Can I Use an Immersion Blender Instead of an Electric Mixer?

You might be thinking, “what’s the difference?” And it’s true — both the blender and mixer can whip up a cake batter. But if you’re looking for an appliance that will do a better job, then look no further than an electric mixer.

A strong electric mixer will beat your ingredients to perfection with less intervention on your part than a basic immersion blender. This is because immersion blenders typically have only one or two attachments (a whisk and a stir attachment) while mixers typically have three or more, including beaters, paddles, and hooks (and sometimes dough hooks).

The three attachments on a standard electric mixer for cream, eggs, and/or sugar (and additional attachments for dry ingredients) will allow you to create the ideal consistency for every type of batter with very little fuss. You can also choose from a range of speeds, which will help you achieve your desired results.

You can also count on an electric mixer to be more durable than its smaller countertop blender cousins. Most electric mixers have a motor that is rated to run continuously at high speeds with no need to switch off and restart. These mixers have a wider base to ensure stability and are made from heavier-duty materials such as cast iron or stainless steel instead of plastic.

The bottom line: Dip a whisk into beaten eggs, or sugar, and it might cause you to break out in a cold sweat. Dip a whisk into a cake batter, and you’ll probably be able to continue without getting distracted. For this reason, even if your budget is on the small side, you should buy an electric mixer rather than an immersion blender for baking.

About the author: Liz O’Connell is a freelance writer and owner of O’Connell’s Cooking School in Toronto. She teaches her culinary classes exclusively online at oconnellskitchen.com . More information about Liz can be found at lizoconnell.ca .

What do you think about the immersion blender? Is it a more practical alternative to electric mixers for baking? Or would you prefer an electric mixer for culinary creations and preparation? Share your opinion in the comments section below. And, if you are planning on mixing up some batter yourself, be sure to check out my guide How to Make Homemade Pancakes at Home.

Can you mix a cake with an immersion blender?

The answer is yes! You can mix a cake batter with an immersion blender, since it’s only the mixing speed and flexibility that are important to the end result. The consistency of your batter will be lighter than if you had used an electric mixer, but it will work just fine.

However, in my experience (from working in restaurant kitchens and from teaching a few cooking classes), it’s usually best to use an electric mixer for cakes because a cake batter takes more than 15 minutes to mix (stirring vigorously by hand won’t cut it), and as soon as you use the electric mixer, you have a lot more leeway for interruptions during the preparation stage.

Which blender is best for cake?

If you think about it for a moment, there isn’t much difference between the immersion blender and the countertop blender. They’re both small appliances that use a high-powered motor to mix ingredients in one motion.

The fact is that most people who buy countertop blenders don’t really need them. They’re attractive and they make a good impression because they have a lot of different attachments, but they’re not hugely popular because they are more expensive than their more modest rivals.

As with most other things, I like to focus on the quality of the appliance rather than its appearance. I think that if you go with a countertop blender and use it every day, it will serve you well.

The bottom line: With both the immersion blender and the countertop blender, one of the two ingredients is vital for your cake batter: eggs. If you want to make desserts with flour or some other type of starch (like cornstarch), an immersion blender will work just fine. However, in cupcake recipes (including the Cheesecake Cupcakes), an electric mixer (with the addition of a handheld mixer) works best for mixing cake batter. For more information about immersion blenders vs. regular blenders, visit this other article.

I am interested in using an immersion blender to mix cake batter. What is the easiest way to go about this? The best way to mix a cake batter with an immersion blender is to put all of your ingredients into a bowl, and then slowly introduce the immersion blender as you stir with a whisk.

Do I need a special tool for mixing cake batter?

If you want your cupcakes or cakes to have light and airy textures, an electric mixer is the best tool for mixing condensed milk into your batter. This is because it will whip up the eggs and sugar together into light, fluffy peaks that can produce a very soft texture in your cakes.

You can also use the electric mixer to mix your flour and baking powder together, but draw the line at trying to mix anything else into the batter. If you are mixing the ingredients together with a whisk or a spoon, you will need to keep folding in and stirring in order to create a homogeneous mixture. This can be very time-consuming, so I recommend buying an immersion blender instead.

What is the difference between a electric mixer and an immersion blender?

The main difference between an electric mixer and an immersion blender is the speed of the motor. Electric mixers have a high-speed motor that can be set to a certain speed, and the appliance will continue to run on that speed until you turn it off. Immersion blenders are essentially small hand-mixers with a low-speed motor.

The other main difference between electric mixers and immersion blenders is their shape. Electric mixers have long handles, while immersions blenders are held close to the bowl and blade attachment during mixing.

Can you use an immersion blender to cream butter and sugar?

Yes – if you are mixing butter and sugar with an immersion blender, you will need to transfer the mixture from the bowl that you’ve blended it in to your cake or cupcake batter bowl. This is because the design of an immersion blender means that it’s not particularly efficient at getting every last drop of product out of its mixing bowl.

Can an immersion blender do more than mix batter?

An immersion blender is a very versatile kitchen tool. It’s great for making sauces, and can also be used for pureeing soup right in the pot (instead of transferring everything to a standalone food processor). In fact, its small size makes it easy to store in an office kitchen or workroom. It also makes an excellent gift for any foodie.

What is the best kind of immersion blender to buy?

There are four main types of immersion blender you can buy. I’ve tried out all of them, and I have to say that the ones with the long handles do not provide as secure a grip as I would like. They’re great for blending soup or sauces, but when you add hot ingredients (like seafood or vegetables) it becomes very difficult to hold the device steady and mix all ingredients at once.

On the other hand, the two types I like best are:

The JYI immersion blender has a great design and an attractive price. All of their products are backed by a generous warranty, and customer reviews are extremely positive.

The OXO immersion blender also has a great design and works well every time.

What is a cake mixer called?

A cake mixer is a type of electric mixer that has at least five attachments designed for making cakes. The most common feature you’ll see are the swivel beaters, which rotate with the wire cord.

Other cake mixers may have various attachments for creating your favorite cakes, like creaming butter and sugar… or beating eggs and heavy cream together to create an egg-cream cake (with lemon zest).

Another common type of cake mixer you may encounter is the one with a paddle: this is used as a non-mixing tool that helps to give your batter smoothness and structure. The paddle will also help shovel your batter into its pans in a very uniform mixture.

Are immersion blenders worth it?

Yep, they’re definitely worth it. Personally I prefer an immersion blender over my regular blender because I find it easier to use. It’s hands-free, so you can be doing other things while you’re blending the ingredients of your favorite sauces, soups or purees.

Final Thoughts:

My favorite type of mixer is an immersion blender. I just love being able to mix everything in one bowl, and there’s no need to clean the bowl and attachments between uses.

I’m sure that you’ll be happy with any countertop or handheld mixer you decide to get. The important thing is that it’s powerful enough to mix flour, sugar or other types of starch into your batter (ears of corn or similar) for cakes, cupcakes or muffins.

In the end, all baking batters require some amount of beating and stirring to get them homogeneous (a mixture where all ingredients are completely mixed together).