Baking is no longer something that only pastry chefs and bakers do. It’s no longer seen as an activity to make something to eat, either. Nowadays, pretty much anyone can try his or her hand at baking, and they do it for many reasons. In fact, other people claim to bake because they find it to be a freeing and actually relaxing activity.
However, when you think about much of the work that goes into making, say, a loaf of bread, you’d probably disagree with the “relaxing” part. Think about when you have to bake several batches of bread. That’s a lot of dough that needs kneading.
If you’re serious about baking and you bake a lot, you ought to invest in tools and devices that will help you even in the smallest way possible. A stand mixer for bread dough is an obvious investment, and you can bet that the help you’ll get from it is in no way small. It can actually change your baking game for the better.
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Why Buy a Stand Mixer for Bread Dough?
Many would argue that nothing beats the results obtained from kneading bread dough by hand. They would even go so far as saying that their hands are the best tools. Well, we aren’t going to argue with that.
However, what if, as mentioned before, there is a lot of baking to be done? Then you’re looking at potentially hours of kneading and, no matter how strong your hands are, there is bound to be a point where they will get tired, and the results won’t be as satisfactory as you’d hoped.
So let us quickly go through the reasons why you should invest in a stand mixer for bread dough.
Hands-free baking – You can actually bake without straining your hands too much because the stand mixer will do the hard work for you. A handheld mixer also helps, but it still requires the use of your hands, and that can still take a toll on your wrists.
More power – Hands eventually get tired after kneading for a prolonged period. Stand mixers, on the other hand, can mix and knead for as long as they are plugged into a power outlet. They are also powerful enough to knead even the heaviest dough.
Faster results – A stand mixer for bread dough can finish the job in half the time it’d take you when you don’t use it. You’re looking at a major time-saver in your hands if you work with it. Of course, faster mixing also means more batches of baked goodies afterward.
Less mess – We always dread the cleanup after cooking or baking, and there is considerably more cleanup to be done after going through a heavy baking job. Using a stand mixer actually helps minimize the mess involved, making the cleanup more tolerable. Simply put, the stand mixer for bread dough will help in dealing with the dirty work.
Versatility – Compared to handheld mixers, stand mixers may also come with various attachments, so you can do more with it aside from simple mixing. Even the bowls that come with stand mixers may also be useful in other applications, such as molds for ice cream or cakes.
The Top 5 Stand Mixers for Bread Dough of 2018
Of course, since you are making an investment, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best in the market. Here are the top 5 stand mixers for dough that you can choose from.
5 KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
This unit certainly lives up to its name of being a major aid in the kitchen. The KitchenAid KSM150PSER has a unique mixing mechanism, which is a 59-point Planetary Mixing action for thorough mixing of ingredients. You call the shots on how fast the mixing will be done, just by using the 10-speed slide control incorporated into the design.
It also has the ideal bowl size, with a 5-quart stainless steel bowl that can easily mix enough dough to make 4 loaves of bread in one batch. Having 12 optional attachments means you can turn this handy device into a culinary center right in the middle of your kitchen.
4 KitchenAid KSM3311XFW Artisan Mini Series Stand Mixer
This is a smaller version of your favorite KitchenAid tilt-head stand mixer. It is smaller and considerably lighter, but just as much of a workhorse as the regular-sized ones. The bowl’s capacity is 3.5 quarts, which is ideal for those who prefer baking smaller servings.
Since it is also compatible with more than a dozen attachments, this small power house can offer so much more than just mixing, because it can also knead bread dough very well. There’s more. You can use the selection of colors that this stand mixer comes in to make it a functional and also stylish addition to your kitchen.
3 Hamilton Beach Eclectrics 63221 Stand Mixer
Instead of stainless steel, this stand mixer from Hamilton Beach is mostly made from a die-cast metal material, which makes it even more durable. The motor is just as impressive, packing a lot of power thanks to its 400-watt rating.
The 12-speed motor allows for more versatility, so you can do more tasks and follow more recipes with it. Its mixing action is also considered unique since its mixing head spins around the bowl while the beater spins in the other direction. These contrasting actions actually give better results in your bread dough.
2 Hamilton Beach 63326 6-Speed Stand Mixer
Compared to other stand mixers in its class, the Hamilton Beach 63326 appears like an underdog because it only has a 6-speed motor. However, don’t let that fool you. It is in no way inferior to them.
In fact, what it lacks in speed settings, it makes up for in the mixing action of the mixing head, which is accomplished with complete bowl coverage, so you can be sure all the ingredients are truly and thoroughly mixed. The 3.5-quart stainless steel bowl boasts is easy to handle thanks to the mixer’s tilt-head design that allows for easier bowl removal.
1 KitchenAid K45SSWH K45SS Classic Stand Mixer
Topping our list is another KitchenAid stand mixer, and it’s their classic model. With a powerful 275-watt motor and 10-speed settings, you can’t go wrong with this stand mixer for dough bread.
The bowl can hold 4.5 quarts, which is just about enough to make 2 loaves of bread in one go. Aside from mixing and kneading the dough, you can use this device in a lot of applications, from grinding food items to making pasta. That is made possible by its compatibility with various optional attachments.
A Buyer’s Guide to Choosing Stand Mixers for Bread Dough
Picking the right stand mixer for bread dough should not be too complicated. It’s just a matter of knowing exactly what you need or what your priorities are. In this case, you have to look into the performance, power, and build quality.
Performance
You have to take into account several factors. For starters, what mixing jobs do you expect to use the stand mixer on? What are your specific requirements in terms of its mixing ability?
If you are an occasional baker, engaging in baking only once in a while, a light-duty stand mixer for bread dough is reasonable. If you bake regularly (but not daily), a medium-duty unit will do. However, look for a heavy-duty unit if you practically bake every day and sometimes end up making several batches in a day.
The mixing ability also directly correlates with the performance, because the mixing action or mechanism will greatly dictate how the unit performs. There are many stand mixers these days that have unique mixing mechanisms. Look through each of them to see which ones are more effective in mixing and kneading.
Power
Performance of stand mixers is also often attributed to the motor and its wattage. Although this is not a conclusive basis, it is still a good point to look at, because you definitely would want a powerful stand mixer so it can deliver even when you are dealing with heavy dough.
Dough capacity is one consideration, but it shouldn’t be the most important one. The stand mixer should be powerful enough to handle all types of ingredients and even the heavier doughs. Otherwise, you’ll only end up spending money on a stand mixer that cannot do what it is supposed to.
Build Quality
Many people tend to look at the exterior and stop there. If it looks good, it should also work well, right? Well, this is not really a conclusive generalization because what matters is what’s inside the housing.
Your focus when looking at the exterior of the stand mixer is its durability. Look at the materials used. What are they made of? Cheap plastic? High-grade stainless steel? Or some other type of metal, perhaps? Whatever it is, what you should look for is a unit that is durable, stable, and is sure to last you for a long time.
The design should also make the stand mixer easy to operate. A good example would be how many stand mixers have that tilt-head design, which allows users to easily remove the bowl and put it back.
