Do you love your bread but hate the time it takes to make it by hand. Have you been looking for an appliance that makes making homemade bread simple? If so, take a look at this article and find out why I think a stand mixer will be a better choice than a bread machine.
More and more bread machines are being sold on the market. There are small counter-top models and large appliances that can make a couple loaves of bread, as well as other small appliances with all sorts of recipes for cakes, pies, and breads.
I’ve heard it said that you will get what you pay for with a bread machine. That is true in most cases, but should you buy a more expensive machine? Is there really much difference between the high-end machines and the cheaper ones?
My answer to these questions is yes. In fact I would say it’s definitely worth spending a bit more money if possible because there really is a difference in quality between machines on the market today.
As part of my research for this article I reviewed the bread machines on the market and read a lot of reviews from other people who have used these machines. What I found was that there are three main brands: Panasonic, DeLonghi, and Cuisinart. The first two brands are closer in price points than the last.
I decided to purchase the more expensive Panasonic brand because it has received consistently high ratings from users, as well as from sales people that sell bread machines.
Panasonic has several models of bread machine, ranging from one which makes a single loaf to over six or eight different sizes. The bigger models have more settings as well, so they can be used for various types of bread.
One big difference you will notice between the Panasonic and the other two brands is that most of their bread machines are made out of metal, unlike Cuisinart which uses plastic.
There is a wide range of accessories available for the bread machines. The accessories depend on the type of machine you buy and which model it is, but many come with everything needed to get started making your own bread. Other accessories include: measuring cups, dough hooks and kneading blades (for dough). They also have special racks that you can use to bake bread in small pans or large cookie sheets .
I’ll answer questions in the comments section so feel free to join in on the conversation! #bakerlifeoverload
A stand mixer is my personal favorite type of kitchen appliance because they are versatile and can handle any task from kneading dough to whipping up pies. With a stand mixer, you don’t have to be limited to the recipes provided in a book or on the back of a box. You can use many kinds of food (whole grain, gluten-free, etc.) and even flavorings (in place of milk or cream) that would not normally be used in baking conventional breads.
A stand mixer can make practically any batter, from a basic pancake mix to cookie dough and cake. I love these appliances because they save time and effort when you are in the kitchen. You don’t have to babysit them while they bake or clean up after they finish. If you want to do something else while the machine is working, you can go do something else!
It really doesn’t matter if you use a glass bowl or metal bowl because both will work the same way. The power of your motor will determine how quickly it operates and how well it works, but that doesn’t mean that one is better than the other.
I love my stand mixer because it is easy to use and makes baking bread a breeze. I make bread at least once a week, but sometimes more often than that if I want to give some away or if I want to tweak the recipe a bit. I also use this appliance in place of my kids’ toys. Sometimes they will help me make bread (with supervision) while they play with the beaters and dough hooks. It’s great family fun!
A stand mixer may be an expensive purchase up front, but it will save you money over time because you’ll get years of performance out of it, in addition to all of the money you’ll save on premade mixes that can be replaced with homemade versions.
Bread Machines Go Up Against Stand Mixers In This Comparison
One way to make homemade bread with a machine is by filling it with ingredients and then setting it on a table. This is called “storing bread” and is typically done at home or when traveling.
While this is a quick and easy way to make bread, it doesn’t give you any choice as to what goes into that loaf of bread. You can just throw in some flours, yeast and salt and hit “start.” With a machine like the Breadman Pro 550, you can make it how you want. You can mix in your choice of fruit or nuts, add whole wheat flour or use the machine’s recipe book to see what other ingredients your local grocery store has. In addition, the many variations on this machine’s recipes are most likely more well known than any of your own favorite recipes. Another thing to note is that bread machines come with recipes that are intended for the machine. They usually don’t take into account that you may want to use your machine to make vanilla or gourmet breads.
In a comparison between the two types of machines, I honestly think that a stand mixer will win out against a bread machine. The reason is because you can make just about any type of bread with the right ingredients and great results. The machines are much more limited when it comes down to what kinds of ingredients they can use or their “flavor”. The endless possibilities a stand mixer can provide you is better than the pre-programmed settings that you get with a bread machine.
