If you love cooking and baking, then chances are you’ll need a stand mixer. But with so many brands and models on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. If that’s the case, don’t worry! We’ve put together a list of the top-rated mixers available today in order to help get your search started!
Equipment Review: Best Stand Mixers & Our Testing Winner
Blog Post by Julee from The Spice Runner’s Wife
A lot of people these days still use their old hand-held mixer with an adaptor attachment rather than switching over to one of the new high-tech machines. I know I used to do that. In fact, to this day, I use my old hand-held mixer almost every single day. But why? And how does a stand mixer compare with a traditional hand-held?
First of all, let me say that you will never want to go back to using a traditional hand-held mixer again once you start using your stand mixer. A lot of people say that the reason they don’t like their stand mixers is because the beaters are hard to remove or that it’s too hard for the kids to operate. That’s not true. Read on to see how easy they are to use!
What is a Stand Mixer?
A stand mixer is a kitchen machine that uses a motorized drive mechanism to mix together chemicals and/or food. The motor drives the mixing/kneading paddle(s) at a set speed based on the model you buy. The paddle(s) rotate around the bowl, which rotates or moves up and down depending on your specific model. Most of them have attachments for adding other equipment (food processors, meat grinders, etc), which are affixed to the end of the main drive shaft.
The Pros and Cons of a Stand Mixer
Pros:
Cuts down on effort and time when mixing food, especially for busy families.
Less energy is required when using a stand mixer. This is especially true when kneading bread dough. (See section below on how stand mixers are better for bread.) Stand mixers use only one/two speeds; therefore, the motor has to work less hard than it would if it had to work at different speeds (ex: low to high). This means they burn through electricity less quickly, making them more efficient. Deep bowl. Most stand mixers have deep bowls, giving you more control over how much is being mixed at any given time. It’s also easier to make larger batches that require more ingredients like bread dough or sauces and gravies. Casual operation: If something goes wrong while using a hand-held mixer, it can be frustrating and inconvenient to try to figure out what the problem is because you can’t see the machine work without taking it apart. But with a stand mixer, all you need to do is flip the switch and go about doing other things.
Cons:
It’s harder for children to operate than some models due to the large size of most of them (on purpose).
Not all models are suitable for all kinds of jobs, so you might have to choose one that will fit your needs best.
It doesn’t have a long enough cord to reach outlets in corners or on the other side of aisles.
How are Stand Mixers Different from Hand-Held Mixers?
First of all, what distinguishes a hand-held mixer from a stand mixer is the way in which the beaters work. Let’s say it’s kneading bread dough: You use your hand-held mixer just like you would use a traditional electric mixing bowl with dough and then add flour. But a stand mixer makes the dough more easily because it’s easier to get flour and other ingredients mixed in while you’re mixing and easier to remove the dough from the bowl.
In addition, a stand mixer will give you more throwing ability because you can use the paddle in all directions for kneading. The end of the paddle has a beater attachment or a disc and ring system that attaches to it. This gives you more control over what you put into your food. If you’re using a hand-held, you have one hand on the base of the machine itself and another holding onto your ingredients while turning on/off and inserting/removing ingredients.
If you’re using a hand-held, it doesn’t have the same power to knead dough as a stand mixer does. It will work for jobs like making cookies or cakes, but it won’t be strong enough for bread dough. Because of this, you’ll also have to add more flour than you normally would in order to make up for how wet the dough is getting with repeated mixings. So if you want to save money and elbow grease, investing in a new stand mixer is well worth the extra money!
Most people don’t believe that they’ll use the attachments on their stand mixer often enough to justify the additional cost of owning one. But in the long run, they find that they use them all of the time! And they can easily be stored out of sight (in a cabinet or on a shelf) if you’re not using them.
What Kinds of Mixers are Available?
There are really only two kinds of stand mixers: tilt-head and bowl lift.
Tilt Head Stand Mixer: The tilt head mixer is the most common kind and the easiest to use. It features a motorized drive that moves the bowl up and down during mixing and allows you to remove it during cleanup by simply lifting it off the base. Many of these also have a 2-in-1 bowl rotation feature, which means the bowl can either rotate or stay still while the beaters do their job. This is ideal for recipes that must be mixed in one part of the bowl and then in another.
Bowl Lift Stand Mixer: The bowl lift mixer features a motorized drive that moves the beaters up and down during mixing but does not allow you to remove the bowl for cleaning. In order to remove it, you have to unscrew it from its base. Since this kind of mixer doesn’t have a removable lid on top, it’s not as easy to access ingredients inside as with other mix models.
Tilt-Head Stand Mixers
As mentioned above, the tilt head is the most popular. It’s a great pick for beginners because of its simple design. When you buy a new stand mixer, this is probably the one that you’ll see advertised most frequently. It’s very easy to use, features a removable bowl (which makes it easy to clean), and has both a 2-in-1 mixing bowl rotation feature and a lift out mixing attachment (paddle). This kind of mixer also has an on/off switch that lets you adjust it with one hand. It’s also good for heavy work like kneading bread dough and making cakes.
