What’s the verdict on bread machine vs. stand mixer

When it comes to baking bread, a variety of excellent tools can be utilized. Some individuals still favor the conventional method of combining hand kneading and an oven to complete a task. Others, who frequently lack the luxury of time, choose a bread maker. Some individuals may even prefer using a stand mixer. Although both kitchen appliances are handy, bread machines and stand mixers are the opposite. However, they have one thing in common: they make the bread-making process easy. 

A bread machine will transform your ingredients into a freshly baked loaf without your involvement. These incredible machines can mix, knead, rise, and bake. On the other hand, a stand mixer requires slightly more input from the baker because it combines raw dough ingredients. 

If unsure which is best for you, continue reading to discover which is superior: a bread maker or a stand mixer. 

What exactly is a bread maker? 

First things first, let’s return to the fundamentals. 

 A bread machine is a small kitchen appliance for baking bread. These appliances may not be as new as you initially believed. Joseph Lee, a pioneer of the automatic bread kneading machine, invented the very first bread machine in the late 1800s. 

Panasonic’s automatic bread maker popularized the bread machine in the late 1980s. Since then, beadmakers have gained immense popularity and made the art of baking bread accessible to all without the need for baking expertise. 

Bread machines are available in various sizes and shapes, but they all have the same purpose: to produce hassle-free, fresh bread. They can be round, square, or rectangular and typically have a viewing window so you can observe the baking process. 

Depending on the bread you wish to prepare, bread machines typically offer various programming options. There are applications for preparing white bread, whole wheat bread, French bread, gluten-free dough, pizza dough, and even cake! 

No guesswork is involved in making bread with a bread machine; you add the ingredients and press the start button. The bread machine will automatically mix, knead, rise, and bake without your assistance. 

The bread pan can also be used for baking, and the kneading blade will knead the dough for you. Add the ingredients, press the start button, and walk.

How do bread machines operate? 

Consider how long it would take to bake a loaf of bread by hand. It takes the better part of a day to measure the ingredients, combine them, knead the dough for 20 minutes, wait for it to rise, and then bake the bread. The final product is a delicious loaf of bread and two sore biceps. 

Imagine being able to produce a loaf of fresh bread with the push of a button. That is the purpose of a bread maker! A bread machine eliminates all of the labor involved in baking bread. It handles everything, including mixing, kneading, rising, and baking. 

Using a combination of heat and moisture, bread makers create the ideal environment for baking bread. The kneading blade will combine the ingredients, and the bread machine will knead the dough on your behalf. 

The nonstick coating and round shape of the baking pan make it easy to remove the bread from the pan. Depending on the bread you are baking, the baking process typically takes between two and three hours. 

Clip the kneading blade into place, add your ingredients to the bread pan, and close the bread machine’s lid. Most devices allow you to select loaf sizes and bake a small, medium, or large loaf. Select the program that corresponds to the recipe and press the start button. You’ll have a delicious, freshly baked loaf of bread in no time! 

If you wish to learn more about the bread-making process, I have devoted an entire article to explaining how beadmakers function.  

Bread makers typically come with a recipe book containing a variety of recipes for various pieces of bread, so you’ll never get tired of making the same thing repeatedly. 

Advantages of a Bread maker 

I cannot live without my bread machine so I will sing its praises throughout the day. Here are several significant benefits of a bread machine. 

• It conserves time. I cannot emphasize how much time a bread machine saves enough. Making bread by hand requires constant attention, whereas, with a bread machine, you can forget about it until you hear the beep. 
• It reduces labor. Making bread by hand requires a significant amount of effort. A bread machine is a robot; allow it to perform all the laborious tasks for you. 
• It is economical. A bread maker can be purchased for as little as $60, so there is no reason not to buy one. If you frequently purchase store-bought bread, it will save you money in the long run, despite the initial expense. 
• It is adaptable. There are other uses for a bread machine besides making bread, but few people are aware of them. You can make anything from jam to yogurt, rice, meatloaf, cake, to mochi. This small machine can perform any task. 
• It gives you control. Examine the ingredients list on the back of the bread package. Incredible, right? Bread sold in stores contains many additives that will make your head spin. A bread machine gives you complete control over the bread’s ingredients. This is extremely useful for allergy sufferers and gluten-free individuals. 
• Consistent results. With a bread machine, you know exactly what to expect. 
• Simple to use. It is a straightforward and user-friendly procedure. To bake a perfect loaf, you need not be a professional baker to bake a perfect loaf. 
• Allows for preparation. The delayed timer is one of my favorite bread machine features. This feature allows you to program your bread machine to have it ready when needed. Something that a stand mixer lacks. 

Negatives of a Bread Maker 

I have nothing negative to say about bread machines, but I must be objective for this blog, so here goes! 

• Noisy. I must admit that this is somewhat irritating. They do tend to be rather loud, especially when kneading the dough. I have not yet discovered a silent bread maker. 
• One loaf after another. Unfortunately, we can’t have everything, so the bread machine cannot accommodate you if you want to bake multiple loaves simultaneously. However, the Breadman BK2000B is the only machine on the market capable of producing two loaves simultaneously! 
• Without personality. Yes, fruit and nuts can be added if desired, but the bread machine lacks character. You cannot shape the loaf as you please and create unique designs. You cannot make individual loaves, either. However, one option is to use a bread machine for kneading the dough, then shape and bake the dough as desired. 

What are stand mixers? 

Since the early 1900s, Americans have utilized stand mixers as kitchen appliances. It is a must-have for any baker, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a home without one. 

