Stand Mixer Buying Guide
Mixing dough, kneading, beating, and whisking, is a messy and tedious job. That is why the innovation of a Stand Mixer has come as a huge relief to many. A Stand Mixer is a kitchen appliance that has a motorized base and a head which holds the beater at the top and a bowl below. All you have to do is add the required ingredients and start the appliance. Stand Mixers are more powerful than hand mixers since it can mix any batter or dough thoroughly and quickly. Today, Stand Mixers not only mixes dough but also can slice, chop, whip and do much more but with the right kind of attachments only.
Benefits of Stand Mixers
Hands- Free and Mess-Free
The most significant advantage of owning a Stand Mixer is that it ensures hands- free preparation of food. The upright design of Stand Mixers allows a minimal amount of effort and you can blend and mash tough, hot or messy ingredients without getting your hands dirty.
Versatile
People think that Stand Mixers are only used for dough and cakes. But they can also be used as an essential kitchen tool for pizza dough, batters, whisked eggs, mashed potatoes etc.
Controls
Stand Mixers have different types of settings and controls. The tilt locking feature provides great convenience while mixing any ingredient. You will never have to worry about messy batter with the ‘soft start’ technology. The speed of the beater can also be controlled from slow soft beating to fast hard beating.
Efficient and Reliable
Mixing batter manually takes a lot of time and also it makes you tired during the process. But when you use a Stand Mixer, the same job is done efficiently, without getting exhausted by the whole process.
Factors to Consider before Buying Stand Mixers
Price
Stand Mixers are available between the range of USD 120 to USD 500 depending on the features offered. If the machine is just a mixer the cost is affordable as compared to the one that comes with various attachments like food grinder or caramel mixer. The model you choose should depend on your requirement.
Capacity
As Stand Mixers come with an in-built bowl, it is essential to consider its capacity. If you have a large amount of batter and dough to knead every day, buy a large capacity around 6 quarters and if you have less quantity, settle for a smaller bowl.
Power and Speed
The speed of a Stand Mixer depends on the efficiency of the motor. The powerful the motor, the higher the wattage. If you have to knead and mix larger batches of food, buying a Stand Mixer with a higher wattage is a perfect option. Also, Stand Mixers come with various speed settings allowing you to control the speed of the beater according to the food that is being mixed.
Material
The durability of the Stand Mixer depends not only on the quality of the motor but also the food that is mixed in it. There are many material types like glass, and ceramic that are available but the most sought- after mixer body is the stainless steel. It is always advisable to buy a stainless-steel body as it is dishwasher safe and does not wear off easily.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning a Stand Mixer is a complicated task compared to other mixers. They have various removable parts, which becomes very tedious to clean one by one. So, if you have a dishwasher at home, buy a Stand Mixer, which is dishwasher safe, so that you don’t have to clean it manually.
Noise Level
Stand Mixers make some noise while operating because of the motor. However, the new models come with operating feature that makes no noise while mixing even larger batches of food. Make sure you research before investing.
Conclusion
A Stand Mixer is a perfect choice if you have a lot of whipping and baking tasks at hand. With a Stand Mixer, your hands are no longer tied to just one task of mixing. While the Stand Mixer does its job, you can do your other chores. Since Stand Mixers are available in a variety of styles, sizes and colors, take a look at our most recommended and reviewed Stand Mixers above.
