"Storrmmee" > wrote:
> this is something i am considering atm, made good use of the abm, always
> just used a hand mixer but am reading about the benifits of the nicer food
> processors. now since i rarely make cakes or things that need a big mixer,
> but like the idea of using the bigger mixer or a food processor for the
> bread kneading chores i am curious to hear other's opinions, when we get
> back into the house i would like to make several kinds of rolls to get ready
> to bake and then freeze them. doing this will allow us to cook just what we
> want for that meal, which once we decide the meal will allow the bread to
> cook whilst the rest is being prepared.
>
> what say all of you who have experience with all three items, if you could
> only buy one of the three, which one and why? which would help most to you
> for bulk cooking and preserving? Lee

My problem with bread making at home is that the long cold winters makes it
difficult for the dough too rise. I also prefer the house temperature to be
no more than 70F and dough rises poorly at that temp. A bread machine has
heating elements in for making dough for roll ands pizzas. I will make
sourdough breads during the summer in which house temperature is ideal for
sourdoughs. I also freeze the doughs for pizzas and for rolls.

I cannot justify owning a large stand mixer, because I will still have to
let the dough rise somewhere it is warm. I do own a nice food processor
with a dough blade and it does a good job for the smaller amounts of dough
during the summer and for candy making. I also use the dough blade to make
corn tortillas. For general mixing, making cookies and other things, I find
the hand mixer works just fine.

My food processor only has a 12 cup capacity which is fine for me. If you
plan on making large amounts of breads a stand mixer may be a very useful.

Excluding the cost of the ABM, mine cost around $150. It cost less than
fifty cents to make a loaf of basic sandwich bread. I also use the bread
machine more often than the food processor or hand mixer. The cleanup with
the bread machine as almost none existent. The food processor has several
parts to clean

But this discussion was well covered the the Cooking newsgroup last week.

--
Nad