There’s nothing better than the satisfaction of eating your own home-made bread, along with any other delicious food you might have been able to make yourself, like a soft and fluffy sponge cake made to all of your specific preferences.
Cooking your own is an amazing feeling, and always has the best of healthiness and tastiness. The downside to home-made? The massive effort and how time-consuming it can become.
One of the hardest steps is kneading the dough, proper cooks are way stronger than they look, and for the average person, kneading can become quite the struggle. It’s even more frustrating to struggle with kneading when you figure out that it’s one of the key steps to making great bread!
The solution is simple: buy a dough kneading machine. Some purists of the kitchen might say that it’s cheating, but honestly? You can just ignore them completely. You don’t need that kind of negative attitude in your life!
A dough kneading machine not only saves you a great amount of time and effort, it also kneads dough perfectly to your specifications so you’re ensuring a great result!
We assure you, it will taste just as good, or even better as you’ll have taken less time and your hands won’t be sore from struggling! Easy to use with a fast and satisfactory result. Many people swear that it’s the ideal kitchen companion, and it opens up multiple possibilities, encouraging you to try out recipes you hadn’t even dreamed of before!
In a hurry?
There is a multitude of options and types of dough kneading machines out in the market nowadays, so it can be a bit overwhelming to delve into that world and begin researching.
A dough kneading machine should last you a long time, so you should make sure to buy the right one for you!
To make things a little easier for you, we’ve compiled a list with our top picks, but if you’re exceptionally eager to get started on some recipes (we would be too!), then we recommend you jump straight to our top pick: the Oster Bread Mixer.
This bread machine does an excellent job at kneading dough, with 13 different settings available to achieve the result you desire. It has a single kneading blade, and needs no more, as it is efficient and durable. The machine is quiet but fast, and can bake a loaf of bread in under an hour! Budget-friendly and loved by many customers, it’s apt for all levels and is easy to use with an LCD display and intuitive buttons.
Once you try out this machine you won’t want to go back to kneading the dough by hand!
Here are some of the main features:
- Budget-friendly and customer favorite
- 13 different settings
- No noise or rattle
- Durable and efficient
- LCD display and intuitive buttons
Top 5 Best Dough Kneading Machines
OUR TOP PICK
Bread-makers are some of the most common machines used for kneading dough, as they often have settings for just kneading dough if you don’t want to actually make bread.
The Oster Bread Maker is a customer favorite for its budget-friendly price and excellent quality and results. It offers plenty of settings and features for all levels, including both beginners and advanced.
It comes with a single kneading blade, but it’s durable and can handle any task you throw at it. It also performs at a very high speed, as it can have an entire loaf of bread done in under an hour. Fast, efficient, and completely effort-free!
It runs without making a noise, has been proven to last a long time, and it even comes with a recipe book to inspire your baking! A large LCD display and intuitive button control also make this machine extremely easy to use, so you don’t have to worry about making the jump into automatic kneading!
Pros:
- Budget-friendly and customer favorite
- 13 different settings for dough and bread
- No noise or rattle
- Durable and efficient
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Not as stylish as other brands
EDITORS CHOICE
If you’re worried that a dough kneading machine will be too bulky and heavy for your kitchen, and you’d prefer something that doesn’t take up too much space, then the Dash Go Everyday Mixer is perfect for you.
As the name indicates, it’s perfect for everyday use. It’s compact, lightweight, and very portable, designed to fit under kitchen cabinets or inside kitchen cupboards. It can be out of the way when not in use, and you could even take it with you to a friend’s house to start up a dough kneading party!
It has 6 different preset speeds, to work at a pace that suits you, and it includes 2 dough hooks and 2 beaters. It’s really easy to use, perfect for beginners, with lots of adjustable features to get the dough just the way you want it.
It also looks good, with the machine coming in different colors to compliment your kitchen or suit your preferences!
Pros:
- Compact, portable and lightweight
- 6 preset speeds
- 2 dough hooks and 2 beaters
- Adjustable and easy to use
- Available in different colors
Cons:
- The small size means less power
BEST VALUE
The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is a machine far more suited for more advanced bakers that are after something more professional.
This means it’s a little pricier than other dough kneading machines, but it’s well worth the investment if you’re serious about baking! It has a great variety of settings, including plenty of healthy personalizable options to get a unique result.
The kneading results are excellent, with double kneading blades that will do the job to really high standards. An added feature that we think is pretty cool is the viewing window on this machine that allows you to check on the state of your dough!
It also has a large LCD display with a straight-forward key panel for choosing the settings and the kind of dough you want to achieve. But don’t be fooled by the easy use, this is not for casual bakers, but rather for people that want to give it a regular use!
Pros:
- High quality and professional results
- Great variety of custom settings
- Double kneading blades
- Viewing window and LCD panel
Cons:
- High-end and pricy
RUNNER UP
To those of you with special nutritional needs, we also have you covered! The T-fal Bread Machine specializes in gluten-free recipes, with 3 different settings that focus on no gluten.
With a total of 15 different settings, it’s extremely good and fast at getting the dough kneaded. Versatile and really convenient, you’ll definitely find a setting that works for your preferences, no matter how unique they are!
Black and fashionable, it comes with a digital display screen with an indicator light. And if you leave it running and can’t make it back in time for when it’s finished, it has an automatic keep-warm feature so the dough doesn’t become hard and goes to waste.
All the controls are user-friendly so we consider it to be apt for all levels of baking, resting assured that it will make your life in the kitchen much easier!
