Bread Machine

[Food Network Fan]

They sell replacements for the dough hook.

Amazon.com: kitchenaid dough hook - Home & Garden: Home & Garden

[bakerman]

Oh the dough hook is the best. I use the paddle to mix in the first couple cups of flour into the wet mixture, and the attach the hook, mixing in the rest of the flour until the dough starts to form a ball, cleaning the side of the bowl. Make sure if you have the type like I do with the flip up head that you lock it down. Set the mixer on speed 2 or 3 and let it knead away, usually I let it go 10 or 15 minutes!

MAC

[Food Network Fan]

Does anyone have this hook? It looks interesting.
Amazon.com: KitchenAid KNS256CDH Coated Powerknead Spiral Dough Hook: Home & Garden

[bluejeanz]

Hmm...I wonder if the dough performs any better. I have two spiral beater-hooks that came with my hand mixer. They say it's good for making stuff like meatloaf. The only time I've used mine was for adding chocolate chips, nuts or other bits of stuff to cookie dough.

[Food Network Fan]

I kept burning up hand mixers making cookie dough and thick bread. My husband decided that in the long run we were better off paying for the Kitchenaid stand mixer. I had been thru about 5 then.

[bluejeanz]

Five?? Holy crap!!

[Food Network Fan]

It took almost 5 years though. I have had the kitchen aid about 10 years now, my husband got it for me for Christmas the year #5 died making cookies.

[bakerman]

I have also burned through a fair number of hand mixers, smoke rolling out of them, sparks blowing out the vents etc..

I have had my kitchen aid for about 13 years it is a workhorse for sure, I have put 3 lb. cold cream cheese in it and cranked it on high, and it didn't skip a beat. I also have a kitchen aid hand mixer which has held up well for about 9 years although it is used far less than the stand mixer.

MAC

[Food Network Fan]

I don't even have a hand mixer anymore. I did buy the cuisinart stick blender with the whisk attachment but I haven't used the whisk yet.

The kichenaid stand mixer is a real power tool for sure.

[Chefnot]

Wife bakes a lot of bread, hec I can hardly eat any kind of store bought any more, but she uses the bread machine for the mixing and whatever else it does. Then she takes it out, forms it, lets it rise, and bakes! (Ihave mastered the last three steps)