A Newbie Looks For a Mixer
Hello. I do not make bread - my wife does. Over the years we have bought several different machines - a couple Kitchenaids (KA5, K5SS), a couple Bosch's (Universal MUM6621), and a Kenwood.
None of these have done the job. The Bosch's have a penchant for committing suicide by walking off the counter (who else puts a powerful motor into plastic housing?.. Oh, that's right - Singer Sewing machines!) The Kitchenaid 5SS is ok, and has lasted the longest - but you can tell its struggling (I recently disassembled and re-greased it which helped).
She bakes three loaves a week of standard whole wheat bread - the household staple. She also makes something like Cinnamon Buns or a couple loaves of White Bread as a treat. But she also likes to try new things - heavy rye breads, Ezekiel bread etc. which we enjoy... well, we enjoy it but the machines don't!
So my question is this... what is our next mixer. We are not wealthy, so cost is a consideration - but repeatedly buying $400-$500 machines isn't cheap either! Should we get a spiral dough mixer? A Hobart? One of the new Chinese brands (x1000)? I would like it to be a machine she can grow into... so she can try bagels, and other breads. The machine will only be only used for breads (if I want whipping cream, I pull out the hand mixer).
Suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Many TFL bakers, including myself use Ankarsrum. BreadBeckers (same as AnkarsrumUSA) imports them.
https://www.breadbeckers.com/store/pc/Ankarsrum-Original-Kitchen-Machine-AKM-6230-Mixer-w-FREE-Shipping-315p3639.htm
Pleasant Hill Grain also sells them. Both of these companies will provide top not h customer support if needed.
They will handle any dough you throw at them and they are not prone to breaking. You will be hard pressed to find a post about major Ankarsrum problems.
The quality of this machines is top noch.
Just for information, the Ankarsrum factory has suffered major disruption due to the corona bug, as no doubt have all other makers and there is said to be a world wide shortage of machines,certainly true of the UK. My order for an Ankarsrum was accepted on the 15th June and I am still waiting ........and hand mixing.
Not much help to you and not intended to influence your choice but I thought you might want to know
The Ank's are so well built, even buying a used one should last a very long time. They were marketing in the US under a variety of names, even though they were made by the same maker, so if you decide to look for used, you would want to search the various names- Electrolux, Magic Mill, etc.
OK, pulled the trigger on a new Ankarsrum this morning! It wasn't even on the radar (had no idea it existed) so I obviously came to right place! Thank you very much for the recommendation!
Congratulations, I'm sure you and your wife will like the new machine. I'd be interested in your impressions and your progress in learning to use it. Plenty of good advice on this Forum for set up and use.
Dave