Gave in and bought a $300 stand mixer after years of hand mixing... regret it hard

I know everyone on here swears by KitchenAid mixers and says they're worth every penny but I honestly regret dropping that much cash on mine. I got the Artisan model about 8 months ago because my wrist was killing me from kneading dough by hand. Thing is it takes up half my counter space and cleaning all the attachments is a pain. Plus I found that for most of my recipes like cookies or quick breads I still prefer mixing by hand because the mixer overworks the dough and makes things tough. I used it for a big batch of cinnamon rolls last week and they came out denser than my usual hand-kneaded ones. Anyone else feel like the hype around these mixers is overblown or did I just get a dud batch of flour or something?

2 comments

2 Comments

benclark24d ago

Overworking dough is a real thing with these mixers. Had the same problem with biscuits. They came out tough and flat. Started mixing on the lowest speed and stopping the second the dough came together. For cinnamon rolls, try hand kneading them halfway then finishing in the mixer on low for just a minute or two. Cut your liquid back by a tablespoon too. These machines don't need as much hydration. The Artisan is a tank but you gotta learn its quirks.

james_campbell1224d ago

Bro honestly I gotta say I completely disagree with you here. There's a learning curve but once you figure out the right speeds and timings it's a total game changer. I use mine for everything from cookies to bread and haven't had a single issue with overworking anything. Sounds like you might be running it too long or on too high a speed. Cleaning is a chore but that's true for any decent mixer. And the counter space thing? Cmon, you knew it was big when you bought it. I think the hype is real, it's just not a magic wand that fixes bad technique.