A stand mixer is a kitchen appliance used for mixing, kneading, and whipping ingredients. The bowl rests on the base, and the attachments are attached just above the bowl. 

Numerous attachments, such as a dough hook, whisk, and beater, can be attached to the mixer. The beater is used to make cake and cupcake batter, the whisk is used to whip ingredients such as egg whites and heavy cream, and the dough hook is used to knead bread dough. 

When baking bread, the dough hook can mimic the hand-kneading motion, so you don’t have to do all the hard work yourself. Most modern stand mixers use planetary motion to knead the dough more effectively. 

You are responsible for the remaining bread-making steps besides kneading the dough. The mixer does not automate the process, but it does handle the kneading step, which is arguably the most time-consuming and exhausting aspect of making bread by hand. 

Therefore, after kneading the dough, you must remove it from the bowl, allow it to rise, and bake it in the oven. 

Guide to Using a Stand Mixer 

Before using a stand mixer, it is necessary to attach the desired attachment. The bowl is placed on the base, followed by the attachments clipped in just above the bowl. 

To knead the dough, place the dough hook in the bowl and add all the ingredients. Allow the dough to be kneaded at a low speed by your mixer. This could take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. Use the windowpane test after 10 minutes to determine if your dough is ready. 

When the dough is ready, place it on a floured surface, give it a final knead with your hands, and form it into a bowl. Cover the dough with cling film and place it in a bowl. Allow it to rise at room temperature or in a warm oven until its size doubles. 

When the dough has doubled in size, deflate it, shape it however you like, and allow it to rise for 30 minutes to an hour. 

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown. 

As you can see, the stand mixer requires less kneading time, but you are still in charge of the entire bread-making process, which makes it no different from making the dough by hand. 

Advantages of Stand Mixers 

• Versatile. A stand mixer is the most versatile kitchen appliance available. You can bake cakes, cupcakes, bread, and even mashed potatoes. 
• It provides numerous attachments. This relates to its adaptability. You can attach pasta rollers, blenders, meat grinders, and vegetable spiralizers to a more advanced stand mixer with a universal hub, such as KitchenAid. 
• Batch baking. Stand mixers allow you to bake multiple loaves simultaneously. 
• More command over the loaf. You can shape the loaf however you like, create smaller individual loaves, and incorporate any desired ingredients. 

Negatives of a Stand Mixer 

• It does not significantly save time. It does not save much time when baking, as most tasks must still be completed by hand. 
• It kneads only dough. It does not cause the dough to rise, nor does it bake the dough. Kneading is all that can be accomplished with a stand mixer. 
• Needs consideration. Like making bread by hand, it requires your complete attention. You cannot simply leave the dough to bake on its own. 
• Things could go awry. Again, carelessness can lead to disaster, like making dough by hand. A dough that is too wet or too dry can ruin your bread, and if you’re not careful, the mixer may overmix your ingredients. 

Bread Maker vs. Stand Mixer: A Comprehensive Comparison 

Price 

When making a purchase, price becomes a decisive factor, and this is especially true when it comes to appliances that you may only use occasionally. 

There are always budget-friendly and high-end options for everything we purchase, and the two appliances we are comparing today are no exception. 

There are as many affordable stand mixers as there are affordable bread machines. Bread makers are available for as little as $60 and as much as $450. A cheap stand mixer will cost roughly the same, whereas a high-end one can cost close to $800. Therefore, there is no winner in this category, as the amount spent on a kitchen appliance is a matter of personal preference. 

Simplicity of Use 

Add your ingredients, press a button, and wait for your bread to be ready to consume. As previously mentioned, using a stand mixer requires significant effort, which can be intimidating for first-time users. 

=> Winner: Bread Maker 

Time-Saving 

Herein lies the bread maker’s greatest strength. How long it takes a bread maker to bake bread depends on the type of bread maker and the type of bread being made. Typically, a bread machine will not require more than three hours to produce a standard white loaf. Whole wheat or gluten-free products may take slightly longer, but not much. 

It takes about 20 minutes for a stand mixer to knead the dough, and then another 2 hours for it to rise, depending on the temperature of your kitchen. This does not account for measuring the ingredients or the need to activate the yeast beforehand, which can add 15 minutes. 

The duration of the second proof is approximately one hour, by which time you will have wasted nearly half of your morning. By the time you’ve baked your bread, you may have spent approximately five hours on it. However, this depends on numerous variables, so it is possible to bake bread in less time. 

I believe it is only fair to award a point based solely on the fact that the bread maker operates without human intervention. 

=> Winner: Bread Maker 

Versatility 

As evidenced by the preceding discussion, both devices are highly versatile. Bread machines are capable of much more than their names suggest, and a stand mixer with additional attachments can whip up meringue one minute and then roll out pasta the next. 

Although bread machines have cake and jam settings, I would not typically use one for anything other than making bread. I think it’s fantastic that bread machines have so many additional settings and uses, but if I wanted to bake a cake, I’d use my stand mixer. 

=> Winner: Stand Mixer 

Which Should You Choose? 

My sincere response? Both. You will require both machines if you are a committed baker. I rely on my bread machine and stand mixer equally, and I could not live without them. 

A bread machine is an excellent option for making bread from start to finish with minimal effort. It is fully automated and performs all laborious tasks. 

A stand mixer will suffice if you prefer to make bread by hand but require assistance with the kneading. However, I would choose the bread machine if you could only choose one. It is vastly superior to a bread machine at making bread, and the results are consistently delicious bread.