i have recently gotten the itch to make my own bread, and i am interested in purchasing a power mixer. first off, do i really need one? i imagine i would use it for other things. however, if i don't need it for bread, i probably won't purchase one. and secondly, can anyone recommend a decent one that isn't too expensive? thanks.

I have always heard that the Bosch mixer is great for making. The prices for these mixers range from $100 - $400. I know its not that cheap, but my grandmother has one and she swear by it. I use my KitchenAid mixer and it has a dough hook. I paid about $340 bucks for mine, but I use it all the time.

My mom used to have a stand mixer... I think that's what it's called. They are the bigger ones that come with all the hooks and other assorted mixing pieces. They're bigger and more powerful than the hand-held mixers, and the one she had came with it's own bowl. I've seen Emeril use one on Food Network tons of times. My daughter loves watching Emeril... he's not my favorite though.

I have a kitchen aid I bought for my christmas present 2 years ago, and my mother decided after eating my bread and stuff she would get one also we love it and it is definetly a multitasker as Alton Brown would say! You can get all kinds of atachments for it as well and Kitchen aid really stands behind their products. Check the sales around at the department stores or online and a lot of times you can find package deals where they throw in some of the attachments with the mixer.

I really wanted a bog fancy mixer, but we could not afford it.

My hubby bought a cheap durabrand stand mixer for $20 at walmart. I was very skeptical.

It is basically a handmixer with a stand and bowl.

I was really shocked at the 350 watts! It mixed all my cookie dough wonderfully.

It did not come with any other hooks, though. Just the regular mixer ones.