A kitchen appliance (100) is disclosed comprising a compartment (110) for receiving flour, said compartment comprising a sensor (120) for producing a sensor reading indicative of a dielectric property of said flour or a product comprising said flour. The kitchen appliance further comprises a processing arrangement (130) communicatively coupled to the sensor for determining an initial moisture content of said flour or product from said sensor reading and adapted to generate a control signal indicative of an amount of water to be added to the compartment as a function of the determined moisture content. A method of controlling a flour product-based food preparation process is also disclosed.

Food processing devices capable of performing multiple functions, including mixing and extruding pasta or other food products, are described. The food processing devices have a door assembly with a feed chute extending from an opening in the mixing bowl and leading to an extruder. The door assembly can be closed or opened, depending on the type of food processing to be performed. The food processing device mixes food ingredients within the mixing bowl while the door assembly is in a closed position. When the food ingredients are sufficiently mixed, the door assembly is moved to an open position to allow the mixed food ingredients to flow through the feed chute to the extruder. The disclosed food processing devices conveniently allow for both mixing and extruding of food products within a single device configured to efficiently and safely perform both tasks.

Food processing devices capable of performing multiple functions, including mixing and extruding pasta or other food products, are described. The food processing devices have a door assembly with a feed chute extending from an opening in the mixing bowl and leading to an extruder. The door assembly can be closed or opened, depending on the type of food processing to be performed. The food processing device mixes food ingredients within the mixing bowl while the door assembly is in a closed position. When the food ingredients are sufficiently mixed, the door assembly is moved to an open position to allow the mixed food ingredients to flow through the feed chute to the extruder. The disclosed food processing devices conveniently allow for both mixing and extruding of food products within a single device configured to efficiently and safely perform both tasks.

A blade member has a shaft portion connected to a rotating shaft, and a blade plate portion projecting from the shaft portion toward an outer peripheral wall of a container. The blade plate portion has a plane-like configuration without being formed with a through-out portion, and extends in an up-and-down direction along the shaft portion. The blade plate portion has a projection portion, at a tip end side apart from the shaft portion, projecting upwardly. A top portion of the projection portion is non-edge surface without being formed with an angled portion.

A blade member has a shaft portion connected to a rotating shaft, and a blade plate portion projecting from the shaft portion toward an outer peripheral wall of a container. The blade plate portion has a plane-like configuration without being formed with a through-out portion, and extends in an up-and-down direction along the shaft portion. The blade plate portion has a projection portion, at a tip end side apart from the shaft portion, projecting upwardly. A top portion of the projection portion is non-edge surface without being formed with an angled portion.

A kneading tool of a type prearranged for being mounted rotatable about an axis of rotation of a kneading machine includes: a central shaft defining a main axis; and plurality of arms transverse to said shaft, which are positioned in different orientations about the main axis and/or in different positions along said axis so as to be staggered and not overlying with respect to one another.

A kneading tool of a type prearranged for being mounted rotatable about an axis of rotation of a kneading machine includes: a central shaft defining a main axis; and plurality of arms transverse to said shaft, which are positioned in different orientations about the main axis and/or in different positions along said axis so as to be staggered and not overlying with respect to one another.

A counter-rotating dough making mechanism, including a drive shaft (9) that is provided with an upper dough hook assembly (1) and a lower dough hook assembly (2) is disclosed. The lower dough hook assembly (2) is preferably provided with a stir plate (3) which enhances the thorough mixing of flour during dough kneading. The upper dough hook assembly (1) and the lower dough hook assembly (2) are connected by gears (42a, 42b, 42c) so that they rotate synchronously but in the opposite direction. By the counter-rotating action of the upper dough hook assembly (1) and the lower dough hook assembly (2), the dough making process is more effective as compared to the usual single piece dough hook as used in many stand mixers. The design and construction of the disclosed counter-rotating dough making mechanism is simple, robust, and reliable, and can deliver superior performance in dough making.

A counter-rotating dough making mechanism, including a drive shaft (9) that is provided with an upper dough hook assembly (1) and a lower dough hook assembly (2) is disclosed. The lower dough hook assembly (2) is preferably provided with a stir plate (3) which enhances the thorough mixing of flour during dough kneading. The upper dough hook assembly (1) and the lower dough hook assembly (2) are connected by gears (42a, 42b, 42c) so that they rotate synchronously but in the opposite direction. By the counter-rotating action of the upper dough hook assembly (1) and the lower dough hook assembly (2), the dough making process is more effective as compared to the usual single piece dough hook as used in many stand mixers. The design and construction of the disclosed counter-rotating dough making mechanism is simple, robust, and reliable, and can deliver superior performance in dough making.

A dough mixer with a weighing function includes a main machine and a dough mixing assembly mounted on the main machine, wherein the main machine comprises a motor therein and the dough mixing assembly comprises a dough mixing bowl, an upper cover, a transmission shaft connected to the motor and a dough mixing device connected to the transmission shaft. The dough mixer also includes two symmetrically arranged weighing sensors at left and right sides of the main machine respectively. With the dough mixer, ingredients can be directly placed into the dough mixing bowl and weighed, so that the operation of the dough mixer is simple and rapid.