The 5 Best Stand Mixer for Bread Dough in 2023 [Expert Reviews]

You’ve taken the decision to start making your own bread at home. Best wishes! One of the small pleasures in life is freshly baked bread right out of the oven. However, you’ll need a dependable stand mixer that can handle kneading rich bread dough if you want to bake delicious artisanal loaves. It might be difficult to choose the best mixer for the task when there are so many options available. We’ve already done the research, so don’t worry. Based on performance, features, and affordability, we’ll go over our selections for the top 5 stand mixers for bread dough in 2023 in this post. With our extensive testing and evaluation process, you can confidently select and begin baking with a mixer. You’ll be well on your way to being a skilled home baker by the conclusion of this!

Stand Mixer vs Hand Mixer: Which Is Better for Bread Dough?

When it comes to kneading bread dough, a stand mixer is generally better than a hand mixer. Here are a few reasons why:

Power and Speed

Stand mixers typically have more powerful motors than hand mixers, with higher wattages that can handle the demanding task of kneading dough. They also often have a wider range of speeds, including a slow start to gently knead the dough, then faster speeds to develop the gluten. This allows you to perfectly control the kneading process.

Capacity

Stand mixers usually have larger bowls, around 4 to 6 quarts, that can handle larger batches of dough. This means you can make multiple loaves of bread, or extra large batches for events. A hand mixer typically maxes out at around 3 to 4 quarts, which may not be enough capacity for some recipes.

Stability

Stand mixers remain stationary on your countertop, so you don’t have to hold them while they’re running. This makes the kneading process much easier and less tiring. Stand mixers also often come with dough hooks, paddles, and whisks that securely lock into place, so you don’t have to worry about attachments coming loose or falling off like with some hand mixers.

Cost

While stand mixers are generally more expensive than hand mixers, they are a worthwhile investment if you frequently make bread. Over time, a stand mixer can save you a lot of effort and may produce better results. For occasional bakers or small batches, a hand mixer will work just fine and at a lower cost.

In the end, it comes down to how serious you are about bread baking. For most home bakers, a stand mixer is the superior choice for kneading dough and will give you professional quality results. But if you only make bread once in a while or prefer smaller portions, a hand mixer can absolutely get the job done.

Best Overall Stand Mixer for Bread Dough: KitchenAid Classic Series Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid Classic Series Stand Mixer is the best overall choice for kneading bread dough. This iconic mixer has been a staple in home kitchens for decades, and for good reason.

Power and Performance

With a 325-watt motor, this mixer can handle up to 9 cups of all-purpose flour at a time. It has 10-speed settings, so you can start slowly and work your way up to the perfect knead for your recipe. The flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip attachments are all dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Durability and Design

KitchenAid stand mixers are built to last. The polished stainless steel bowl has an ergonomic handle and is large enough for most recipes. The mixer itself has an all-metal construction and comes in 20 stunning colors to match your kitchen decor.

Additional Features

For the perfect loaf, use the dough hook to knead your dough on speed 2 for about 10 minutes. Then let the dough rise in an oiled bowl covered with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel in a warm area away from drafts. Once doubled in size, punch down the dough, shape it into loaves, and let it rise again before baking. The tilt-head design allows easy access to the bowl and attachments. A pouring shield prevents splatters, and the mixer comes with a 1-year hassle-free replacement warranty.

At around $250, the KitchenAid Classic Series Stand Mixer offers professional performance at an affordable price for home bakers. For kneading bread dough, you really can’t beat this iconic American-made appliance that’s built to handle years of use and recipes to come. Happy baking!

Best Budget Stand Mixer for Bread Dough: Hamilton Beach Electrics All-Metal Stand Mixer

The Hamilton Beach Electrics All-Metal Stand Mixer is a great budget-friendly option for kneading bread dough. At under $100, this mixer packs a powerful 300-watt motor that can handle up to 4 loaves of bread dough at a time.

