Heavy stand mixer is no longer reserved for the professional chef. Many kitchens are now the sport modern comfort and elegant as well as the novice cook to find the advantages of the stand mixer is invaluable. Stand mixers can fade as time passes beat the egg whites or whipped cream in a flash, or put a family-size batches of mashed potatoes on the table in minutes. Unlike portable mixer powerful blender can take on difficult tasks likeStir flour into cookie dough hard, kneading bread. If you're in the market for a stand mixer, you have those who choose to fit your lifestyle and your budget, if you're a beginner or a serious cook cupcake bakery.
Effect of mixing
Most stand mixers are the same basic approach - a mixing head of a base which contains the bowl mounted. The head tilts up or lift with a lever, so you can remove or put the bat (s). But all the clubs are not the same.
BalanceBlender often use the well-known pair of stationary, hand-paddle mixer seen closing with a rotating drum. If you are an occasional baker, this type of stand mixer, light to perform tasks at a reasonable price, but beware, it is likely to contend with stiff cookie dough. The club can also be locked to rotate, and rotate the dish you can not. Moreover, because the club can not reach the edges of the shell, scraping sides often.
The best choice for mostbuyers is a stand mixer with "planetary mixing action." In this design a single flat beater (or other attachment) moves the way a planet orbits the sun simultaneously spinning on its own axis and traveling a circular path around the bowl. This motion creates more contact between beater and ingredients, acing tasks like creaming butter or blending flour into dough in record time. Another time saver - the beater makes it to every part of the bowl, so you seldom need to scrape it down.
Power and Speeds
Are you going to use your stand mixer frequently for tough jobs like bread kneading? If so, you'll want a powerful model, but determining power can be confusing. Stand mixer motors are rated in watts. Different mixers offer anywhere from 200 to over 1000 watts of power. But don't be too impressed by a high wattage rating it's mainly a marketing gimmick. Stand mixer tests and reviews consistently show little correlation between wattage and performance. One helpful measure of a stand mixer's true power is the number of cups of flour it can handle. KitchenAid has a "Flour Power" rating in their stand mixer descriptions, ranging from 8 to14 cups depending on the model. A bread enthusiast should choose a stand mixer that can tame 10 or more cups.
Speeds are another case where you shouldn't get hung up on numbers. Stand mixers offer anywhere from 3 to 15 speeds, which are adjusted with dials, slide levers, push buttons, or digital touch pads. Slow speeds incorporate dry ingredients without flinging them out of the bowl; the fastest speeds are used to whip cream or egg whites. You'll want to choose a stand mixer with at least 5 or 6 variations for the best control, but more, while they certainly won't hurt, won't affect performance much.
Attachments
Budget stand mixers may come with a pair of standard chrome or stainless stationary beaters, and not much else. They'll do the trick on simple batters, but if breads, cookies, and meringues are part of your baking routine, you'll get better results if you have the right tools for the job. That's where attachments come in. Opt for a planetary action stand mixer that comes outfitted with a flat beater for efficient stirring/blending, a wire whisk for whipping tasks, and a dough hook tailored for kneading bread. Some stand mixers also come with a splash guard, a pouring chute for adding ingredients, or a very handy second mixing bowl.
Serious cooks should check out mid-to-high-end stand mixers that can accept a myriad of optional attachments. Accessories like juicers, meat grinders, grain mills, pasta makers, sausage stuffers, can openers and shredders can convert a stand mixer into a multi-purpose kitchen workhorse. Of course these extras will boost cost, so carefully consider which ones you'll actually use.
Size Matters
Stand mixers are hefty items, many weighing well over 20 pounds. A heavier all-metal mixer will be more durable than a lightweight, partially plastic model, and also more stable less likely to "walk" across your counter during mixing. A lighter model may need a hand to steady it occasionally not ideal if "hands-free" mixing is your goal. However, if you're planning to stow your stand mixer in a cabinet between uses, lighter can have advantages. Be realistic about how many pounds you can comfortably lift and maneuver.
Many cooks skip the lifting and make their stand mixer a permanent fixture on their countertop. If that's your plan, consider height as well. If the mixer will live under a cabinet, make sure you have sufficient clearance, including enough extra room to tilt the head up.
The other size issue to consider is capacity. Stand mixer bowls hold anywhere from 1 ½ to 7 quarts. 4 to 6 quarts should be plenty for most cooks. If you need to feed a dozen hungry people or make double batches of bread, you can choose a super size 7-quart bowl, but these can be very tall and hard to scrape down, and may be too big when you just need to beat a couple eggs. Some stand mixers come with two bowls of different sizes, letting you pick the best size for the task at hand.
Styling
There's a good chance your stand mixer is going to stay on your countertop, where you'll see it every day. Luckily, these machines are often as decorative as they are functional. Performance is crucial, but once you've identified the features that are right for you, don't be shy about considering looks too. Long gone are the days when a plain white stand mixer was your only choice. KitchenAid offers classic styling in a rainbow of over 20 hues like Almond Cream, Green Apple, and Bing Cherry. Other stand mixer manufacturers have followed suit, so even in the budget range, you'll find a selection of colors.
If classic isn't quite you, Hamilton Beach and Sunbeam offer stand mixers with retro appeal, and DeLonghi's design has a sleek modern edge. Great styling that coordinates with your kitchen will give you one more reason to love your stand mixer.
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