Whether you’re equipping a brand new bakery, expanding your current one or just replacing some aging or obsolete pieces of equipment, you want the new equipment to provide you with the maximum value in the long run. That being said, it’s important to know upfront what you want to produce, and how much of it, as these are all details that will determine the specific piece of equipment you should purchase.

When it comes to bakery equipment, the staple in the kitchen is definitely the oven. As far as commercial or industrial baking oven types go, there’s a wide range to pick from. Again, your choice should depend on the type of product you’re producing and the quantities you’re going to produce. Additionally, you have to consider that no matter what type of industrial baking oven you buy, you’ll always need to install it under a ventilation hood.

Convection ovens are the most popular type of industrial ovens, as they can evenly bake a wide range of products very quickly. Whether it’s cookies, cakes, brownies, bread loaves or pies, convection ovens can do it all. They operate by utilizing their internal fans to circulate air, which results in repeatable results. Additionally, convection ovens are the most affordable type, which makes them ideal for bakeries of all sizes. As the price of convection ovens goes higher, you can find them with various different features like steam injection.

Deck ovens are the preferred option for artisan-style bakers or bakers who make specific types of bread. Deck ovens feature stone cooking decks which heat up and give the crust a crispy, distinctive character, all that while maintaining a moist and soft inside. These ovens are quite large in size, which is something to keep in mind if you have limited space. However, they have very few moving parts and a rather simple design, which makes them low-maintenance and long-lasting. You’ll come across multi-deck and single-deck styles.

Lastly, there are roll-in rack ovens, which work in a similar way as roll-in fridges or proofing cabinets where you can wheel in a pan rack full of goods right into it. Some models are capable of grabbing the pan rack and rotating it so the products are evenly baked all around. These ovens have time and labor-saving benefits due to the fact that you don’t have to pay that much attention to the products when baking them.