Food Processing

Manual kneading vs. mechanical kneading: which is better?

20.01.2023

Manual kneading or mechanical kneading
Photo by Freepik

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Mechanical kneading is the most widely used in bakeries and other industries today. However, some still doubt whether this is the best method for obtaining delicious, well-textured loaves.

When it comes to making bread, the kneading is the great protagonist, because it is what defines its structure and quality. This action is what makes it possible to ensure that the dough will resist the tension inside it when it enters the oven and the gas expands.

Therefore, it can be said that kneading is the main base that will lead to excellent quality bread. Now, it only remains to establish which method is best to carry out this fundamental process. Join us to discover it.

Benefits of manual kneading

Manual kneading is the oldest and most traditional technique for making all kinds of doughs and breads. Now, it is not a secret that it requires great physical effort and a lot of time.

This is so, because it is required to maintain a rhythm during kneading, which consists of squeezing, spreading and hitting the dough with your hands. This, in order to form the gluten mesh that will give it greater elasticity.

Kneading also allows the temperature to be increased, achieving a better integration of the ingredients, which are mixed gradually.

Good manual kneading allows the resulting bread to keep the nutrients of its components intact. In addition, it makes the dough acquire a delicious flavor that is difficult to match with other methods.

Its texture is also unique, which is highly valued by many consumers, since it gives it a homemade air, especially freshly baked.

The drawback of this technique would be related to your level of production, which would be a drawback when it comes to supplying the orders of your clientele and your capacity for expansion.

If you have a small business, manual mixing may work for you, but if you think big and want to expand your business, mechanical mixing is the best option. Click To Tweet

Advantages of mechanical kneading

Mechanical kneading also has many valuable advantages. Here we mention some of them:

Cleaning is easier

When manually kneading the table is very dirty, since at first the dough mixture is sticky. Then, when adding flour, it tends to fly everywhere and depending on the type of kneading, pieces of dough can be scattered.

On the other hand, if the dough must be left at rest, a bowl with oil is needed, which adds more implements to wash.

On the other hand, when kneading with a mechanical kneader, the process is much neater. The ingredients can be mixed inside the mixer without any of them spreading. The same happens with the rest, which can be done in the same container.

In the end, all you have to do is turn the container over to remove the dough, which comes out easily and ready to form the loaves.

Contributes to better gluten formation

Automatic mixers allow gluten to develop better. Therefore, the bread will gain greater volume. Likewise, in sugary masses the ingredients will mix better.

With this type of equipment, it is enough to turn on a button and incorporate the ingredients. After a while, homogeneous and easy-to-handle doughs are obtained, so shaping them will be a much easier and faster task.

Advantages of mechanical kneading
Photo by Piqsels

Allows to vary the mixing speed

Mechanical mixers offer the opportunity to knead at different speeds. In this way, it is possible to have a better kneading process, so that different types of kneading can be used.

Best of all, it is done in the middle of the kneading process, so you can start at one speed and finish at another.

Reduce losses

This kind of machinery allows us to know the conditions of the dough, that is, if it is ready or not. Consequently, the doug will always be removed from the equipment when it is ready.

This prevents the pieces from being over-kneaded or under-kneaded and lost after firing.

Mechanical kneading has numerous advantages, especially if you want to establish large-volume bread production lines Click To Tweet

Reduce time and labor with mechanical kneading

Any business that makes bread seeks to produce more in less time and with excellent quality. Mechanical kneaders do this in an automated way, which greatly simplifies the procedure.

Likewise, they do not require as many personnel to operate them and, the most modern ones, make it possible to contribute to energy savings. Some equipment even has a computerized card that makes it possible to program the equipment. This allows kneading tasks to be carried out without the need for an operator to be present, or for the equipment to be operated remotely.

These are functions that contribute to reducing the time and personnel required for this task.

For what type of business is an industrial mixer ideal?

female and male baker holding basket of baked croissant in the pastry shop
Photo by Freepik

Mechanical mixers are ideal for businesses dedicated to the preparation of various types of bakery or pastry products. With its use it is possible to reduce kneading times and guarantee a standardized result.

Mechanical kneading makes it possible to obtain high-quality dough, since the gluten mesh is easier to develop. Thus, great looking and delicious breads, cakes and pastries will be obtained.

Something to highlight is the fact that the return on investment of this type of machinery is highly positive.

Consequently, if you want to take your business to the next level, an automatic mixer is what you need.

Any business that wants to make large quantities of breads and other products in less time and with high quality needs a mechanical mixer. Click To Tweet

Conclusion

Mechanical kneading offers many advantages. Especially, to those businesses whose purpose is the production of large volumes of bakery products in a short time. All this, without sacrificing quality and flavor.

Manual kneading, although it can also give rise to good and delicious products, has its limits in terms of quantity. Since it is a much more laborious process, it also requires more personnel.

At gaux we believe that, in terms of profitability, for a bakery or other business, mechanical mixing is the most convenient. This equipment saves time, money and effort, which translates into higher profits.

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