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Hand dough hook


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You know what? Mixing and kneading dough without proper equipment is really tricky. 

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Kneading dough by hand is really messy and time consuming. Some home cooks add a lot of extra flour to their kitchen worktops to stop the dough from sticking, but this compromises the texture of the dough.

So you need to keep the dough mixture contained to prevent such a scenario. And this is very easy to do if you keep the dough mixture in its bowl.

It’s hard to hand knead the dough in such a confined space however.

But, there’s a solution. If you get yourself a hand mixer with dough hooks, not only do you keep your kitchen worktops clean, but you also don’t comprise the dough texture by having to add excess flour.

And that’s not all. The hand mixer also makes the kneading much easier, and you won’t get hand fatigue. It's good for mashed potato, egg whites, as a beater for all dough, whipped cream using a nice mixing bowl.

The mixer attachment (whisk attachment or beater attachment) is key for things like sponge cake and other cake batter. Any baking recipe with dry ingredients will find a cordless hand mixer useful. I hope you find our review the the best hand mixer useful. We tested them all for our hand mixer review including Cuisinart Power Advantage, Breville, Vonshef hand mixer, and the Oster Heatsoft Hand Mixer.

We’ve been checking out some of the best hand mixers with dough hooks on the market, and after much deliberation, we were able to hand pick our top 5 favorites which we can’t wait to show you.

After that, we also have a quick buying guide to make your decision of which to buy that much easier.

And without further ado…

OUR TOP PICK

Braun Electric Hand Mixer

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Now, this is an excellent hand mixer, really impressive. Not only does it come from a top brand and been met with very positive customer feedback, it also has lots of great features.

First off, at 350 Watts, it has about 50% more mixing and kneading power than many of the cheaper models. It’s a breeze for this machine to move the attachments through thick mixtures like bread dough.

In addition to the 2 dough hooks included there are some great beaters too. They feature a rather twisted shape which gives them more surface area to better mix whatever you have in the bowl.

Better yet, all the attachments are dishwasher safe.

We also love just how ergonomic the design is. It’s lightweight with a soft-grip, anti-slip handle. And has been designed so that the weight of the mixer is in the bowl and not in your hand.

You can operate it completely one-handed, which is great if you want to hold the bowl in your other hand, or if you need your other hand to slip in some extra ingredients.

You simply turn the dial to the speed you want via the VarioControl speed dial.

There are an impressive 10 different speed settings at your fingertips, and there’s also a turbo option as well, should you ever need it.

Now, sure this product is a little more expensive than the cheaper models that flood the market, but if you’re going to be doing a lot of mixing and kneading with a hand mixer, then you need one as comfortable and as ergonomic to use as this one.

Amazon occasionally has deals on this product, just click “Check price” to see if there’s one on now.

Pros

Cons

EDITORS CHOICE

Cuisinart HM-90BCS Handheld Mixer

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This hand mixer comes from top brand Cuisinart, and is a bestseller with online retailers.

It’s a little more expensive than some of the other models that made our shortlist, but customers seem to feel it’s worth the price, with more than 80% of Amazon customers rating it 5 stars out of 5.

Whereas most hand mixers come with just 5 or 6 speed settings, this one comes with a whopping 9 different speed settings. And it has plenty of power too, 220 Watts at peak power.

These speed settings can allow for a slow start for your mixing, so as to avoid any unwanted splattering, keeping the mixture in the bowl and not elsewhere.

But what really makes this hand mixer impressive is the motor’s intelligent automatic feedback. With this set up, the beaters or other attachments will adapt to different thicknesses and textures of your mixtures.

The attachments include beaters, dough hooks, chef’s whisk, and a spatula. And they can all be stored away in the handy see through compartment that simply snaps on and off to the hand mixer itself.

The mixer comes backed by not a 1-year warranty, but a lengthy 3-year warranty, which is very reassuring.

Pros

Cons

BEST VALUE

KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer

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Here’s another very popular hand mixer, this one from top brand KitchenAid.

What we love about this hand mixer is that it features a whopping 9 different speeds, so you can really tweak your mixing and kneading.  

