This thing really works!
I am very much a novice as far as the preparation of yeast doughs. I did attempt to make bread during Covid lockdown, along with seemingly the rest of America. I managed to produce a few misshapen, dense, floury slabs before calling it a day on yeast dough. Recently though, after coming across a recipe for "no knead, refrigerator rise" foccacia, I decided to try again, as the recipe was such a simple one to follow. And because I love foccacia.Due to mobility issues, which have worsened over the years, I am not able to knead dough, and I can't afford one of those fancy powerful mixers that do the kneading for you. I did make the no-knead refrigerator dough foccacia a couple of times, and- it actually turned out ok! As I have some arthritis in my hands, I found mixing the water into the dry ingredients a bit difficult to do. I used a wooden spoon to do this, and it felt like the sticky dough mass fought me all the way. It was particularly difficult to incorporate the pockets of flour lurking at the bottom edges of the bowl into the dough ball. I ended up adding extra water to make the mixture easier to combine, which I didn't want to do, as I thought that might be compromising the final product (which I think it did.) But I had to, as I really struggled to get the dough to mix.The refrigerator foccacia dough recipe had photos accompanying the text showing the dough being mixed by one of these Danish whisks. The first time I attempted this recipe, I saw the images of this weird looking implement, and read how effective it was at mixing dough. I ignored this, as I thought- how is that strange curly wire thing going to make any difference? I can mix the dough just as well with my trusty old wooden spoon. But by the third time making the refrigerator foccacia, I thought, you know- maybe it *is* time to give that Danish wire-looking thing a try. There must be a reason people who make yeast doughs use them. I'm sure that every one of the people who do use these Danish whisks have 100% more wisdom than I do about the preparation of yeast doughs.I checked around on good old Amazon for Danish dough whisks. This one got good reviews, and was affordable. It arrived in time for the fourth preparation of refrigerator foccacia. When the time came for the dreaded mixing- I don't know what it was about this thing, but it made the whole process so much easier! The really trying part for me, the final moments of incorporating all the stray pockets of flour, when the dough was at its sludgiest- it really helped with that. I didn't have to stop and rest several times, or add extra water to the dough, the way I did when I was using a wooden spoon to mix with.At first, I thought the handle on the whisk too long and cumbersome looking. But its design actually gave me the ability to really take control of the dough- even with my spindly Tyrannosaurus arms- and really mix it. Even when the dough started grabbing onto the bowl, the Danish whisk kept me, and not the dough, in charge. What also surprised me was how much the whisk sped up the dough making process. It took half the time it usually took to get the ingredients all incorporated, and the dough ready to be put into its covered bowl and begin its rise in the fridge. Even though the circular whirl of wire had a curious appearance, its design ensured the edges of its circular form swept up all of the stubborn dry flour pockets clinging to the bottom of the bowl. The open nature of the circle, and the robustness of its metal wire, plowed through the resistant gooey dough easily. No wonder, I thought, as I happily mixed away, people use these things!Performance aside, this Danish Dough Whisk is quite well constructed. The wire part at the top is made of a very sturdy stainless steel. Though I am for sure no Mr. Universe, when I wiggled the join where the ring part at the top enters the handle as hard as I could, there was zero give, indicating the whisk would stand up to even very stiff doughs. The wooden handle is very smooth and polished, and is sealed with a shiny finish, so there is no danger of splinters. I was frankly surprised at the quality of the item's materials and construction, considering its affordability.So if anyone reading the reviews for this Danish Dough Whisk is on the fence about the effectiveness of this curious looking object the way I was, I would say- go for it! These things really do work. They are great at mixing dough, especially if, like me, you don't have a lot of upper body strength and have some arthritis in your hands. I am very happy I ordered it, as it has turned making yeast dough into a project I had thought fun, but a bit tiresome, into a project that is now just- fun. And delicious! Thank you.