The Complete List of Essential Bakery Equipment

Whether you’re an aspiring baker with a passion for pastries or an entrepreneur ready to dive into the world of delectable treats, having the right tools is essential for turning your bakery dreams into a reality.

From the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread to the delicate artistry of intricately decorated cakes, a bakery holds the power to delight the senses and bring communities together. However, creating these confections requires more than just a skill—it demands a well-equipped kitchen filled with a range of specialized equipment and supplies.

Before you roll up your sleeves and prepare your apron, remember to consider the scale of your operations, the types of baked goods you’ll be producing, and the space available when selecting equipment. Investing in high-quality, reliable equipment will not only enhance your bakery’s efficiency, but also contribute to the quality of your baked creations and customer satisfaction.

As Canada's leading bakery equipment supplier , S.T.O.P. Restaurant Supply has compiled this comprehensive list of the essentials you’ll need to start a bakery.

 1. Ovens and Commercial Baking Equipment 

The best place to start is with your kitchen’s baking equipment. 

Equip your bakery with a range of ovens suited for different baking techniques. From convection and deck ovens for even baking to proofing cabinets for perfect rising, these tools form the heart of your bakery’s production.

☑️ Convection Oven : These circulate heat with a fan for an even cook, making them perfect for bread, muffins, and other baked goods. 

☑️ Deck Oven: A large, enclosed baking chamber with multiple “shelves” often known as decks—perfect for cooking racks of goods at a time. 

☑️ Combination Oven : The king of flexibility, these kinds of ovens give the option to cook using steam, convection, or a combination of the two. 

☑️ High-speed Ovens : Reduce cook times by 80% with one of these, perfect for if you find yourself in a pinch or are running behind schedule. 

☑️ Convection Steamer : Produces better results than a pressure steamer thanks to lower temperatures, making it great for a variety of uses.

☑️ Proofing Cabinet : These cabinets use warm temperatures and humidity to encourage the fermentation of dough and yeast. 

☑️ Baking Racks and Sheets: Cook delicious goodies like cookies and brownies on sheets, then let them cool on baking racks.

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2. Mixer and Mixing Equipment

Achieve consistent dough and batter textures with mixers that cater to various needs. Planetary and spiral mixers can handle different types of dough, while dough sheeters and dividers streamline the shaping process.

☑️ Planetary Mixer: These mixers—which come in countertop sizes as well as in larger, floor-standing varieties—help you blend ingredients and knead heavy dough.

☑️ Spiral Mixer: These mixers better replicate the texture of hand kneading, giving you more consistent results and higher-quality dough. 

☑️  Vertical Cutter Mixer: Chop nuts and prepare sauces and purées with the help of one of these, an essential in every commercial bakery. 

☑️ Dough Sheeter : Make more dough in less time with the help of a sheeter—a must-have for bakeries that produce pastries, among other things.

☑️ Dough Divider : A dough divider is perfect for splitting your large dough into multiple quantities of equal sizes. 

☑️ Pastry Blender: Use one of these to more easily work solid fats such as butter, shortening, or lard into flour for mixing purposes.

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3. Cooling and Refrigeration Equipment

Maintain the freshness of your creations with a selection of refrigeration solutions. Walk-in and reach-in refrigerators, as well as display cases, help preserve the quality of your baked goods.

☑️ Walk-in Refrigerator: These kinds of refrigerators offer the most space, making them great for bakeries that buy in bulk.

☑️ Reach-in Refrigerator: Get unmatched organizational potential as well as improved accessibility with one of these fridges. 

☑️ Refrigerated Display Cases : Get one of these and show off your offerings to your customers while preserving their all-important freshness.

☑️ Blast Chiller: Quickly lower the temperature of food to extend shelf life, especially as it pertains to fresh doughs. 

☑️ Proofing Retarder: Control the temperature and humidity that your dough experiences during the proofing cycle for better results. 
☑️ Freezer: Preserve your dough, keep fresh food from spoiling, and better manage inventory when you use commercial freezers.

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4. Preparation Equipment and Countertop Appliances

Efficient preparation is key. Now that your bakery is equipped with commercial appliances, you can start thinking about sturdy tables, work surfaces, and countertop appliances for quick handling and dough preparation.

