Technological advancements have had tremendous improvements in a lot of sectors of the economy and have been considered a key factor determining the success or failure of one’s business. The hospitality industry and homeowners have been included as they depend on the advancements made for their day-to-day activities and business operations.
An example of an improvement made consists of the dough mixer, a helpful tool whose pros and cons will be discussed in detail in this article.
As the name suggests, the dough mixer is kitchen equipment that uses gear-driven mechanisms to beat and mix dough for bakeries and kitchens. There are three different types of dough mixers, which vary depending on the mode and purpose of use. They include:
Horizontal mixer
This type of dough mixer is advantageous to large companies and medium bakeries that require mixing dough in large quantities in small time. This is made possible due to its enormous size, capability, and various mixing arms that are adjustable depending on the type of dough you are mixing.
Furthermore, another advantageous use of this equipment is the continuous mixing capability that allows it to output mixed dough from one end as it intakes the next batch from the other. It best mixes healthy loaves of bread, tortillas, muffins, and cheesecakes.
A disadvantage of this mixer Is that it cannot control the dough’s temperature, as the mixing process leaves the dough hot due to the associated friction. This can be damaging to other types of dough, and that is why the selection of the right mixer is really important.
Planetary mixer
The next set of dough mixers is the planetary mixer that bears an agitator that moves around the bowl, as the name implies. They have a stationary bowl and a single motor, making them the most used mixer in commercial kitchens.
Planetary mixers are multifaceted and substantial in mixing pizza dough, bread dough, cookie dough, cakes, sauces, and meatballs. It can be attached to a series of agitators like pastry knives, whips, whisks, and mixing paddles, boosting the mixer’s versatility. This feature facilitates attaining various application needs required by commercial kitchens hence setting the planetary dough mixer as the best mixer for them.
The estimated dough mixer prices in Kenya for 20 liters can vary depending on its size.
Spiral dough mixer
Unlike the planetary mixer, the spiral mixer has two motors that spin the bowl in one direction as the spiral hook spins in the other when mixing the dough. This factor ensures consistent production of dough that is well mixed and ingredients well blended. Moreover, the dough made is of the right temperature as friction does not affect it, making it best for bread making.
Good fermentation and yeast activation are attainable due to the low temperature provided by the spiral mixer. A disadvantage of this mixer is that it produces lower output than the other two types of mixers but makes up for it in the quality dough that it has.
Conclusion
Bakers and users needing mixers should first ascertain the purpose, use, desired outcome, and price when selecting a dough mixer of their choice for the best results.
