Whether you’re opening a brand new bakery or revamping an existing one, you’ll need just the right commercial kitchen equipment. Baking offers its own unique set of challenges to achieve the perfect final result, there are an abundance of appliances and accessories that can help make the job easier.
What you need will vary depending on your menu and the delicate creations you’re making. However, in our guide we’ll cover all of the basic patisserie kitchen essentials along with all the ongoing maintenance we recommend to keep your kitchen clean, efficient and productive.
What Equipment is Necessary for a Patisserie?
There are two key, top-level appliances you’ll need to get started: an oven and a fridge. There are multiple options to choose from, but there are a few that make the top of the list when it comes to must-have patisserie equipment:
Convection Ovens
When it comes to ovens, you have a few options. The first one we recommend looking at is a convection oven. With even heat distribution and consistent performance, convection ovens are a good choice for turning over your pastries and baked goods quickly and evenly. If a convection oven is your top patisserie equipment choice, consider brands like Turbofan by Moffat, TECNODOM, and Fagor.
Deck Ovens
If you need something with a larger capacity or are going to be making larger bakery items like bread and cakes, a deck oven may be a better choice. With many offering multiple levels, you can bake different products simultaneously and still achieve that perfectly crusty base. Options from Moretti Forni and BakerMax are especially good brands in this category.
Bakery Chillers and Freezers
You'll also want a bakery chiller to ensure you can chill your pastries to perfection for the desired result after baking. Look for options with extra depth that give you plenty of room for patisserie trays. We typically recommend looking for options with at least 800mm to give you ample room. Even if you don’t need it initially, having something slightly larger is helpful in the future.
Freezers are also a good option for storing ingredients and maintaining both quality and freshness. Consider brands like Polar and Thermaster for reliability and a wide range of sizes and specifications to match your needs.
Along with the basics like chilling, baking, and pastry prep, there are a few other specialty pieces of patisserie equipment you may want to consider. Chocolate tempering machines, dough sheeters, and accessories can all enhance the offerings you can deliver in the kitchen.
How Do I Choose the Right Chocolate Tempering Machine for My Patisserie?
A chocolate tempering machine can be an invaluable tool in your patisserie. It helps streamline the process of working with chocolate. Chocolate can be tricky to work with, but a chocolate tempering machine will melt it to remove any irregularities in texture before cooling it to the perfect workable temperature.
When choosing a chocolate tempering machine, there are a few key features to look for:
Capacity and Speed
Depending on the volume of chocolate you need each day, chocolate capacity and the speed you need to process it at will vary. There are two brands we particularly recommend - Fagor and Apuro - who offer a variety of sizes to cater to different production needs.
Temperature Control
To ensure you maintain the quality and integrity of the flavour of your chocolate, precise temperature control is essential. We recommend looking for an option with a digital control for the most accurate readings. The more control you have over your chocolate’s temperature, the more smooth and glossy your final results will be, an integral part of ensuring your pastries look the best!
Ease of Use
You also want to find a machine that’s both easy to use but also simple to disassemble where possible to help streamline the cleaning process. Easy to use machines help make it more straightforward for staff to use and also reduce the labour hours involved in set-up and maintenance.
What Should I Look for in a Dough Sheeter for a Patisserie?
Dough sheeters are a versatile addition for plenty of bakeries and patisseries. They help reduce the time and effort spent on manual rolling, deliver a more consistent and reliable final result and come with handy features that take the guesswork out of the dough-prep process.
Similarly, if you’re making any kind of pastry, you’ll want to add pastry sheeters to your list. Our top brand recommendations in this category are from Tyrone, Somerset, and Moretti Forni.
Here are the main features you’ll want to look for when purchasing one for your business:
Adjustable Settings
Whether you’re making pastry or rolling out dough, you’ll want to be able to control and refine how thick each layer is. Whether you’re making short pastry for tarts or puff pastry for croissants, having adjustable settings means you can roll out your dough to the perfect thickness each and every time.
Brands like Tyrone and Somerset both have a number of models with simple adjustments, allowing you to control your dough and pastry results with ease.
Durability
As with anything that’ll be used frequently, you’ll want to look for an option that’s made from resilient materials that can withstand heavy use. You’ll also want to keep in mind that you’ll need to check on the mechanical, moveable parts on a regular basis as well. Having a model that can be disassembled easily for maintenance is important, making it more simple to clean in the long term.
Safety Features
Keep yourself and your staff safe while you’re using your dough sheeter equipment by making sure the model you choose has safety measures built-in. Whether that’s manual guards, emergency shut-off buttons or both, safety is always an important consideration.
What Utensils Do the Italians Use?
Along with all the core appliances and patisserie equipment we’ve mentioned, there are a few extra accessories we recommend adding to your list.
Pastry Brush Equipment
You’ll reach for these on a regular basis in a bakery or patisserie. Whether you’re adding an egg wash to something about to go into the oven or a glaze or syrup to something almost ready to serve, pastry brushes are a must-have. We recommend opting for pastry brushes with silicone bristles for easier, more hygienic cleaning and better longevity than plastic alternatives.
Silicone Baking Mat Equipment
Like with pastry brushes, silicone is the premier choice for baking mats as well. They’re non-stick and withstand high temperatures without imparting any flavour on your baked delicacies. They’re also fully reusable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher, making them a smarter financial choice for saving you money in the long run.
Cooling Rack Equipment
To prevent your stock from getting overbaked or becoming soft after coming out of the oven, you’ll need a decent stock of cooling racks. They’ll help everything cool evenly for more consistent results and are essential for everything from pastries to cakes and biscuits.
Pastry Moulds Equipment
Pastry moulds and baking tins are another versatile option, whether used for bread and cakes or smaller creations, they ensure even, uniform shapes and sizes. Look for high-quality options that match the needs of your establishment. You’ll want something that’s both hardy and can withstand frequent use but is also easy to clean.
How Do I Maintain My Patisserie Equipment?
Regular maintenance is an important part of every commercial kitchen. There are a few basic things you need to do to ensure you’re maintaining your equipment to extend its lifespan while also keeping things sanitised and food-safe.
Here are some general tips:
- Regular Cleaning: Make sure you’re regularly cleaning all of your equipment - from the small parts like pastry moulds, baking mats and brushes to the larger appliances like dough mixers.
- Scheduled Maintenance: Check the guidelines that come with your appliances - including your sheeters and chocolate tempering machine. Make sure you’re committing to getting them maintained both in-house and professionally to keep them up to standard. You’ll want to check any moving parts on a regular basis to make sure nothing is becoming worn and ensure the mechanisms are adequately lubricated to work well.
- Proper Storage: Between uses, make sure to store your appliances and accessories properly. After they’re clean and dry, make sure they’re stored somewhere that’ll protect them from dust.
Next Steps
If you’re ready to start your search for the best patisserie equipment for your bakery, Restaurant Equipment is here to help. You can contact our team with any questions you may have, or to get a personalised recommendation. You can reach us via email at sales@restaurantequipment.com.au or give us a call at 1300 35 25 45 now!