☑️ Work Tables and Counters: Your work tables and counters should withstand the wear and tear of everyday use—get ones built to last! 

☑️ Commercial Bread Slicer: Cut your bread into consistent slices with a bread slicer. It can cut multiple types of bread to speed up food preparation in the kitchen.

☑️ Commercial Toaster: Keep one of these around for faster prepwork, or if you serve goods like sandwiches directly to customers.

☑️ Baking Stone and Tiles: Use these to more effectively transfer heat from your oven to whatever it is you’re baking. 

☑️ Food Processor: This all-in-one item can do anything with your ingredients—purée, shred, chop, grind, grate, mix, blend, slice, and knead!

☑️ Commercial Blender: A must-have for dough preparation and blending ingredients.

☑️ Baking Pans: This can come in different shapes and sizes. A baking pan is deeper than a sheet, making it perfect for cakes, muffins, and pies.

☑️ Mixing Bowls: High-quality mixing bowls can withstand the rigours of constant use, making them a worthwhile investment. 

☑️ Measuring Instruments: Every bakery needs cups and spoons that come in different shapes and sizes for cooking and prep. 

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5. Dough Handling and Shaping Equipment

Perfect your dough handling with essentials like bench scrapers and rolling pins. Specialty tools like baguette pans and pastry cutters aid in shaping your baked creations.

☑️ Bench Scraper: A piece of rectangular steel that’s perfect for working with dough—chop, divide, portion, scoop, and more! 

☑️ Rolling Pins: Roll out dough evenly using this bakery staple.

☑️ Baguette Pans: The perforated texture of these special pans ensure your baguettes come out with a crisp exterior and soft interior.

☑️ Pastry Cutters: Essential for when you’re making pie crust, biscuits, and other baked cuts that require a careful hand. 

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6. Decoration and Finishing Tools

Elevate your baked goods with decorative touches using piping bags, cake decorating turntables, and offset spatulas. These tools add the final artistic accent to your creations!

☑️ Piping Bags and Tips: Use these to decorate your cakes, cupcakes, and cookies with icing designs sure to impress. 

☑️ Pastry Brushes: Spread glazes or an egg wash on the crust or surfaces of your pastries using these brushes.

☑️ Cake Decorating Turntable: These make decorating cakes easier while also doubling as a platform on which you can display them.

☑️ Offset Spatulas: The perfect tools for spreading icing on a cake or a cupcake! 

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7. Dishwashers and Cleaning Equipment 

Maintain a clean workspace with gloves, aprons, and cleaning supplies for a hygienic environment.

☑️ Commercial Dishwasher: Cleans your dishes fast and effectively so you can spend more time focusing on serving delicious food to your customers.

☑️ Dishwasher Accessories: Trays and bins can improve the effectiveness of your dishwasher while making post-wash sorting much easier.

☑️ Oven Mitts and Gloves: Prevent burnt hands or dropped food with these essentials. 

☑️ Aprons and Hairnets: Keep clothes clean and hair out of your baked goods with these, both hygiene essentials for every bakery. 

☑️ Cleaning Supplies: Sponges, rags, a mop and bucket, paper towels—cover your cleaning bases with all the essentials

☑️ Hand Sanitizer and Dispenser: Reduce the spread of germs by keeping a well-stocked hand sanitizer dispenser (or several) in your bakery. 

☑️ Waste Management Systems: Trash cans and recycling bins stocked with bags are essential to ensure food waste and garbage is properly disposed.

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Start Baking Brilliance—Buy High-Quality Commercial Equipment 

Transform your bakery kitchen into a haven of creativity and efficiency, where every pastry, loaf of bread, and cupcake becomes a work of art.

Whether you’re opening a bakery or looking to enhance your current establishment, having the right tools is key to baking excellence. From ovens that infuse flavours to mixers that perfect dough consistency, every tool has its place in your culinary toolkit.

These kitchen essentials for your bakery (and more) are available for purchase at S.T.O.P. Restaurant Supply, online or in store. If you have any questions about how to get started, we’d be happy to hear from you.

Don’t let your bakery fall short—embrace innovation, harness tradition, and build a bakery that stands out from the rest.