The Best Food Mixers for Every Occasion

If you are shopping for a food mixer, you have a lot of options. These days, mixers are not just for serious bakers. Many modern mixers come with multiple attachments that make them useful for a range of food preparation tasks. Need to puree food? Get a blender attachment. From grinding meat for making sausage to food processing, the different mixer attachments can replace many of your current kitchen appliances.

Getting Started with Food Mixers

Mixers have been one of the staple kitchen appliances for decades. A good mixer is a must-have for both serious and casual home cooks. They all serve the same basic function, but how do you decide which kind to get? Factors to consider when making your decision include the number and types of attachments. If the goal is to save counter space by replacing as many of your appliances as possible, then you will want to look at the more versatile mixers.

The Types of Food Mixers Available

For the most part, food mixers fall into two categories: hand mixers and stand mixers. Each has its own set of pros and cons. Generally speaking, hand mixers are good for light tasks while heavy duty mixing and kneading will require a stand mixer.  A hand mixer is your best bet if you want a light, portable mixer for quickly whipping up mashed potatoes or eggs. If you want to make large batches of cake batter or require a machine to knead dough, you should get a stand mixer.

Basic

• Wand blenders. You can use these to puree softer foods as they cook without the need to remove them from the pot. You simply immerse the tip of the wand blender into the cooking vessel and turn it on. It can be used in just about any kind of container.  These appliances have the benefit of being both easy to store and easy to clean.
• Hand mixers. These are light, compact and affordable. They may also be used with a variety of   cooking tasks that do not require the blades of an immersion blender or the power of a stand mixer. Hand mixers are ideal for lighter batters.

Advanced

• Stand mixers. If you are a serious home cook who regularly entertains large groups, then you need a stand mixer. There are models with powerful, durable motors and that come with large mixing bowls; these will come in handy when cooking or baking for large groups.
• Hand/stand mixers. These combine the some of the benefits of the two types in that they are hand mixers with a base that allows them to be converted to a stand mixer.

Typical Food Mixer Features

• Attachments. Beaters are the most basic attachment and may be used for many tasks. Some mixers offer two beaters that spin in opposite directions while others have a single beater that spins in one direction but rotates around the bowl in the other.
• Speed Options. Both hand and stand mixers should have at least six speed settings. Lower speeds are useful for adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients without creating a mess while higher speeds can whip your egg whites into stiff peaks in only a few minutes. Mixers can have as many as 16 speeds thus allowing you more options for finding the precise speed for your needs.
• Powerful Motor. The main indicators of power for mixers is wattage (175 watts should be the minimum) and RPM. Wattage alone does not tell you the power of the motor. High wattage and low RPMs will not have the kind of power you need for tough mixing tasks. It would be better to get a mixer with a high RPM and medium wattage.
• Easy-to-Clean Design. Design elements like a smooth underside or touch pad (as opposed to buttons) can make the appliance easier to wipe down. Smooth surfaces keep ingredients from getting trapped in crevices.

The Brand Names in Food Mixers

Kitchenaid is unquestionably the gold standard for stand mixers. The brand is popular with both home and professional cooks. Kitchenaid mixers are known for their durability and versatility. Their reputation is greatly enhanced by the fact that the company invented the first ever stand mixer in 1919. However, Kitchenaid mixers are not the only quality mixers available. Breville is a manufacturer of high-end mixers that are known for their durable construction. Cuisinart is another well-known brand that offers multiple attachments along with built-in timers and other features. The other food mixer brands include Black &Decker, Hamilton Beach and Procter Silex.