Best mixers for hobbiest Pizzaiolo

[Timpanogos Slim]

Someone actually has a pre-1972 Bosch for sale here. I'd never seen one before. Looks like it is in barely-used condition but you'd maybe want to re-lubricate it after 50+ years?

I'm going to be picking up a kitchenaid-by-hobart tonight for not much money. No bowl or attachments, but they aren't hard to come by.

[barryvabeach]

Blake,  I haven't owned every mixer made, but certainly a fair share. I agree with most that KA is more of a general purpose mixer, and is not as good with dough as many others.  I had the Bosch Universal  ( before the Plus 0 ) , the Concept, the Compact  ( which I still have and use ), a prior version of the Ank , and a Famag.  If you want something designed just for dough, the Famag ( I have the IM5-S ) does a great job, but is really a single purpose tool, quite expensive, and you won't be able to find used .

 OTOH, the earlier versions of the Ank ( I had the Magic Mill DLX 2000 which is the same as the Ank, but with a slightly smaller motor )  and it is fantastic at kneading dough for pizza and bread -  IMO , just a hair behind the Famag, and with the plastic bowl and whisks - can work as a general purpose mixer for whipping cream, making cakes, cookies, etc.   Best part it is pretty easy to find used on Ebay .  I didn't see any good ones just now, but did a completed items search and found they were going for around $130 to $250 , plus shipping,  though many did not have the plastic bowl , the bowl , drive and whisks are available for about $80  https://pleasanthillgrain.com/double-beater-bowl-set-for-ankarsrum-mixer   .   They are extremely well engineered, and even if you buy used will probably outlive you.

[Timpanogos Slim]

I feel like i should mention that it appears that if it says hobart on the side it can probably use the spiral hooks no problem. The service manual for the pre-whirlpool models states that they all have the same motor and transmission.

With the exception of the weird one from the 50's that only came with a whisk because it's apparently for making cakes or something

[rascali]

If you want more than a one-trick pony, don't like antiques, and need something of a manageable size, the KA Commercial Mixer deserves some consideration. Strong as a Hobart, DC motor, machined metal gears, and it fits all the KA accessories. Laughs at low hydration dough.  Kind of expensive, but not nearly as much as many of the less versatile alternatives.

[Timpanogos Slim]

If you want more than a one-trick pony, don't like antiques, and need something of a manageable size, the KA Commercial Mixer deserves some consideration. Strong as a Hobart, DC motor, machined metal gears, and it fits all the KA accessories. Laughs at low hydration dough.  Kind of expensive, but not nearly as much as many of the less versatile alternatives.

Per the manual it is rated for a hair over 3kg of dough at 60% hydration ("14 cups")

This means that it costs twice as much as a brand new Bosch Universal and has half the dough capacity.

[Puzzolento]

You could do two smaller batches in a Cuisinart faster than a mixer would do one big one, and a Cuisinart costs $180. The Cuisinart I use is around 20 years old, and it runs fine. I use the chopper blade because I usually make batches of one pound or less, but you can use the dough blade and mix bigger batches.

It takes around a minute to do a batch of dough.

I have a Universal Plus, and it's amazing how much dough it will make, but I use the Cuisinart every time. I also have a huge Cuisinart mixer which collects dust beside the Bosch.

[mosabrina]

See excerpt from the kitchenaid professional manual below.

Sure looks like the limit is a bit shy of 1.7kg of AP flour.

On the nutrimill website. They claim the max limit is 12 cups of flour. You can certainly do more. Bosch claims 6.5kg so not sure how true these numbers are.

The kitchenaid model at costco also has a 50w more powerful motor than the one that is sold directly from kitchenaid.

[TheRealJonnyD]

My typical batches are usually only 3-4kg, but there are people on YouTube that have demonstrated the Bosch doing just shy of 7kg of bread dough. It involves adding flour in increments, but it really does work. These things are absolute workhorses.

[SanFellipoPizza]

Wow so much good information!! this forum is great.

Looks like Ill have a lot to think about while im kneading my next batches of dough.

Currently the Bosch is interesting me.

Cheers,
Blake

[cajunrph]

Wow, so much good information!! this forum is great.

Looks like I'll have a lot to think about while I'm kneading my next batches of dough.

Currently, the Bosch is interesting me.

