While buying bread at the store is a convenient option for many, if you are purchasing more than a few loaves a week, every week, the price is going to add up rather quickly.
This is especially true if you are buying artisan bread or healthier bread such as sprouted whole grains, sourdough, oat bread, flax bread or gluten-free bread for those who have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
This is one of the main reasons why many switch over to baking bread at home, either by kneading it by hand or by using a machine of some kind.
If you do not want to knead the bread by hand (understandably so!), you are probably wondering whether you should buy a KitchenAid Stand Mixer or a bread machine?
In this article, we are going to look at both appliances to see what their differences are and where they excel in the realm of making bread.
The Kind of Baking You Do Will Determine the Machine You Want
It may be tempting to just jump right into determining which type of machine you are going to purchase, but before you can make the choice, you must determine what kind of baking you are going to do.
If you are not a big baker and are not too keen on making cakes, pastries, or other baking treats and just want a machine that lets you throw in the ingredients and watch the bread loaf rise to perfection, then a bread machine is for you.
However, if you want to do other types of baking but still want to make loaves of bread from time to time, then a stand mixer is the better choice.
While there is no hard line on which machine is better for creating bread, each does have some pros and cons that may or may not be a deal-breaker for you, so keep on reading to see how these appliances match up.
What Does a KitchenAid Stand Mixer Offer for Baking Bread?
If you are considering buying a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, the appliance is going to end up doing most of the mixing and kneading of the bread dough.
Simply place your bread dough ingredients into the mixer’s bowl and add on your dough hook to the unit. Turn the mixer on and allow it to knead the bread for your recipe’s specified amount of time.
It is important to note that a KitchenAid Stand Mixer does come with the dough hook with the original purchase, so no extra accessories will be required, but the kneading time will take just as long as it would if you were kneading the dough by hand.
Once the dough has been completely kneaded, you will need to remove it from the mixing bowl and complete the rest of the bread-making process manually.
Here Are the Pros of Using a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Bread
- It is a versatile machine, allowing you to knead the dough for multiple loaves of bread.
- It can be used to create lots of bread types, as you have an entire mixing bowl’s worth of room for experimenting with your ingredients.
- It saves your hands some soreness, as you do not have to knead the bread by hand.
- The texture you will receive will be like what you would expect if you had kneaded bread with your hands.
Here Are the Cons of Using a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Bread
- If you are baking bread in a cooler home (temperature-wise) it may be harder to get it to rise.
- The KitchenAid Stand Mixer only kneads the dough and does nothing else. Meaning you will need to form it and bake it with your own bakeware and oven.
- If you are planning on buying lots of attachments, it can get expensive.
- You must be careful when purchasing a KitchenAid Stand Mixer as some models are not powerful enough to make tougher bread types like sourdough.
- You will always have to monitor the mixer as many do not come with timers.
What Does a Bread Machine Offer in Terms of Features for Bread Making?
There are two types of bread machines that you can purchase, one that does the mixing and the rising of the bread, and one that does all the work.
We are going to break these two types down into their respective categories before doing a final comparison between KitchenAid Stand Mixers and bread machines.
If you purchase a bread machine that does the mixing and the rising portions of the process, you simply place all your ingredients into the machine and let it knead the dough for you. The inside of this type of bread machine will be set to warm during the process, so it will also encourage the bread to rise as it is kneaded through.
Once the dough is done rising, you will need to take it out of the machine, punch it down and shape it, then place it back into the machine to rise some more. Once it has fully risen, you will need to bake it yourself.
Here Are the Pros of Using a Mixing/Rising Bread Machine
- It speeds up the kneading and rising process.
- It raises the dough to an excellent level.
- You can set it and walk away, as the machine will be on a timer.
- It allows you to have some control over the quality of the final product as you get to shape and form the bread.
Here Are the Cons of Using a Mixing/Rising Bread Machine
- If punching down and shaping the dough is not an enjoyable part of the process for you, then this ends up being a negative.
- This machine can only be used to make dough.
If you purchase a bread machine that does all the work, you simply just place the ingredients into the machine and allow it to mix, knead, raise, and bake your bread.
This is an extremely convenient option for those who want to walk away and come back to freshly baked bread without doing very processing work.
Here Are the Pros of Using a Full Bread Machine
- You can set the machine and walk away from it, allowing it to complete the entire cycle from start to finish.
- You can make bread overnight to have in the morning or when you are away from home.
- It is the fastest and most convenient option available.
Here Are the Cons of Using a Full Bread Machine
- The entire process takes a couple of hours, so the machine cannot be used for anything else (like mixing subsequent loaves of bread) while in use.
- It can only bake one loaf at a time.
- Generally, you are only going to get “loaf shapes” as it cannot make your bread loaf into any other shape.
- They are only designed to bake bread and are, therefore, not versatile as a machine in general.
KitchenAid Stand Mixer vs. Bread Machine: Where Do They Excel?
While making bread with a KitchenAid Stand Mixer will require more dedication on your part, this appliance really excels at giving you versatility.
Not only can you make several different types of loaves at the same time (mixing and kneading while another is in the oven), it can be a great addition to the kitchen if you like to bake other items as well.
The bread machine, on the other hand, really excels at making just bread and can often handle tougher doughs if you get a high-quality model from a reputable brand.
The best part about a bread maker is it allows you to set it and leave it, which is perfect for those who don’t want to get their hands messy or for those who do not have the time to complete the process manually.
Keep in mind that regardless of which machine you choose, if you get a cheap version, it is not going to be able to handle tougher loaf types.
Which KitchenAid Mixer and/or Bread Machine Should I Buy?
When it comes to bread machines I highly recommend the high-end Zojirushi BB for its all-aroundness. It’s a high-quality product that comes at a relatively high price tag (which can be justified by its performance).
If you’re on a budget you’re probably better off with a cheaper alternative, in that case, I would recommend the Hamilton Beach Bread Maker. It’s a good-bang-for-your-buck kind of product. In a fight against the Zojirushi BB, the Hamilton Beach would be able to put up a fight but not win it.
If you plan on baking bread on a regular basis I would spend the extra money on the Zojirushi. Go with your gut, go with your budget.
When it comes to selecting the right KitchenAid mixer; there are several alternatives and a plethora of attachments. Having tried different models, attachments and put them through multiple tasks, I’ve come to the conclusion that the KitchenAid 6QT Pro 600 is the best option.
It’s an absolute favorite for me, and not only for baking bread. The 600 pro is a versatile appliance capable of whipping, mixing, kneading and more. With the right attachment, the possibilities are endless.