Kitchen Mixers - Useful Appliances for Your Kitchen

Hand kitchen mixers

You can use these mixers mostly for easier jobs that you do occasionally; for example, beating egg whites or cream, preparing batter for pancakes or biscuits, mashing potatoes...

Normally they are equipped with two traditional beaters, but you can find mixers with a greater number of attachments; with, for example, a wire whip and/or dough hooks, which will enable you to do more things with your mixer.

Given their low price (from less than $15 to about $100) it is good to have some of these hand mixers in your house. The exact price you will have to pay depends on their functionality and construction.

Characteristics of hand kitchen mixers...

• number of speeds: using hand kitchen mixers that have a greater number of speeds (5 or more), will give you greater control over the beaten mixture.

  For example, at the slowest speed you can start to beat the ingredients without scattering them out of the bowl. At a fast speed you can create the air volume that is needed to beat egg whites or cream.

• weight and noise during operation: you will work more pleasantly with light, silent and well-balanced hand mixers. A weight of about 2 pounds (0.91 kg) is acceptable.

• design: it will be more comfortable for you to hold kitchen mixers that have a handle bent to the rear than those whose handle is parallel to their body. With such a handle, you will reduce the tension in your hand while working.

  For cleaning after use, it is better to have a mixer with a simple design; i.e., without too many fittings and details where dirt can gather over time.

  Some hand mixers are equipped with a base that includes a mixing bowl, as with the stand mixers, and you can separate the mixer from this base. The good thing here is that, in addition to the mobility of hand mixer, you have an extra mixing bowl.

  There are also mixers with only one beater (also known as hand blenders). However, with these elegant devices you have more limited possibilities for use.

Advantages of hand mixers in comparison with stand mixers...

• they save space on you countertop area; they are small, compact, and easily stored (you can put them in a drawer).

• their price is lower than that of stand mixers, yet they enable you to perform many tasks in the kitchen in the same way as you would with a stand mixer.

• because of their mobility (some do not even require a cable) they will be easier to use when performing simple tasks. In addition, you can use them to stir in your favorite bowl, as opposed to with a stand mixer, when you have to use the bowl that comes with the mixer.

Disadvantages...

• they are not sufficiently robust to withstand intensive use or to perform heavy-duty tasks (for example, kneading bread) because of their delicate construction and low power.

Click here to view some high quality hand kitchen mixers.

Stand kitchen mixers

If you prepare meals frequently, using techniques that require the serious use of a mixer, stand kitchen mixers are the better choice.

Most of them are equipped with a working bowl, flat beater to beat basic ingredients (for example, batter for pancakes), a hook to knead dough (for example, for bread) and a wire whip to beat egg whites or cream.

You can also add different attachments to these kitchen mixers. You usually buy them separately and they may include a...

• citrus juicer.
• sausage stuffer.
• ice-cream maker.
• food grinder (for meat, for example).
• pouring shield.
• extra bowl for mixing...

The price of these mixers can exceed $500, depending again on their functionality and construction.

Characteristics of stand kitchen mixers...

• capacity: the mixing bowls of most stand kitchen mixers have from 4.5 to 7 quarts (5.1 to 8 l) capacity. The greater the capacity, the more cups of flour or dough you can work with at the same time.

• power: the power of the mixer is measured in watts. The more watts of electricity your mixer uses during its operation, the more easily it will mix the ingredients. In addition, when the power is greater than about 300 watts there is a reduced likelihood that your mixer will be overloaded and burn out.

• number of speeds: again, the greater number of speeds your mixer has, the better control you will exercise on the beaten mixture. Usually, stand mixers have more speeds than hand mixers.

• movement: the beaters with some stand kitchen mixers turn not only around their axis, but circle around the inner part of the bowl as well.

  Thus, the ingredients mix with accurate consistency, and it is not necessary to scrape them from the bowl.

• design: these are strong, metal kitchen mixers. It is possible, in some cases, to raise the hubs to gain easier access to the bowl, to change the attachments or to clean the mixer.

  The bowls are most frequently made of stainless steel or glass. Many of them have a handle plus spout to help you work more comfortably.

Advantages of stand kitchen mixers in comparison with hand mixers...

• they save you time. It is not necessary to hold the mixer while it is operating, so you are free to do some other work, for example, cleaning or tidying your kitchen.

• with their various attachments, they are very versatile, allowing you to perform a greater range of tasks with them.

• they have greater power and strength; you can use them for more heavy-duty tasks or for a greater volume of work.

Disadvantages...

• they take up space. Because of their size and weight (some weigh more than 20 pounds (9.1 kg)) you may wish to put your mixer on the kitchen countertop, so you need to make sure you leave enough space for it.

Click here to view some high quality stand kitchen mixers.