Retarder Provers
A retarder prover holds your dough cold overnight, then warms it to prove on a timer, so it’s ready to bake when the first shift arrives. We supply the range from Sitep in Italy (Sitep calls them retarder proofers), from reach-in cabinets to walk-in proving rooms and sourdough fermenters. As Sitep’s exclusive Scottish distributor, we size the unit to your trays or racks and your overnight schedule.
The Sitep range
Prover cabinets
A cabinet controls temperature and humidity for trays of dough, from cold retarding to warm proving. It suits artisan bakeries, pastry shops and pizzerias that load trays by hand and need to save space.
Sitep prover cabinets (ALL 1P, ALL 1P MAXI, ALL 2P)
Reach-in cabinets for pre-fermentation, proving and retarding.
Best for: Artisan bakeries proving trays overnight
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Sitep UNILEV mini retarder prover
A compact retarder prover for small labs. Sitep builds it with pizzerias in mind.
Best for: Pizzerias and small labs
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Sitep retarder proving benches (BFL2P, BFL3P, BFL4P)
An under-counter retarder prover with a worktop on top.
Best for: Kitchens short of floor space
Ask about this modelProving rooms
A proving room takes whole trolleys of dough, wheeled straight in. It suits production bakeries working by the rack, or anyone with a room they want to convert.
Sitep retarder proving rooms (95 to 295 series)
Walk-in or roll-in rooms that hold dough cold, then prove it on a timed program without crusting or drying.
Best for: Production bakeries retarding by the rack
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Sitep proving rooms
Rooms that control temperature and humidity for proving only, with no retarding. Biga versions are available.
Best for: Same-day proving at volume
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Sitep monoblock retarder provers (MBC 100, 200, 300)
A self-contained refrigeration and control unit that turns a new or existing room into a retarder prover.
Best for: Converting a room you already have
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Sitep steam generators (UMS 1, UMG 3)
Produce steam to keep humidity right in proving rooms and cabinets.
Best for: Adding humidity to a proving room
Ask about this modelSourdough fermenters
A fermenter feeds, mixes and holds your sourdough or liquid starter at temperature automatically. It suits bakeries that rely on a natural starter and want it the same every day.
Cabinet or room?
It comes down to how your dough moves.
| If you | Choose |
|---|---|
| Load trays by hand, in a small space | A cabinet, UNILEV or proving bench |
| Wheel whole racks from the bench to the oven | A retarder proving room |
| Already have a room you could use | A monoblock unit to convert it |
| Prove and bake the same day only | A proving room without retarding |
Retarding is what ends the very early start. If early shifts are holding back your growth, read expanding production.
Often bought with retarder provers
Retarder prover FAQs
What is a retarder prover?
A retarder prover is a cabinet or room that first holds dough cold to slow fermentation, then raises the temperature and humidity to prove it on a timed program. Shaped dough goes in at the end of the day and is ready to bake next morning.
What’s the difference between a retarder prover and a prover?
A prover only proves: it keeps dough warm and humid until it’s ready. A retarder prover also refrigerates first, so you can hold dough for hours and choose when proving starts.
How much does a retarder prover cost?
It depends on the size, whether it’s a cabinet or a room, the controls and the installation work. A reach-in cabinet and a multi-rack room are very different jobs. We don’t publish prices: tell us your trays, racks and schedule, and we’ll quote.
Can you convert a room we already have?
Often, yes. Sitep’s monoblock unit adds the refrigeration and controls to a new or existing room. We’ll look at the room during the site survey.
Ask about retarder provers
Tell us what you make and how much, and we’ll recommend the right machine. We’ll reply within 48 hours.