The Fresh Loaf

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Mixing Techniques – Commercial vs. Home

January 11, 2013 - 4:07pm
Dwayne's picture
Dwayne

Mixing Techniques – Commercial vs. Home

I saw an article that discussed the various mixing techniques (Short, Intensive, and Improved).  It was an interesting article, however, it was addressed to Commercial/Professional bakers and was referring to the use of a commercial mixer (Spiral).  I have a Kitchen Aid mixer here at home and I was wondering how to achieve these same mixing techniques at home.  Below is a summary:

 

Mixer Speed

Short Mix

Improved Mix

Intensive Mix

1st Speed (100rpm)

3-4 Min Ingredient Incorporation

 

6 min. Gluten Dev.

3-4 Min Ingredient Incorporation

3-4 Min Ingredient Incorporation

2nd Speed (200rpm)

0 min.

5 min. Gluten Dev.

8 min. Gluten Dev.

 

So, How would I achieve the different mixing techniques at home with my Kitchen Aid?

 

Thanks, Dwayne

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Born2Bake's picture
Born2Bake
Jan 11 2013 - 10:04pm

I would use 1-2 for speed one. for a commercial speed two I would go about med-high after ingredient incorporation is complete. The time will be drastically different from commercial to home. Best bet is to check gluten development after the first minute on med-high and then in about another 30 seconds, etc.

Depending on what bread you are making and how many folds you are going to incorporate to achive your desierd gluten development.

Hope this helps,

B2B

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne
Jan 12 2013 - 7:34am

B2B,

 

Thanks.  It is hard to tell!  If I look at a recipe in the Bread Baker's Guild newsletter they just give times and speeds like in the table above.  I am not a professional so most times I have to guess when  things are mixed enough and if the gluten is properly developed.  I know about the window pane test, I guess that I should do that more often.

 

Thanks, Dwayne

cranbo's picture
cranbo
Jan 11 2013 - 10:44pm

It depends in part on your mixer. 

Here's a thread on mixing RPMs and KitchenAid mixers

I agree that 1st speed is probably speed #1 or #2 on a KA, and that you should check regularly until you get the development you want. 

2nd speed is probably speed #4.

 

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne
Jan 12 2013 - 7:39am

Cranbo,

Thanks for finding that thread.  I had googled looking for some thing like that and was not successful.  Guess that I should have done a search here on TFL.  Note: TFL is such an amazing resource, Thanks Floyd!

 

Thanks, Dwayne

Born2Bake's picture
Born2Bake
Jan 12 2013 - 8:07am

Awesome, didn't even know this existed! Great reference!