5 Reasons Your Bakery’s Pans Don’t Last as Long as They Should
Your bakery’s pans are some of your company’s biggest workhorses. Because they’re constantly in use, they have the potential to accumulate wear and tear that can significantly reduce their lifespan and affect the quality of your products if damage points or improper handling procedures aren’t identified quickly.
Fortunately, you can take steps to prolong the life of your pans and keep your production moving. Whether you’re a seasoned bakery professional or new to the industry, understanding how to properly care for your pans is essential for maintaining efficiency, quality, and safety in your bakery operations.
5 REASONS YOUR PANS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY
Material Damage
Material damage to industrial pans, especially in a busy bakery setting, can significantly affect their longevity and performance.
One of the most common forms of material damage happens when pans are mishandled, either manually or mechanically. In the fast-paced environment of an industrial bakery, it’s not uncommon for pans to be dropped, banged against other pans and equipment, or stacked improperly. These actions can lead to dents, warps, and scratches on your pans. Such damage affects the pan’s performance and can influence baking results, from unevenly filled molds and stuck-on product to pan jams or stoppages on the production line.
To prevent these negative results, it’s crucial to train staff on the proper handling and storage of pans. Implementing soft landing surfaces for manual or slam depanning practices, such as rubber mats or rubberized handling arms on automated pan handling systems, can mitigate the risk of such damages.
You can also calibrate pan stackers to minimize drop height and speed. In addition, look for ways to eliminate sharp edges, tight radius turns, or pans rubbing on the sidewalls of conveyors. The consistent metal-on-metal contact of pans with these points can damage and wear down the sides of the pans. Applying UHMW on these high-contact surfaces can help prevent this damage.
Another cause of material damage is leaving product debris on the pans, left by either dry or liquid toppings. Dry toppings can be pressed into the pans when stacked, leaving behind particles that get stuck in the pan coating. Introducing moisture in any form to the pans, including the use of water splitting, protein glazes, or water-based products (including release agents) can decrease the life of pans and pan coatings. Ensuring that pans are cleaned and recoated on a regular basis will help protect the metal substrate and prevent premature failure.
Improper Storage
The way pans are stacked and stored can also inadvertently cause damage. Whenever possible, pans should be stored upside down in order to distribute the weight of the pan on the rim, which is the strongest part of the pan. Avoid overstacking, as this can damage and deform the pans at the bottom of the stack, making them unusable or making the stack unstable, causing a safety and storage hazard.
To prevent such issues, make sure your bakery maintains pan storage areas in good condition, ensuring that the area is clean, dry, free of debris or sharp objects, and provides enough space for the recommended pan stack heights. If you are unsure of the recommended stack heights for your pans, please contact your American Pan sales representative.
Improper Cleaning
For bakeries that manually clean pans, harsh scouring pads, metal utensils, or abrasive cleaners can scratch and degrade the pan coating and material. These scratches can reduce overall performance, leading to a shorter lifespan for the pan and coating and potentially compromising food safety. Baked-on food particles left on pans should also be avoided.
For bakeries that use in-line washing equipment, improper cleaning practices also include neglecting thorough drying and storage procedures post-wash. Moisture is a pan’s adversary, particularly when pans are stacked or stored without fully drying. This residual moisture can lead to corrosion on metal pans, especially where the protective coating has been compromised.
To avoid this, ensure that pans are thoroughly dried before placing into storage. Consider non-corrosive pan band options such as aluminum or stainless steel if you are using in-line washing systems. Using gentle, bakery-approved detergents and ensuring pans are cleaned promptly after use will help maintain their condition and functionality.
If using an in-line dry method for cleaning pans, avoid using abrasive brushes. Brushes used on cleaners should not be too stiff as they can scratch coatings. Air knives should be set at the proper pressure, as too high of a pressure can cause seeds or other particles to be blasted against the pan and thus scratch the coating.
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Inspection and Maintenance
The demand for continuous production can push equipment beyond its intended limits. Over time, pans can lose their structural integrity, leading to warping or bending. This not only affects the uniformity and presentation of baked products but can also cause uneven baking.
To mitigate the risks associated with pan overuse, bakeries should adhere to manufacturer guidelines regarding their pans’ lifespan and preventive maintenance. A regular inspection routine can help identify pans nearing the end of their useful life, allowing for timely refurbishment or replacement before significant problems arise. A regular pan service plan can help automate this process and ensure you’re staying on top of your bakery pan needs.
Lack of Proper Coating Care
The absence of proper coating care or over-use of release agents on baking pans can significantly impact their lifespan and the quality of the final baked goods.
Non-stick coatings are very effective for ensuring that products release easily from the pan without sticking, tearing, or requiring excessive force, which can damage both the pan and the baked product. Over time, improper pan handling, cleaning, or other procedures can damage the coating and lead to increased sticking, which often results in bakeries applying more release agents to compensate.
This can not only affect the final characteristics of the baked good but also contribute to the degradation of the pan’s surface, as the buildup from these agents can require additional time and cost when cleaning pans with an industrial service such as Pan Glo. For manual cleaning, abrasive methods may be required, which will further damage the pan.
To prevent these issues, it’s essential to regularly check pan coatings for signs of wear and tear and recoat pans as needed. Additionally, ensure that any release agents are properly utilized. For example, new pans and freshly recoated pans will require less release agent than an aging pan. The amount of release agent can be increased over time to accommodate as the coating gets older. By using this methodology, bakeries can save money on release agents and provide a cleaner, safer environment for their employees.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR PANS’ LIFECYCLE
Purchasing and maintaining industrial baking pans is a significant investment. Have you considered an analysis by an outside partner to help evaluate opportunities for efficiencies? How are you collecting and tracking data to make informed decisions on pan care?
At American Pan, we work directly with our customers to take a comprehensive look into your operations. Together, we outline areas where you could be saving time, energy, or money, and ways that can help you get the most out of your pans.