You may have landed here expecting to find the single best stand mixer for bread dough.
Let me assure you… there is no single model that is best for every baker that makes bread.
The question of “best” is a loaded one because what is best will depend on a lot of factors.
Will you use it for white bread or whole wheat or both?
Will you use it for all bread types? How many loaves at a time?
How often do you make bread? Is budget an issue?
Don’t worry because we have gathered the best bread mixers on the market today to help you make an informed choice.
On to our list…
1. KitchenAid 8-quart Commercial Stand Mixer
Yes, this mixer is made for business.
But homemakers are grabbing this, too. Especially, those who make lots of difficult bread or large batches of anything. They are mostly bread enthusiasts who want only the best.
Butter straight from the fridge? Just dump it into the 8-quart bowl and watch the mixer power through it.
Need whipped cream fast? You have it in under 30 seconds.
Best of all it has enough torque for large batches of dough. Cookies, too. Anything. Perfect for your holiday baking and everyday use.
All stainless steel accessories, an NSF certification and a heavy duty commercial power cord cement this mixer’s superior build.
Have the budget? Don’t want the issues that hound smaller stand mixers?
For your business or home…you won’t regret grabbing this KitchenAid commercial mixer.
2. Ankarsrum Assistent AKM 6230
This Swedish brand is by far the best bread mixer for home use and for small commercial quantities.
Its motor is housed underneath, like the Bosch Universal Plus, providing open access on top. It is steady and stable as it does not have to balance a load overhead.
This is not a planetary mixer like the KitchenAid. Rather, the bowl spins while the dough roller, hook or beater spins in place.
The Ankarsrum, also known as Electrolux Assistent, Magic Mill DLX or Verona, has a spring loaded arm where the roller attaches, and which can easily be adjusted and moved. It also has a separate scraper that attaches to the arm.
You can throw any type of dough in this workhorse. 12 lbs of dough? This machine plows through it without flinching. And it yields a more hydrated and softer dough.
That power and the big 7.5 quarts bowl is suitable for small or home businesses.
Can you use this for small batches?
… the smallest batch this will knead well is about a 1000-gm loaf or 2 standard loaves.
Will it look pretty on your kitchen counter? Not like the KitchenAid. But if you are after a machine that tackles difficult mixing, this is it.
And not to worry, it’s available in attractive shades.
Meat grinder, vegetable slicer and citrus presser attachments can be bought separately.
People swoon over how powerful and durable the Ankarsrum is. They say it lasts for “years and years” or “forever”. In Europe, it is reputed to be passed on to families.
Needless to say, all that brawn comes with a price tag. But isn’t it worth it if you are spared the worry it will burn? Or knowing you can pass it on to your child?
Want a reliable KitchenAid mixer that can churn out enough bread for your large brood?
3. KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer
Have a look at the Pro Line.
Its 1.3 horsepower DC motor easily tackles those difficult breads like ciabatta, sourdough, bagel, etc.
One customer let it knead for 8 – 15 minutes on Speed 4 – 5 for hydrations of 60-65 and on Speed 8 – 10 for hydrations of 65 – 80. But the mixer starts walking on high speeds and hydrations.
The 7-quart bowl is plenty enough for quadruple recipes with nary a sweat from the Pro Line. Wondering how long it kneads that big batch?
….More than 10 minutes.
Concerned it overheats with 12 cups of flour or 6 lbs of dough? No, it does not.
Read more about the Pro Line here.
4. Bosch Universal Plus
When it comes to bread, folks swear by this 800-watt Bosch mixer.
It works very well for all types of bread.
Do you usually do multiple batches of bread dough?
… The 6.5-quart Bosch Universal mixer easily kneads dough for 6 loaves of bread.
Do you make bread everyday?
No problem with the Bosch mixer. You can use it daily for several recipes of your tough dough.
This mixer is not good for small batches of dough. Consider its smaller brother — the Bosch Compact or the KitchenAid Pro 600.
It’s made of plastic which may or may not be an issue to you. Most people have no problem with it.
5. KitchenAid Professional 6000 HD
This bread mixer is a tough one. It powers through most breads without straining or stalling.
But, it may overheat and the motor protection will shut it down if you are mixing several recipes of difficult dough like sourdough. So, limit to two loaves per load.
The top reason you may choose this KitchenAid model is value-for-money.
It costs almost the same as the AC-powered Professional 600 but far superior for bread making.
Go to our full review to learn more about the KitchenAid 6000 HD.
Comparison Chart
As of 2023-06-02 at 07:03 (More info)
How We Chose
We didn’t just look at the bread mixers on this top list and pick what “we think” is best.
Our criteria includes these four important factors for evaluating and ranking the best mixer for bread dough.
Power and Torque
Most people look at wattage to gauge how strong a stand mixer is. But that is not a good indicator of strength because a mixer’s declared power is not entirely its mixing power.
The machine itself will consume some of that wattage to run, and operating consumption varies. The power left for mixing will also depend on a machine’s efficiency…losses, design, gear system, etc.
That is why you can find a model that have lower wattage but is tougher and stronger than one with a higher wattage.
A better gauge of power is torque.
The problem is: it’s not measured.
So, how do we gauge it?
By observing how it behaves in challenging tasks. Does it stall, shake or wobble?
Another good indicator is the maximum cups it can hold per load.
The next criteria is linked to power…
Capacity
The maximum capacity of a bread mixer is a good indicator of its strength. Because, roughly, the more it can hold, the stronger it is.
But, we also should consider how well it works for smaller volumes.
Special Features
Other functions beyond the basic stand mixer features can affect performance and result.
An overload protection is important for a mixer that is constantly subjected to tough mixing. That way you don’t have to always be on your toes worrying if you’ll inadvertently task your machine beyond its capability and break it. This is a must for bread mixers.
Other features like automatic sensor, while not a requirement, can affect performance and dough consistency.
Accessories
While all bread stand mixers on this top list include standard mixer accessories and then some, we believe that the simpler the better. Having more can be confusing.
While most materials used for mixer accessories work, we have no doubt that stainless steel is superior over coated or burnished metal.
Some bakers have more than one stand mixer to deal with their various requirements. They have one for smaller batches and another for those heavy mixing jobs. Some even have three. So, if your mixing requirements run the gamut of light to heavy, you should consider matching a mixer to each of your needs.
Our Take
Bread is the ultimate test for a stand mixer’s strength. And, it is where most of them fall short. Even though almost all models include dough hooks, only a few truly measure up to the challenge.
But, you don’t have to roll your eyes in confusion. As long as you know what you want, picking the best bread stand mixer is simple with our top list.