Should I buy a bread machine to make dough or a mixer with a bread hook?

· Computer-driven machines that mix, knead, rise, punch down, bake and sometimes cool bread. · There are several capacities available, ranging from 1⁄2 -pound to 2-pound loaves. · It's very important to follow manufacturer's directions (which can vary) for adding and layering ingredients. Failing to do so could prevent the yeast from mixing with the liquid, which would result in a failed loaf of bread. If you are only planning on using the bread maker to only mix the dough then the bread maker does make simple work of it, but if you are looking for something that will allow you a wider range of dough types the mixer is a much better way to go