On Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:26:09 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:48:38 -0400, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:30:07 -0700 (PDT), Denise in NH
> wrote:
>>
>>>On Jul 26, 5:01*pm, 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 have the larger one and don't regret getting it, even though there's
>>>only the two of us here. I love it for bread. If cost isn't an
>>>issue, go for the bigger one.
>>
>>First thing is to ask yourself how often you'll use it and for what,
>>and be honest. Neither can knead more dough than one can easily by
>>hand, those bowls are too small and neither has the power to knead the
>>heavier doughs in any large amounts... and no machine can knead dough
>>better than human hands... I'd not get either unless you're disabled.
>>I'd suggest a quality hand mixer instead, KA makes a nice one, a lot
>>less money and needs little storeage space. Only down side is you
>>can't display it to impress anyone except those that really cook.
>>Years ago when I had stand mixers I still most often reached for my
>>hand mixer, did the job as well if not better and so much less clean
>>up. And btw, wattage is power consumed, not power produced... those
>>higher wattage stand mixers produce more heat is all... the larger
>>machine produces excessive heat mostly due to the larger bowl
>>diameter. If you insist on a stand mixer go with the smaller, it's
>>more efficient.
>
>A hand mixer is fine if you want to whip cream or mix a box cake mix.
>They want to make bread. Your notion that a hand mixer will do bread
>dough is nonsense. A stand mixer is fine for bread dough. It makes
>short order of mixing the goopy part of bread dough and handles
>kneading the dough just fine. Not everyone can handle bread dough
>without pain in fingers and wrists.
>Janet US

I can handle the dough but why? I toss the stuff in the bowl and turn
the machine on. And yes shemp is wrong again. I have the KA hand
mixer and there's no way it can be used for dough.

Lou