the racks for too long means that when the time comes to clean them, it will be harder and more time-consuming. So, wipe up any spills and debris in the oven immediately, this will prevent them from becoming baked on the surface and be difficult to remove later. Wipe the interior and clean the racks at the end of each day and make sure they’re dry before reinserting them in the oven.

If you’re wondering how to clean oven racks on a commercial model, it’s very easy. There are many specialised products for commercial ovens that remove stains quickly and thoroughly. But since most commercial oven cleaners produce strong fumes, make sure to clean the racks in a well-ventilated area. After you put on rubber gloves to protect your hands, spray the product thoroughly onto both sides of the racks. Leave the racks sitting for however long is recommended for the product and then rinse them thoroughly and wipe them dry with a clean cloth.