How to Choose a Bread Moulder for Commercial and Retail Baking

Back in the day when you used to do all your baking in small batches by hand you probably shaped your own bread dough. But as your operations have expanded into the commercial or retail baking space, that hand-moulded bread just isn’t realistic anymore. Bread moulders are designed to save you time and provide consistency in the shape and size of your bread, and if you get the right one, you’ll only need a single piece of equipment to make most (or all) of your bread loaves.

If you’re in the market for a bread moulder to add to your commercial baking equipment, here are some key decision factors to consider before you buy.

Size and Space

One of the first things to know is how much space you have available for a bread moulder in your current facility. This is critically important because you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a piece of bakery equipment only to find out that it’s too long or too wide. Measure the available space, and if your area is limited, look for space-saving models that work just as well as their larger counterparts without taking up so much space.

Budget

Another important consideration is the budget you have available to spend on a bread moulder. For many smaller or startup bakeries, or those looking to scale up from a small operation to a larger commercial baking enterprise, budget constraints can have a big impact on what you can purchase. However, it’s also important to think long-term and make sure you’re getting a piece of equipment that can produce more as your business grows.

Safety

All bakery operations have safety protocols in place to protect employees and ensure you sell only quality products, so your industrial baking equipment needs to have similar safety features. Locking swivel casters and direct-drive systems that eliminate pulleys and v-belts can improve safety within your bakery.

Downtime for Cleaning

Naturally you will need to clean your bread moulder from time to time, so check to see how easily your machine can be cleaned, and what kinds of features are available to minimize the opportunity for it to get dirty. The optimal choice is a stainless steel moulder without grease points that offers removable plates for easy access to wash them.

Sizes and Shapes

A final consideration is what sizes and shapes your bread moulder is capable of producing. Ideally you want one that offers multiple choices in a single machine so you don’t need several pieces of industrial bakery equipment to make all the various breads you offer.

Dough Tech offers bread moulders and sheeters with industry-leading cleanliness and safety features, as well as many other features you want in your bakery equipment.