Durability

The all-metal construction, including a stainless steel bowl, means this mixer is built to last. The planetary mixing action, where the beater spins on its own axis while revolving around the bowl, ensures even and thorough mixing. The mixer comes with basic attachments like dough hooks, beaters, and a whisk. While not as durable as a commercial mixer, for occasional home baking use, this Hamilton Beach model should stand up well to repeated use.

Capacity

The 4.5-quart stainless steel bowl can handle up to 4 loaves of bread dough at a time, which is perfect for most home bakers. For larger batches, you may need to mix the dough in batches to avoid overloading the motor. The bowl lifts up and out of the mixer base for easy adding of ingredients and removal of dough.

Settings

With six speed settings plus a pulse function, you have good control over the mixing speed. Start on low to gradually mix the ingredients, then increase to medium for kneading. The pulse button gives you short bursts of power for quickly incorporating mix-ins. For the best results when kneading dough, use speed 2 or 3. Higher speeds can overheat the motor.

Tips for Great Bread Dough

Here are some tips to get the perfect loaf of bread every time:

• •Use bread flour or all-purpose flour. Whole wheat flour can be heavier and harder to knead.
• •Add liquid ingredients gradually until the dough comes together. You can always add more flour or water, but you can’t take it out!
• •Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• •Punch down the dough. Knead briefly then shape into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan.
• •Let the loaf rise again for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
• •Bake at 350 F for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown.
• •Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and enjoying!

The Hamilton Beach Electrics All-Metal Stand Mixer, combined with these helpful tips, will have you churning out homemade loaves of bread in no time. For casual home bakers on a budget, this mixer offers great performance at an affordable price.

Best Commercial Style Stand Mixer for Bread Dough: KitchenAid Commercial Countertop Mixer

The KitchenAid Commercial Countertop Mixer is a powerhouse designed for serious home bakers and small bakeries. This commercial-grade stand mixer can handle up to 8 quarts of dough at a time, perfect for baking multiple loaves of bread or batches of cookies. It’s an investment, but will last for many years and can do the job of several appliances.

Power and Durability

With a 1.3 horsepower motor, this stand mixer packs some serious power. It can knead up to 8 pounds of bread dough without straining. The all-metal construction, including a stainless steel bowl, is built to withstand frequent use. This is a workhorse you can rely on for years of baking.

Versatility

The Commercial Countertop Mixer comes with three attachments: a dough hook, flat beater, and wire whisk. The dough hook is ideal for kneading yeast bread doughs, while the flat beater works well for cookie dough, and the whisk is perfect for whipping egg whites or cream. Additional attachments like pasta rollers, food grinders, and sausage stuffers are also available to increase this mixer’s functionality.

Capacity

The large 8-quart stainless steel bowl allows you to make up to 8 loaves of bread at a time. This high capacity is ideal for avid home bakers, allowing you to get all your baking done at once. The bowl has a handle for easy pouring and lifting and locks into place on the stand mixer base for stability.

Price

With a price tag between $450 to $850, the KitchenAid Commercial Countertop Mixer is an investment. However, when you consider how much use you’ll get out of this mixer and how long it will last, it may end up saving you money in the long run compared to less durable stand mixers. For the serious home baker, this professional-quality tool is worth the splurge.

If you’re looking for a stand mixer that can handle large batches and stand up to frequent use, the KitchenAid Commercial Countertop Mixer is a great choice. This heavy-duty mixer has the power and capacity to make all your favorite yeast breads, cookies, cakes and more—just on a much bigger scale. While it may be more mixer than the average home cook needs, for the avid baker it’s the perfect tool for the job.

Best for Large Batches: KitchenAid Pro 600 Series 6-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid Pro 600 Series 6-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer is ideal for avid home bakers making large batches of bread dough or other recipes. With its powerful 575-watt motor and 6-quart stainless steel mixing bowl, you’ll have no trouble kneading up to 13 dozen cookies or 8 loaves of bread at once.

