On Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:01:02 -0400, wrote:

>I'm looking into getting a stand mixer. I'm looking at two Kitchen Aid models.
>One is a six quart, 575 watt model and the other is a five quart, 325 watt
>model. My question is,which one do I need for basic baking and hopefully bread
>making. They both come with a dough hook. It's only my wife and myself and we
>really don't do much entertaining. I'm retired and would like to get into
>baking. I already do all the other cooking :-) Any suggestions from those of
>you who own a stand mixer? Thanks.

I don't know if this still holds true, but my old K45 tended to walk
around. Perhaps the newer less wattage ones are heavier bodied and
don't walk.
Janet US

On Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:13:10 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:52:58 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>>And IMHO, listening to advice from Janet Bostwick about bread baking
>>will do you even better than reading Reinhart...and that is "The Bread
>>Baker's Apprentice," by the way.
>>
>>Boron
>
>Boron, thank you for saying that, it was kind of you. But I respect
>your knowledge and hands on expertise and am in awe of your 'feel' for
>the dough.

Our mutual admiration society, madam.
>
>I can't imagine what would make Chemiker get small crumb results when
>he uses a mixer. I can only think that maybe he is making too dry a
>dough in the mixer just because he doesn't see the dough clear the
>bowl the way he thinks it should and keeps on adding flour? Unless he
>is handling too much/too roughly after rise .
>Janet US

Indeed. It is decent hydration, accurate proofing and careful shaping
and handling that makes for the holiest of breads.

Stretch and fold, hand kneading or mixer, preferment, straight yeast,
or sourdough can any and all lead to a good textured loaf if the other
"rules" are followed.

Even NO kneading can lead to a nice holey texture.

Boron

I have the Kitchenaid Classic- it is the 250 watt model. As far as
bread goes, it *can* do a two-loaf mass of bread. If it's 100% whole
wheat it really struggles, but it does it. As many have said, the
bigger the better. I knew this already because my ex-gf had one of
these and I made bread with it on a weekly basis. After we split up,
she offered it to me, but I declined. I was looking at the Pro 6
series for awhile, but I picked this one up on Craigslist for $75. Who
could say no?

I affectionately refer to it as "my Kitchen Tractor". That's manly
and stuff. I should paint flames on it.

I've found plenty of other uses for it too. I think the most common
thing I use it for is mixing meatloaf. I always intend to get some
more attachments for it (start buying wheat in bulk and grinding it
myself at home, get the juicer and stop drinking soda for life, etc.)
but I haven't yet.

I'm one of those "sorta disabled" types. I have a pretty good case of
tendonitis in my wrists and stuff, and kneading dough is too
strenuous. I wish it wasn't but it is. Having a mixer to knead it
for me makes the art of making bread almost effortless. Even if I
only pull the KA out once a month, I still say it was worth the $75.

Besides. *everyone* loves fresh baked bread. Everyone.

-J

On 7/28/2011 2:47 AM, phaeton wrote:
>
> I'm one of those "sorta disabled" types. I have a pretty good case of
> tendonitis in my wrists and stuff, and kneading dough is too
> strenuous. I wish it wasn't but it is. Having a mixer to knead it
> for me makes the art of making bread almost effortless. Even if I
> only pull the KA out once a month, I still say it was worth the $75.

The KA mixer (5-qt Artisan model) in my home gets used to make cheese
straws, for the most part. It's an familial obligation. If I didn't
have the KA (shredder attachment included), I wouldn't be able to make
the holiday cheese straws - or for any other special occasions -- due to
"sorta disabled" reasons, too. Any version of the KA mixer is well
worth its investment, IMO

Sky

--

Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice!!

phaeton > wrote:
-snip-
>I affectionately refer to it as "my Kitchen Tractor". That's manly
>and stuff. I should paint flames on it.

No need to paint-- decals have been made
http://flameka.com/default.aspx
[also cow spots and WWII aircraft design]

I've always treated tools as 'tools', not as show-things. . . But
I've got to admit I think some of the ones on the pictures page are
cool.

Jim

phaeton wrote:
>
>I have the Kitchenaid Classic- it is the 250 watt model.
>I think the most common thing I use it for is mixing meatloaf.

Why? Don't you have hands? Machine mixing ruins ground meat texture,
it smears.

On Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:02:15 -0400, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:

>phaeton wrote:
>>
>>I have the Kitchenaid Classic- it is the 250 watt model.
>>I think the most common thing I use it for is mixing meatloaf.
>
>Why? Don't you have hands? Machine mixing ruins ground meat texture,
>it smears.

Don't be telling them how to use their mixer spam boy.

>
> Just for another angle on this, I don't own a standmixer and don't
> want one, but I LOVE my bread machine. *It bakes the bread too,
> something the stand mixer won't do. *Think upon these things.

Yes, but a bread machine isn't multi-purpose other than mixing and
baking BREAD. When was the last time you put an attachment on your
bread machine and ground meat? juiced a carrot? made pasta?
shredded cheese? whipped frosting for a cake? You can do a ton of
other stuff with a stand mixer beyond kneading bread.

N.

On Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:30:02 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> wrote:

>
>>
>> Just for another angle on this, I don't own a standmixer and don't
>> want one, but I LOVE my bread machine. *It bakes the bread too,
>> something the stand mixer won't do. *Think upon these things.
>
>Yes, but a bread machine isn't multi-purpose other than mixing and
>baking BREAD. When was the last time you put an attachment on your
>bread machine and ground meat? juiced a carrot? made pasta?
>shredded cheese? whipped frosting for a cake? You can do a ton of
>other stuff with a stand mixer beyond kneading bread.
>
>N.

Although I agree that an EM is a handy-dandy too, and great for all
sorts of kitchen tasks, my old Zoji bread maker (20 yrs old and passed
along ages ago to my FIL who says it still works), had settings for
making cakes and for making jam.

I used my bread maker to ease myself into bread making, although I did
not realize it at the time I bought it and used it, but as I came to
be comfortable with what it did, I realized that having a mixer (this
was in the old days, before stretch and fold become popular) could let
me make 5+ loaves at a time, instead of one. I bought a DLX and never
looked back.

I also have a KA 6 qt that is ok, but I do not consider it a serious
bread machine - not at my house and with my crazy batches of dough,
anyway - but for any normal human being it'd be terrific.

Boron

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