Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to produce and finish biscuit and cookie products in a commercial baking environment.
This unit applies to individuals who apply a broad range of knowledge and skills with responsibility for their own work. This includes applying and communicating known solutions to predictable problems.
Food safety legislation applies to workers in this industry. Requirements vary between industry sectors and state/territory jurisdictions. Users are advised to check with their food safety authority for specific requirements.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for work | 1.1 Confirm product types and volumes to schedule production 1.2 Calculate yield and adjust recipe to meet required product volumes 1.3 Confirm work area and work practices meet food safety and workplace health and safety requirements 1.4 Select and wear personal protective equipment according to safety requirements 1.5 Select biscuit and cookie baking equipment and check to confirm readiness for use 1.6 Select ingredients and check to confirm quality and quantity 1.7 Prepare baking trays to match biscuit and cookie type |
2. Mix biscuit and cookie batters and doughs | 2.1 Measure ingredient quantities to meet recipe specifications 2.2 Load ingredients into mixer and cook pots in required sequence as required for product type 2.3 Operate mixer and monitor mixing in mixers and cook pots to mix biscuit and cookie batters and doughs 2.4 Fold in ingredients as required to meet product type 2.5 Check biscuit and cookie batters and doughs to identify batter faults and rectify 2.6 Store biscuit and cookie batters and doughs according to food safety requirements |
3. Bake biscuit and cookie products | 3.1 Deposit, portion and cut biscuit and cookie batters and doughs to trays to meet product type 3.2 Pre-bake finish cookies and biscuits as required to meet product type 3.3 Set baking temperatures and times to prepare for baking 3.4 Load oven and monitor to achieve correct bake and stability for biscuit and cookie product type 3.5 Use sight and feel to assess bake of biscuit and cookie products 3.6 Unload baked biscuit and cookie products to cool 3.7 Check biscuit and cookie bake to identify faults and rectify |
4. Prepare finishing mediums | 4.1 Assemble finishing ingredients and equipment and prepare for use 4.2 Measure finishing ingredient quantities to meet recipe specifications 4.3 Operate and monitor mixer to prepare creams and icings as required for product type 4.4 Melt and prepare chocolate for decorating as required for product type 4.5 Prepare jams for decorating as required for product type 4.6 Prepare garnishes for decorating as required for product type 4.7 Prepare piping bags to decorate with chocolate and pipe finishing decorations 4.8 Check finishing mediums to identify faults and rectify |
5. Finish biscuit and cookie products | 5.1 Fill biscuit and cookie products as required for product type 5.2 Apply garnishes and decorating finishes to decorate biscuit and cookie products as required for product type 5.3 Check finished biscuit and cookie products to identify finishing faults and rectify 5.4 Prepare and transfer finished biscuit and cookie products for presentation and storage according to packaging and food safety requirements |
6. Complete work | 6.1 Clean equipment and work area to meet housekeeping standards 6.2 Dispose of waste according to workplace requirements 6.3 Complete workplace records according to workplace requirements |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Interprets key information from recipes, ingredient labels, baking equipment operating instructions, and end-product specifications |
Writing | Prepares production schedules and completes production records using required format, language and structure |
Numeracy | Identifies and comprehends ingredient quantities in recipes, dates on ingredient labels, and temperature and timer settings Estimates approximate quantities, and uses equipment to measure ingredient weights and volumes Performs calculations to adjust recipes using baking formulas, and allows for wastage Uses understanding of three-dimensional shapes to shape and portion products and check end-product shapes Interprets measurement information to set, monitor and adjust process parameters Completes production records using mathematical symbols and conventions |
Navigate the world of work | Complies with workplace health and safety and food safety regulatory requirements relevant to a commercial baking operation Follows organisational policies and procedures relevant to own work role |
Get the work done | Plans, organises and implements tasks required to achieve production outcomes Uses problem-solving skills to analyse product and process faults and decide on appropriate action |
Range Statement
This section specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.
Biscuit and cookie baking equipment must include: | equipment, including: industrial mixer and attachments industrial cook tops equipment accessories, including: whisk attachment beater attachment gas or electric hot plates and attachments dish washing sinks, taps and accessories cook pots baking trays dry ingredient containers refrigerated ingredient containers mixing bowls equipment used to melt chocolate tools and utensils, including: hand whisks hand spoons biscuit and pastry cutters rolling pins flour brushes egg wash brushes piping bags piping nozzles. |
Sectors
Retail baking (RBK)