A pastry chef passionate about bread making can decide to specialise and excel as an artisan bread baker.
The main focus of this article is on how one can become an artisan bread maker, the salary prospects, job opportunities and the work conditions of an artisan bread maker. Our previous article covers all you need to know to understand what an artisan bread maker is.
Table of Contents:
- A Brief Description of an Artisan Bread Baker.
- Can a Pastry Chef Be an Artisan Bread Baker?
- How To Become an Artisan Bread Baker.
- What Is the Average Salary of An Artisan Bread Baker?
- Where Can You Work as An Artisan Bread Baker?
- The Work Conditions of An Artisan Bread Baker.
- Work Tools Needed by an Artisan Bread Baker.
A Brief Description of an Artisan Bread Baker.
An artisan bread baker crafts bread using traditional methods and techniques and high-quality ingredients. Unlike mass-produced bread, often made with additives and preservatives for shelf stability, artisan bread is typically made with minimal ingredients such as flour, water, salt, and yeast (or sourdough starter).
Artisan bread is known for its rustic appearance and flavour. Artisan bread bakers may experiment with different ingredients and flavours to create unique bread varieties.
In sum, the artisan bread baker’s role is to create high-quality bread that is both visually appealing and delicious, using traditional methods and ingredients. Please look at our earlier article for a fuller description of an artisan bread baker.
Can a Pastry Chef Be an Artisan Bread Baker?
A pastry chef can be an artisan bread baker by honing their skills in handcrafting high-quality bread with traditional methods. While pastry chefs are traditionally known for their expertise in creating desserts and sweet baked goods, many pastry chefs also have a strong foundation in bread baking.
In professional kitchens, pastry chefs may be responsible for developing a comprehensive dessert menu that includes bread offerings. Additionally, some pastry chefs may find a particular niche in bread baking, especially in environments like luxury resorts and hotels where homemade morning breads are a staple.
The skills and techniques required for pastry and bread baking share similarities, such as precision in measuring ingredients, understanding dough consistency, and mastery of baking methods. Additionally, both disciplines often require attention to detail, creativity, and a passion for working with high-quality ingredients.
Many pastry chefs expand their repertoire by delving into artisan bread baking through formal training or self-study. They may bring their artistic flair and knowledge of flavour pairings from pastry work into the realm of bread, creating unique and delicious bread recipes.
How To Become an Artisan Bread Baker.
Becoming an artisan bread baker requires education, training, practice, and passion for baking. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you on your journey:
Gain Basic Knowledge and Skills in Bread-Making.
Begin by learning the basics of baking, which include understanding ingredients, measuring, mixing, and basic dough preparation. Consider taking introductory baking courses or watching online tutorials.
Learn about bread-making techniques, including pre-ferments, higher water absorption levels, and lean formulations.
Deepen your understanding of various flours, yeast, natural starters (sourdough), and other ingredients used in bread baking. Learn how these ingredients contribute to the final product’s flavour, texture, and structure.
Gain Experience from an Artisan Bakery or Apprenticeship.
Gain experience by working in a bakery or taking an apprenticeship program, specialising in artisan bread. Hands-on experience is invaluable for honing your skills, learning from experienced bakers, and understanding the pace and demands of a bakery environment.
Develop skills in mixing, kneading, shaping, and baking bread using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients.
Practice creating different types of bread, experimenting with other grains, natural starters, and long fermentation processes to enhance the flavour and nutritional value of the bread.
Consider Formal Training for Skills and Credibility.
While not mandatory, obtaining formal education and certifications in baking and pastry arts from culinary or baking organisations can add credibility to your skills and open up more job opportunities.
Formal training can give you a solid foundation in baking techniques and help you develop the skills needed to become an artisan bread baker.
Build a Portfolio to Show Your Work.
Create a portfolio to show your work, including pictures of your bread and pastries, and share it with potential employers or customers.
Experiment, Innovate and Develop Your Own Style.
As your skills and experience develop, experiment with different flour blends, hydration levels, and ingredients to create unique bread recipes. Innovation is a crucial aspect of becoming a skilled artisan bread baker.
Over time, with increasing experience and confidence, develop your personal style of artisan bread baking. This could involve signature bread recipes, unique shaping techniques, or creative flavour combinations.
