Is a stand mixer worth it if I only bake occasionally?

If you bake fewer than twice a month, a quality hand mixer at $30-50 handles most tasks. A stand mixer becomes worthwhile when you bake weekly, work with bread doughs, or do multi-step recipes where hands-free operation lets you prep other ingredients. The attachment ecosystem adds value beyond baking.

How long should I knead bread dough in a stand mixer?

Most bread doughs need 8-12 minutes of kneading on medium-low speed (speed 2 on KitchenAid). Over-kneading tears gluten and produces dense bread. The dough is ready when it passes the windowpane test — stretch a small piece thin enough to see light through without tearing. Watch the dough, not the clock.

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