Bowl Lift Stand Mixers
Although this type of mixer is less popular than the tilt head, there are still a lot of stand mixers out there that have a bowl lift capability. You’ll see this kind advertised as often as you would see a tilt head one, especially if you’re trying to sell your used stand mixer. It works very well with anything other than bread dough and it’s very easy to use. It also comes with a 2-in-1 mixing bowl rotation feature and a lift out mixing attachment (paddle). This makes it easier to access ingredients in the bowl while working because the bowl is removable from its base.
How Much is a Good Stand Mixer
Consumer Reports has done some tests on value and found that their best performing stand mixer was their favorite model, which costs around $200. If you go by this price range, you can find mixers in that are used or refurbished – but only if you buy from a reputable company like KitchenAid. The company also has an easy-to-follow guide on eBay where you can check up on the quality of these stands and see what others have to say about them. If you’re buying a used stand mixer, make sure to avoid those that have been damaged or have filters (which are not really necessary).
Also, keep in mind that most machines have a 10 year warranty (which is pretty standard for electric mixers), so you can get one of these for almost half the price. But if it’s not in great condition, you’ll be out money and time.
What Kind of Uses Will I Have for My Stand Mixer
The main uses for a stand mixer are kneading bread dough and making cakes. Of course, it can also make cookies and other desserts like puddings and ice cream. It’s also great for mixing soups, stews and thick batters like cake batters.
Anything with a batter or flour is the perfect candidate for a stand mixer. Bread dough and many other recipes are even better with a stand mixer because it will knead dough much more evenly. And because of how heavy the machine itself is, it can give you more volume (and thus more batter) while mixing. This makes it easy to make cakes that weigh as much as 24 ounces (1 pound).
What brand is better than KitchenAid?
Most consumers have a great experience with their KitchenAid’s, but make sure to check what others have said about the product in order to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money. There are many available on eBay including one from KitchenAid.
Stand Mixer Tips
There are several things you can do to ensure that your new stand mixer will last as long as possible and perform at its best. Here are just a few tips on how you can take care of this machine so that it can continue to satisfy your cooking needs for years and years.
Clean up immediately: When removing the bowl after use, it’s important to clean it right away. Even if you don’t need to use it again immediately, clean it quickly so that the ingredients don’t dry in the bowl and start to deteriorate. You can also consider storing the mixer in the upright position, which will make it easier to access the bowl when you need to get something out of it.
Use a measuring cup: Use a measuring cup (especially if you’re making bread) when adding ingredients into your stand mixer. If you’re using a liquid or dry ingredient and accidentally add more than you should have, chances are good that you’ll have to throw out what’s already in there and start over.
Which company stand mixer is the best?
Most people consider KitchenAid to be the best company when it comes to stand mixers. They have been around for over 80 years and have over 100 patents. Their products are known for their durability and craftsmanship, which makes them a great choice for anyone who’s looking to buy an appliance that will last many years.
What kinds of bowls are good for a stand mixer?
KitchenAid’s stand mixer bowl is 14 cups, but other companies also make comparable replacements if you’re looking for something smaller or larger. It’s important to note that the bowl you get must be dishwasher safe, unlike other types of bowls that can rust over time in the dishwasher.
Which stand mixer lasts longest?
KitchenAid is said to last for about 10 years, whereas some other companies make stand mixers that are good for at least 15 years. However, these things can wear out over time, so it’s important to keep a close eye on what you’re doing to make sure they last as long as possible.
Can I use a hand mixer?
Yes and no. While it’s possible to use a hand mixer on a stand mixer, then it’s not recommended because there are small parts that could get damaged from the high-speed action of the mixer motor.
Which brand of cake mixer is the best?
Most people claim that all brand of stand mixers are very similar in quality, though they have their own features. However, they also say that KitchenAid is the best choice because it’s known for having a heavy duty motor which makes it more durable than other brands.
Can I use my stand mixer to make dough?
Yes and no. Stand mixers work well with recipes that contain more liquid ingredients, like sorbet and cake batters, but they’re not great at kneading bread dough. Bread dough requires a heavier action that can immerse itself into the batter and this action is much heavier than what most stand mixers can offer.
CONCLUSION:
After going through all of the information in this guide, we feel that the best stand mixer is the KitchenAid 5-Quart Stand Mixer. This mixer has over 1000 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, which shows how much people love this product. The KitchenAid 5-Quart Stand Mixer is a heavy duty machine that can mix batter, dough and much more all through you’re kneading it just right. This machine is a great choice for any baker for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include: it’s compact size, the fact that it comes with a variety of attachments and the many different speeds that you can choose from. We also feel that this model by KitchenAid is the best value for your money because you get a lot more than you would with other models at a similar price point. This is one of those things that looks great on your kitchen countertop, but also gets a ton of use while you’re cooking in your kitchen every day. We highly recommend this product to anyone who likes to cook or bake.
0 responses to “Equipment Review: Best Stand Mixers & Our Testing Winner”