Bosch Compact: How's it do with baking other than bread?
Hi. I am mostly a noobie and, so far, I mostly make bread. Mostly small batches. Like in the bread book recipes. I don't have a lot of people around to eat the bread, so basically, I make a batch of 2 or 3 loaves; that lasts 2 or 3 days, then I make another batch. I was looking at the Universal, but you have to use a special doohicky to make smaller batches. Now that being said--about mostly making bread--I also want to play around with other baking things. Pies, cakes, and jelly rolls (and what not. Maybe muffins). Most of the reviews I have read say that the compact does well with bread, but not much mention is made of other capabilities. So, I was wondering if you guys could enlighten me a bit.
It is also possible, for what I am looking to do, I should be looking at a different machine. That kind of input would be valuable as well.
I have an older Concept 7. The more I use it the more I realize it's best for bread and cookie dough. Pie crust I do mostly by hand. Cakes with a hand mixer. Just bought a food processor that I really didn't need but figured it would be better for almond paste and almond butter and pignoli cookie dough, which it is. But then my machine was discontinued and accessories are hard to find.
Bill, I have the Compact, though I use it mostly for bread, I have used it a few times as a general mixer. IMO, kneading dough is very hard on machines, and the Compact is built tough enough to stand up to that task - there are other lesser machines that would wear out. Beating eggs whites is a much easier task, and most mixers would not struggle with that. I did it once or twice with the Compact without problems. You might want to search Youtube to see if you can find clips doing exactly what you have in mind. I haven't watched this one all the way through but it does show a cake being mixed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIjQLr9KKYs
Thanks for the input. Since I do mostly breads, and the research indicates that this will do the small batches of bread I make, and that it is a sturdy machine, I decided to get one. I resisted getting the slicer attachment--that may come later. If I find that I need another machine for cakes and pies and such, I will pick up something for those functions. Even in such a case, I should find that I have the functions I want at a lower cost than, say a Kitchen Aid or some other mixer.
Bill, do post a follow up on your experience with the Compact on non bread mixing. That question comes up from time to time.