The lower speeds are great for adding things like chunky chocolate chips to your cookie dough, speed six is best for bread batter, and at the top speed you can whip meringue.

The attachments are all stainless steel, and include 2 turbo beaters, a whisk, 2 dough hooks and a blending rod. And they’re all dishwasher safe.

We also love the soft start feature, which ensures that you don’t get the mixture splattering everywhere when you turn it on. It also has a button to release the attachments, so you don’t have to get your hands messy by pulling them out by hand.

It’s available in 5 different color options, which all look good. And it comes backed by KitchenAid’s 1-year limited warranty.

Pros

Cons

RUNNER UP

Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer

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Now, this hand mixer has really been flying off the shelves, having earned well over 32,000 customer ratings on Amazon alone.

Better yet, more than three-quarters of customers rated it at 5 stars out of 5. Not bad hey?

It comes from top brand Hamilton beach, and is available at an attractive price point.

One thing we like about this model is that it features a snap on storage compartment for all the attachments. These attachments include traditional beaters, a whisk, and of course dough hooks.

There are 6 speeds to choose from, plenty of power, (275 Watts), and a slower first speed to reduce splatters.

But the main thing we love about it is the QuickBurst button, which provides a boost of extra power at any speed setting. 

There’s also an eject button, so you can release the attachments without getting your hands messy.

You can get it in red and grey or in white. We like the white.

Amazon occasionally has deals on this item, just click “Check price” to see if there’s a deal on now.

Pros

Cons

RUNNER UP

BLACK+DECKER MX600B Helix Performance Premium 5-Speed Hand Mixer

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Another hand mixer from a top brand, this time Black and Decker. 

It sees a lot of sales, earning well over 8000 customer ratings on Amazon alone. Better yet, nearly three-quarters of Amazon customers gave it 5 stars out of 5.

It’s a powerful machine with a 250 Watt motor. You get several attachments, including 2 helix beaters, a whisk and 2 dough hooks. The attachments can be stowed away out of site in the accompanying storage box.

We were impressed with the helix beaters because they can handle tougher mixes than most other beaters can handle. This is because they have double the surface area of regular beaters.

It has 5 different speed settings. Which means you can find the right speed for every mixing task, and increase the speed gradually as you see fit.

And there are loads of great color options to choose from.

Pros

Cons

Best Hand Mixers With Dough Hooks Buying Guide

Here’s a quick checklist of things to think about before you buy.

Plenty of Power

If you’re going to be using your hand mixer to knead bread dough or cookie dough, these are quite thick mixtures, and will need some real power behind the mixing to do the dough justice.

We would recommend going for hand mixers that have at least 200 Watts of power. More would be better.

Enough Speed Settings

Different recipes, and even elements within recipes can require different methods.

Sometimes you’ll want to whip up something nice pretty fast, and other times you’ll want to mix chunky ingredients into your cookie dough, in which case you’ll need a slower speed.

We recommend going for a hand mixer with at least 5 different speed settings.

Soft Start Option

If you place your hand mixer into a wet mixture on too high a speed, you’ll end up with the mixture splattering all over the kitchen.

The best way to avoid this is to have the mixer start off slowly and increase the speed gradually as required, mindful of any splattering that may occur.

Easy to Use

Your hand mixer should ideally be lightweight, and comfortable to use and hold. You may also be interested in a mixer that you use one handed.

That way you can twist the bowl around with your other hand, or gently shake in some extra ingredients.

Dishwasher Safe Attachments

If you’re lucky enough to own a dishwasher, it’s super handy to have attachments that are dishwasher safe.

You can bake as much as you like without worrying about getting your hands mucky.

Storage For The Attachments

Hand mixer attachments can often be a little too bulky to keep in the cutlery drawer, so a hand mixer that comes with it’s own storage compartment would be preferable to one without.

A storage compartment that attaches itself to the hand mixer would be best. That way you don’t have to go unpacking every cupboard to find the attachments.

Cost

Hand mixers can really vary in price, with some costing less than $30, while others can cost upwards of $100.