Large Capacity

The oversized bowl can handle big recipes with ease. You’ll love being able to make extra cookies, cakes, or bread to share with family and friends or stock your freezer. And for smaller jobs, the bowl lift design makes it simple to raise and lower the bowl into place.

Durable and High Performance

Built to last, this stand mixer features all-metal construction, including an aluminum-alloy gear housing and a zinc alloy gearbox. The direct-drive transmission provides quiet, efficient power to the mixer head. And at 12 speeds, you have maximum control and precision. Start slow and gradually increase speed for the perfect mix.

Additional Attachments

This model comes with a flat beater for cakes and cookies, a bread hook for yeast bread, and a whisk for egg whites and creams. But that’s just the start. With over 15 optional attachments like a pasta roller, grinder, slicer/shredder, and more, you can make just about anything with this mixer. Expand your skills and tackle new recipes with confidence.

Tips for Great Bread

For the best bread, here are some tips:

• • Use bread flour or all-purpose flour. Bread flour has a higher gluten content for chewy bread.
• • Add vital wheat gluten for an extra boost. Just 1-2 tablespoons per loaf.
• • Use lukewarm or room-temperature liquid ingredients. Yeast needs warmth to activate.
• • Add mix-ins (raisins, nuts) during the last few minutes of kneading.
• • Knead the dough on speed 2 for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• • Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• • Punch down, shape into loaves, and let rise again for 30–40 minutes before baking.
• • Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes, then tent with foil and bake for 15 more minutes.

For the serious home baker looking to step up their game, the KitchenAid Pro 600 Series 6-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer is a must-have appliance that will keep up with all your cooking and baking demands. You really can’t go wrong with this legendary brand and its top-of-the-line mixer. Happy baking!

Best Stylish Stand Mixer for Bread Dough: Smeg Stand Mixer

The Smeg stand mixer is a retro-style powerhouse that will make quick work of even the heaviest bread dough. This mixer has a powerful 800-watt motor and comes with a 6.3-quart stainless steel bowl that can handle up to 4.8 pounds of flour at a time.

With 10 speed settings, you have full control over the mixing process. The slower speeds are ideal for gently kneading and mixing, while the higher speeds can whip egg whites or cream in seconds. The mixer also comes with three attachments: a flat beater for cakes and cookies, a wire whisk for whipping cream or egg whites, and a dough hook for kneading yeast doughs and heavy mixes.

The Smeg stand mixer has a stylish, 1950s-inspired design that comes in a variety of colors like cream, red, black, and mint green. It features an aluminum housing, a stainless steel bowl, and metal attachments. The head of the mixer tilts up for easy access when adding ingredients or scraping the bowl. It also has non-slip feet to keep it securely in place on your countertop.

At around $500, the Smeg stand mixer is an investment. However, its powerful motor, high-quality components, and retro style make it worth the splurge for serious home bakers. If you frequently make bread, pizza dough, or other heavy mixes, the Smeg stand mixer can handle it all with ease. The mixer comes with a 2-year warranty and Smeg’s reputation for durable, long-lasting appliances.

For kneading bread dough in this stand mixer, here are some tips:

• • Use the dough hook attachment and start the mixer on low speed. Slowly increase to medium speed.
• • Add ingredients to the bowl in stages, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Make sure all ingredients are incorporated before adding more.
• • Knead the dough on medium speed for 5 to 10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl.
• • Let dough rise in a lightly oiled bowl covered with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel.
• • Punch down the dough. Knead briefly then shape as desired before baking.
• • Add flour 1/4 cup at a time if the dough is too wet. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time if the dough is too dry.

With the Smeg stand mixer and these tips, you’ll be turning out perfect artisan loaves in no time! Let the mixer do the hard work while you enjoy the baking process.

