The Halo Pro is much quieter and the motor does not overheat. There’s no sense of tension from the motor kneading the fabric. Also, Sally, I don’t know how else to explain this, but the dough won’t attack violently as it kneads. Unlike KitchenAid, you can leave it unattended. This is so easy, I ruined two batches of shokpans instead of one That’s all– I get nervous before I realise what’s going on.
Photo: Adrienne So
Instead of the five settings in KitchenAid, the dial allows you to adjust the mixing speed more accurately. It can be kneaded more slowly with the dial and spiral mixer and handled more gently than with KitchenAid.
I also love the flexible paddles on the Halo Pro. This is much better than the KitchenAid flat paddle. It fits perfectly on the side of the bowl. This means you can put the smallest amount of soft butter and sugar in the bowl, and the paddles will make them perfectly creamy. You don’t lift your arms up every few seconds and rub the sides off with another spatula, but you’ll feel the need to do that anyway. I have only had this mixer since February, so I can’t guarantee long-term durability of the paddle, but it seems to hold up well.
Finally, there is A Light Inside, there is no need to place the mixer perfectly in the kitchen to see if the chocolate chips are well distributed in the dough.
Lots of joy
Photo: Adrienne So
As you can imagine, getting a commercial stand mixer is mostly about volume. If you’re a bread baker who wants to improve one or two breads per week for your family, there are things that are cheaper and easier than you can do, and it will have a much better effect before you invest in any of these. (For those tips, I’ll introduce you to the Kenfolk book. Wheat flour salt yeastedited by my colleague Kat Merck and tested the recipe.
Halo Pro’s main competitors are Ankarsrum Stand Mixer. It is beautiful and has the same retro aesthetic as KitchenAid. The Halo Pro has some excellent specifications. For example, I managed to get up to 345 spins per minute for the Halo Pro against just 130 rpm on Ankarsrum. The Halo Pro has internal lights and flexible paddles.
The main drawback is related to why people buy KitchenAid. You know they will last a lifetime. No matter what spiral mixer, it’s difficult to confront such a well-known guarantee. But if you’re like me and you like to entertain in a kirby and chaotic way, pizza! pretzels! Cinnamon Rolls! – Worth getting a bigger spiral mixer. There’s no need to worry about creating multiple batches, overheating, or babysitting the dough. It is also useful for whipping this batch or small morning batches.
