The boom echoed so loudly through my small apartment that I literally jumped in shock. And I knew right away what had caused it: my long-running mixer.
I had left it to cook a batch challah doughand when I went into another room, the overpowered mixer shook and shook and eventually launched itself off the counter, crashing to the floor with tremendous force. Then I finally accepted the truth: This stand mixer was not the best tool for making bread dough.
But thankfully, my co-owners had introduced me to a mixer that was up to the task: Original Ankarrum mixer. This powerful Swedish appliance has a unique design reminiscent of a professional spiral mixer, with a large, stable base and wide bowl. If you're used to a standard mixer design like a KitchenAid, it can be a bit disorienting at first – I was certainly thrown off. But it's that unconventional design that makes this mixer so suitable for bread dough.
Because the motor is at the base of the machine, and not at the top, the mixer is much more stable – it can handle even the toughest bread dough, which won't make it wobble and vibrate during vigorous kneading . The same goes for enriched doughs that take a long time to cook, such as croissant. And it can easily handle much larger amounts of bread dough without so much as a flutter, perfect if you're a large-batch baker looking to scale up recipes with ease.
Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Liz Neily
Because the motor is in the base, the mixer spins from the bottom rather than the top, and the bowl opening is not obscured. As a result, you can clearly and easily see your bread dough as it mixes, which is especially useful since Visual cues are so essential to great bread. It's also much easier to add ingredients to the batter while the machine is mixing.
But how, exactly, does this machine mold? Instead of the classic curved dough hook attachment, the Ankarsrum includes two attachments for kneading bread dough: an elongated wire hook and a ribbed tubular dough roller. I found the last attachment, a unique shape I haven't seen replicated in other mixers, to be a very gentle way of kneading the dough that mimics the action of kneading by hand: It presses the dough against the side of the bowl in a smooth rolling motion, developing strength in your dough without tearing. (The bowl's accompanying scraper, meanwhile, ensures that everything is thoroughly mixed and no dry ingredients end up at the bottom of the bowl.) The machine ensures perfectly kneaded doughs every time, with enough strength to capture carbon dioxide. of carbon during proofing and to become firm, airy bread.
Speaking of editing: A small but powerful detail of this mixer is its accompanying bowl cover. This accessory means I can knead my dough in the mixer bowl, then slide it over the lid and let it rest directly in the bowl. (And we all know it how important a proper hermetic cover is to a great loaf!)
The Ankarsrum, of course, isn't just built for making bread dough: It's also suitable for anything else you'd use a mixer for, like cookies, cakes and even. ice cream without the shakes. (Learn more in this previous post: How a mixer made me a better (and safer!) baker..) At about $750, it's an investment. But if you're a passionate baker who often turns to your stand mixer to get the job done, this machine is made for you.
Ankarsrum comes in a wide range of colors – and currently has free shipping!
Original Ankarrum mixer
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