Careers in baking
Published on: Monday, September 06, 2021
By: K Krishnan
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Career trends are changing. Look at the popularity of Cook shows on TV. There are hundreds of master chefs.
They travel through out the world and introduce all kinds of food to the TV viewers.
Many adults are hooked on cookery shows on TV. Today let us look at some careers in baking.
What do bakers do?
Bakers prepare various types of baked goods. Bakers mix ingredients according to recipes in order to make breads, pastries, and other baked goods.
What are their duties?
Depending on the workplace, the duties can vary. In general bakers typically do the following:
- Check the quality of baking 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 into pans, into molds, or onto baking sheets
- Set oven temperatures and place items into ovens or onto grills
Bakers produce various types and quantities of breads, pastries, and other baked goods sold by bakery shops, hotels, grocers, wholesalers, restaurants, hospitals and schools.
Not every one eats rice or noodles. There are people who prefer eating bread.
Many switch to bread due to diet control.
Types of bakers
Commercial bakers
Commercial bakers, also called production bakers, work in manufacturing facilities that produce breads, pastries, and other baked products. In these facilities, bakers use high-volume mixing machines, ovens, and other equipment, which may be automated, to mass-produce standardised baked goods. They carefully follow instructions for production schedules and 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. Retail bakers may take orders from customers, prepare baked products to order, and occasionally serve customers. Although the quantities prepared and sold in these stores are often small, they usually come in a wide variety of flavours and sizes. Most retail bakers are also responsible for cleaning their work area and equipment and unloading supplies.
Bakery Shops
Some retail bakers own bakery shops 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, they are also responsible for hiring, training, and supervising their staff. They must budget for and order supplies, set prices, and decide how much to produce each day.
The work can be stressful because bakers follow time-sensitive baking procedures and often work under strict deadlines. For example, bakers must follow daily production schedules to bake products in sufficient quantities while maintaining consistent quality. In manufacturing facilities, they often work with other production workers, such as helpers and maintenance staff, so that equipment is cleaned and ready.
Work Schedules
Bakers can work fulltime or part-time.
Grocery stores and restaurants sell freshly baked goods throughout the day. As a result, bakers are often scheduled to work shifts during early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Bakers who work in commercial bakeries that bake continuously may have to work late evenings and weekends.
How to become a Baker
Long-term on-the-job training is the most common path to gain the skills necessary to become a baker. Some bakers start their careers through an apprenticeship program or by attending a technical or culinary school. No formal education is required.
Although there are no formal education requirements to become a baker, some candidates attend a vocational or community college. Programs generally last from 1 to 2 years and cover nutrition, food safety, and basic math. To enter these programs, candidates may be required to have a secondary education.
Most bakers learn their skills through long-term on-the-job training, typically lasting 1 to 3 years. Some employers may provide apprenticeship programmes for aspiring bakers.
Bakers in specialty bakery shops and grocery stores often start as apprentices or trainees and learn the basics of baking, icing, and decorating. They usually study topics such as nutrition, sanitation procedures, and basic baking.
Some bakers learn their skills through work experience related to baking. For example, they may start as a baker’s assistant and progress into a full-fledged baker as they learn baking techniques.
For further information
There are many training providers in Sabah and West Malaysia. For further information, please contact any of the following training providers for details .
Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts, Petaling Jaya
MIB College, Petaling Jaya
My Baking Studio, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Mrs. Nancy Lim School of Cooking & Baking, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Sabah Skills Development Center, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
