A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

I would like to purchase a moderately-priced cookie press to use in
making pretzels at home. I need to extrude a round "rope" about a half
inch in diameter. I'm sure there's any number of cookie presses that
can do this--but the problem here is that unlike cookie dough, the
pretzel dough is very "stiff" and would require a fair amount of force
(and sturdy apparatus) to extrude. I'm not sure a run-of-the-mill
cookie press would be up to the task. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

In article
>,
wrote:

> I would like to purchase a moderately-priced cookie press to use in
> making pretzels at home. I need to extrude a round "rope" about a half
> inch in diameter. I'm sure there's any number of cookie presses that
> can do this--but the problem here is that unlike cookie dough, the
> pretzel dough is very "stiff" and would require a fair amount of force
> (and sturdy apparatus) to extrude. I'm not sure a run-of-the-mill
> cookie press would be up to the task. Any recommendations?
>
> Thanks in advance.

That sounds like an industrial machine, Dave. A specialty item built
for a business. Cookie presses are designed for use with soft butter
cooky dough; pretzels are from yeast dough - bread dough - at least the
soft pretzels -- is that what you're making?
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com;pics of my no-knead bread posted
Laissez les bons temps rouler!

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

wrote:
>
> I would like to purchase a moderately-priced cookie press to use in
> making pretzels at home. I need to extrude a round "rope" about a half
> inch in diameter. I'm sure there's any number of cookie presses that
> can do this--but the problem here is that unlike cookie dough, the
> pretzel dough is very "stiff" and would require a fair amount of force
> (and sturdy apparatus) to extrude. I'm not sure a run-of-the-mill
> cookie press would be up to the task. Any recommendations?
>
> Thanks in advance.

I've researched cookie presses/dough extruders rather extensively in the
past year or longer. Unfortunately, there is nothing I know of on the
(USA) market for the household cook that's available except on an
industrial level and that's neither suitable nor affordable. I even
checked with several restaurant supply companies, too.

I often make cheese straws, and the dough for those is sturdy and stiff,
too (shaddup Sheldon!). I usually let the dough get warm to room
temperature, then it extrudes somewhat easilty through the cookie
press.

Because I have problems with my hands, I need a 'powered' cookie press,
and the only one I could find that worked well is the Bonjour "Cookie
Factory" cookie press that's powered with two C-batteries [example can
be found at http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=202012 - no
endorsement of website intended]. There are a couple other powered
cookie presses, but those didn't work as well as this one does.

Good luck with your search, and please follow-up here if you do find a
cookie press else that's suitable for your task.

Sky, the "cheese straw maven"

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/sigs/S...%20Straws.html

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

On Feb 24, 5:18 pm, Pennyaline > wrote:
> wrote:
> > I would like to purchase a moderately-priced cookie press to use in
> > making pretzels at home. I need to extrude a round "rope" about a half
> > inch in diameter. I'm sure there's any number of cookie presses that
> > can do this--but the problem here is that unlike cookie dough, the
> > pretzel dough is very "stiff" and would require a fair amount of force
> > (and sturdy apparatus) to extrude. I'm not sure a run-of-the-mill
> > cookie press would be up to the task. Any recommendations?
>
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> Use your hands. Roll them.


That's what I've been doing, but I would like to streamline the
process--and also make a smoother, more uniform "rope."

Here's my recipe, for anyone who's interested:
http://twin-x.com/groupdiy/albums/us...etzels_1_0.pdf

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

On Feb 24, 5:26 pm, "Pete C." > wrote:
> wrote:
>
> Use a meat grinder with a sausage stuffer nozzle. With the sausage
> nozzles for the Kitchen Aid grinder attachment, your options are 3/8" or
> 5/8" which should be close enough.

I'll have to look into that, since I use a Kitchenaid Artisan mixer.
Thanks for the idea (although it looks like it'd be a bit more money
than I was hoping to spend).

There's one thing that concerns me, though: wouldn't the grinder
mechanism cut the dough up into little pieces before extruding it? I'd
really rather avoid doing that.

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

On Feb 24, 7:35 pm, "Pete C." > wrote:
>
> Once you try grinding your own meats fresh and see the huge difference
> it makes you'll consider it money well spent. Try making some sausage
> and there is even more justification.

Well, I'm a vegetarian, but I wouldn't mind making my own veggie
sausage if I could find suitable casing. (I looked around a while back
and found nothing available in less-than-industrial quantities).
>
> The sausage stuffer horns come with a piece that installs in place of
> both the cutter blade and the hole plate. All it does is use the auger
> screw to force the material out through the horn.

I found the manual for the grinder online and I noticed the auger/worm
gear drive in the exploded parts diagram, so yes: no worries there.

If it's strong enough to push nasty ol' meat through small holes in a
metal plate, then surely it's adequate to handle my pretzel dough.
Thanks again for the idea!

(Thanks also to Melba and Sky for their helpful replies).

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

A STRONG cookie press/dough extruder?
 

On Feb 24, 8:22 pm, Pennyaline > wrote:

> Okay. I know of only one way to make pretzels. They don't "spritz." They
> are rolled. My reply told you the same thing theirs did, but if my reply
> wasn't "helpful" enough for you, toots, then up yours.
>
> <I've had my fill of mealy mouthed little shits today>

Yo, take it easy there. I already replied to your message--in a
RATIONAL and NON-CONFRONTATIONAL fashion, I might add. I just wanted
to acknowledge the other two posters as well. If you take my thanking
them as some sort of slight against you somehow, well... you're a
nutcase.

I'm not interested in engaging in a ****ing flame war on a cooking
newgroup, for Pete's sake. Find someone else to start up with.