Bakery & Patisserie
Refrigeration for cake shops
An Indian cake shop sells whipped-cream cakes — black forest, pineapple, butterscotch, truffle, photo cakes, eggless versions of most — along with pastries by the piece, cheesecakes and jar cakes. Much of the business is birthday and anniversary orders, picked up at a set time, often in the evening. Refrigeration has three jobs: display cakes and pastries attractively and safely, hold finished order cakes until pickup without damaging decoration, and store sponges, cream and toppings in the back. Whipped cream decorations, especially in hot shops, are the most fragile part, softening and sliding within minutes in the heat.
What the equipment has to cope with
- Whipped-cream decorations soften quickly in warm shops, and a cake that slumps cannot be sold.
- Display must look attractive under lighting while keeping cream at safe temperatures all day.
- Order cakes need space to wait for pickup without being crushed or picking up odours.
- Evening pickup peaks mean the display and order fridges are opened constantly.
- Monsoon humidity fogs glass and causes condensation on cakes moved from the fridge to a warm counter.
Typical temperatures
| Whipped-cream cakes and pastries | +2 to +5 °C |
|---|---|
| Cheesecake and mousse cakes | +2 to +5 °C |
| Order cakes awaiting pickup | +2 to +5 °C |
| Fresh cream and whipped topping (thawed) | +2 to +5 °C |
| Frozen sponges and whipping topping | −18 °C or colder |
Equipment
What to buy, and why.
Cake shops usually display pastries and slices in a refrigerated countertop showcase at the counter, with whole cakes in an upright glass-door display fridge behind or beside it. In the back, a reach-in holds finished order cakes in boxes and decorating supplies, and an undercounter may sit under the decorating bench. A chest freezer holds frozen sponges, non-dairy whipping topping and fruit fillings.
- +4 to +10 °CDisplay Cases & ShowcasesCountertop pastry showcase for pastries, cake slices, cheesecake and jar cakes at the point of sale.Set-up guide
- +2 to +10 °CGlass Door Refrigerator / Visi CoolerUpright display fridge for whole cakes ready for walk-in customers and same-day orders.Set-up guide
- +2 to +8 °CReach-in RefrigeratorBack-of-house storage for boxed order cakes waiting for pickup, cream, fillings and decorating supplies.Set-up guide
- −18 to −60 °CDeep FreezerFrozen sponges, non-dairy whipping topping, fruit fillings and backup cake stock.Set-up guide
Questions
- What temperature should whipped-cream cakes be kept at?
- Keep them at or below about +5 °C. Whipped-cream decorations hold their shape best when cold, and cream fillings are perishable. Avoid moving cakes in and out of the fridge repeatedly, which causes condensation and softening.
- How do I stop condensation on cakes during pickup?
- Box the cake while it is still in a cool area, keep the box closed until the customer leaves, and advise customers to refrigerate it soon. In very humid weather, a short rest in the box before opening helps prevent droplets on the surface.
- Should cake shops use a glass-door fridge or a display case?
- Many use both: a countertop display case for pastries and slices at the point of sale, and an upright glass-door fridge for whole cakes. The upright holds more whole cakes in less floor space, while the countertop case shows single portions at eye level.
Before you buy
All guides- Reach-in vs Undercounter Refrigerator: Which to Choose6 min read
- Visi Cooler Buying Guide: Size, Glass, Placement6 min read
- Types of Commercial Refrigerators Explained6 min read
- Reach-in Refrigerator Guide for Hot Indian Kitchens6 min read
- Undercounter Refrigerator Guide: Sizes, Drawers, Fit5 min read
- Worktop Refrigerator & Counter Chiller Guide5 min read
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