Build A Professional Network for Support and Opportunities.
Connect with fellow bakers, chefs, and professionals in the baking industry. Networking can lead to job opportunities, collaborations, and a supportive community.
Pursue Career Opportunities and Grow Your Career.
Look for positions in artisan bakeries, speciality bakeries, restaurants, hotels, or even start your own bakery. Work your way up and continue refining your skills through practical experience.
Continue Learning to Keep Abreast of The Latest Techniques.
Stay trendy on the latest baking trends and techniques by attending workshops, conferences, or online courses.
What Is the Average Salary of An Artisan Bread Baker?
The table below summarises the results from various job recruitment sites on the per annum average salary range for Artisan Bread Bakers for entry-level positions to more experienced roles.
Please note that individual salaries can vary based on position, skill and experience, location, and the type of establishment.
United States | United Kingdom | |
Average Salary | $31,396 per year | £27,000 per year |
Entry-level to most experienced role. | $25,000 -$43,698 per year | £24,000-£31,000 per year |
Where Can You Work as An Artisan Bread Baker?
As an artisan bread baker, you can work in various settings, specialising in bread production and baking. Work conditions, responsibilities, and opportunities might vary depending on your position, the establishment and location.
Here are some places where you can work as an artisan bread baker:
Artisan Bakeries: These are the most obvious places for artisan bread bakers to work. Artisan bakeries produce a variety of bread using traditional methods, often focusing on quality, flavour, and craftsmanship.
Cafes and Coffee Shops: Some cafes and coffee shops have in-house bakeries that produce artisanal bread for sandwiches, toasts, and other menu items.
Restaurants: Many upscale restaurants bake their own bread in-house to serve with meals. Artisan bread bakers might work in the kitchen of such restaurants to produce a variety of breads for their diners.
Hotels and Resorts: High-end hotels and resorts often offer freshly baked bread as part of their dining experience. Bakers in these establishments might create a range of breads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner services.
Catering Companies: Artisan bread bakers might be employed by catering companies to provide bread for events, conferences, weddings, and other special occasions.
Wholesale Bakeries: Larger artisan bread bakers may supply their products to local grocery stores, speciality food shops, and other retail outlets.
Speciality Food Stores: Some speciality food stores, such as gourmet markets or upscale grocery stores, have their own bakeries producing artisan bread. These stores often prioritise high-quality ingredients and unique bread offerings.
Online Bakeries: With the rise of online businesses, some artisan bread bakers sell their products through websites or platforms specialising in delivering fresh, artisanal products to customers’ doors.
Teaching and Workshops: Experienced artisan bread bakers might offer baking classes, workshops, and demonstrations to share their expertise with aspiring bakers and enthusiasts.
Baking and Pastry Schools: Some artisan bread bakers become instructors at culinary or baking schools, sharing their knowledge with students passionate about mastering the craft.
Independent Baking Businesses: With enough experience and resources, as an artisan bread baker, you can start your own bakery business as part of a larger food business or a standalone establishment. This could involve selling your bread at farmers’ markets, supplying local restaurants and cafes, or operating your own bakery shop.
The Work Conditions of An Artisan Bread Baker.
The work conditions may vary depending on the bakery’s size, specialisation, and the artisan bread baker’s experience level.
Here are some common work conditions that artisan bread bakers might experience:
Work Environment: Typically, A Bakery.
Artisan bread bakers typically work in a bakery or baking kitchen. This generally is a small, cosy artisanal bakery where all breads and pastries are made on-site.
Irregular Hours: Early Mornings, Weekends and Holidays.
Bread baking often starts very early in the morning, sometimes as early as the middle of the night, to ensure fresh bread is available for customers during the day.
In addition, Bakers might work weekends and holidays, as bread is a staple food item that needs to be available daily.
Physical Demands: Intense Standing, Lifting and Carrying.
Bread baking can be physically demanding. Bakers spend significant time on their feet, performing tasks like kneading, which requires repetitive motion, shaping, handling large bags of flour, lifting heavy dough, baking trays and baked goods, requiring physical strength and proper lifting techniques to prevent injuries.
Exposure To Temperature Extremes from Cold to Hot and Humid.
Artisan bread bakers may be exposed to hot and cold temperatures depending on the baking process.
