Mixers

Any chef or baker worth their salt knows just how important it is to have an electric mixer or two at their side. With the flip of a switch a mixer takes all the hard work off your plate, so you can focus on the finer (and far more fun) details of creating mouthwatering meals and delectable desserts.

Not sure which type of mixer to buy? Here’s a brief look at everything you need to know and consider.

Why Every Kitchen Needs a Mixer

Having a mixer at your disposal means a lot of cooking and baking tasks that require a bit of elbow grease become much faster and easier. From kneading dough for fresh-baked bread to whipping eggs for the perfect Sunday morning omelette, kitchen life is just plain better when you’ve got this small kitchen appliance on your counter or in your cupboard.

Mixers also help ensure ingredients are thoroughly mixed, kneaded, or whipped to perfection. This leads to tastier and more wow-worthy results in your cooking and baking.

Types of Mixers

There are two main types of mixers to choose from: stand mixers and hand mixers. Each type has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages, and they’re each ideal for different types of tasks.

Stand Mixers

Stand mixers are countertop appliances with powerful motors that are best suited to serious tasks, such as kneading dough for bread or mixing thick cookie dough. Typically, they offer “set it and forget it” convenience, meaning you don’t have to supervise the operation or interact with the mixer at all while it’s working.

Hand Mixers

Hand mixers, by contrast, are small devices that are best suited to lighter mixing tasks, such as whipping eggs or cream. Because hand mixers are handheld, you can control the mixing and move the mixer around the bowl freely, ensuring all ingredients are mixed to your exact preferences.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Mixer

When you’re shopping for a stand mixer or hand mixer, you’ll want to ask yourself some key questions, such as: What kinds of cooking and baking tasks will you be using the mixer for? Will you be using it often or only every now and then? How important is ease of use?

If you’d like to get the most versatility out f your mixer, look for one that includes lots of extra mixer attachments. For example, some come with different types of beaters, whisks, and even pasta makers. This assortment of attachments gives you more freedom to tackle different types of foods with ease.

If ease of use is a major concern, look for a mixer that disassembles quickly. For hand mixers, this means a button that ejects the beaters, so you don’t have to get your hands messy. For stand mixers, this includes features like a bowl lift mechanism, which makes it easy to remove a heavy bowl from the mixer.