I have to be honest, I’ve never been a natural baker. Even after training at one of the UK’s top culinary schools, I’ve always found making dough to be a slog – especially now, with mild arthritis making the process even more of a strain. Still, I’ve long wanted to bake homemade bread to avoid the additives and preservatives in store-bought loaves. So, when I heard about the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer, a minimalist stand mixer designed to handle even the densest of doughs, I was intrigued.
I’ve tried to make things easier with my beloved KitchenAid – one of the best overall stand mixers – but results have been hit-and-miss with heavier doughs. The machine tends to judder across the countertop, with sticky dough clinging stubbornly to the hook. I’ve also tested the Ankarsum mixer, which is powerful and beautifully made, though admittedly a little tricky to master.
