Stand Mixer Questions

[fastrob]

We cook quite a bit, most do.
It is cheaper that way and can be quite tasty.
My favorite is a KitchenAid stand mixer for making pizza dough.
It is a bit heavy to lug around and I have an opportunity to buy something new.
What do you use?

[mutcth]

Kitchenaid as well. I always do pizza dough in the food processor though.

Tom

[cameront120]

I too have a kitchenaid stand mixer and love it. For pizza dough, I often use my cuisinart food processor. In fact, once you get the hang of it, the food processor can do a lot of the things your stand mixer does.

[Kevin245]

I use a 6-Qt. KitchenAid at home for bread and pie doughs, and for making mashed potatoes. It's a workhorse but it weighs a ton so it doesn't travel with us.

Kevin

[fastrob]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

I use a 6-Qt. KitchenAid at home for bread and pie doughs, and for making mashed potatoes. It's a workhorse but it weighs a ton so it doesn't travel with us.

Kevin

I love the KitchenAid but not the weight.
A food processor sounds good.
Any food processor brands preferred?

[Kevin245]

I have a cuisinart. It's good unit but we just don't use it very much. Probably been used a couple of time in the last three years.

Its definitely lighter than the stand mixer. Just not one of my "Go To" items in the kitchen for some reason.

[wkerfoot]

How about by hand in a bowl? After all it is only pizza dough with what, 2 cups of flour, not bread dough recipe with 24 cups of flour. An additional advantage is that you don't need 110V.

Bill

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

How about by hand in a bowl? After all it is only pizza dough with what, 2 cups of flour, not bread dough recipe with 24 cups of flour. An additional advantage is that you don't need 110V.

Bill

Yes!! The way bread and yeast doughs have been made for centuries! You don't even need electricity, if you really want to go back to basics. You can use charcoal and your Dutch Oven.

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

How about by hand in a bowl? After all it is only pizza dough with what, 2 cups of flour, not bread dough recipe with 24 cups of flour. An additional advantage is that you don't need 110V.

Bill

I baked a lot as a child and teenager - and did bread dough by hand. Mom's old Mixmaster wasn't quite up to heavy dough any more.

Of course I should NOW make the argument that the exercise of doing it by hand could help outweigh the calories of consuming it! However I'd also be less than honest if I didn't acknowledge that my semi-arthritic hands might not be up to it at this stage. I've never seen a free standing unit that could push bread dough around though. I'll have to borrow the neighbor's food processor and try a crust or two. Don't forget you can refrigerate the dough for a couple of days with no problem.

Paula

[fastrob]

My wife took the kitchenAide to Az.
I was thinking there must be a way to make dough other than a heavy KitchenAide.
You folks chimed in. I was still not satisfied having looked through the sale ads so I googled up dough machine. Up popped the Bread Machine. The author suggested the bread machine makes mediocre bread but is great for making dough. Duh!
We have 2! One we bought our son as a present and another I picked up at the dump.
Light weight and until I move to Az better than buying another KitchenAide.

You folks are great.

[mutcth]

You should take a look at the no-knead recipes for bread. (A few years ago Mark Bittman of the New York Times publicized a recipe on his blog - you can search for it there.)

No mixer at all needed. The only heavy thing you need is a dutch oven (we use our cast iron one), but that can multitask unlike a bread machine. You also need time to let the dough rise.

Tom

[TomW]

We only make pizza in the Fall, though. The Magic Chef will smoke you out if you're not careful.

Tom

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by mutcth

You should take a look at the no-knead recipes for bread. (A few years ago Mark Bittman of the New York Times publicized a recipe on his blog - you can search for it there.)

No mixer at all needed. The only heavy thing you need is a dutch oven (we use our cast iron one), but that can multitask unlike a bread machine. You also need time to let the dough rise.

Tom

You can find a similar recipe on The Splendid Table NPR show.

Bill

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

You can find a similar recipe on The Splendid Table NPR show.

LOL. We listened to podcasts of that during our 5 week road trip with the T@B. It's a bit OT, but the "Cheater BBQ" book they mentioned there is surprisingly good. Also try the slow-cooked ancho chile pork recipe.

Back to bread: We've been trying a no-knead recipe from Cooks Illustrated, but despite their claims of reliability, our success rate is probably about 75% with it. I'm kind of a sloppy measurer when I bake, which is a recipe for disaster. Still, the method always gives an impressive crust - haven't touched our bread machine for years.

Tom

[sempi2]

[Q. (A few years ago Mark Bittman of the New York Times publicized a recipe on his blog - you can search for it there.)

No mixer at all needed. The only heavy thing you need is a dutch oven (we use our cast iron one), but that can multitask unlike a bread machine. You also need time to let the dough rise.

Tom[/QUOTE]
Made this bread and it was wonderful.

[let's play]

we use a 64 qt hobart, mix 25lbs of flour at a time. but seriously, can't beat a kitchen aid, bullet proof!

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by let's play

we use a 64 qt hobart, mix 25lbs of flour at a time. but seriously, can't beat a kitchen aid, bullet proof!

You are making a lot of bread! Do you have a lovely little bakery we can visit?

I use this recipe for dinner rolls and filled rolls, such as cinnamon, orange, etc. It is yummy and reliable. I have used a little less water and doubled the amount of eggs, to make a richer dough. It not only doesn't require kneading, but rises in the refrigerator. Have not made loaf bread with it, but you could.

Refrigerator Dough:

2 packages quick acting dry yeast, softened in 2 1/2 cups warm water
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4-1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
8-8 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt

Add oil, sugar, eggs, salt and 4 cups of the flour to the water/yeast mixture. Stir and beat first with a whisk and then hard with a wooden spoon til smooth and dough starts to become elastic. Stir in enough of the remaining flour until you have a firm but still soft dough, using your hands as dough becomes more firm. Place in oiled container, large enough to accommodate rising, turn to coat, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight or til needed in next 2-3 days.

[mrsdinapoli]

Cuisinart does 90% of what a mixer will do. No other food processor is up to the Cuisinart standard.

[Mackhopp]

I love that no-knead bread recipe - it makes the most amazing breads. I've been the hit of many a campsite with that recipe.