• Mixing dough is an essential part of the baking process. Different ways exist to mix dough, depending upon the recipe the dough will be used with. While many home users might use a general purpose mixer with attachments, professional bakeries often employ several dough mixers, each designed for a specific dough-mixing process.
  
  

Planatary and Vertical Mixers

• These mixers can be either floor or countertop models. Typically they include a steel dough hook, a whip and a flat beater. These three attachments can be swapped out to make dough for pizza, bread, cookies, doughnut dough, icing and filling.
  
  

Spiral Mixers

• The spiral mixer takes its name from the spiral-shaped hook it uses to mix dough. The bowl for this mixer rotates while the spiral hook is stationary, making this ideal for kneading the dough for bagels, bread, delicate French dough and pizza.
  
  

All-Purpose Home Mixers

• The all-purpose commercial mixer, which varies in price and size, can be used at home. Several appliance makers offer these types of dough mixers, which usually feature rotating bowls, a spiral attachment, flat and whip beaters. The goal of these mixers is to supply the best all-around dough preparation at a cost more affordable than commercial mixers.
  
  

All-Purpose Semi-Professional Mixers

• Larger and more expensive than the all-purpose home models, these semi-professional dough mixers come with a variety of attachments and offer all-around dough preparation for smaller businesses. Semi-professional mixers are ideal for catering services and small restaurants.