kourtney
130 posts
Jan 07, 2006
12:34 PM
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This is not strictly vegan-related, but I'm hoping some of you have experience kneading whole wheat doughs with a stand mixer. I bought a KitchenAid Pro 600, which is their most powerful mixer, mainly to make recipes from the Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book, which have turned out amazingly well when I've made them by hand but I don't often have time to do this. The first time I used the machine, it cut out after 9 minutes kneading time, sending off little puffs of white smoke. I had been checking the dough throughout and the gluten was not fully developed at this point. After much arguing with KitchenAid, a representative acknowledged that the machine could not be expected to knead dough made with 6 cups of flour for 12 minutes (my best guess of how much longer the dough kneaded).
So, I'm returning it and saving up for a better machine. I've heard good things about Hobart machines. Are there any other brands I should be looking at?
I'm also considering whether I should try to find an old-school KitchenAid from when they were made decently. If you have an old KitchenAid (or other stand mixer), would you recommend it and what model/approximate year is it?
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Dori
288 posts
Jan 07, 2006
4:42 PM
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Hi! I have a BOSCH Universal. I knead 3 to 6 loaves of wonderful whole grain bread in six minutes and have been regularly for the past four years, then I have some made ahead for freezing. I use whole grain flour that I mill in my own kitchen grain mill. I love it and consider it an essential piece of kitchen equipment. To be honest I have used my machine well above the average user (as I used it for a business and put it through making over 96 loaves of bread a week for the past two years) and it still works as good as the first day I got it.
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"To cook is to create. And to create well...is an act of integrity, and faith." - author unknown
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1363 posts
Jan 07, 2006
5:49 PM
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I second that! I have had one for years and years. My husband bakes 30 loaves a week to sell locally and it just goes and goes. Go to my "recommended cookware" page for more info:
http://www.bryannaclarkgrogan.com/page/page/702617.htm
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
Last Edited Bryanna on 7-Jan-2006 5:51 PM
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kourtney
131 posts
Jan 08, 2006
8:02 AM
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Thank you so much for the tip! I have a Bosh washer and dryer and I think they're just great, so I'll definitely look in to whether I can buy their stand mixer locally.
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Brenda W.
42 posts
Jan 08, 2006
10:36 AM
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Here's another vote for the Bosch Universal. As the others have said, it handles large amounts of dough, easily kneading whole grains w/ no problems.
I've had mine for years .... don't remember exactly how long, but at least 12 or so, and it just keeps on going and going.
I especially love the blender attachment. More powerful than any other blender I've tried.
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kourtney
132 posts
Jan 09, 2006
10:08 AM
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This morning, upon hearing about my KitchenAid woes, one of my coworkers told me I should buy the Bosch because her mum has had it for years and makes great whole wheat breads with it.
I guess it's unanimous :)
Oddly, Cook's Illustrated didn't love the Bosch, but I think they make mostly white breads, which I guess the KitchenAid can handle.
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kourtney
141 posts
Jan 31, 2006
6:10 AM
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I just wanted to say thank you for recommending the Bosch! I ordered it from healthykitchens.com and received it yesterday. I immediately made the dough that had caused the KitchenAid to send up smoke and the Bosch kneaded it until the gluten was fully developed no problem. I can't believe how light it is! The KitchenAid was a struggle to carry, whereas I brought the Bosch home on the bus no problem.
I'm giddy :)
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Brenda W.
45 posts
Jan 31, 2006
6:11 PM
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kourtney, Enjoy your new Bosch!! You're going to love it! I'm so glad your first experience with it went so well!!
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