So, our advice, as always, is to check the prices as you go along, so you can learn what your money buys you, and you can make a good, well-informed decision about what your budget should be.

As a general rule, hand mixers with a higher price tag tend to have a more powerful motor, and more speed settings to choose from.

Brand

There are many great brands in the arena of cooking equipment.

If you go for a brand you’ve heard of, you can generally expect it to be reliable and of good quality.

Warranty

You will usually find that your hand mixer comes with a 1-year warranty. Any warranty that’s longer than that is a bonus.

However, sometimes you will have to wait for the box to arrive before you find out the warranty details.

Best Hand Mixer with Dough Hooks: We Tested the Top 5

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Dough Hook vs Hand Kneading: Which is better?

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When it comes to making homemade bread, I’m sure many will agree that kneading dough is the most tedious part of the process. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy kneading by hand when I am feeling up for it, there’s something almost therapeutic about it. When I am not wanting to be elbows deep in the dough for 20 minutes, however, I tend to turn to good ol’ modern technology.

Perhaps the single biggest advantage to enlisting the help of a machine during the kneading process is that it can cut the time of kneading in half. It is also completely hands-free if you are using a stand mixer, which is a huge plus in my books. It’s not just your stand mixer that can lend a helping hand here either, you can use a variety of different appliances to knead dough. The most common ones are a stand mixer, bread machine, or food processor. 

When we really boil it down though, which kneading machine is going to give you the best results? And which is better, between a dough hook vs hand kneading? 

Let’s find out!

Why is kneading dough important?

If you are new to making bread, you might be wondering why you need to knead dough in the first place? The purpose of many steps within the bread-making process, like mixing ingredients for baking the loaf, are pretty clear cut.  

Don’t be fooled though, kneading dough is very important in developing gluten. Simply put, gluten is what gives the dough its elastic texture and the gases that are trapped in the dough are what make it rise. Developing this protien gives the bread its srturcture, and without a proper knead, your loaf would come out of the oven flat and tough.

Kneading dough by hand

The manual technique for kneading dough is an art that our ancestors have been perfecting for hundreds of years. Kneading dough by hand is fairly easy, not to mention a good bit of fun! I tend to combine all my ingredients in a bowl and mix them all together with a wooden spoon until I get a shaggy dough. Then, I tip the dough on a silicone kneading mat and begin kneading. 

There is no right or wrong way to knead dough. I tend to press the dough away from my palm, fold the dough in hand and press down again. The constant repetition of folding, pressing and turning ultimately creates a smooth, gluten-developed dough.  

If you are new to this bread-making business, here’s a quick 2-minute video that will help you perfect your kneading technique.

You can be at this for anything between 10-20 minutes, and even more, depending on the type of dough you are working with. A high hydration dough will take longer as you need to get the dough to a smooth consistency without sticking to your hands or mat. 

If you want to find other methods of mixing bread dough by hand, take a look here. As I said, there is no right or wrong way so find a method that suits your best.

Despite what you might be told, you don’t actually need to knead dough for it to develop gluten. Gluten develops on its own as long as there is water in the mixture. This method of kneading is known as the no-kneading method as it is by far my favorite way to make dough, especially when I am whipping up a homemade pizza.

All you need to do is mix your ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon until you get a shaggy dough, cover it with cling film and leave it to rise on your counter or in the fridge for 18 hours. No mess and no cleaning up. How great? 

Regardless of which method you have used to knead your dough, always check if enough gluten has developed. The best and most foolproof way of doing this is by using the windowpane test. Take a piece of dough and stretch it out. If you can see light through it and it doesn’t tear, then your dough is ready.

Pros 

Cons

Dough Hook

Kneading dough with a dough hook is my preferred option; it’s faster and completely hands-free. That said, there is one very important factor to consider here. if you are planning on kneading dough regularly, you are going to want to think about how powerful your mixer motor is.

If your mixer is quite small and you only use it to make cakes or light ingredients, then it might not be suited for kneading dough. Dough is very tough and you need a powerful motor to withstand the kneading, especially if you plan on baking homemade bread regularly. 