Tips for Using Your Stand Mixer to Knead Bread Dough

When kneading bread dough with your stand mixer, follow these tips to get perfect, homemade loaves every time.

Use the dough hook attachment.

The dough hook is specifically designed for kneading yeast dough. Attach it to your stand mixer beforeadding theg ingredients.

Start at low speed.

Once you’ve added the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, start the stand mixer on low speed. This will prevent the dough from flying out of the bowl before it comes together. Gradually increase the speed to medium as the dough starts to form.

Knead for the recommended time.

Most bread recipes will specify how long to knead the dough—usually around 5 to 10 minutes total. Use a kitchen timer to keep track, as it can be easy to lose track of time! Kneading develops the gluten in the dough, so don’t cut it short.

Add ingredients gradually.

When a recipe calls for adding ingredients like flour, sugar, or raisins during kneading, do so 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time. This allows the mixer to distribute the ingredients evenly without struggling. Pour them in slowly while the mixer is running.

Check the consistency.

The dough should become smooth, and elastic, and pull away from the sides of the bowl. To check, stop the mixer and lift some of the dough with the hook—it should stretch out into a thin membrane before breaking. If it’s still sticky, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time until the proper consistency is reached.

Let the dough rise.

Once kneaded, remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place it in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, usually around 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Punch down, shape into loaves, and let rise again before baking.

With some practice, you’ll be churning out perfect loaves of homemade bread in no time. And your stand mixer will make the entire process practically hands-free! Let us know if you have any other questions.

Common Bread Dough Recipes to Make With Your Stand Mixer

Once you have your stand mixer set up, it’s time to put it to work! Here are some of the most common bread dough recipes.

Basic White Bread

This is a classic recipe to start with. Mix together flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Then add in the warm water, egg, and melted butter. Knead the dough at medium speed for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Let it rise for an hour, then shape it into a loaf and let it rise again for 30–40 minutes. Finally, bake at 350 F for 30–40 minutes until golden brown. Homemade white bread – yum!

Whole Wheat Bread

For a heartier loaf, use whole wheat flour, which contains bran and germ. Combine whole wheat flour, bread flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Add warm water, honey, and oil. Knead on low speed for about 10 minutes. Let rise for an hour and a half, shape into a loaf, and do a final rise of 45-60 minutes. Bake at 350 F for 35-45 minutes. The honey provides a subtle sweetness and helps the loaf rise.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

To make a classic cinnamon swirl bread, mix together bread flour, sugar, salt, yeast, warm milk, an egg, and butter. Knead until smooth, then roll out into a rectangle. Spread with a cinnamon-sugar mixture and sprinkle with raisins. Roll up tightly and place in a greased loaf pan. Let rise for an hour, then bake at 350 F for 50–60 minutes. The sweet cinnamon filling pairs perfectly with the soft, buttery bread.

Pizza Dough

Your stand mixer can also whip up delicious homemade pizza dough. Combine bread flour, sugar, salt, yeast, warm water, olive oil, and honey. Knead on medium speed for about 5 minutes until the dough is elastic and springs back when poked. Let it rise for at least 2 hours for the best flavor. Then roll or stretch the dough out and add your favorite toppings. Bake at 450 F for 10–15 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Buon appetito!

With your new stand mixer, you’ll be churning out loaf after loaf of freshly-baked bread in no time. Experiment with different flours, add-ins like olives or sun-dried tomatoes, and mix-ins to create your perfect artisanal loaf. Happy baking!

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, the best stand mixers for kneading bread dough in 2023. At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with any of these highly-rated models, but it comes down to your specific needs and budget. Whether you want a basic but reliable mixer for occasional bread making or a powerful commercial-grade machine for high-volume baking, you now have the information to choose the right stand mixer for your kitchen. Happy baking, and bon appetit! May your homemade bread be crusty on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, and fill your home with the intoxicating aroma of fresh-baked goodness. You’ve got this!

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