Commercial stand mixers are the workhorses of any baking kitchen. They help whip up bread dough, cake batters and frosting in a flash. Hands down, they make batters smoother than handheld beaters and they can handle larger quantities of the ingredients you need to make food for a crowd.
A stand mixer doesn’t just make baking a breeze; it can also make it safer. With the heavy-duty beaters, your hands are free to add ingredients or perform other tasks around the kitchen.
Stand mixers come in a wide variety of styles and price points, from hand-held models that resemble big blenders to high performance kitchen workhorses. Knowing what’s most important to you will help narrow down the options and point you in the right direction for finding the right machine for your needs.
Types of mixers
Because there are so many stand mixers on the market, choosing one can be a daunting task. The first thing to understand is that there are two basic types of stand mixers: stationary and tilt-head.
Stationary stand mixers are the workhorses of any kitchen. They have a motor housed in the base with a vertical bowl that has no moving parts. The bowl, which can be made from glass or metal, sits in the base and you pour your ingredients and attach the beaters to them. The machine will work as long as you want it to and can handle large batches without issue, even when mixing heavy doughs or thick batters.
Tilt-head stand mixers have a bowl that spins around on a horizontal axis. They have an adjustable pulley system that attaches the beaters, whisk and dough hook to the spinning bowl. This allows for more control when you are mixing, since you can get closer to your batter or dough without losing control of the mixer. This is also a good choice if you want your machine to be lightweight since the moving parts are all located in one place.
Safety features
The safety of tilt-head stand mixers is their greatest asset. They have a built in blade guard that prevents you from getting cut, which is why so many bakers are drawn to this type of mixer as opposed to stationary ones.
There are several other safety features built into tilt-head models: beater bars that cover the bowl to protect it in case the bowl falls, a stopper that helps prevent the bowl from falling over and a handle guard that prevents you from getting hit by one of the beaters while they’re spinning around. These safety features are useful to have, but not necessary if you don’t plan on taking your mixer into the kitchen.
Heavy duty motor
The motor in a tilt-head stand mixer is much more powerful than that of stationary mixers. While it can still handle tasks like kneading bread dough and mixing cookie dough for Christmas ornaments, it can also mix larger volumes of ingredients than stationary mixers.
What Are The Advantages Of A Stand Mixer?
A stand mixer’s blending action produces an exceedingly smooth texture in your batter. It minimizes the chance of overmixing which can happen with a handheld mixer or manual hand. The moving beater scrapes the sides of the bowl so all ingredients are incorporated evenly. With a stand mixer, it takes just one or two pulls to whip cream, blend cake batters and make delicious frostings and fillings.
A standard mixer has a tilt head that tilts up to 90 degrees for easy access to the bowl during mixing. Some models offer extra bowls that you can remove from the machine for pouring batters and mixing ingredients separately. You can also use them when you need to separate eggs or beat air into cream.
What Are The Disadvantages?
For most people, the disadvantages of a stand mixer are the price tag and long list of perfectly good mixers that you can buy for less money. You also have to consider whether you want a full-size unit or one with just a few attachments. You need to decide how large your kitchen is and how much mixing space the machine will take up on your countertop or in your cabinet.
A full-size unit can be bulky, taking up more room than desired on your countertop or in your dishwasher’s washing basin. When you are deciding if a stand mixer is the right appliance for your kitchen, consider the tasks you need to complete in the kitchen and what you can accomplish with a handheld mixer.
If you are looking for a basic stand mixer that is simple to use and has just a few attachments, Cuisinart’s MIXER INTERLOCKING and PRESTO 02811 models would be great choices.
You also may want to consider buying an immersion hand blender (like JLB 626) to mix smaller quantities of ingredients or whip cream.
Be sure to choose one that includes attachments for mixing and pureeing soups right in your pot; some models come with several attachments. If space is a problem, you can search for mixers that are compact enough to be stored in your sink. On the other hand, a hand mixer is something you can use at a coffee shop or in your bathroom and it’s easier to find spares or replacement parts than stand mixers.
Then again, the best chance of finding a good deal on a mixer is by buying one used or from an estate sale. In addition to appliances that have been discontinued by the manufacturer, you may find several knobs on commercial machines are missing and others are not working properly. Be sure to check the brand and model number of any used mixer you are considering.
If you decide you need a stand mixer, here are some additional tips for choosing the best one for your needs.
Before You Buy…
• Find out the difference between tilt head and bowl lift types of mixers. A tilt head type has a head that tilts up to 90 degrees for easy access to your ingredients which are stored in the bowl. A bowl lift design is preferred by cooks who have arthritis or joint pain because it keeps both hands free when mixing ingredients. Tilt head models are generally easier to clean and use.
• How many speeds does your mixer have?
• See if the product comes with special attachments.
• Check out the warranty to make sure it will last a long time and that there is no need to buy replacement parts often.
A Few Simple Things You Should Know…
• In order for the machine to work correctly, first check that all of its parts are present, including bowl, beaters, and cord; wires should be tight, not loose; and that the cords are unbroken.
• Check if the unit comes with any extra bowls or beaters to get the right measurements. You can also buy special attachments that make it possible to mix scrambled eggs, dough and frosting.
• Read the owner’s manual carefully before using your new mixer to be sure of how to use every function and on which settings to operate it (e.g., number of beats, speed).