Cheers,
Blake

I don't know where you are in your decision-making process, but Nutrimill has refurbished Bosch Universal Plus for $319. Check them out. https://www.nutrimill.com/product/refurbished-white-bosch-universal-plus-mixer/

[apizza]

See this post for new and improved Nutrimill.
https://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php?topic=79677.0

[SanFellipoPizza]

You could do two smaller batches in a Cuisinart faster than a mixer would do one big one, and a Cuisinart costs $180. The Cuisinart I use is around 20 years old, and it runs fine. I use the chopper blade because I usually make batches of one pound or less, but you can use the dough blade and mix bigger batches.

It takes around a minute to do a batch of dough.

I have a Universal Plus, and it's amazing how much dough it will make, but I use the Cuisinart every time. I also have a huge Cuisinart mixer which collects dust beside the Bosch.

Puzzolento, turns out I have a cuisinart. I want to give it a try. Ant tips for the process? i.e. adding flour, how long to mix etc?

[mosabrina]

I believe the kitchenaid pro is $300 at costco right now and it is a perfectly okay mixer at that price. I think for pizza it might not be a problem for the average batch size someone would do at home.

If you are more serious about bread making and it won't stay on your counter there are better options

It's $412.99 on instacart but if I buy using instacart gift cards I've purchased at 20% off I'd get it for roughly $250 after the $100 instant savings. Add in maybe $10-15 tip and it's a pretty decent deal

[Timpanogos Slim]

Puzzolento, turns out I have a cuisinart. I want to give it a try. Ant tips for the process? i.e. adding flour, how long to mix etc?

Some people prefer the plastic blade to the steel, others disagree. My low-end cuisinart only has the steel blade.

Short pulses to mix yeast / water / sugar (if any) / salt, then start adding flour in batches, pulse to mix. If you're adding oil I don't think you can get the machine to mix it in at the end, so perhaps add it when about half of the flour is combined.

On really low hydration doughs you get a crumbly mixture that you'll have to press together and let rest before kneading. Normal hydrations the dough will come together into a ball, and if you're going to knead it you would do that manually on the counter after a rest. I haven't tried more than 62% hydration in a food processor.

I expect others will have further advice.

[HansB]

Puzzolento, turns out I have a cuisinart. I want to give it a try. Ant tips for the process? i.e. adding flour, how long to mix etc?

I use my Cuisinart frequently with the metal blade. I add water and yeast first, put flour and salt in then mix until it just comes together, then add oil if using. Mix until it forms a loose ball. Rest for a few minutes then mix again for about 15 seconds. You don't want to get the dough too warm, 78° max for me.

[Camarie]

I've had an old KA mixer, a more modern low end KA mixer, Bosch Universal mixer and now the Bosch inspired Nutrimill Artiste. The KA's are barely okay in my opinion, maybe if you step up to the higher end models but I never did. The Bosch was great but it burned out years ago from unknown cause. The Artiste is cheaper and does a bit less but for your sized batches should be sufficient.

*It was once said that the Artiste can make up to 10 lbs of dough, then it was somehow changed to 6 lbs of dough. But it still can make 6 lbs very nicely with ease. 

[billg]

Here’s my favorite this year LOL

[Timpanogos Slim]

Here’s my favorite this year LOL

How much did that set you back?

[billg]

It's kind of a long story and not something I want to publicly share.  Let's just say I've owned every possible home mixer to experiment and test my curiosity for what I thought may help me in my quest to make the best dough possible at home.  When I first started in my pizza journey, I turned to this forum for help and guidance.  I sat on the sidelines for a few years without really participating out of lack of experience and fear of posting crappy results and just practiced, I mean really practiced!!!!  This place really taught me how to make pizza!!! Over the years I was just curious what equipment would help or push me to the next level.  Not just a decent home pizza, but what I would get at great pizza establishments.  During this time, I made all my dough by hand to just feel and learn how dough just felt.  To get a real sense of feeling without having to pay attention to formulas (hydration).  I can't tell you how many videos I watched to learn the stretch and fold or the Neapolitan slap. Once I got dialed in by hand, I wanted to push my personal boundaries and thought equipment would make a significant difference.  So I bought and sold practically every possible mixer available except a diving arm mixer.  What did I learn?  I can make great dough by hand.  I love the process!!!  It just took more time or paying attention.  Life evolves and it seems less time!  I never make the same dough over again which led me to buying and testing mixers to help with my quest.  Once I understood yeast, temperature, hydration, time, flour, etc... mixers just made my life easier.  I settled on spiral mixers for their versatility to just make great dough, no matter what style or hydration.  I leaned that it's not the equipment or someone else's results that makes great pizza  but the practice of learning what's best for you that makes great pizza.  Trial and error and practice!  That's the best education. 

[scott r]

I feel like I just wrote that post