Inside: Do You Need Commercial Fridges for Cottage Baking. Collaborative post.
The kitchen is the central hub for anyone starting a home-based baking business. But when enough people taste your pumpkin bread, pies, or cinnamon rolls, it might feel like it’s time to upgrade some of your key appliances, including your fridge.
Do you need a commercial fridge to support your cottage baking endeavor? Your production schedule and space limitations are among the factors you’ll need to consider. Read on to learn more!
Photo by Jonathan Cooper
When Staying with a Standard Fridge Makes Sense
How busy is your baking schedule? If you’re preparing baked goods for parties or making smaller-scale batches for local deliveries, you might be fine sticking with a standard fridge. And that’s especially true if you’re creating baked goods with shelf-stable ingredients that won’t chew up space in your fridge.
In general, smaller operations won’t need to take the plunge into a commercial fridge. A commercial fridge can eat up floor space in a modest kitchen. So, if you can manage your inventory of eggs, butter, and other refrigerated items carefully, you should be okay with a standard fridge.
Knowing When It’s Time to Upgrade
Small-scale cottage businesses can get by with standard fridges. But at a certain point, when you’re baking enough sourdough bread or cupcakes, it could be time to consider an upgrade. With a standard fridge, you’ll be sharing space with food for your family, and if you’re creating larger concoctions, like birthday cakes, you may want more space. Likewise, a tray of cookies can consume an entire shelf in a standard fridge, crowding out other items you may need to make dinner.
Additionally, you’ll have to consider the temperature fluctuations that come with using a standard fridge. The temperature will go up every time someone opens the door to your fridge. That can impact food safety, and it can affect the appearance of temperature-sensitive ingredients, like buttercream frosting. Further, a standard fridge won’t always have the cooling power to handle lots of items that have previously been warm. When these inconveniences start to impact your baking business, you could be ready for a commercial fridge.
The Benefits of Commercial Refrigerators
Commercial fridges offer a more convenient way for you to run your cottage baking business. Rather than trying to wedge sheet trays and mixing bowls into a crowded standard fridge, you’ll have shelves that are able to accommodate them. And you’ll get more power. True reach-in refrigerators, for instance, provide amped-up compressors that maintain more consistent temperatures. If you’re opening and closing the door a lot, these fridges can handle the temperature swings.
Commercial fridges make sense when you need to store a lot of perishable products, like fruit fillings or cream cheese. And if your business really takes off, you might simply need more space. In fact, some cities may require that you have a commercial fridge if that’s stipulated in the local cottage business rules. Failing to be compliant could shut down your business, so it’s best to ask.
Making the Right Decision
Keep in mind that you’ll need to do some measuring if you invest in a commercial fridge. Does your kitchen have the space for it, or would you need to make some structural modifications first? It’s also important to weigh the pros and cons of placement, as a hulking fridge could affect your baking traffic patterns.
A commercial fridge can cost thousands of dollars, too. Look at your budget and consider opting for a refurbished fridge. Make sure your business is growing and sustainable before taking the leap into a new fridge. If you’re committed to building your brand and output, a commercial fridge could be a worthy addition to your workspace.
Setting Your Cottage Baking Business Up for Success
As a cottage baker, you have a lot of control over the direction your business takes. If you’re happy doing occasional wedding cakes or cookie orders for parties, you may be fine with a standard fridge. But if you’re aiming for a robust and growing baking business, you could outgrow your fridge sooner rather than later.
Commercial fridges provide more space, better temperature control, and a compliant solution if the rules require one. You’ll gain a designated space for your business-focused goods. And you can feel confident that you’ll be able to produce the best baked goods possible.