KitchenAid® dough hook vs. spiral: which to choose?

What is a dough hook?

A dough hook is a stand mixer accessory designed for kneading bread and certain pastry doughs. The dough hook helps to promote gluten strand development for quick and easy kneading. Depending on your mixer and mixing bowl, the dough hook will be shaped like the letter C or a spiral.

The C-shaped dough hook

C-shaped dough hooks are the standard hook accessories that come with all KitchenAid^® tilt-head stand mixers and select bowl-lift models. This dough hook kneads by pushing the ball of dough against the sides of the mixing bowl.

The spiral dough hook

The spiral-shaped dough hook has a corkscrew shape that kneads by pushing dough off the bottom of the mixing bowl. It is sometimes labeled as a “Powerknead dough hook” depending on the model. This style of dough hook comes with large capacity bowl-lift stand mixers and cannot be used with a tilt-head stand mixer.

How do KitchenAid® dough hook accessories work?

Both C-shape and spiral dough hooks connect to your stand mixer to knead dough by pushing it around in the mixing bowl. C-shape hooks help form gluten strands by pushing the ball of dough into the sides of the bowl, while spiral dough hooks push the dough against the bottom of the bowl.

Are tilt-head and bowl-lift dough hooks interchangeable?

Tilt-head dough hooks are not interchangeable with bowl-lift dough hooks as their designs are often incompatible. Dough hooks should only be used with the mixers and bowls they came with. If you purchase a dough hook separately, make sure to check that it will fit your stand mixer model first.

What can I make with a KitchenAid® dough hook accessory?

Your dough hook can open the door to endless baking possibilities, from hearty breads to fresh pasta. Bake classic Crusty Bread to serve with herbaceous bruschetta or give sandwiches a rustic and flavorful boost with Homemade Sourdough.

Make a splash at your next brunch with Cinnamon Roll Bread or Chocolate Cherry Rye Bread to complement your favorite savory breakfast dishes. You can even use your dough hook to make fresh Pizza Dough. Your stand mixer can also help you make Homemade Pasta, all you’ll need is your dough hook and the KitchenAid^® Pasta Roller & Cutter Set¹.

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Which dough hook is right for you?

Choosing the right style of dough hook depends on the type of stand mixer you have. All tilt-head stand mixers, and some bowl-lift models, come with C-shape dough hooks designed for that specific type of mixer and mixing bowl.

Large-capacity bowl-lift models typically come with spiral-shaped dough hooks that help provide powerful kneading for large quantities of dough. You can purchase dough hooks separately if you’re looking for a different material or just want to have an extra on hand. Make sure the dough hook model fits your stand mixer before purchasing.