What is a Retarder Prover? – Bakery Equipment Guide

A retarder prover is a specialised piece of bakery equipment that combines refrigeration and proofing in a single controlled environment. By precisely managing temperature and humidity, a retarder prover allows bakers to slow or “retard” dough fermentation and then automatically transition to proofing conditions when required. This process ensures consistent dough development and fresh, high-quality baked products on demand.

How Does a Retarder Prover Work?

Retarder provers maintain a cold, controlled environment to slow yeast activity in dough. When it’s time to bake, the prover gradually raises the temperature and adjusts humidity to initiate proofing.

This allows bakeries to:

  • Prepare dough in advance
  • Schedule baking for optimal freshness
  • Reduce early-morning labour demands
  • Improve consistency and product quality

Types of Retarder Provers

Commercial retarder provers come in several configurations to suit different bakery sizes and production needs:

Each type provides precise temperature and humidity control and can handle a variety of tray capacities.

Benefits of Using a Retarder Prover

Bakeries use retarder provers for several reasons:

  1. Consistency: Maintains the perfect dough conditions for repeatable results
  2. Flexibility: Dough can be prepared hours or even a day in advance
  3. Efficiency: Reduces labour peaks by allowing overnight retardation
  4. Quality: Ensures optimal proofing for breads, pastries, and viennoiserie

Choosing the Right Retarder Prover

When selecting a retarder prover, consider:

  • Production volume
  • Available space
  • Tray capacity and configuration
  • Desired level of automation
  • Reliability

Click here to read our handy guide >>

Angel Refrigeration offers high-quality commercial retarder provers sourced from trusted European manufacturers Explore our full range of retarder provers here >>

It is important to Angel Refrigeration that we help you choose the right product to do the right job!

Please contact our Sales Team for further information, help and advice.

Talk to our team
Copyright © 2024 Angel Refrigeration | REGISTERED IN ENGLAND NO: 6580404 | VAT NO: GB 948 3042 15
Website by Nuwave Design