KitchenAid mixer dough hook?

[mrs.m]

I really don't make bread often. I have a bread machine and I usually use it to make the dough and then plop it into normal size bread pans for baking. Or for pizza crust. But today as I was organizing my cabinets, I found the dough hook to my KitchenAid Mixer. So my question is will I regret tossing my bread machine for the dough hook? I have never tried it and suppose I could the next time I make bread. So I will also need some tips!

[JennyD]

The King Arthur people firmly maintain that of all the ways to knead dough, the bread machine is the best, and the stand mixer with dough hook is second best. I have tried both and have not noticed a huge difference, but I've only had my bread machine for a short while and so haven't really been able to test this thoroughly.

 

My KitchenAid motor is clearly nowhere near as strong as the bread machine, though -- it's pretty obvious that whole grain bread dough taxes the mixer.

[jujsky]

The benefit to the bread machine is it bakes the bread right in it, which is nice. You might regret tossing it for that feature. As far as mixing goes, I don't see a noticeable difference between the two.

[Stina2000]

I would keep both. Use the hook for pizza doughs, etc. that won't bake directly in your bread machine.

[KungFuPanda]

I stopped using my bread machine when I got the Kitchenaid. I kept it around for years, but finally purged it.