The basic pieces of donut shop equipment are fryers, proofers and glazing tables. While these pieces of equipment are critical for a doughnut shop to function, there are supplies that are necessary to save time. Any item that saves time also saves money. Cutters, droppers and doughnut mixes are all time-saving donut supplies.

Manual doughnut cutters allow you to create uniformly portioned doughnuts every time. Doughnut mixes cut down on time spent perfecting doughnut recipes. Doughnut droppers save time and money by dispensing and shaping uniform pieces of dough each time. Consider the following items as you purchase supplies for doughnut equipment:

1. Use manual cutters for manual frying doughnut machines.

2. Purchase mixes as part of your donut supplies.

3. Include droppers as part of your donut supplies to save time.

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Purchase doughnut cutters for manual frying doughnut machines

Cutters are an important piece of doughnut making equipment. Doughnut cutters allow you to create uniformly shaped doughnuts every time. Doughnut cutters allow you to create doughnut holes without any extra work. Choose from a variety of sizes, from mini to standard, to create perfectly shaped doughnuts.

I recommend: Mission Restaurant Supply carries reasonably priced doughnut cutters in standard sizes. KaTom Restaurant Supply has several different doughnut cutters to choose from in its inventory. It also carries dough cutters for making evenly portioned cuts of doughnut dough.

Use doughnut mixes with your donut making equipment

Every great doughnut starts with a great recipe. Use a doughnut mix to save valuable time perfecting doughnut recipes. Doughnut mixes are available for virtually any type of doughnut you can imagine.

I recommend: FoodServiceDirect.com is a company that carries a variety of doughnut mixes for use with your donut machines. Choose from mixes for raised doughnuts, cake doughnuts and more. Another company that sells doughnut mixes is Lil' Orbits.

Purchase droppers as a part of your doughnut equipment

Doughnut droppers measure and drop uniform portions of doughnut dough in preformed shapes. You can use them to create uniform sized and shaped doughnuts with no trouble. Doughnut droppers save time and energy, making them a critical supply item to add to your doughnut machines.

I recommend: Baker's Best is a donut machine and equipment vendor that carries droppers. Another company that sells donut making machines and donut droppers is Instawares. It offers free shipping on many of its items and on qualifying purchases.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Using mixes as part of your donut supplies is not necessarily a money saver over the long run. If you have a tried and true recipe, purchasing individual ingredients in bulk and preparing the dough yourself might save you money.

Donut machines come in all shapes and sizes, from counter top models and floor models to full service concession stands. Full service donut shop equipment differs from the doughnut making equipment used by a convenience store who just wants to add fresh doughnuts to its already existing inventory. Doughnut concession stands use mobile doughnut equipment to take their product to their customers.

If you want to break into the doughnut business, you must first decide exactly what part of the market you are going after:

1. Choose doughnut equipment for the full service donut shop.

2. Buy donut supplies for your doughnut business.

3. Take your donut machine on the road.

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Choose doughnut making equipment for your donut shop

Donut machines differ in how much they produce per hour, size, expense to run and other factors. How much space do you have in your kitchen? Minimum doughnut equipment you must have is your doughnut proofer, doughnut fryer and a sugaring and icers table.

I recommend: Belshaw sells doughnut equipment for every need. If space is sparse or you are just adding fresh donuts to your existing line, their counter top donut fryer produces the most while taking the least space. Bestovens offers new and used donut making machines. Used equipment can save on start up costs, so check their inventory for special deals on their doughnut machines.

Buy donut supplies for your donut making equipment

You need more than just your donut making machine; you also need donut cutters, spatulas, mixing bowls, whisks and more. Commercial use doughnut equipment sustains the heavy usage of a busy donut shop

I recommend: Katom offers a full line of bakery and doughnut accessories from donut cutters to mixing bowls. Mission Restaurant Supply offers commercial baking supplies including cutters, rolling pins and timers.

Take your donut machine to county fairs

Candy apples, cotton candy and doughnuts are just a few of the aromatic smells you find at the county fairs. Take your mobile donut shop equipment to the next fair, or even park it in the parking lot of busy strip malls and watch your profits grow.

I recommend: Lil' Orbits offers mobile donut concession trailers. You can sell regular doughnuts or minis with their mini donut machine maker. Check out their entire line of mobile donut units. Russell Concessions offers a 7x12-concession trailer that is just right for coffee and mini donuts. They will customize it for your exact needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check your warranties for any new or used doughnut making equipment you purchase. Warranties are especially important if the equipment is used. If you do decide to buy doughnut equipment 'as is,' make sure it works properly before you buy. You can also purchase business insurance that covers your doughnut equipment beyond the limitation of the warranty.

Doughnut equipment is key to running a successful doughnut shop. The pricing and costs of doughnut equipment depends on the amount of equipment you need to purchase. A new shop needs to budget a significant amount of money towards the purchase of doughnut making machines and other accessories. Businesses that are replacing old equipment need a much smaller budget, as they can replace equipment piece by piece.

