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Can all bread/pizza/pasta be made with no-knead recipes? Does a stand mixer actually expand my possibilities?


BatchCooker

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Hi everyone,

 

I am in the process of buying a stand mixer (leaning towards the Ankarsrum right now), esp. to make more homemade bread, pizza and pasta.

So far I've only really done no-knead doughs and those worked out pretty well.

Now I am wondering: What is actually the advantage of having a stand mixer? Is it just saving me time or are there actually doughs one can't really do well using no-knead? I read that whole wheat doughs or doughs with a high fat content will develop less gluten... is this where the stand mixer is coming into play really?

 

Thanks!

 

BatchCooker

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not everything works with a "no knead" approach.

I do gadzillions of no knead bread styles.

 

I do Jamie Oliver's pizza dough - which takes a 15 minute kneading + rise.

 

I do 'classic' 16th century German bread recipes that take hand kneading....

 

basically a stand mixer / dough hook will do the typical kneading exercise - saving the baker his aches and pains....

 

but - kneaded is kneaded - if you enjoy killing your wrists, mixed not required.

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No knead works fairly well with high hydration bread.  Pasta is normally much lower in hydration, and i have never heard of a no knead pasta recipe .  Plus, kneading pasta is hard work, it can be done by hand , but it is much easier by machine, either a mixer or a food processor.  Pizza dough falls between the two -  some use a high hydration, others are in the low 60's , and do a liight mix, then a long cold retard , and for that,  a mixer is helpful, but not required.  The Ank is a great choice, hope you like it. 

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