If you love making everything from cakes to cocktails, you’ll inevitably want to find the best stand mixer for your needs. There are two main types of mixers, tilt and lift. The varieties may not seem that important at first blush, but there is a slight key difference between the two that will greatly impact how you use them. Here is a quick rundown of each type as well as some pros and cons for each.
Tilt: This rotates manually rather than with an integrated motor like lift models do. These are great for heavy doughs, but if you use them a lot, they require more elbow grease and time. With tilt models, it’s not only the contents of the mixer that rotates, but the mixer itself as well. This makes for a challenging experience for the average baker.
Lift: These types of mixers have an integrated motor that does all of the hard work for you. The bowl elevates and rotates automatically with just a push of a button, making your job infinitely easier. However, when dealing with heavier doughs like you would in bread or pasta recipes, these types can be challenging to handle as well.
Here are some pros and cons of each model:
Pros: More versatile and easier to use than Tilt mixers. Lift mixers raise the bowl off the counter while Tilt mixers hold it in place. This means you can use them for more applications than just mixing dough. They are also quicker than Tilt models to clean, as the bowl does not clatter around on the counter.
Cons: With a lack of an integrated motor, you have more parts to maintain and tend to wear over time. For example, lift models may have a small gear that can break after a lot of use, leading to downtime and additional costs down the line. Also, the bowl cannot be removed when you use the mixer, so cleaning is a bit more of a challenge.
Pros: Tilt mixers are simple and easy to use. If you are a beginner baker or just don’t have much experience with mixers, these types might be better for you. They require minimal cleanup time and maintenance, making them an ideal option for someone who does not want to deal with repairing and replacing parts often.
Cons: You cannot use these for as many applications as you can lift models. Because of the manual rotation, tilt models can shimmy around on the counter, making it difficult to add ingredients without them sliding off all over the place. They are also not as sturdy as lift models, which can lead to mishaps like broken gears.
When deciding between these two types, it will all come down to your personal preference and needs. If you are a baker at heart who wants something that can handle a wide variety of uses, going with a lift model is worthwhile. However, the beginner baker might benefit from the ease of use that comes from tilt mixers.
Do I need a kitchen scale?
These questions are always asked, and the answer is always “it depends.” Do you want to make bread with a classic recipe, or do you want to experiment with mixing your own specialty cakes? Different recipes call for different ingredients and amounts, so it’s hard to give an exact number. The best advice is to experiment with different recipes until you can get the balance of ingredients that you like.
Should I save money and buy a cheap mixer, or should I go for a more expensive mixer?
There are a lot of inexpensive models out there that have good ratings. However, if you are going to first begin baking and want to go with a good reliable mixer, the investment will be worth it in the long run.
If my mixer is operating on low speed it is not mixing anything. Should I fix this?
The best way to ensure your mixer is working properly is to master mixing on medium speed before moving up to higher speeds. Also make sure that you’re cleaning the bowl and blade before and after meals – this will prevent “stuck mixers.
My margarine is solid as a rock in the bowl, what am I doing wrong?
While this seems like a basic question, it’s surprisingly common. To soften solid margarine, you should remove it from the fridge for about 20 minutes before beginning to mix. This will ensure that you get the correct consistency for your recipe.
What is a bain marie?
This refers to a cooking technique where you place something warm in something cold – usually a pan filled with warm water used for dishes that require an even lower temperature than can be achieved on your stovetop alone.
My dough is sticking to the sides of the mixer and doesn’t want to mix. What should I do?
There are a couple things you can do to help ensure that your dough mixes properly. First, make sure that you are using whole-wheat flour. If you aren’t, use more flour in your recipe by an additional teaspoon per cup of flour. Second, be sure that you’re pushing the dough down into the bowl as you begin making it. It’s easy to get carried away and start kneading at this point and try for too much kneading before adding the liquid ingredients. Make sure there is a thin layer of flour between your hand and the bowl as well.
Final Thoughts:
That wraps up the book on mixer buying. Now you should have all the information that you need to go out and look for the right stand mixer for your needs.
Good luck, and enjoy your new mixer!
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