A smooth running doughnut shop requires several pieces of equipment. Some critical pieces of doughnut making equipment include fryers, droppers, proofers and glazing tables. As you create a budget for doughnut shop equipment, consider the following:

1. Find pricing information for donut machines.

2. Figure the cost of proofers into your doughnut equipment budget.

3. Include doughnut glazing tables in your doughnut making equipment.

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Get prices for doughnut machines

Doughnut fryers, which start at prices around $6,000, are one of the larger expenses for a doughnut shop. There are several types of doughnut fryers to choose from. You can find fryers in sizes small enough to fit on a counter top and large enough to require several feet of space. Doughnut machines produce varying amounts of doughnuts per hour with some machines producing as many as 230 dozen doughnuts per hour.

I recommend: Instawares is a restaurant supply super-store that carries doughnut machines in its inventory. It carries electric fryers with differing oil capacities. Belshaw specializes in donut supplies and equipment. It carries a large variety of doughnut machines from a mini donut machine to fully automated doughnut robots.

Include the cost of proofers in your doughnut equipment budget

Manufacturers design doughnut proofers to set beside the fryers for easy loading and unloading of doughnuts. Proofers use insulation to reduce heat loss. This piece of equipment can be the most expensive piece you purchase for your shop. A large doughnut proofer will cost upwards of $13,000, while a very small proofer will cost around $2,500.

I recommend: Doughnut shop equipment is available at Baker's Best. It has one and two door doughnut proofers available in aluminum and stainless steel. Bakery Equipment.com is another bakery supply store that sells proofers. It carries both mobile and automatic doughnut proofers.

Include the cost of glazing tables in your doughnut equipment budget

Doughnut glazing tables are another piece of critical equipment for a doughnut shop. Glazing tables come in different sizes and have options on the number of tray slots and glazing pans. Budget at least $1,200 for a small table and over $3,400 for one with more options.

I recommend: Avalon Manufacturing is a supplier of heated icing and glaze tables. It has been supplying bakeries with supplies for over 70 years. ACityDiscount is another provider of doughnut making equipment, including glazing tables.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look into purchasing used doughnut equipment to cut costs drastically. Used equipment can cost up to 50% less than new equipment.

To make delicious doughnuts you need to have the right equipment. And before you can buy the right equipment, you need to understand a few of the key terms that are used in the doughnut equipment industry. When you speak with a doughnut equipment supplier, you'll soon discover that doughnut fryers, doughnut proofers and doughnut finishing centers are some of the major equipment you'll need. You'll also find that other smaller items such as proofing screens, screen cradles and submergers are equally as important.

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Doughnut fryer

A doughnut fryer is a piece of heavy-duty equipment that is used to cook donuts. Fryers come in many sizes. Most stand on the floor, but portable countertop units are also available. The size of the fryer dictates the number of donuts that can be cooked per hour.

I recommend: Tamco Food Equipment displays several types of doughnut fryers. Click the pictures for more information about each one.

Doughnut proofer

A doughnut proofer is cabinet used when making yeast donuts. Donuts are placed into the proofer while they proof and the yeast rises. Most proofer cabinets are made of aluminum, contain multiple shelves and are on wheels so they can be moved around your bakery. Proofers often have machinery in them that will circulate warm, moist air. This helps to ensure even proofing.

I recommend: Instawares provides pictures of more than a dozen different doughnut proofers. Click the pictures for product details and specs.

Proofing screens

As soon as doughnut makers cut yeast doughnuts from freshly rolled dough, they lay the doughnuts out on proofing screens. The loaded screens are then inserted into the doughnut proofer for proofing, and then placed in the doughnut fryer for cooking.

I recommend: Check out Bakery Equipment.com for pictures and more information about proofing screens.

Screen cradles

Screen cradles are large sheets with long handles on two sides that allow you to take proofing screens in and out of a fryer. After the doughnuts are proofed, an entire proofing screen, loaded with doughnuts, is placed on to a screen cradle and submerged in the fryer.

I recommend: To see a picture of a screen cradle and to get more information on its use and specs, check out the Hubert Company.

Doughnut glazers

A doughnut glazer is a piece of equipment that allows you to evenly cover doughnuts with glaze or frosting. Glaze is spread over the doughnuts with a handheld or automatic dispenser, and extra glaze is captured so it can be re-used.

I recommend: Check out Bake Marketing Corporation to see pictures of doughnut glazers. Click the product name to read more information.

Doughnut finishing center

A doughnut finishing center is a large table that is used to ice and decorate donuts. The table contains multiple bowl areas for storing icings and sprinkles. And, typically, some of the bowls are heated so the icing will stay warm.

I recommend: For a picture of a typical doughnut finishing center and a list of the specs, visit Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group.