Pros:
- Very gluten-free friendly
- 15 different settings
- Digital display screen
- Automatic keep-warm feature
Cons:
- Not as good as kneading the dough as other machines
RUNNER UP
The Cusimax Stand Mixer is a very popular choice amongst all levels of bakers, with a mixing capacity that achieves results in high standards of quality. It’s a good and capable size, able to work on a big amount of dough at a time.
It also has great power capabilities, with an 800 watt motor. It has 3 different speeds and has a splash guard to keep itself from making a mess in your kitchen, even at the highest speed setting!
It has three different attachments: a whisk, a dough hook, and a mixing beater, all very easy to slip on and use. The control knob is pretty straight-forward and easy to use. It also has a heat dissipation feature to ensure it doesn’t get over-heated while doing all the work for you.
Pros:
- Great mixing capacity
- 3 different speed settings
- Splash guard
- Heat dissipation feature
Cons:
- Not as versatile or customizable as others
Best Dough Kneading Machines Buying Guide
People have been kneading dough for many many years, and it’s fair to say that good old fashioned baking tends to provide the best and most delicious baked goods, such as bread or cookies.
However, the secret to good baking is the dough kneading, and the good old fashioned way has always done it by hand. The problem with this? It’s a lot of effort and very time-consuming. In today’s modern world, not many people have a stay at home routine in which they can spend hours at a time in the kitchen (unless they’re a professional cook, in which case we’re sure they’re a pro at kneading dough).
Kneading dough by hand is the easiest way to get a good and controlled result, but it can take a toll on the hands and wrists, as it takes a lot more strength than it seems. Kneading dough requires an awful lot of folding, stretching, and pressing down. This is why a lot of people opt for buying a dough kneading machine to do the hard work for them! Time-efficient, struggle-free, and with great results. Time is evolving, and the ways of baking are too!
With so many options in the market, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose which dough kneading machine to buy. You can take your pick from our top recommendations in the list above, and you can keep reading this buyer’s guide to knowing more about the features you should look out for!
Type of Dough Kneading Machine
The two main types of dough kneading machines available in today’s market are stand mixers and bread makers, both very capable of kneading dough to different settings and specifications.
A stand mixer is a great option, as you can monitor the dough kneading as it happens and there’s not much chance of any over-kneading happening as you can simply stop it when you think it’s done enough. The only problem that might arise with a stand mixer is the dough slowly creeping up the dough hook and getting stuck, which can be a hassle to clean up.
Bread makers often come with a dough only setting so they can be used specifically for kneading dough. However, they’re a great option as they can also do the rest of the work and fully bake your bread if you want! Although you can’t see and monitor the process as much, bread makers come with a wide variety of settings so that the dough is kneaded to the amount you want and with the custom specifications that you choose. It’s great for trying out fancier options and recipes!
Settings and versatility
When buying either a stand mixer or a bread maker, the purpose is to make life easier and get the dough kneaded in a faster and more efficient way so you can enjoy baking and explore plenty of recipes. So it’s important to choose a product that won’t limit your own baking capabilities.
Most bread makers have a great range of different settings and custom options, so you can explore different types of recipes and include the different unique processes in the dough kneading, without having to do it by hand. There are also some bread makers that have a focus on healthy options or special nutritional needs such as gluten-free settings!
Size and durability
What kind of use are you going to give your dough kneading machine?
This is a question you should ask yourself before choosing one, as it will determine the needs it will have to meet. If it’s going to have its own permanent spot on the kitchen counter then it’s worth getting a bigger and more powerful machine.
However, if you want something smaller and more portable that can be put away inside a cupboard when not in use, you should look for a more compact and lightweight option that may compromise the amount of power.
It’s also extremely important to look at the durability over time and use of each product. You can check different customer reviews for this information, or keep an eye out for the type of material each product is made out of. Stainless steel is always a good sign of a product being designed to last. As a dough kneading machine is a bit of an investment, it’s important to make sure it will actually last and not just break after the first use!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a dough hook as good as kneading?
Nothing, not even a dough hook, can perfectly mimic the motions and process of kneading by hand. However, a dough hook is very effective at developing the gluten in the dough and at getting it to the right consistency and form.
It’s not better than hand kneading, but it can be just as valid and it’s a lot faster. It also saves you from the effort and the long term issues with hand and wrist pain, so it is worth the slight difference in quality.
How do you tell if the dough is kneaded enough?
There are a few simple tests you can do to check if the dough has been kneaded enough:
Smoothness: starting off as a lumpy and rough-looking mass, the dough will slowly begin to look smoother as it is kneaded. You know it’s completely kneaded when it looks smooth all over and is tacky to the touch.
Shape: Knead the mass of dough into a ball and lift it up in your hand. If it sags down your fingers, it needs more kneading. If it holds its shape without a problem then you know it has been kneaded enough.
Poke test: one of the most common tests. Poke at the mass of dough with your finger. If the hole you’ve made stays, it is not done. If the indent fills back in quickly, as if the mass is springing back, then it has been kneaded enough and is good to go.
Windowpane test: pull off a small bit of dough and stretch it into a thin layer between your fingers. If it breaks apart, then it is not ready and you need to keep kneading. If the dough stretches to a really thin layer without breaking, then it is done.
What happens if I don’t knead the dough enough?
If the dough isn’t sufficiently kneaded, it will lack strength. This means that during the baking stage, it might collapse and fall back on itself, causing a flat and dense result that won’t be nice to eat and won’t look good or done properly. It might also cause the bread to crumble apart any time it is touched or moved.
To avoid this, make sure you insert the right time specifications in your dough kneading machines and use the tests to determine whether it is sufficiently kneaded before continuing on to the next step.