Bakery Equipment Buying Guides

Single Rack Oven vs. Double Rack Oven: Which Is Right for Your Bakery?

A single rack oven bakes one full rack per load and suits most retail bakeries, bagel shops and restaurants. A double rack oven bakes two racks at once and pays for itself only when you fill it consistently, as supermarkets, wholesale bakeries and commissaries do. Choosing the right oven is crucial to your bakery's success, which is why we put together this guide. The main questions to ask yourself are: How many pans must you bake in your busiest window? How much floor space is available in your bakery? And what are your bakery's utility capacities? The Quick Answer Choose a single rack oven if: Your peak production fits in one rack per bake cycle Your floor space and ceiling heights are tight You're a new bakery trying to turn a profit You bake a variety of products in smaller batches, as opposed to a few products in bulk Choose a double rack oven if: You regularly need more than one rack per cycle at peak production You're adding a second shift just to keep up with orders You supply wholesale, grocery or multi-location accounts You bake long runs of the same product at the same temperature Single vs. Double Rack Oven at a Glance A double rack oven roughly doubles pans per load, but it also roughly doubles the utility load and can add about 1,750 lb and 26" of width. So even if you need a double rack oven, make sure your location can accommodate one. Factor Single Rack Oven Double Rack Oven Racks per load 1 2 Pan capacity (Empire lineup) 10–30 pans 20–60 pans Footprint (W x D)* 44" x 66" or 59" x 63" 85.5" x 70" Height with fan* 86.6" or 99.7" 105.5" Gas input 140,000–160,000 BTU 280,000 BTU Electric draw (220V/3Ph) 88–100 A 170 A Weight 1,617–1,985 lb Up to 3,750 lb Upfront cost Lower Higher Best for Retail, bagel shops, restaurants, new locations Supermarkets, wholesale, commissaries, high-volume retail *Dimensions based on the LFR-FOX and LFR-1 Single Rack Ovens and the LFR-2 Double Rack Oven. How a Rack Oven Works Both types bake the same way: you roll a loaded rack into the chamber, the rack rotates, and fans move heated air around the oven chamber for an even, consistent bake. Rotation is what gives rack ovens their even color from the top shelf to the bottom, with no pan swapping mid-bake. Rotation: The rack hangs from a lift or sits on a turning platform, so every pan passes the same heat. Convection: Fans push forced air throughout the oven; Empire's LFR-FOX-2 uses three chamber fans to keep two racks evenly baked. Steam: All rack ovens have steam capabilities for bread products to help build crust and shine. A double rack oven is the same design with a larger chamber, more burner or element capacity, and more airflow. It does not bake faster; it bakes more per load. Capacity and Production Output Bake time is the same in both ovens, so a double rack oven doubles your pans per cycle, not your speed. Size the oven to your peak window (the morning bake, holiday rush or wholesale route deadline), not your daily average. To estimate output, multiply pans per load by loads per hour by baking hours: Pans per day = pans per load × loads per hour × baking hours Model Max Pans per Load Pans in a 6-Hour Bake (2 loads/hr) LFR-FOX (single) 20 240 LFR-1 (single) 20 240 LFR-FOX-2 (double) 40 480 LFR-2 (double) 80 960 The table assumes a 30-minute cycle including loading, with every rack full. Real output depends on your products, bake times and how fast your team turns racks. Footprint, Installation and Utilities These specs are extremely important. Once you have calculated your output, make sure the oven meets the requirements of your bakery. Installation is where many double rack oven plans stall: check floor, ceiling, exhaust and power before you choose capacity. Floor space: Empire's single rack ovens run as small as 44" wide, and doubles run up to 85.5" wide. Be sure to leave room in front of the oven to roll racks in and out. Ceiling height: Heights with exhaust fan run from 87" (LFR-FOX) to 107" (LFR-2). If you are choosing a gas model, be sure to allow room above the oven for ventilation installation. Floor load: Make sure your bakery floor can hold the weight of the oven. The LFR-2 weighs 3,750 lb versus 1,985 lb for the LFR-1. Empire requires a level, non-combustible