Spiral vs Planetary Mixer – What to Choose?

A spiral mixer (also known as a ribbon or corkscrew attachment) makes for a prized jewelry piece in the kitchen. It is operated with the bottom of the bowl covered and the top uncovered, so that ingredients can churn around its spiraling blades. They are designed to combine heavy and wet ingredients like eggs, cream, and bacon bits, while also aerating lighter mixtures. Like their planetary counterparts, they come in both single-speed and multifunctional versions.

Among its most touted features is that it can mix without hitting the bottom of the bowl — something which can’t be said for other types of mixers. It’s also known for its effective ability to whip cream, incorporating air into mixture, and making meringue.

With planetary mixers, you can also process smaller quantities of ingredients than with other mixers. This allows for simplicity in food preparation and a higher level of precision. The planetary design also makes for a highly efficient cooling system, along with a continuous mixing action that saves you time since the machine does the job more quickly and produces consistent results.

However, planetary mixers have been associated with reports of overheating and motor failure — although this could be due to poor quality machines that are not suited for commercial restaurant use. They’re also quite expensive compared to other types of mixers made by KitchenAid . For example, a planetary mixer can run up to $300 while a 5-quart stand mixer is closer to $200.

So, which one is right for you? That really depends on what you’re mixing and your budget. It’s advisable to have both types as they both have their own unique uses. If you need dependability and quick results in your food prep, then get the planetary mixer. But if you love experimenting with new recipes or simply want to whip cream without worrying if the machine will be able to handle the task, then get a spiral attachment.

Why is it called a planetary mixer?

In the field of engineering, planetary drive systems are used in cases where a lot of power is needed. In terms of kitchen appliances, it’s a type of mixer made by KitchenAid . Its most essential component is its planetary gearing system. This type comes with an external case that surrounds the attachments that connect the motor to the bowl and the attachments to the planetary gear box. It also features an additional gear shaft which connects to a ring gear at the center of this assembly.

The planet carrier contains 4 sun gears and 8 planet gears which are all optimized to reduce centrifugal force acting on the gears’ teeth. The ring gear is fixed, while the other three are variable. The planetary motion of the mixer’s planetary gears can generate both rotational and linear forces. This allows for a great deal of power to be delivered to each blade, while also decreasing vibration and noise.

This type is also referred to as a ribbon mixer because it features two attachments which resemble bow ties. These attachments are connected to two shafts which turn the bowl and then rotate around the planetary gears at its center.

How do I choose a spiral mixer?

To choose a spiral mixer, consider the following:

1. Speed control – Do you want a mixer that comes with a single speed option or one which has multi-speed options? This would depend on what kind of mixing action you need. If you plan to use it for whipping cream, then choose a model with multiple speeds. But if you don’t have anything that needs to be whipped, then select one with only one speed setting.

2. Thickness of beater – The thickness of the beaters will usually determine how thick or thin your batter will be when finished mixing. A thinner beaters will produce lighter whisked batters. A thicker one, on the other hand, will produce thicker and heavier batters.

3. Bowl size – This may be left up to you if you know exactly what mixing action you want in your mixing bowl. But it’s a good idea to check the dimensions of the bowl so that you can choose something which is close to what you need for your needs in terms of width and height.

4. Speed – A higher speed means it’ll mix faster, but it may also lead to disharmony in certain ingredients because some ingredients would stick onto the blades as they rotate around while others would be avoided by them as they are pushed away by the rotation of the bowl.

What are spiral beaters used for?

Spiral mixers are suitable for various mixing tasks. They can be used to mix batters and doughs and even whip heavy cream, meringue, butter, and egg whites.

How do spiral beaters work?

The beaters in a spiral mixer work in much the same way as those on an electric stand mixer — they’re designed with hollow blades that rotate at high speeds around the bowl. These blades are attached to a paddle which moves back and forth inside the bowl while it rotates. This motion produces a whirling motion which causes ingredients to mix together thoroughly.

Do spiral mixers work like a hand mixer?

No, spiral mixers are not the same as hand mixers. The latter are not designed to mix large quantities of ingredients at one time. They’re also usually cheaper than spiral mixers and they don’t have the capability to whip cream and egg whites.

What is a planetary mixer?

A planetary mixer is a stand-alone kitchen appliance that’s designed to perform multiple functions with high levels of efficiency. Its most defining characteristic is the planetary action of its mixing attachments — which in itself is made out of high-quality stainless steel or polycarbonate components that may be coated with chrome or other color options such as grey, black or red.

A planetary mixer comes with a paddle that’s attached to the outer housing with a shaft that rotates at high speeds around the bowl as it’s spun around. There are also separate attachments in the outer housing — these are also attached to shafts that rotate at high speeds around the bowl. This mixing action produces a continuous whirling movement of large quantities of ingredients as they are spun by this fishing reel-like motion.

What is a planetary mixer used for?

Planetary mixers are used for various mixing tasks. It can be used to mix batters and doughs, whisking cream into whipped cream or butter into soft butter, meringue and egg whites. It can also be used to chop ingredients and grind nuts with the more powerful mixing attachments that come with planetary mixers.

Is KitchenAid a planetary mixer?

No. You’ll have to get a KitchenAid Spiral Mixer if you want one that’s made of stainless steel or polycarbonate. The company also has other mixers which use a planetary motion, but these types are not made from solid materials and don’t come with attachments which rotate around the bowl at high speeds. They’re also cheaper than the KitchenAid models do.

History of the planetary mixer

In 1909, the very first planetary mixer was invented by a French engineer named Émile Gagnan . It was designed for mixing chocolate. Later on, in 1957, another French engineer named Jean Collet invented a type that used three bowls and two beater shafts attached to three separate spindles in each bowl. This is the most common planetary mixer design that’s in use today.

In the early years of its invention, the planetary mixer was a very popular choice for kitchens because it helped to save time and energy for those who used it. It was also a favorite due to its clean and flawless finish — as well as its ease of cleaning function. And unlike other types of mixers which tend to scratch or bump into each other while they’re in use, this type offers an organized layout that makes it easy to work with when you’re cooking or baking.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re just a beginner who doesn’t know how to bake, a hand mixer is probably the better option for you. It’ll be easy to carry and use and it won’t take up much space in your kitchen either.

On the other hand, if you’re a more experienced cook who enjoys baking and cooking everyday, then getting a spiral or planetary mixer is probably the more practical choice. The latter ones are designed to meet the needs of an experienced cook — they have attachments that can whip ingredients and they can mix larger amounts of batter more efficiently than hand mixers can do.