(Image credit: Future / Camilla Sharman)
When Ooni announced the new Halo Core spiral mixer, one thought immediately crossed my mind: KitchenAid is in for some serious competition.Available for $599 at Amazon, it hits the exact price as the iconic KitchenAid Artisan Plus, but offers a more compact and home-kitchen-friendly footprint than the high-end Ooni Halo Pro spiral mixer — currently our top pick for bread making in our best standing mixer buying guide.While $599 is still a real investment, the Halo Core feels far more accessible than the Ooni Halo Pro, which is $799 at Amazon, plus it won't take up as much countertop space in your kitchen.I’ve been putting the Halo Core through its paces, and there’s a lot to like. I’ll follow up with a full review in a couple of weeks, but for now, here are three things I loved and one thing you should know.Ooni Halo Core spiral mixer: What I like1. Perfect dough
(Image credit: Future / Camilla Sharman)The Halo Core spiral mixer, like its older sibling, is designed specifically for bread making. Instead of the planetary stand mixers home bakers are used to, Ooni’s design brings professional-grade spiral mixing into our kitchens.How does it work? The dough hook and bowl rotate around a breaker bar — a stationary vertical metal rod that sits in the mixing bowl. Although watching the rotating bowl is fun to watch, it’s not a gimmick.The breaker bar removes dough from the hook as it spins during mixing, preventing it from climbing up the dough hook and stopping you from pausing the mix to remove the dough. It also stretches the dough for a stronger gluten structure.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.I’ve been experimenting with making bread and pizza dough, and although the pizza dough is currently proving in my kitchen, the bread tasted exceptional. In fact, my husband didn’t realize it was homemade.I also found that the kneading process was smooth. The usual mixers I test move around my countertop when the dough hook is in action, and it almost seems like too much for the appliance’s motor. There was a clear difference when using the Ooni Halo Core. The mixer stayed steady, and there was no hint of any electric smell or the motor burning out.2. Pause and go again
