another kitchen aid mixer question

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thanks to all of you who answered about the kitchen aid mixer question. now i have another one.

how many of you use it to knead bread dough? i have a bread machine and i am not very fond of it. due to some aches and pains, i find it difficult and uncomfortable to knead much by hand. does it work well for mixing and kneading dough? if so, how big a machine to get? any other tips?

thanks

gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), March 28, 2001

Answers

We use ours for mixing bread dough and it has no problems. We have the "Classic" which is 250 watts. Its ths one that the head lifts up on, as I didn't want to have to crank the bowl down to take it off the stand. Just seemed more convenient to me.

-- Nancy (sonflower35@icqmail.com), March 29, 2001.

We have no problem with bread dough. We have the crank type mixer.

-- David in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), March 29, 2001.

I dumped my breadmaker in favor of my Kitchen Aid and I've had no problems. I have their basic model and wish I had a larger version so I could make more loaves at one time.

-- Diane (dshogren@uswest.net), March 29, 2001.

Same here. Get a bigger one though if your recipes make a lot.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), March 29, 2001.

Any KitchenAid mixer has three basic "paddles"--a wire beater, a mixing blade and a dough hook. It works great. I would recommend the size (not sure what the exact size is) that has the handle on the side of the bowl. The handle helps a lot when you're manipulating it for whatever reason.

-- Betsy in NY (sassyweitzel@yahoo.com), March 29, 2001.


My Kitchenaid mixer is the 325 watt heavy duty. It easily kneads 3 loaves of bread at a time without struggling at all. I also use it to mix biscuits, mash potatoes, mix meatloaf and numerous other things. I would not want to do without it! The whip attachment is great for making whipped cream or beating egg whites. I fully expect it to last the rest of my life but if anything should happen to it, I'd immediately go out and get another one.

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), March 29, 2001.

Do any of you have the grain mill attachment? Does it work well, or would I be better off buying a separate grain mill?

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), March 29, 2001.

I would be curious about the grain mill attachment too. I feel sure it would work fine. For some reason I bought the grain mill attachment that goes on my Champion Juicer (another good product) and I've been very pleased with it. I only have to put the grain through once and the flour is very nice and fine. I would expect that the one to fit the Kitchenaid would be very similar. If I didn't already have the Champion, I would not hesitate to get the Kitchenaid grain mill attachment.

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), March 29, 2001.

My Kitchen Aid is the smallest wattage, but I find that it works great for kneading two loaf recipes. We're just a two person family now so that's all we need (knead!!??). My bowls came without the handles, but you can order bowls to fit it with handles.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), March 29, 2001.

Hey Gene, . . . Bosch Universal, 6 loaves, all day long, no strain. 'Nuf said. I'll shut up and go away now. Right after I post some sites. :0) (No I don't own stock, just love the machine.)

http://www.best-bosch.com/#Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine - New, $359.95, includes shipping

http://boschcanada.com/used-items.html - Used machine, 18 yrs old (gives you an idea of the longevity of this machine), reconditioned, 30-day warranty, $115

Store demos are cheaper than new, when you can find them. They crop up occasionally on eBay, but usually go for $200 or more.

OK, that's really it now.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), March 30, 2001.



Like so many of the others, I too, use my KitchenAid for making bread. I bought it specifically for that reason as a matter of fact. I opted for the 5 quart model that is rated by wattage at 325 watts. With the ease that a KitchenAid makes bread, I wouldn't own a bread machine.

Laura, the Bosch sounds great from their advertising and from your comments. I notice that it is belt driven. Do you keep a spare belt around for it? Would belt replacement be easy or would the machine have to be sent away? I kind of question some of their advertising too. They claim the 5 quart machine will handle 14 pounds of dough. At 16 ounces to the pound, 14 pounds would yield 224 ounces. If you divide that by 32 ounces to the quart, it would give you 7 quarts--7 quarts in a 5 quart bowl doesn't compute very well. Just how dense of dough are they using anyway? LOL. Making bread bricks?

Still it sounds like a good machine. Hope that we can each have our machines and opinions without my upsetting you. That was not my intent.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), March 30, 2001.


Hey, Notforprint (gbm), no ruffled feathers here. Sounds like you Kitchenaid as well as I like my Bosch! As for density, when I put wheat into water, it sinks, so it's more dense, right? Same with sugar and salt, so 224 oz. in mass isn't always 224 oz. in volume. Pounds usually refer to mass, quarts to volume. Also, different sites say different things. Some say 14 pounds, some say 12. Still, you may have a point; I just never tried more than six loaves at a time. :-)

As for the belt, I copied this from a site:

The Bosch Belt: Universal's transmission uses a belt drive design so strong that fewer than 1% fail within twenty years. And that's twenty years of heavier work than most mixers see, because the Univeral's reputation as a workhorse causes it to be purchased by a higher percentage of cooks who place high demands on their equipment. The belt drive also prevents motor failures from the heat that develops in the cramped gear enclosures of overhead drive machines.

All I know is that I myself have never heard of a Bosch failing, and I've known several people who've owned them. I never even knew they were belt driven. Learn something every day, huh?

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@seedlaw.com), March 30, 2001.


Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that the lids cover the ENTIRE bowl, so maybe some of their 14 or 12 or whatever pounds is above the actual rim of the bowl. Still, that would be a pretty darn full 5-quart bowl. Again, I don't know how they got their figures, so can't verify them for sure.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@seedlaw.com), March 30, 2001.

I'm considering (actually DREAMING about) buying a KitchenAid mixer. I also need a wheat grinder, so I thought maybe I'd buy the mill attachment when I get my machine. Does the mill attachment work well? Anyone with any experience here would be most appreciated!

I really appreciate all your posts, you've helped me with my decision. Thanks, Emily

-- Emily Taylor (pescados2@yahoo.com), July 19, 2001.


I have recently purchased the Bosch Universal...I find that on smaller recipes, say 3 cups flour plus other ingredients, I have to shut it down and redistribute the dough at times because it has stuck to the kneading hooks and then just spins in the bowl without any kneading taking place. I called th Bosch rep and they said it's because the Bosch is intended for larger jobs.

Any such problems with small dough amounts with your Kitchenaids?

I struggled with the desision to purhase the Bosch over the Kitchenaid, and I'm still within my 30 day moneyback gaurentee, I'm considering sending it back in favor of the K/A sinse I frequently do smaller doughs.

-- Tom (tomcrites@yahoo.com), September 09, 2001.



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