Mixing by hand …

noosheen ↓

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 7:10 am

I made challah a few weeks ago (thx imas!)
& ready to make again.

But my old kitchen aid I discovered is not big enuf & flour was everywhere

I can’t buy a Bosch right now -

How hard is it to mix by hand ?
Not sure of another technique or perhaps a mixer which is not as pricy as a Bosch that’ll be worthwhile to buy ?

Please chime in & advise
Thx

Comptroller

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 7:25 am

Mixing by hand is easier with smaller quantities. Once you are over 2 kg (4.4 lbs), it becomes cumbersome. Maybe you could do half machine, half hand? or two badges in the machine?

Plonis

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 7:28 am

I knead 5lb of flour by hand almost every week. It's not a big deal, although I don't knead for as long as the recipe says.

To make it easier stand on a stool so you can lean your body weight into the dough.

doodlesmom

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 7:31 am

I knead by hand.
Make sure your bowl is a good size.
I put the bowl into my sink so that the mess stays in the sink, and it’s a great height to put pressure with youre shoulders while kneading.
If you’re shorter you might need to use a kitchen chair.

mama123

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 7:48 am

I used to knead by hand for years, as I don't own a KitchenAid or equivalent mixer. However, a little while ago I started using my hand held mixer which has a dough hook attachment. It's annoying to stand there holding it for so long, but I discovered my challah has a much better texture with this method, compared to hand kneading.

BatyaEsther

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 8:00 am

I made challah with a bracha by hand (almost) every week for about 5 years. It is really not bad. It just takes a little elbow grease. Like someone said above, stand on a stool.

momX4

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 8:01 am

I mix by hand for year. Put in full amount of water and half of the flour and the rest of the ingredients. Mix until all flour in incorporated. Then add the rest of the flour slowly.

BadTichelDay

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 8:16 am

Another vote for hand mixing. I bake nearly every week, but small quantities, like 1 kg of flour or a bit more, that's 2-3 lbs. It's too little to take challah with a bracha. But we are a small family and don't like frozen challah, so that's what it is.
I like to think that hand mixed is somehow more authentic or rustic, but maybe that's just nonsense.

sub

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 8:36 am

My grandmother kneaded by hand. This is what I remember
She started on the table with no bowl
Made a well in the flour
Put the wet ingredients in the well
Slowly brought the flour into the well
She had a rhythm when she did this. She sang while she did this.
I just can’t remember if she let it rise on the table or transferred to a bowl(at that point I would be outside in the garden with zeidy.)
The table is a better height than the counter.
She had no oven. She had metal and ceramic oven box with a glass door. This was put on the stove.
Best challa ever!!
(1970’s in Israel just in case you’re wondering)

cholentfan1

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 9:02 am

I always make it by hand. I started when my mixer broke and now I'm used to it. I make it in stages so I'm not mixing the whole dough at once-I do the usual proofing yeast, sugar and some water. Then I only add half the flour and water, along with the oil and eggs. I mix that into a dough. Then I add the other half of the flour and water, and because it's already a dough, it isn't as strenuous to mix.
I don't knead it for very long, then leave it to rise.
I found the usual mixing bowl of the machine isn't big enough for hand mixing, you need a much bigger bowl.

Also if you have a machine, but it isn't big enough, you can make half the recipe, then transfer and then do the other half. I have friends who make the dough in the bread machine, and do more than one batch at a time.

I wouldn't recommend a cheap machine as bread dough will break and burn out the motor quickly. That's why most people buy the bosch as it has a strong motor that can cope with bread dough.

Serena1

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 9:44 am

Been making challos for years now by hand. Special feeling to get your hands into the dough, mix it all together, turn it into a dough and say some tefillos from your heart at the same time. Method. Put all ingredients in bowl. Wait for yeast to bubble. PUT ON DISPOSABLE GLOVES.( This makes the biggest difference to a pleasurable job or a sticky, messy job. If at any point gloves are too sticky, put drop of oil on gloves.) Mix just until dough comes together(about 2 mins). Wrap with plastic wrap. When risen halfway up bowl, knead again for half a min. Let rise till top of bowl. Take challoh with beracha. Shape and bake. Light and unbelievably delicious.

Rubber Ducky

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 9:45 am

I always mix by hand. The key is leverage — you need to be able to push down on the dough. I stand on a kiddie stool and knead on a silicon baking mat on the counter. The mat makes cleaning up easier.

I mix the ingredients in a very large bowl, then dump the dough onto the counter for kneading, and knead for a full 12 minutes. I use enough flour to take challah with a bracha, so quantities are not small. I have doing it this way since my Bosch broke a few decades ago, and prefer the consistency of challah kneaded by hand.

Silicon baking mat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod.....;th=1

zaq

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 10:07 am

Kneading by hand is not for anyone who has or is at risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

Last edited by zaq on Fri, Jun 21 2024, 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total

imaima

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 10:10 am

noosheen wrote:

It’s not hard

gootlfriends

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 10:43 am

I use 2 bowls to make it easier. I never owned a machine. I started making challah about 5 years ago. I just don't love store bought and its gotten pricey. Right now we eat medium size so I can make challah once a month. It's a workout but if you make it right, the dough isn't hard to work with in my experience.

oneofakind

Fri, Jun 21 2024, 11:34 am

My recipe for 6 lbs starts with 3 bowls - one for sugar and oil and salt and warm water, one for yeast and one to mix the eggs. Then you combine all of them. I mix by hand in a huge bowl and it's fine.