Bakers are the people who make food like breads, cakes and cookies. They're
skilled at making baked goods look wonderful and taste delicious.
A baker is the person in charge of the whole process of making bakery items.
The baker creates or picks the recipe, and then chooses, prepares and mixes
the ingredients.
The baker may also shape and decorate baked goods, and operate equipment
like ovens and mixers. As well, the baker checks the finished products to
make sure they're fresh, deals with customers, and sets up displays of baked
goods.
Finally, when the day is done, the baker cleans up the bakery or kitchen
area.
Bakers may work for small retail bakeries or big wholesale suppliers of
baked goods, like bread companies. Bakers also work in department stores,
food store chains, hotels and restaurants. Bakers may also have their own
bakery shops.
The job varies, depending on the employer. "Each area of the baking industry
has its drawbacks and perks. For example, I chose to work in a grocery store
bakery because the hours are consistent and I get to deal with customers.
I love the work, but I also miss the excitement and pressure of preparing
things in a hotel setting," says Philadelphia baker Elizabeth Mitchell.
A baker may be responsible for making all kinds of baked goods, or they
may concentrate on one task, such as bread baking or pastry making. It all
depends on the baker and the workplace.
"I run my own bakery, so I make everything. But if I worked for a bagel
company, I would make only bagels. If I worked for a hotel, I might be responsible
for only pastries. For me, though, I enjoy the variety," says baker Justin
Bloom.
Work environments can also vary. Bakers may work in their own small, hot
kitchens; in large noisy bakery factories with lots of equipment; in hectic
hotel or restaurant kitchens; or in the busy bakeries of grocery stores.
Baking is hard physical work. People in this field say they spend most
of the day on their feet and get a daily workout from kneading, lifting, rolling
and beating.
"Some days I go home and I feel like I've been on a rowing machine all
day because my shoulders and legs are so stiff," says baker Melissa Thomas.
The day often starts at the crack of dawn, or even earlier. Many bakers
begin their shift as early as 4 a.m. in order to have fresh baked goods prepared
for the day. Some bakeries in large hotels or retail chains are open all night.