Bosch Universal Food Mixer III User’s Manual

Front cover of the Bosch Universal Food Mixer ManualFollowing are links to PDF versions of the user’s manual for the Bosch Universal Food Mixer III. This is a UM 3 Model Series mixer.

Small Dough Batches in the Assistent Mixer

Can the Assistent mixer handle small dough batches? You decide with this video!

People always ask if the huge 8 quart Assistent mixer can handle small dough batches. I took some quick video of my DLX Assistent kneading a pizza dough with only 294 grams of flour (about 2 cups). This is about a 55% hydration dough.

The beginning of the video shows a very inconsistent dough ball, but during kneading, it will smooth out nicely and become nice and elastic, as it should.

Bosch Universal Mixer Small Batch Dough Divider

Does the Bosch Universal handle small batches of dough? Do you have to have the dough divider?

People always ask how the Bosch Universal mixer handles small batches of dough and whether the dough divider (also called the small-batch attachment) is necessary.

My opinion is that the mixer and small batches get along just fine and that the divider is unneeded. You can make up your own mind by watching my Universal knead a batch of challah dough that uses only 338 grams of flour:

Jim’s List of Essential Canning Tools

What do you need to do some major canning? Here are my suggestions for a happy canning experience.

  1. A Stainless Steel Canning Funnel
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B00004UE88″ locale=”us” height=”115″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41H8B03T3PL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]A [easyazon-link asin=”B00004UE88″ locale=”us”]canning funnel[/easyazon-link] is a requirement to easily transfer foods into a jar. Sure you can go with plastic, but stainless will hold up better and isn’t going to melt if you get it too close to a hot burner.

  2. A Jar Lifter
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B007QT4GM6″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HLBRZCB0L._SL160_.jpg” width=”108″]You don’t want to try to lift hot jars out of a pot of boiling water by hand, do you? A [easyazon-link keywords=”jar-lifter” locale=”us”]jar-lifter[/easyazon-link] will let you grab those jars without burning your hands.

  3. Commercial-Grade Stainless Steel Ladles
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B008K3Z76Q” locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31EzsaG-%2BVL._SL110_.jpg” width=”110″]You want a [easyazon-link keywords=”nsf stainless ladle” locale=”us”]ladle with a long handle[/easyazon-link] so that you can get into large stockpots. Most ladles made for home use are way to short for this task and don’t hold anywhere near enough. You can find [easyazon-link keywords=”32 oz ladle” locale=”us”]quart-sized commercial ladles[/easyazon-link]. I find myself using an [easyazon-link keywords=”8 oz stainless ladle” locale=”us”]8 oz stainless[/easyazon-link], NSF-approved ladle I picked up at a local restaurant-supply store. If you are only canning small jars, you may find a [easyazon-link keywords=”4 oz stainless ladle” locale=”us”]4 oz[/easyazon-link] or [easyazon-link keywords=”6 oz stainless ladle” locale=”us”]6 oz[/easyazon-link] ladle more appropriate.

  4. Large Stainless Stockpots – induction capable
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B000ZMHDRQ” locale=”us” height=”82″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/2176Dek6DtL._SL110_.jpg” width=”110″]You can cook a small amount of something in a large pot, but you’ll not be cooking a large amount in a tiny pot! If you were to go for a [easyazon-link keywords=”22 quart stainless stock pot” locale=”us”]22 quart stockpot[/easyazon-link] (a common size), it could do double-duty as a boiling-water-bath canner. I suggest an [easyazon-link keywords=”induction cookware” locale=”us”]induction-capable pot[/easyazon-link] because induction technology seems to be becoming very popular and your next stove-top may be induction. Also, many people buy hotplates to help out in the kitchen during canning season – there are several [easyazon-link keywords=”induction” locale=”us”]portable induction burners[/easyazon-link] on the market these days.

  5. Commercial-Grade Stainless Steel Spoons
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B00915HNZK” locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31YiLxZu8RL._SL110_.jpg” width=”110″]Again with the commercial thing? Why do I need a [easyazon-link keywords=”commercial spoon stainless professional” locale=”us”]commercial spoon[/easyazon-link]? Because they have the long handles to get to the bottom of a tall stockpot.

  6. Stainless Steel Skimmer
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B000P9TKC0″ locale=”us” height=”58″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31uju5z%2BTlL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]When canning, you frequently want to distribute the solids out of a pot of soup evenly between jars, or only have a jar half-ful of solids before topping-off with broth. The easiest way I’ve found to do this is with a [easyazon-link asin=”B000P9TKC0″ locale=”us”]skimmer[/easyazon-link]. If you are fan of deep-frying, perhaps you already have one lying about the house?

  7. Stainless Steel Colanders
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B00555ETXY” locale=”us” height=”68″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41eVkUNRBJL._SL110_.jpg” width=”110″]A couple [easyazon-link keywords=”stainless colander” locale=”us”]large colanders[/easyazon-link] make rinsing large quantities of vegetables much easier! If you have a steam juicer, you should probably just grab the colander out of the top if it.

  8. Stainless Steel Steam Juicer
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B0002IBQL2″ locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416lluf6DBL._SL110_.jpg” width=”110″]The best invention for clear jellies, the [easyazon-link keywords=”stainless steam juicer” locale=”us”]steam juicer[/easyazon-link] also is great for removing water from tomatoes or preparing apples for apple sauce. The large colander can be used for straining anything, or with the [easyazon-link asin=”B0002IBQL2″ locale=”us”]Krona model[/easyazon-link] can be used as a normal steamer. A [easyazon-link keywords=”stainless steam juicer” locale=”us”]steam juicer[/easyazon-link] consists of 5 parts: A water pan on the bottom, A collection pan, with spout, above the water pan, A colander into which you place your product, A lid sitting on top of all, and a heat-proof hose attached to the collection pan’s spout, for draining-off your juice.

  9. A food mill or berry-press attachment for your stand mixer
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B00004SGFJ” locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/311qb72yfJL._SL110_.jpg” width=”110″]How do you remove all the seeds and peels from the produce you’ve just run through your steam juicer? Hook up a press attachment to your [easyazon-link asin=”B00004SGFJ” locale=”us”]Kitchen Aid[/easyazon-link], Bosch or Assistent stand mixers.

  10. Pressure Canners
    [easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B00004S88Z” locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41hC%2BsFPoBL._SL110_.jpg” width=”97″]Canners? Plural? Why would you need more than one canner? And what about water bath canners?I feel a tall [easyazon-link keywords=”pressure canner” locale=”us”]pressure canner[/easyazon-link] is a must unless you have need of a small canner. A tall [easyazon-link keywords=”pressure canner” locale=”us”]pressure canner[/easyazon-link] is one that is 21 quarts by volume or greater. It will be tall enough to do two layers of pint jars as well as be used as a boiling water bath canner.[easyazon-link keywords=”Presto pressure canner” locale=”us”]Presto[/easyazon-link], [easyazon-link keywords=”Mirro pressure canner” locale=”us”]Mirro[/easyazon-link] and [easyazon-link keywords=”All-American pressure canner” locale=”us”]All-American[/easyazon-link] all make 21 quart, or larger, pressure canners. I suggest more than one canner if you are doing large batches. You can start a second canner-load as soon as the first has finished its time, or you can have two canners going at once.