Baking generates heat, and bread ovens can be pretty hot. This can lead to a warm and humid working environment, which might be challenging, especially during summer.
Fast-Paced Environment with High Demand with Tight Deadlines.
Bakeries can be fast-paced, especially when it is necessary to produce large quantities of bread and baked goods under tight deadlines, particularly during peak production times.
Bakers need to work efficiently to meet customer demand while maintaining product quality.
Teamwork And Collaboration for Smooth Production.
Baking is often a collaborative effort, especially in larger bakeries. Bakers need to work closely with colleagues to ensure smooth production flow and timely completion of tasks.
Attention To Detail for Consistent Quality.
Artisan bread baking requires a high level of precision and attention to detail. Bakers must follow recipes accurately, monitor fermentation and baking times, and ensure consistent product quality.
Creativity And Innovation for Self-Expression.
Some artisan bakeries encourage bakers to experiment with different recipes, flavours, and techniques. This allows for creativity and innovation in bread production.
Work Tools Needed by an Artisan Bread Baker.
An artisan bread maker needs various tools to create high-quality bread products effectively using traditional methods. Here are some of the most critical tools that an artisan bread maker needs:
Digital Kitchen Scale for Accurately Measuring Ingredients.
Precise measurement of ingredients, mainly flour and water, is crucial in bread baking to ensure consistent results.
Mixing Bowl(S) to Mix Dough.
Mixing bowls is essential for combining ingredients.
Proofing Baskets (Bannetons) to Shape and Support Dough.
These baskets with ridged interiors are used for the final proofing (rising) of the shaped dough, helping it hold its shape and develop texture.
Bread Lame or Razor Blade for Scoring Dough.
A tool for scoring the dough before baking, allowing it to expand evenly in the oven and create attractive patterns on the crust.
Dough Scraper or Bench Knife for Cutting and Dividing Dough.
A dough scraper or a bench knife are versatile tools for cutting, dividing, and handling dough while shaping, scraping and cleaning surfaces.
The dough scraper is usually rigid plastic, while the bench knife is a metal blade.
Bowl Cover to Cover the Dough During Proofing.
A bowl cover, such as a plastic wrap or a reusable silicone cover, kitchen towels or lines, covers the dough during fermentation and proofing stages to prevent drying out and maintain the proper humidity level.
Loaf Pans for Breads of a Specific Shape:
Loaf pans are needed when baking bread that requires a specific shape, such as sandwich bread or brioche.
Thermometer For Measuring Bread’s Internal Temperature.
Ensures that the internal temperature of the bread is appropriate, particularly for determining doneness.
Oven Thermometer for Consistent Results.
Ensures accurate oven temperature for consistent baking results.
Dusting Wand for Dusting Flour.
This tool is used for dusting flour or other ingredients onto the work surface or dough without making a mess.
Bread Brush To Brush Off Excess Flour.
It helps brush off excess flour from shaped loaves and scoring before baking.
Silicone Mat for A Non-Stick Kneading Surface.
A silicone mat provides a non-stick surface for kneading and shaping dough, making it easier to work with and clean up.
Peel (Baker’s Paddle) To Slide Dough Without Deflating It.
This flat tool is used for sliding the dough onto a hot baking surface in the oven without deflating it.
Cooling Rack for Fresh Baked to Cool.
Allows freshly baked bread to cool evenly, preventing the crust from becoming soggy.
Kitchen Timer for Accurate Time and Quality Results.
Accurate timing is critical during various stages of bread baking, from fermentation to proofing and baking.
Breadbasket Liners or Cloth Covers to prevent sticking.
Prevent dough from sticking to proofing baskets and add decorative patterns to the crust.
Bread Cutting Knife for Slicing Baked Bread.
For slicing the finished bread without compressing the crumbs.
Sourdough Starter Container.
A container is needed to maintain and store the sourdough starter if working with sourdough.
Dough Hook Or Stand Mixer for Initial Mixing and Kneading.
While artisan bread can be made by hand, a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment can help with initial mixing and kneading.
Baking Stone or Baking Steel for A Crisp Crust.
Placing dough on a preheated stone or steel helps create a crisp crust and even heat distribution during baking.
Notebook Or Baking Journal to Document and Build Skills.
Documenting recipes, techniques, and results can help refine your bread-making process.