I have had many baking friends tell me they don’t knead dough in their stand mixer because it either stalls, gets too hot, or vibrates too much. I, on the other hand, have quite a strong KitchenAid mixer and have never had any issues with kneading. 

Another thing to consider is the type of dough hook you have. Most stand mixers come with a C-shaped dough hook. A C-shaped dough hook works by pushing the dough to the sides of the mixer. The spiral dough hook pushes the dough in a downwards spiral motion, mimicking the movement of hands kneading dough. 

A C-shaped dough hook does the job, but it does have the tendency of throwing the dough from side to side and doesn’t really knead. If you want to use your stand mixer to its full potential, then opt for one with a spiral-shaped dough hook.

How to knead dough with a dough hook

Using a dough hook to knead dough is very simple. Put your ingredients in the bowl, lock the dough hook into place and turn your stand mixer on. It is important to knead at a low-speed setting as to not aggravate the motor. 

The stand mixer will take around 10 minutes to knead, depending on the type of flour you are using and how much water there is in the mixture. To test your dough is ready, use the windowpane test I mentioned above.

Pros 

Cons

Kneading Alternatives

Don’t have an electric mixer but don’t want to work up a sweat with manual kneading? Here are a few mixer substitutes that are perfect for kneading dough.

Food Processor

It’s worth mentioning that there are other ways you can knead the dough. A quick and effective way is by using a food processor. Sure, this is probably not the first appliance that pops into mind for kneading dough but this machine can develop the gluten in as little as 90 seconds with its aggressive blade and powerful motor. Pretty neat, right?

The only downfall with using a food processor is that you can end up over-kneading the dough. If it’s not ready after 90 seconds, keep kneading 10 seconds at a time until it passes the windowpane test.

Bread maker

Another alternative, and perhaps the best, is to use a bread maker. The bread maker has become my best friend when it comes to making bread. When I want homemade bread but don’t have the patience to knead by hand, I turn to my bread maker to knead, prove and bake the bread.

If you are someone who loves homemade bread but doesn’t want to spend the whole day kneading and waiting for it to rise and bake, then a bread maker might be just what you were looking for. 

The great thing about bread makers is that they are very customizable and have an array of settings. If you want to add a personal touch to your loaf without doing the hard work, you can set the machine to the knead only setting and then bake it in the oven.

Dough hook vs hand kneading: Which is better?

It’s really hard to pick which is better. I enjoy making bread from scratch with my own hands but I do love the swiftness of the dough hook.

Both methods are equally as effective and the end result is the same. I make bread a lot so I tend to use a combination of hand kneading some days and using either my stand mixer with the dough hook of my bread maker.

What are the types of mixer attachments? Why do you need spiral attachments in mixers?

Why floor scales?
Mechanical floor scales
Electronic floor scales - principle of operation
Checking floor scales for accuracy
Checking floor scales for accuracy

Why do you need to know what the spiral attachments are for in a mixer?

Why do you need to know in detail about kitchen equipment? Well, for example, what are mixer attachments for? No, in general, it, of course, does not hurt, so as not to whip the squirrels with kneading hooks. But in all the subtleties ... Electrical devices for the home - they are all so simple, the purpose and control is intuitive. Turned on, and work for your pleasure.

Working in the kitchen is different. For example, you often have to mix, beat, grind something. Doing it manually is difficult and time consuming. Luckily, there are many different tools available to help. Among them are mixers. There are two types: mixers and blenders. Sometimes they are confused, no wonder. In many ways, they are similar, even sometimes replace each other. But there are still fundamental differences.

Why is it necessary to understand these differences in detail? Then, if some operation can be done with both one and the other device, this does not mean that the result will be equally good. Moreover, if, for example, the same type of working bodies exist in several versions and each has its own purpose, then it is possible to achieve the maximum result (when guests are completely delighted and ask to share the recipe) only by using them in full accordance with the design features.

Mixer types

A mixer is a household kitchen appliance designed for whipping and mixing food. Its main (but not the only) attachments are the whisk and spiral hooks. To make it clearer which mixer nozzles are intended for what, it is advisable to first understand the types and characteristics of the devices themselves.

