What does a baker do?

What is a Baker?

Breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, and pies.. oh my! These are just some of the delicious creations a baker can make.

A baker mixes and bakes ingredients according to specific recipes to make all sorts of baked goods. These baked goods are sold by grocers, wholesalers, restaurants, and institutional food services.

What does a Baker do?

A baker will typically do the following:
- Check the quality of ingredients
- Prepare equipment for baking
- Measure and weigh flour and other ingredients
- Combine measured ingredients in mixers or blenders
- Knead, roll, cut, and shape dough
- Place dough in pans, molds, or on sheets
- Set oven temperatures
- Place and bake items in hot ovens or on grills
- Observe color and state of products being baked
- Apply glazes, icings, or other toppings using spatulas or brushes.

Types of bakers:

Commercial Bakers
Commercial bakers are commonly employed in manufacturing facilities that produce breads and pastries. In these manufacturing facilities, they use high-volume mixing machines, ovens, and other equipment to mass-produce standardized baked goods.

These types of bakers often operate large, automated machines, such as commercial mixers, ovens, and conveyors. They follow daily instructions for production schedules and recipes and also may develop new recipes.

Retail Bakers
Retail bakers work primarily in grocery stores and specialty shops, including bakeries. In these settings, they produce smaller quantities of baked goods for people to eat in the shop or for sale as specialty baked goods.

They may take orders from customers, prepare baked goods to order, and serve customers. Although the quantities prepared and sold in these stores are often small, they often come in a wide variety of flavours and sizes.

Some retail bakers own bakery shops or other types of businesses where they make and sell breads, pastries, pies, and other baked goods.

In addition to preparing the baked goods and overseeing the entire baking process, these workers are also responsible for hiring, training, and supervising their staff. They must also budget for supplies, set prices, and know how much to produce each day.

What is the workplace of a Baker like?

Most bakers work in bakeries, grocery stores, and restaurants. Some, however, work in manufacturing facilities that distribute breads and pastries through established wholesale and retail outlets, mail order, or manufacturer’s outlets.

In order for bread to be out fresh in the morning, many bakers start work in the middle of the night.