DLX Mixer
I just won a DLX on EBAY but the person didn't have the manual for it, am waiting now for it to arrive. She did give me a link to where I could order a manual but unfortunately the link isn't working properly so I couldn't order one. Can anyone give me some tips to using this machine as I have never had the opportunity to see one in person although I have read the many rave reviews on it. The machine is the older 450 watt one and does come with the hook, roller, scraper and the plastic bowl and whips.........seems like everything but the manual is there. I am so excited but a little apprehensive too as I have also read that there is a steep learning curve with the machine in order to turn out good breads. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Mattie
Mattie:
Try the following for help:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mixer-Owners/
The group has extensive archives on how to use the DLX; probably someone there can give you a link on how to get an old manual.
Don't be scared about the supposed "steep learning curve". It's really not hard at all. It's a great machine and after having had a KA, I would never go back to one after using a DLX.
Titus, thanks for your reply, I have belonged to that group fpr quite a while now and did just post on it the other day. I am getting really excited by the thought of this machine. I do already use a small Hobart and a Bosch clone but heard so many rave reviews about the DLX that I wanted to try one for myself. Again thanks for your reply. mattie
Congrats! I don't think I used the manual very much anyway... I'd just play with it and have fun!
I started with the DLX and hadn't used a kitchenaid for bread, so I didn't have to unlearn anything or change my habits. I basically just throw everything in (holding back a little liquid for fine tuning) and turn it on, with minor adjustment to the roller arm tension to get it where I want it. My standard MO is to mix on low for 4 minutes, turn the speed up for 20-30 seconds (especially for wet doughs) and then mix another 4 minutes or so. Sometimes I let it rest for 5 minutes in between as well for "autolyse". Of course this is adjustable depending on the recipe and batch size...
One thing: When I first got it there wasa lot of discussion about the dough hook. I tried it a couple of times and found it worthless--my take on it was that Americans used to the KA dough hook didn't like the roller bar, and they came up with the dough hook for them. The way the DLX mixes is much more like a spiral mixer than a planetary mixer, and the roller/paddle is designed for kneading dough. (Just my opnion, other folks have found the hook works better for them....).
If you have a question I can definitely look it up in the book for you (and i'm sure other's here have it as well). I'd suggest starting with a proven recipe you're comfortable with, and just try it out!
Good luck, and congrats again! Feel free to ask questions as they come up.
breadnerd,
Thanks for the help. I also have a small Hobart and a Bosch clone but have heard that the DLX will do a larger dough than either of them and after all the rave reviews I really wanted to try one. I will still keep on the lookout for a manual but will dive in with experiments when it arrives. I can't wait for it to arrive...................visions of flour and beautiful breads are going thru my head. mattie
Can somebody give me more detail instruction using DLX roller bar (I used KA before so I'm stuck here)? What is the minimum flour that I need to use in order to get the machine to knead the dough? Can somebody upload pictures/video at least I know what part I did wrong? Thank you.
By "minumum flour" do you mean how much dough you're making? I have found the DLX is less effective at making very small batches of dough. If I was making pizza dough (for just a couple of pizzas) i found I had to mess with it a lot to get it to knead well, and often finished up kneading by hand. I'd say the DLX does better with at least 3 pounds of dough (about 2 regular sized loaves).
I've got a batch going this mornging, so I'll take some pictures for you, and think about it --you know how sometimes you stop thinking when you've done something too many times, and don't realize you're doing something rather important? :)
Let me know your specific questions and I'll try to help you out!
Thank you breadnerd for answering my question.
I have problem to position my roller bar(not so sure the right way), tried it once and give up.
Well, I'm not sure if this is any help, but here goes.
This batch was ciabatta dough, which is very wet, so it might look a little different than regular loaf bread. When I first put the ingredients in, I left the roller bar all the way against the bowl rim. For larger and/or stiffer batches of dough I'd probably tighten it so that it was an inch or so from the rim. Ocassionally it will get "hung up" on the leading side, and you can either manually move the bar to let the clump of dough through, or just let it work itself out.
Here's a pic from the beginning (very wet dough):
Here's one towards the end: Because of the hydration, this dough will only clear the edge of the bowl, and will stick to the bottom a bit.
These arent the best pictures--I'll try to take more with a more "standard" loaf.
Thank you breadnerd. I will try a batch of dough after Christmas.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
How's it going?
Breadnerd,
The DLX is scheduled to arrive next Tuesday, I am very impatiently waiting. I have a list started of everything I want to try in it as soon as it gets here, the anticipation of it all has me dreaming of beautiful bread when I sleep....................mattie
Breadnerd,
My DLX arrived tonight and within 15 minutes I had it making my first batch of dough, boy it kneads even better than my Bosch clone does, the dough was soft and supple and needed no extra flour to shape after it rose. At first it didn't look like it was mixing the ingredients at all but then all of a sudden everything started coming together. I think I am really going to enjoy this machine. The person I won it from said she bought it new about 9-10 years ago but as I unpacked it hubby and I both said she must not have used it too much in the time she had it, everything looked brand new with no scratches or marks. It is much quieter than the Bosch clone too which is just an added bonus to me. I have the first batch of bread in the oven now and can hardly wait for it to come out to check the texture of it. I will make some more tomorrow, will try one from the Bread Bible and see how that does. mattie
Doesn't sound like you're having much of a learning curve. Wow, I wish I could have found a machine used but unused like that ;) But I've had mine 5 years I think(?) and it's still going strong while being used all the time!
Oh and I just found the link to the manual for you:
http://www.magicmillusa.com
Click on the mixer, then choose "spare parts" and it's listed at the bottom of the page
The DLX manual can be downloaded for free from the files section of:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mixer-Owners/
Breadnerd,
There is a used DLX on EBAY right now that is ending in about 2 hours, the machine looks to be in great shape and if I had some spare money I would certainly bid on it. It doesn't have the dough hook or the whipping bowl and beaters but the price right now is reasonable, it seems to be a newer model than the one I won and is $60 less right now, the sellers name is rickheidlberg and I am sure a quick serch for that name or ("Electrolux DLX Mixer) will turn up the auction. I have whole wheat rising right now and another batch of our usual bread in the mixer right now..............I still can't believe how smooth and blistered the dough comes out of this mixer. Mattie
Finally I know how to use my mixer. My bread turn out great and I absolutely love my DLX now. I will sell my KA Pro 600 to my friends and keep only small one for small stuff.
I baked Thom Leonard Country French Boule yesterday and I need to figure out how to insert pic. here than I will post my bread pic.
The wet sticky dough does fine on a DLX, but what about something that is dense and dry, like whole wheat with nuts and seeds. How do I get THAT to knead and not ride up the arm? I'd appreciate any help.
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