One last thing to note is that, with a stand mixer you are able to control how much mixing your ingredients will receive. This helps to lighten up your dough from adding too much flour or butter. And who wants a heavy loaf of bread? (I know I don’t!)
A great example of this is in these cinnamon rolls! To “proof” yeast (to ensure it’s alive and ready for action) you want to give it some love by hand. Just aim the palm of your hand (off the counter) and punch down on the dough while making little kneading motions.
For a stand mixer, you simply attach the dough hook and prepare it to the desired look. A good rule of thumb is if your dough looks like a tennis ball, you’re good to go. The less flour you can use, the lighter your bread will be. And everyone knows that brown and wheat breads are better than white breads!
This blog post contains affiliate links which provide me with a small compensation when readers make purchases through my links. All opinions shared here are my own and do not reflect those of Breadman or its affiliates in any way, shape or form.
Can I use bread machine as a mixer?
Bread machines are designed for preparing bread dough, therefore, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to use it as a stand mixer. For example, mixing the ingredients in the bread machine will not go as fine as a stand mixer. You can’t expect that the bread machine performs all functions or duties that a stand mixer does.
As a beginner in baking bread by hand, I suggest you to start with small quantities of ½ cup of flour. After some practice and experience, you will be able to take bigger quantities without any problem at all.
Bread machine recipes?
Many bread machine recipes are pre-programmed for the domestic use. On the other hand, you can also buy recipe books on home baking from the stores that sell opened breads. The ingredients and instructions are described in simple English and can be easily followed by anyone.
You can use a bread machine as a mixer for making cakes, cookies, muffins and other baked products but this may not be practical or possible without some changes being made to the recipe. You will need to use a heavy duty stand mixer instead of the one built into your bread machine. For example, you will need to prepare up to double (more) volume on your mixing bowl.
Is a bread maker good for gluten free recipes?
I would not recommend a bread maker for making gluten free breads or cookies because it does not knead the dough by hand. If you are looking for a bread machine for making gluten free loaves, I would recommend something like the T-fal Duralite 2-1/2-Quart 600-Watt Bread Maker. If you’re looking for something more robust and durable, I would suggest looking into the Le Creuset 4 1/2 Quart Round Metal Bread Baking Pan. This would be perfect for using as a mixer or for baking breads.
How many loaves are you able to make with a bread machine?
The number of loaves that you can get out of the flour mixture depends on the type and amount of ingredients used for the recipe. The ingredients used can also affect the size of the loaf. A somewhat standard loaf from a basic beaters-only baking is around 3 lbs. However, if you are using a variety of flours, fruits and nuts along with yeast, your result may be very different. The recipes that come with your machine will explain how much liquid you need to add to reach this amount and how much weight your mixture will add.
Is a stand mixer worth it for bread?
A stand mixer is a good choice for making bread. It makes mixing the ingredients easier and fun. It will also ensure that your bread is well mixed because you can follow up with kneading. A stand mixer comes with a dough hook attachment which allows you to mix your mixture evenly.
But what if I don’t want to use a stand mixer?
You can still make perfect dough by hand, but it may take some practice before you learn how to mix and knead the ingredients properly. Even so, you can still achieve the same results as a hand-held mixer by performing two tasks: mixing and kneading the ingredients separately.
Is it better to mix bread dough by hand or mixer?
It depends on what you want to achieve. If it is your desire to make a very liquid dough, there is no benefit to using a mixer because a hand-held mixer can turn out the same results. When making bread dough by hand, you will need less fat especially if you are only making small quantities at home. On the other hand, if you are making large amounts of dough or have stiff ingredients like butter and sugar, it’s better to use a mixer for easier mixing and kneading of ingredients. There’s also the problem of sanitation that occurs when using your hands to knead moist ingredients (like yeast).
CONCLUSION:
It is good to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both before deciding on what to use for mixing the ingredients. If you still have a question about whether our stand mixer or bread machine is best for making dough, I would just recommend that you try both already! You can do it if you want to because the recipes are simply fantastic! 🙂 A bread machine mixes ingredients and kneads dough so that all you have to do is wait for the timer to beep. But if you want even better results, then I suggest using a free standing electric mixer with a dough hook attachment. With a standing mixer, you’re able to control how much mixing your ingredients will receive.
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