While bread has had the reputation of needing specialized equipment to make, home bakers have long realized that they can easily make bread at home in a standard oven. If you've considered trying your hand at baking bread, you might be wondering if you can make bread without a stand mixer. We have researched this to bring the answer to you.
While a stand mixer makes it easier to knead bread dough, many types of bread can be made without one. Here are some other methods and methods for making bread:
- Hand mixer
- Food processorÂ
- Kneading by handÂ
In the rest of this post, we will discuss each of these methods and describe how to make bread with all of them. We will also discuss the best bread types to make if you do not have a stand mixer.
Methods For Making Bread Without A Stand Mixer
Some methods are better than others for making dough but they all are effective enough to use if you don't have a stand mixer.
1. Making Bread With A Hand Mixer
The Washington Post warns that bread dough will potentially burn out the motor of a hand mixer because it is too thick and dense. While you may be able to use a hand mixer to blend the ingredients initially, you will need a different tool to knead the dough.
How Can You Make Bread With A Hand Mixer?
You can begin making bread dough as you typically would, incorporating and adding the ingredients per the recipe's instructions. When the dough starts to become too difficult for your hand mixer, you can then take it out of the bowl and finish kneading it by hand.
If you are making a small amount of bread or dough that doesn't get too dense, you may be able to use your hand mixer the whole time. Take a look at this video to see how this is done:
Tips For Making Bread With A Hand Mixer
Here are some tips to make making bread with a hand mixer a little bit easier.
- Buy a high-powered mixer. You want a mixer strong enough to handle dense bread dough. Find one with the highest power and multiple speeds.
- Make sure your hand mixer comes with a dough hook. This is crucial for making dough. If you can find a mixer with two dough hooks, that's even better.
- Don't overmix your dough. A hand mixer takes longer to make bread dough, so it is easy to overestimate how much time is needed to complete the task. Pay attention to your dough and stop when it is done. You cannot fix over-kneaded dough.
2. Making Bread With A Food Processor
Kitchenaid states that some food processors can make bread dough if they come with a dough blade. However, you would not be able to make as big a batch with food processors since their bowls are smaller than those used with stand mixers.
How Can You Make Bread With A Food Processor?
Add dry ingredients as usual, but incorporate your wet ingredients while the food processor kneads the dough. Knead the dough until it becomes elastic and smooth.
Tips For Making Bread With A Food Processor
Since a food processor is not the traditional way of making bread, there are some tips that can make the process go smoother.
- Use icy liquids. As the food processor heats up, the icy liquids cool down the dough enough so that the yeast doesn't get ruined.
- Don't overload your processing bowl. Your ingredients won't blend properly if you fill the bowl too much.
- Don't over-knead the dough. Your dough will come together quicker than you expect, so pay attention to your dough while it is kneading.
3. Making Bread By Hand
Making bread by hand refers to the kneading portion of the process rather than the full process. You may use a mixer or food processor to incorporate the ingredients and then switch to kneading by hand. Kneading bread is sometimes easier by hand than with an appliance because there aren't as many limitations.
Tips For Making Bread By Hand
Following these tips will make the process easier if you choose to knead your bread by hand.
- Use the heel of your hand to knead the bread. You can use more force with the heel of your hand, and your hands won't get tired as quickly.
- Wet your hands. This seems to go against what you may have learned when working with dough. You probably flour them to prevent them from sticking. Wetting them will do the same thing without throwing off your ingredient ratio.
- Don't under-knead the dough. Make sure you knead the dough for at least 15-20 minutes. It takes much longer to knead the dough by hand than with a stand mixer, so it is important that you don't stop before it is completely kneaded.
Take a look at this video to learn the best way to make bread by hand:
Types Of Bread That Don't Need A Stand Mixer
Some bread types are easier than others to make without a stand mixer. If you want to try baking bread without a stand mixer, choose one that doesn't need to be kneaded. You can also make bread that is easier to knead. Here are some of the best options:
Ciabatta
Ciabatta bread needs to be kneaded more carefully than can be done in a stand mixer, so it is preferred to knead ciabatta bread by hand. You can use a wooden spoon to help you mix the ingredients well and then use your hands to knead the dough.
Focaccia
Focaccia is delicious and one of the easiest breads to make. There are many recipes available that do not require kneading. You can also find recipes that do not require any equipment. Focaccia is a great bread for a first-time baker.
Breadsticks
Breadsticks aren't a normal type of bread, but they are easy to make. Of course, you can make them with a stand mixer, but the dough is easy enough to mix and knead without one. Breadsticks are also fun because you can be creative with the way you form them.
Can I Use A Paddle Instead Of A Dough Hook?
You can't replace a dough hook with a paddle because each tool serves a different purpose. A paddle is used to mix the dough, while a dough hook is used for kneading. Since a paddle cannot knead the dough, it would not be effective when you get to that stage of the baking process.
Bread Machine Vs. Stand Mixer: Do You Need Both?
While we've focused on the stand mixer and its importance when baking bread so far, we can't forget that a bread machine is the star bread-making appliance. Do you need both and if not, which one should you choose?
How A Bread Machine Works
A bread machine does all of the bread-making work for you. Of course, it bakes the bread to perfection, but it also mixes the ingredients and kneads the dough. All you have to do is put the ingredients in the machine and press the correct buttons.
The Verdict
If your plan is to solely bake bread, then you can purchase a bread machine. You will not need a stand mixer as well because the machine does everything you need. However, a bread machine cannot make anything else so you will need a stand mixer if you choose to make other baked goods.
If you choose to purchase a stand mixer, you will be more than equipped to make bread. You can purchase a bread machine if you wish, but you do not need to.
Summary
If you are a routine baker or plan on making bread often, a stand mixer is a good investment. However, there are plenty of other ways to make bread if you aren't quite ready to make that purchase. If you're new at baking bread or you don't have a stand mixer handy, there are many easy recipes available that don't require kneading.
For more information about making bread and storing it, take a look at these articles:
The 6 Best Ways To Store Bread
Can You Safely Mix Bread Dough In A Stainless Steel Bowl?
![Baker man hands breadmaking kneading bread dough, How Long To Knead Bread [By Hand And In A Mixer]](https://kitchenseer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Baker-man-hands-breadmaking-kneading-bread-dough-250x250.jpg)
