What Type of Oven is Best for a Bakery? – The Ultimate 2025 Comparison
“Choosing the wrong oven type wastes up to $18,000/year in energy and lost batches.”– International Bakery Association Report 2025
The 4 Commercial Bakery Oven Types
Type 1: Deck Ovens
- Best for: Artisan breads (sourdough, baguettes)
- How it works: Stone decks retain heat for crispy crusts
- Energy cost: $1.3/hour (electric) | Preheat time: 40-60 mins
- Bakery case: ”Our deck oven bakes 72 sourdough loaves at 230°C with perfect blistering”– Parisian Boulangerie
Type 2: Convection Ovens
- Best for: Even baking (croissants, cookies)
- How it works: Fans circulate hot air rapidly
- Energy cost: $1.6/hour | Preheat time: 20-30 mins
- Bakery case: ”Convection ovens bake 120 croissants in 11 minutes with no rotation needed”– NYC Café
Type 3: Rack Ovens
- Best for: High-volume production (>1,000 pieces/day)
- How it works: Vertical racks rotate for batch baking
- Energy cost: $0.95/hour (gas) | Capacity: Up to 24 sheets
- Bakery case: ”One rack oven replaced 3 deck ovens, saving $400/month”– Berlin Bakery Chain
Type 4: Combi Ovens
- Best for: Versatility (bake, steam, roast)
- How it works: Combine dry heat + steam injection
- Energy cost: $2.1/hour | Space needs: Compact
- Bakery case: ”Combi oven proofs dough at 30°C and bakes at 200°C in one unit”– London Brunch Spot
Quick Comparison Table: Find Your Oven Type
| Factor | Deck | Convection | Rack | Combi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Products | Sourdough | Croissants | Sandwich bread | Mixed menus |
| Daily Capacity | 300-500 | 500-800 | 800-2000 | 300-600 |
| Footprint (㎡) | 2.5 | 1.8 | 5.0+ | 1.5 |
| Key Limitation | Slow output | Dries delicate items | High cost | Complex programming |
3 Critical Questions to Choose YOUR Oven Type
- “What is your signature product?”
- ▶️ Rustic breads → Deck
- ▶️ Flaky pastries → Convection
- ▶️ Baguettes + cakes → Combi
- “Peak hourly output needed?”
- ▶️ ≤100 pieces → Deck/Compact Convection
- ▶️ 200+ pieces → Rack System
- “Space constraints?”
- ▶️ < 3㎡ kitchen → Stack Deck or Combi
- ▶️ Industrial space → Rack/Tunnel