The Consumer’s Guide to Mixers
Mix Up Some Kitchen Magic
Do you like to bake? Even if the answer is no, chances are the converse is true, and you bake to like – chocolate chip cookies that just melt in your mouth, mouthwatering honey angel cake, perhaps feather-light chocolate mousse and lemon meringue pie? Or is it food you’re after, with delicate cauliflower soufflé and nutty home-baked banana bread high on the must-bake list? What you need is a mixer, that wonderful whirring whiz of a machine that transforms even the most utilitarian of cooks into a genuine baker.
Mixers come in two styles, handheld and stand-up. The style you choose is largely based on your baking needs, with hand mixers sufficing for lighter tasks and stand mixers taking on more heavy-duty jobs.
You will also need to consider your kitchen space. Do you have the counter space to accommodate a sizeable stand mixer, or are you willing to take it out every time you need it? (Great way to tone your arm and stomach muscles – especially after you’ve eaten all the food you’re making.) A hand mixer, on the other hand - pardon the pun - is humble in its needs. It occupies very little cabinet space and is lightweight and convenient to move between shelf and countertop.
Hand Mixers
Hand mixers are perfect for mixing cake batters, whipping cream, and beating egg whites. Did you know that it will also fluff up scrumptious mashed potatoes?
Models offer anywhere from 3 to 9 speeds with a power ranging from 200-350 watts. Don’t get mixed up in your criteria; neither the number of speeds nor a higher wattage is indicative of quality or performance. What does matter is the variation in speed. A 3-speed model that is particularly slow on the one end of the range and impressively speedy on the other will boast the best performance.
Did you know that a low speed prevents splattering? Unless you need to aerate egg whites or whipping cream at high speed, you can mix a batter quite deftly on a lower speed and save yourself time in the clean-up.
Look for a unit which is lightweight, balanced, and comfortable to hold. You can choose from black, white, red, or chrome to suit your taste.
Beaters are stainless steel or chrome-plated. Thin wire beaters without a center post are easiest to clean. Retractable power cords are an added convenience; others feature swivel cords. A mixing bowl may be included if you’re lucky. Other possible accessories are dough hooks and whisks. A speed button will add more thrust to the power. A heel rest means you can put it down in between operations.
The Swiss have devised a wand mixer named for its single-stick attachments which mix, beat, mince, whisk, and grind. Talk about a magic wand! You can fix a mix of your favorite fare with this versatile handheld implement.
The rule of thumb here: if you need to mix batters and whip up cream or eggs, a handheld mixer is what you’ll want to get hold of.
Stand Mixers
If you’re aspiring to do a considerable amount of baking, you will want to go the route of the stand mixer.
A stand mixer is a powerful, heavy machine which mixes batters of any thickness. With it you can prepare your favorite cookie dough in generous quantities, or knead double loaves of homemade bread dough with ease. And this, in addition to all the batter mixing, cream whipping, egg beating, and potato mashing functions we mentioned before.
With stand mixers power is the name of the game. Up to 1000 watts of energy will handle thick doughs; the greater the motor power, the thicker and heavier the mixture it will blend. But here, too, higher wattage does not automatically promise superior performance.
Heavier units are less wieldy in terms of being moved from shelf to countertop, but they are the most stable at the time of operation.
Stand mixers range from 5- to 16-speed models. The turntable on which the bowl is placed rotates when the machine is activated. Some units have beaters which remain fixed in place during the mixing process. Best are those with revolving beaters; these accomplish the most efficient mixing on account of the double revolving operation.
Some styles come with a head which lifts up and down. A tilt-back head is easiest for removing or inserting attachments and bowl.
The best accessory is a 5- or even 7-quart stainless steel mixing bowl. Whisks, dough hooks, spatula, splashguard, and recipe book may be included in your set. You may get a 15-minute timer with Automatic Shut-off, or a Gentle Fold setting for incorporation of creams or egg whites. A Slow Stir setting will ensure just that. And let’s not fail to mention electronic digital controls and mixing sensors.
Choose a mixer to suit your taste. They’re available in white, black, cream, yellow, orange, pink, red, gray, pistachio green and stainless steel. Check for a 3 to 5 year warranty.
Stand mixers are indeed heftier than hand models - and have a heftier price tag, as well. Yet their unbeatable performance is well worth the investment. Don’t stand for anything less!
So now that you’re in the thick of it, don’t just keep running around in circles. Get up to bat-ter and shell out the dough. No mix-up about it! You’ll find yourself appreciating a lifestyle of greater ease and comfort…
