I am starting a wholesale baking business. Mainly cakes and jumbo muffins. Need to buy an oven for the new site. Do I buy commercial convection (which one) or double ovens? Gas or Electric. I am getting very conflicting views but not from bakers. Need help because decisions have to be made soon!

I am in the same boat, I am getting ready to legalize my bussiness, and the health department want that all the appliances has to be commercial, the only problem that I like the gas ranges, but in my hause is all electric, in my area we did not have gas lines.

How many of you owns a commercial electric oven?

I have never cooked with a gas oven but am told that they help retain the moisture and cook more evenly. Is that right? I have had issues with my home convection oven not heating evenly and the fans blowing my muffins. I need to speed up my process so am wondering if a commercial convection is better or maybe it is the gas/electric issue.

so far, I had been cooking in my normal oven(no commercial), but I like the way the gas commercial gas looks.

If there is a cc member with experience with both gas/electric oven please share your experience that way I do not invest in something that I am going to regret.

I'm not sure about commercial, but yes, gas is WAY better than electric. I've had both in my house and I definitely prefer gas. More even cooking, more predictable (cook times don't vary depending on temp in house, fans being on, etc.). Love, love, love gas! Unfortunately I have electric right now, but someday we are going to try to get a big enough gas line into our house so we can have a gas oven.

Thank you for sharing your experience

For a month I had a Bosch gas convection oven. Besides it being a lemon (don't buy one!!!) I did NOT like the convection fan, it would blow my batter and I would end up with sloping cakes. It also took up way too much space in the oven. I went to Home Depot and got a GE Adora which is doing just fine for me. The sales lady there told me that you should only get an *electric* convection oven because the heat is distributed more evenly. That's why they have those "dual fuel" ovens -- gas for the cooktop and electric for the convection oven. Since I don't have a dual fuel hookup in my McMansion, I stuck with a plain old GE gas oven, and it's worked just great for me.

Kelleym did you know if home depot have commercial ovens

lilytexas -- I don't *think* they have commercial ovens at my Home Depot, but you could always call your local one to find out for sure.

I don't know whether this would happen in a commercial oven but I had a new electric double oven installed with a kitchen refit. It was a German make and I didn't realise for about 6 weeks that the main oven is only controllable in lumps of 25 degrees i.e. setting of 100, 125, 150, 175 etc. I checked that the oven would take my 14" tin but it never occurred to me to check the settings. It drives me up the wall. If I want 140 degrees I have to start things off at a 150, swtich to 125 after 45 minutes and keep juggling between fan and static settings. Just something else to be aware of. When I complained to the manufacturers they said 'Oh , there made for the French market' so why are they selling them in the UK?

i've got a commercial electric convection oven.

cakes bake in about 28 minutes.

it's great.....the fan doesn't blow the batter around at all.

one think to consider about a commercial gas oven...you'll prolly need a vent, the ones for this application cost several thousand dollars.

i have an electric oven, and i'm kinda known for my moist cake....i think its being able to cook it at a much lower temp for a shorter time is what does it.

when i have the money i will get the Deluxe CR 2-4, i think that is the model number. Earlene Moore has it and several other decorator i know.

Hobart make a good oven. It depends on how much you want to bake. If you are just baking small amount then I don't think you would need more than 1 convetion oven with double doors. Get glass front. It help with the guess work. Vulkin oven are a bit of a lemon too from what I understan. Check with restaurant supply stores for used equipent or auction houses.

flourpowernashville where did you find you jumbo muffin tins? CountryKitchens discontinued the ones that I want.

I hope that helps some! Thanks.

<<<i've got a commercial electric convection oven.

cakes bake in about 28 minutes.

it's great.....the fan doesn't blow the batter around at all.

>>>>
littlecake
what is the brand name of your oven?
thanks
marie

Believe it or not... WalMart. I bought them several years ago and they don't sell them any more. I actually have been looking for some more. Thanks for the advice.
I think that I am going to go with the DeLuxe oven--electric.

I have an electric convect-a-ray DeLuxe oven Model CR2-3 in my shop. I've had it for 6+ years and never had a problem. The website is deluxeovens.com, click on "full size sheet pan ovens" to see the different models. My oven has 3 shelves (I would get the 4 shelf if I did it again, sweetcakes) and I can bake 6 12x18 sheet cakes at one time for bridal shows. My cakes bake really, really nice. Can you tell, I love my DeLuxe oven!

CindiM, Thanks for your response. I'm shopping right now too.

CindiM,

I saw the website deluxeovens.com but they don't have the prices on it, how much your oven cost, I think that is what I am looking for

You would need to call them. I bought my oven over 6 years ago.

Thank you CindiM

sorry it took me so long to reply...this is my busiest 2 weeks of the year.

i have a southbend with 5 full sheet racks...

Shaloop, it seems like it was 2 or 3 thousand. The DeLuxe oven company people were very helpful.