Mixers are manual (submersible) and stationary (tabletop). The device of the first type is a small lightweight device with a comfortable handle. Its power is relatively small, there are several speeds. The control buttons are located so that, holding the handle, you can reach with your finger. Most models have two sockets into which paired working bodies are inserted.

The stationary mixer is made in the form of a desktop structure, in which the following elements can be distinguished:

Stationary mixers may have a different design, but the main components are similar, the differences are not fundamental.

A variety of stationary is a planetary mixer. Its feature is in the design of the mechanism that transmits torque from the electric motor to the nozzle. It is made in such a way that the nozzle rotates around its axis (as in a conventional mixer), plus at the same time this axis also moves in a circle. Like the planets, they revolve around their axis and at the same time around the Sun, hence the name. Such devices are more efficient due to the fact that during whipping or kneading they move throughout the bowl. With this scheme, there is no central zone (better processed) and periphery in the volume of the product, which gradually “pulls” to the center and a priori mixes a little worse.

Features

The main parameter of the mixer is power. For submersible models, it is in the range of 150-400 watts. At low values ​​​​(150-250 W), the device is well suited for whipping proteins, cream and other products. To knead the dough, you need a device for 250-400 watts. Thus, it is necessary to understand which mixer nozzles are intended for what, taking into account the power of the apparatus. Because what works on one won't work on another. For stationary models, this parameter ranges from 350-1000 watts.

The number of speeds of rotation of the working bodies depends on the power. In weak manual versions, there are usually 3-6 of them. Moreover, the torque at the smallest values ​​\u200b\u200bis not too different from large ones. In stronger or stationary mixers, there can be from 5 to 12 of them. Here, the difference between the 1st and 12th speed is already quite noticeable. Gear shifting can be stepped or smooth. The second option is considered more convenient.

The mixer can be turned on in one of three operating modes. In the usual, he simply mixes the products or whips them. If they are more or less hard, then it is better to choose an impulse one. Here, there is a direct relationship between the force of pressing the drive button and the speed of rotation of the nozzle - the harder you press, the faster it spins. If the thick mass poured into the bowl (for example, dough) contains lumps, then it is better to use the turbo mode. With it, you can increase the speed for some short time to break these very lumps

It often happens that the mixer is immediately turned on at a sufficiently high speed. Technologically it is justified. But the trouble is that the nozzle picks up speed very quickly, one or two moments - and it is already reaching its design capacity. And the products in the bowl are still motionless, they have a certain mass and have inertia (the greater the weight, the higher the inertia). The situation ends with the contents of the bowl being partially or completely thrown out. To prevent this from happening, the "slow start" function is provided.

A bowl or glass for whisking with hand mixers is usually not offered. Well, maybe a small one, and then rarely. But for stationary it is a mandatory component. The volume of the bowl is another nuance that is relevant to the question of which mixer attachments are for what. Because the functionality of the device largely depends on the capacity.

If no more than one liter is placed in a glass, then such a container is more suitable for manual models. In it, you can quickly prepare a little sauce or batter. Or make an omelet. So to speak, to solve local problems for a family dinner. Bowls of 1-2 liters are usually equipped with low-power products. 2-3 liter containers are already serious. They are suitable for almost everything, up to kneading thick dough for baking. If the family loves to cook, then this option will be just the most suitable. More than 3 liters is already closer to professional installations.

Bowls are plastic (transparent or colored) and metal. The first is the quality of the material. They also require careful handling due to their fragility.

Differences between mixers and blenders

And now a few words about blenders. This device is designed to grind and mix. Therefore, the main working body is sharp, durable rotating knives. Although there are other attachments. In particular, some models are equipped with whisks, spiral hooks.

Blenders, like mixers, are also handheld and desktop. Their power, as a rule, is greater than that of similar mixers. With the help of this device, nuts or breadcrumbs are chopped, vegetables and fruits are chopped, mashed potatoes are made. A powerful device can break the ice. Not a single mixer can cope with such tasks.

