Looking for kitchen mixers and not sure how to choose the one to get? Make your choice easier by reading this article.
Kitchen mixers have become one of the most essential tools in the kitchen today. I mean, who likes to tire out their arms struggling with a manual mixer? Also, hand mixers are time-consuming and aren’t appropriate for all jobs.
Modern mixers come with different functions like mixing, whipping, blending, and beating. So even if you aren’t a baker, you still need a mixer for much of your basic cooking. One of the most popular kitchen mixer brands out there is KitchenAid Artisan. If you are going through different shopping sites, wondering which mixer to buy, this article will help you make a smart decision.
There are few factors that you need to consider while choosing a mixer.
- Your requirements
- Your budget
- Weight of the mixer
- Speed settings
- Size of the mixer
- Attachments
- Appearance (color and design)
- Ease of cleaning
- Level of noise
Your Requirements
You need to pinpoint the reasons why you want a mixer. It could be for baking purposes—mixing batter for cakes, pastries, or bread—or for mixing minced meats, spices, etc. The amount of food and weights of the ingredients to be mixed should be considered as well.
Understanding your needs will help you decide which type of mixer to get. If you know the type of attachments needed for your work, making your choice will be easy.
Kitchen mixers usually come in two different types.
Single tool attachment
This type of mixer can accommodate only one attachment. This is ideal for larger quantities of food and for kneading dough.
Double tool attachment
Two attachments can be fixed with this type of mixer. This sort is ideal for whisking and mixing but doesn’t work well when it comes to kneading dough.
Your Budget
You should decide in advance what your budget is. The price of mixers can vary widely, from approximately $200 to more than a thousand dollars. So fixing your budget will help you narrow down your list. The cost also depends on the type of mixer you want to buy.
Hand mixers are in the lower price range and are perfectly capable of getting most jobs done. However, if you are looking to buy a mixer for commercial purposes or to prepare large batches of food, then a hand mixer won’t be enough for you. In this case, you’d need a mixer that is higher in price with more capabilities.
Weight of the Mixer
How heavy you want your mixer to be is something you should decide before choosing one. If you are getting a hand mixer then you should want to make sure it is light enough to be easy to hold and work with. Lightweight mixers are always more convenient for home kitchens, however, a stand mixer should be heavy so that it is strong and stable and doesn’t move around on the counter.
Speed Settings
The speed of mixers can vary depending on their sizes and functions. Hand mixers usually have lower speeds than stand mixers. But all of them have a range of settings. You have to take into consideration the speed range that is required for your purposes. If you are a professional baker, you will require a wider range of speed settings than someone who is just looking for a simple mixer to use at home.
Size
Mixers come in different sizes. Hand mixers are smaller in size since they have to be portable and easy to use. Stand mixers are larger and also contain larger bowls. Depending on the availability of space in your kitchen, you should determine the size that you are looking for before you go shopping.
Attachments
Mixers come with different attachments. You can also buy other ones separately which will increase the versatility of your mixer. This could include a shredder, an ice cream maker, a juicer, a flat beater, a food grinder, and much more. Investing in different attachments will enable you to experiment with a lot of different dishes.
Appearance (Color and Design)
Kitchen mixers come in different colors and designs. If you have a preferred color scheme that will match your kitchen space or a particular design that you are more inclined towards, then you should keep that in mind while choosing a mixer.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning is an unpleasant part of cooking and can be tricky when it comes to mixers. Hand mixers are simple and quite easy to clean. On the other hand, stand mixers can be more difficult as they have different attachments and are composed of different parts that have to be cleaned individually. Some parts can be popped into the dishwasher, but others require hand cleaning. For this reason, it is important to understand what sort of mixer you actually need. You don’t want to spend time cleaning a stand mixer which you don’t really need.
Noise Level
Kitchen mixers are noisy machines. No matter which one you buy, it will make some noise. However, some mixers are louder than others. If you are sensitive to noises, you might want to investigate the noise level of the mixers you are considering before you buy.
Now that you know how to choose the right mixer for you, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and experiment with different recipes using your brand-new kitchen tool.