How to Knead Dough in a Stand Mixer
Inside: How to knead bread dough in a stand mixer without burning out your machine. Your Kitchenaid will need a break every few minutes but a Bosch will perfectly knead your dough in 4-5 minutes without trouble.
If you want to start baking bread at home but don’t have a bread machine, don’t worry. You can bake beautiful loaves using just your stand mixer.
Before we get into kneading dough in your stand mixer, I want to go over the two major downsides of using a stand mixer vs a bread machine. Making bread without a bread machine is certainly possible but I prefer having one.
First, kneading in a stand mixer requires just a touch more babysitting. You have to turn the machine on and off for the dough and the motor to rest, you have to check the consistency of the dough, and you have to remove it, and then use a bowl cover during the rising process.
Second, the average stand mixer (especially most home Kitchenaid brands) is not really designed to knead dough day after day. It is too hard on their motor. Bread dough is much stiffer than something a cake batter or frosting, and you knead it for much, much longer than cookie dough. So over time, kneading in the mixer will wear out the motor.
That being said, if you really dislike kneading by hand and only bake bread occasionally, it is a good option. There are a few things to keep in mind for the best results.
Mix The Ingredients Right in The Mixer Bowl
When you add the ingredients, there is no need to be fussy about the order they go in. Just put everything in the bowl, attach the dough hook, and set it on the lowest setting. You heard me! You don’t need to proof your yeast. Throw it in there! Let the machine mix for a minute or two, and then come back and see if the dough is too dry or too wet.
It should have formed a ball and cleared the sides of the bowl. If it hasn’t and seems like a batter or is constantly sticking to the bowl, start the mixer again and add more flour. Do this a teaspoon at a time.
If the dough is too dry, then there will be dry and crumbly bits and it will not have formed a ball. Again, you start the mixer on low and add water a teaspoon at a time.
How Long to Knead in the Stand Mixer
Once the dough has the right level of moisture, it’s time to knead. Keep in mind that we need to do this on the lowest setting and it will take a little bit of time. Kneading bread dough is not like mixing up a cake. We’re going to be here for a while. Set a timer and stick to it so you don’t rush the process.
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So let the machine knead for five minutes on the lowest setting, then turn it off and give it a five-minute rest. You may notice that the top of the stand mixer feels very warm. This is normal, and a sign that the motor needs a break. After the five-minute rest, start it back up again for another five minutes on low. Now it has been kneading for a total of five minutes. We can start checking the dough to see if it is ready.
How to Tell if Dough is Kneaded Enough
The best way to see if the bread has been kneaded adequately is to check for “windows”. These are areas in bread dough that are translucent when stretched out. To check for them, you remove a golf-ball-sized piece of dough and try to stretch it out. If it immediately tears, the gluten is not developed and it needs more kneading time. If it stretches easily into a thin layer, this is a window, and it means that the dough has been kneaded enough.
(There are exceptions to this rule of course. Very wet doughs, or doughs with a very long rise, will not always form windows and they don’t need to, because of their very long rise times. This is the principle behind some artisan bread recipes and high-hydration pizza dough.)
You can’t necessarily expect the dough to be ready after ten minutes of kneading time. Most of the time it will require a few more five-minute sessions. Just make sure you are letting the mixer rest for five minutes, then turning it on low for another five minutes,
The Dough-Rising Stage
Once you have kneaded enough that you see windows, it is time to move to the bulk dough rise stage. This can be done in the same bowl that the stand mixer used. Just quickly wash it out and coat it lightly with vegetable oil. A cooking spray works best. Gently shape the dough into a ball and place it into the clean bowl. You need to cover it either with a damp tea towel or with plastic wrap and allow it to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. This can also be done overnight in the fridge.
From there, you simply proceed with the rest of the recipe such as shaping, the final rise, and baking.
Step-by-step Bread Dough in a Stand Mixer
- Add the ingredients, mix them, and check to see if the dough is too dry or too wet.
- Knead the dough on the lowest setting. Knead for five minutes, let the machine rest for five minutes, and continue this process until windows have formed in the dough.
- Shape dough into a ball and place in a clean bowl to rise until doubled in bulk.
- Proceed with the rest of the recipe to shape, proof, and bake.
You Don’t Need a Bread Machine
So don’t feel limited by the fact that you don’t have a bread machine. You can bake bread consistently using your stand mixer as long as you keep it low and give the machine a break. I made bread with only a stand mixer for years and it was fine.
That being said, a bread machine is not expensive and makes the process so simple. I never recommend baking in the machine, so a very basic model is fine. It is completely worth it just for kneading and rising. They are also readily available at yard sales and thrift shops.
Substitutions and Alternatives
- Using a hand mixer: While a hand mixer with dough hooks can be used for small batches of dough, it may not be powerful enough for larger quantities or stiffer dough. For better results, consider using a stand mixer or kneading by hand.
- Alternative kneading techniques: If you prefer not to use a stand mixer, try the French fold technique. This involves folding and stretching the dough on a work surface, which can be more gentle and effective for gluten development. Another method is the stretch and fold technique, which is particularly useful for wetter doughs.
- Different types of dough hooks: Stand mixers come with different types of dough hooks. A C-shaped hook is common and works well for most doughs. However, a spiral hook can be more effective for larger batches or denser doughs, ensuring even kneading throughout.
Troubleshooting and Help
While a food processor can mix dough, it’s not ideal for kneading yeast dough due to its metal blade. The dough can overheat, and the processor might not handle the stiffness of bread dough well. A stand mixer with a compatible dough hook, like a Kitchenaid mixer, is better suited for the kneading process.
The best way to check if your dough is kneaded enough is by performing the windowpane test. Take a small piece of dough and stretch it gently. If it forms a thin, translucent window without tearing, the gluten development is sufficient. If it tears, continue kneading.
If your dough is too sticky, you can add a little flour. Add a teaspoon at a time while the mixer is running at low speed. Conversely, if the dough is too dry, add a little water. Adjust gradually until the dough forms a smooth ball and clears the sides of the mixing bowl.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.