• Have an extra set of all kitchen utensils in case you drop one which will not work anymore or break during use (e.g., knife, spatula).
• When you are done using your mixer, be sure to wash its parts thoroughly with soap and water and dry them before storing it.
In the Kitchen…
• Consider the amount of space you need to store the unit. The larger a mixer is, the more valuable it will be to you in the kitchen. Make sure you have enough space inside your cabinet to fit it properly.
• Decide which style of mixer will work best for your kitchen’s design; if your kitchen has a glass top, choose a stand mixer with a tilted head so that when you are preparing food you can easily reach into the bowl while it is in operation.
• Be sure to define the frequency with which you plan to use the mixer so that you can set your budget accordingly. If you are working on a tight budget, consider buying used or looking for sales and deals on popular brands.
• Consider special features like retractable cord and viewing window on bowl lid above the motor base so that you can whole time ingredient is mixing properly; transparent mixing bowl for visibility without interruption; head locks against bowl rotation for additional safety; beater ejector button for easy removal of beaters from the bowl and air vents in the top of its head for food items that require additional air circulation.
• If you like to bake, consider buying a mixer with a flat beater for whipping egg whites and cream; if you are baking bread, kneading dough is easy since the mixer takes care of the hard work of beating it into shape.
• If you have arthritis or joint pain and need to mix small quantities, consider an immersion hand blender (such as JLB 626) which can be used to mix, beat, or whip ingredients in your pot.
What is difference between KitchenAid classic and Artisan?
KitchenAid is a name that you can trust because so many people have owned one for a long time. They offer stand mixers, hand mixers, and blenders for home use as well as professional use in restaurants. KitchenAid is known for its classic models that are available from base model to the premium alternative such as the Artisan line. KitchenAid stands out because they have been around longer and they continue to be known by name brands like General Electric and Whirlpool Corporation which offers great value with the classic models which are used by many people all over the world.
How many watts is the KitchenAid Classic?
The KitchenAid Classic is a three-speed stand mixer with a 400-watt motor that can handle the toughest mixing jobs. Included with this mixer is one stainless steel flat beater, one stainless steel dough hook, and one wire whip. This mixer also has a tilt-head design which lifts up to 90 degrees to make it easy to add ingredients to the mixing bowl.
What color of KitchenAid Classic is available?
The KitchenAid Classic has four color options that you can choose from including red, black, white and bisque. You will also get one year of free service on this model as well as a 10-year limited warranty.
About kitchenaid mixer specs, speed, and features:
KitchenAid has created a series of professional-grade stand mixers that are perfect for all types of baking, whipping and blending tasks. These mixers all have a five-speed motor with a programmable memory button. The KitchenAid professional range offers the following:
All of these models have a tilt head design which makes it easy to add ingredients to the mixing bowl while still having complete control over your food preparation. All of these models are made with heavy duty materials including stainless steel for the beaters, gears and shafts for durability and long service life. The series of stainless steel accessories are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
What is the difference between KitchenAid Classic and Classic?
The KitchenAid Classic is a three-speed stand mixer with a 400-watt motor that can handle the toughest mixing jobs. Included with this mixer is one stainless steel flat beater, one stainless steel dough hook and one wire whip. The Design Series offers classic-style mixers in unique finishes such as Raspberry Ice, Silver Mist and Ocean Breeze.
What are the differences between Kitchenaid Professional 600 and Professional 600?
The Professional 600 series offers 4 different models of mixers for you to choose from which include:
The 650 comes with the tilt head design which makes it easier to pour ingredients into the mixing bowl while you are still in control of your food preparation. The series of stainless steel accessories are all dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
The Professional 600 series has a bowl lift design which allows you to raise the mixing bowl to the top of the stand mixer for easier access. This is a great feature if you have limited mobility or if you will be using this mixer in a space where it will be hard to maneuver around with a bowl that is lowered onto the base unit.
What are the differences between Kitchenaid Classic and Classic Pro?
The KitchenAid Classic is a three-speed stand mixer with a 400-watt motor that can handle the toughest mixing jobs. Included with this mixer is one stainless steel flat beater, one stainless steel dough hook and one wire whip. The Classic Pro is a six-speed stand mixer that features a tilt head design and comes with a flat beater, dough hook and wire whip.
What are the different levels of KitchenAid mixers?
The KitchenAid Professional line consists of three different levels of mixers for you to choose from which include:
The Artisan Series offers unique, creative and decorative finishes such as Color Blend, Arctic Frost, Granite Mist and Graphite. The Series comes with one year of free service and a 10-year limited warranty for the motor and other parts. Also included with the Series is a flat beater, one stainless steel wire whip, one dough hook and a stainless steel bowl. These mixers have an aluminum bowl that is designed to spin during mixing to prevent overheating while mixing your ingredients. They feature a tilt head design which allows you to pour ingredients into the mixing bowl while still in control of your food preparation.
CONCLUSION:
None of these mixers are designed to work with your KitchenAid mixer. The instruction manual tells you how to attach to your KitchenAid mixer, but the author of this review tells you that the attachment is faulty and doesn’t fit.If none of the above information is useful or if you need further help regarding kitchenaid mixers, feel free to use the comment box below. We are still very happy on our sales and buy from them again in the future. Thanks for reading!
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