A blender with a whisk can work as a mixer: prepare a cocktail (by the way, this is best done on a stationary device) or pancake batter, beat eggs for an omelette or cream. But the quality of kneading or whipping will be worse. To do this, it is better to take a mixer if you want to make the dish fluffy and the cream airy. The same device is suitable for operations such as preparing mayonnaise, kneading thick sour cream consistency dough and even more.

So what is better to choose, a mixer or a blender? If you regularly bake pies or muffins, pancakes and pancakes, indulge your family with delicious biscuits, cakes and meringues, then it is better to take a good mixer from a well-known company. With it, you can whip proteins and cream, make mayonnaise, knead batter for pancakes and pancakes, prepare a milkshake and much more.

If the family loves mashed potatoes, pureed soups and smoothies, vegetable stews, salads, pates, fruit drinks, curd pastes with the addition of ground nuts, dried apricots, etc., and other dishes for which you need to grind solid foods, then in In this case, you will need a blender. With it, you can even make minced meat without problems. He will help out when you need to cook vegetable or fruit puree for a small child.

Generally speaking, blenders solve more culinary tasks than mixers. The functionality of the latter is still somewhat limited. We should not forget about the possibility of buying a mixer with a nozzle in the form of blender knives. Or a blender with a whisk. Many people do just that. This is not ideal, but for most dishes, both everyday and festive, it is quite suitable. And the best thing, of course, is to take a food processor, there will be a blender chopper in a special cup, and a whisk for whipping. But it costs much more.

Mixer attachments

Now we have come close to the question of why there are spiral nozzles in the mixer, just like everyone else. The working bodies perceive the torque from the electric motor and, rotating, act on the product placed in the container. The application depends on their design.

Which mixer attachment to whip the cream? Of course, a large single whisk. Its shape is usually drop-shaped. It can be round or in the form of a "balloon". Suitable for making thick sauces, mixing soufflés, whipping cream, egg whites for meringues or eggs for scrambled eggs, creams and other light desserts. They also use it to make cocktails.

Corollas of this type may differ slightly from each other. The average in terms of stiffness and thickness of the wire from which the petals are made are considered optimal. How many should there be? Preferably eight or more. Professionals say 10-12. The fact is that the more petals, the more airy the output mass will be. They are not suitable for thick mixtures, the ingredients will get stuck between the wires. For them, if you really have to take similar corollas, then preferably with a smaller number of petals (5-6)./p>

What other nozzles exist:

Mixer attachments sold separately. Therefore, if the hand-held device has standard equipment (only small twin whisks and spiral hooks), you can purchase the necessary equipment. You just need to determine what dishes you are going to cook.

How to choose the right mixer?

Types of mixers
Power
Operating modes
Other criteria

A mixer is a device that will definitely come in handy: without it, you won’t be able to beat egg whites to hard peaks, quickly mix the dough or make cream for a cake. At the same time, the choice of models is huge, as is the range of prices. What kind of mixers are there and which one is right for you?

Types of mixers

Mixers are manual and desktop (stationary).

The manual one needs to be kept on the weight all the time, so make sure it's not too heavy. Attached to the appliance are whisk attachments and, optionally, two hooks for kneading the dough. The specialization of the hand mixer is biscuit, batter, omelet mixture. It will not cope with thick substances: there will not be enough power.

The table mixer is more autonomous: it does not need to be kept on weight. Just put the right ingredients in the bowl, lower the attachments and turn on the appliance. Design features allow you to put a fairly powerful motor inside the case. More power, more options: many stand mixers are capable of kneading stiff, rich dough.

A compromise between a manual and a stationary device is a combined mixer. It looks like a desktop, but differs in that the kneading part is detached from the stand and can be used independently.

Power

The power of home mixers varies from 200 to 1500 watts. Choose the right device based on how you plan to use it.

The more powerful the mixer, the more expensive it costs and the more it consumes electricity. Therefore, just take the model that will cope with the tasks you set: no more and no less.

Operating modes

The simplest mixers have 1 or 2 buttons that set the speed of rotation of the nozzles. More complex models have a multi-stage gearshift system. The choice of mode depends on the products in the bowl:

Other criteria