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What is a Bread Dough Mixer?

Cassie L. Damewood
Cassie L. Damewood

A bread dough mixer is a kitchen appliance capable of thoroughly incorporating the dry and wet ingredients in yeast-based bread and pizza dough recipes. Most hand mixers, as well as many stand mixers, are competent in mixing ingredients for cake batters, cookies and quick breads that do not contain yeast. Most, however, cannot effectively mix yeast bread dough because the ratio of dry ingredients to wet ingredients is much higher than in any other recipe; a bread dough mixer is usually required.

A few popular brands of stand mixers include dough hooks in their attachments. This is a handy tool for kneading non-yeast dough as it produces the desired smoothness and elasticity in a much shorter time period than hand kneading. Yeast bread dough, however, can not be kneaded until it is thoroughly and evenly mixed, the task at which many mixers fail. A mixer may occasionally succeed in properly mixing the dough, but the risk of permanently damaging its motor is high. Forcing the machine into submission can also be a trying and messy experience.

Many stand mixers come with a dough hook for mixing bread dough.
Many stand mixers come with a dough hook for mixing bread dough.

When bread-making machines were introduced, many proved to be not only successful mixers of dough, but most also turned out high-quality baked yeast breads. The machine was often used to mix and knead the bread dough, then the cook would bake the bread in a traditional oven. These machines are well equipped for mixing and kneading yeast doughs, but most hold very small quantities of ingredients and are much harder to clean than a traditional mixing bowl and dough hook.

People who enjoy fresh-baked bread often invest in a bread dough mixer.
People who enjoy fresh-baked bread often invest in a bread dough mixer.

Many makers of heavy-duty mixers claim their machines are capable of performing as a bread dough mixer, but a significant number of consumers disagree. The majority of complaints focus on the mixer overheating when more than five or six cups of flour is added to the bowl. Some users noted that the mixers not only failed to fully incorporate the dry and wet ingredients, but also did not provide enough power to properly develop the gluten. This commonly results in a poorly risen bread.

Bread dough mixers are often used for yeast doughs as an alternative to hand mixing.
Bread dough mixers are often used for yeast doughs as an alternative to hand mixing.

If a home baker finds a bread machine too inconvenient and hard to clean, but simply can not give up the desire to bake homemade bread, investing in a commercial-grade mixer is strongly suggested. These mixers are normally quite expensive, however. Used models can often be purchased at much lower prices on auction sites or at liquidation sales of commercial kitchen appliances. Keeping informed on newer, more powerful consumer mixers as they are introduced into the market is also recommended.

Discussion Comments

andee

Before I purchased an industrial bread dough mixer, I used my old bread machine to mix the dough. This was much better than mixing the dough by hand.

If I had the time, after mixing the dough in the machine, I would place it on a pan and let it rise and then bake in the oven. I like the taste of the fresh bread better when it is baked in a conventional oven than in the bread machine.

My industrial bread mixer is wonderful though. It can make several loaves of bread at once and even grinds the grain so I really have fresh bread.

John57

I have a Vita-Mix machine that I use to make all kinds of fruit and vegetable juices. I also love to make fresh bread, so I purchased the dry blade that fits on the Vita-Mix machine used to grind grain and also mix dough.

With this attachment you can do everything you need to make a loaf of bread and then just pour the dough into a greased loaf pan, let it rise and then bake it.

The only disadvantage to this, is it doesn't make more than one loaf at a time. If you want to make many loaves of bread at once, I think the Bosch bread mixer is the best way to go.

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    • Many stand mixers come with a dough hook for mixing bread dough.
      By: olympus E5
      Many stand mixers come with a dough hook for mixing bread dough.
    • People who enjoy fresh-baked bread often invest in a bread dough mixer.
      By: Maurice Metzger
      People who enjoy fresh-baked bread often invest in a bread dough mixer.
    • Bread dough mixers are often used for yeast doughs as an alternative to hand mixing.
      By: vimart
      Bread dough mixers are often used for yeast doughs as an alternative to hand mixing.