floor rated for the load. Gas: Single rack models are rated at 140,000–160,000 BTU; doubles at 280,000–320,000 BTU. Confirm that your gas meter and line size can carry that on top of your other equipment. Electric: Electric models draw 88–100 A (single) or 156–170 A (double) at 220V/3-phase. It's not unusual for a new shop to need a service upgrade to meet these ovens' electrical requirements. Water and drain: All LFR models need a 1/2" water supply and 1" drain for steam. Delivery path: Measure doors, hallways and turns from the truck to the bake floor before ordering so the oven can be delivered without issue. Local codes govern every installation. Bring these numbers to your contractor and landlord early. Bake Quality, Flexibility and Workflow Empire's rack ovens provide consistent, quality baking no matter which model you select. However, each oven differs when it comes to flexibility and workflow. Product mix: A double rack oven shines on long runs of the same item (rolls, bagels, sheet cakes). Single rack ovens are better for facilities baking a variety of products like cakes, cookies and delicate pastries. Two singles vs. one double: If you plan to bake a variety of products at scale, two single rack ovens can run two different products at once and keep you baking if one goes down for service. One double takes less floor space and fewer utility hookups than two singles. Labor: Any rack oven is light on labor. Empire's rack ovens feature an easy roll-in rack system with advanced programming options. Recipe memory: The LFR-1, LFR-2 and LFR-FOX-2 store up to 99 programs, and the LFR-FOX has an optional programmable touch screen, so any crew member can run a consistent bake. Which Oven Fits Your Bakery? Most independent shops are best served by a single rack oven; volume-driven operations move to a double. Business Type Typical Fit Why Retail bakery or café Single (LFR-FOX or LFR-1) Varied products in moderate batches; storefront space and utilities are limited Bagel shop Single, or compact double for busy shops Morning rush is the peak; a compact double like the LFR-FOX-2 adds capacity without a much bigger footprint Pizzeria or restaurant Single (LFR-FOX) Rolls, desserts and bread for in-house use rarely fill more than one rack Supermarket in-store bakery Double (LFR-2 or LFR-FOX-2) Steady, high daily volume across bread, rolls and sweet goods Wholesale bakery or commissary Double (LFR-2), or several ovens Long runs of the same product on delivery deadlines Cannabis edibles producer Single, sized to batch Tight batch control and consistency matter more than raw volume Growing multi-location operation Double, or a second single Plan for next year's volume and consider redundancy Frequently Asked Questions Is a double rack oven twice as fast as a single? No. Bake times are the same; a double rack oven does not bake faster, it just bakes at a larger capacity. Can I bake two different products in a double rack oven at once? Only if they share the same temperature, time and steam settings. Different programs need separate loads or separate ovens. Should I buy two single rack ovens instead of one double? Two singles give you two programs at once and a backup if one needs service. One double uses less floor space and fewer hookups, and is usually more efficient per pan when full. Gas or electric? Both bake equally well. Choose based on your existing service: an electric double draws 156–170 A at 220V/3-phase, which many storefronts can't supply without an upgrade. Will a double rack oven fit in my building? Check width (up to 85.5"), height with fan (up to 105.5"), floor load (up to 3,750 lb) and your delivery path. Empire's team can review your floor plan before you order. Can I start with a single and add capacity later? Yes. If growth is likely, reserve floor space, hood capacity and utility headroom now so a second oven is a simple addition. Explore Empire's Rack Ovens LFR-FOX Single Rack Oven LFR-1 Single Rotating Rack Oven LFR-FOX-2 Double Rack Oven LFR-2 Double Rotating Rack Oven View all rack ovens Get Help Choosing Since 1977, Empire has been helping build better bakeries. If you have more questions about which rack oven best fits your business or are looking for pricing, give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you. Call 800-878-4070 Request a Quote