Is there any benefit to mixing bread dough by hand?
A lot of bread making guides recommend mixing the dough by hand (as opposed to a wooden spoon, dough whisk or electronic mixer). Is there any actual benefit to the dough from this method? Or is it just a tradition?
Best Answer
You can achieve great results by hand or using a machine, it's a matter of technique. I prefer kneading by hand as it has the advantage that you can feel the texture of the dough change, and through experience you know when a dough is right. Hand kneading also is good for gauging the hydration of the dough, as you can feel if it seems to dry or too moist and act accordingly. Through practice you get to know when a dough too sticky, and sprinkle just the right amount of flour on to get it just right, or add a few grams of water to open it up.
A machine is less work, but as you aren't feeling the dough as you go it's harder to gauge when it's kneaded right, and it's easy to overdo it and get a tough dough. With a machine it's also harder to know if the hydration level is right as you aren't feeling it. You can remedy that by stopping often to feel the dough, which is what some people do, and through experience get good results.
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Quick Answer about "Is there any benefit to mixing bread dough by hand?"
Aside from being a meditative, stress-relieving activity, there are a multitude of benefits to kneading your bread dough by hand rather than using a stand mixer or other machines. For example, you'll notice improved texture in your final product due to better gluten formation that occurs while hand kneading.Is it better to mix bread dough by hand or mixer?
Kneading dough by hand can be messy, and many home cooks add a lot of extra flour, which can compromise the texture of the baked loaf. So while hand kneading can be a gratifying process, we recommend using a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment for this task.Can you mix bread dough by hand?
Kneading can almost always be done by hand, even if the recipe calls for an stand mixer. Kneading by hand is perfect for those of you who don't have a stand mixer (or can't find your dough hook\u2026).What is the advantage of hand kneading over kneading with the power mixer?
Kneading by hand can also lead to the development of more gluten, according to "Cook's Illustrated." More gluten means a better texture to the finished bread. Kneading by hand also allows you to get a feel for dough and lets you feel the way gluten forms as you work the dough.How to Mix Dough without a Mixer | Make Bread
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