by Melinda on July 31, 2010
Stand mixers sometimes come with attachments you can use for different jobs, and those who want extra accessories can buy them online too. KitchenAid and Cuisinart have plenty of fancy attachments you can get for your mixer. I personally prefer KitchenAid ones, because they can be used with any model of KitchenAid mixer, and some of them are useful too.
How do you choose? Not all of the attachments are cheap to buy, so I would advise practicing as much care as you would when buying the mixer itself. Think about whether you will be using it often.
Standard
The standard ones usually come together with the mixer.
Wire whisk – For beating eggs or other stuff that needs incorporating air into.
Flat beater – To beat anything from cake and cookie batters, biscuit or non-yeast bread dough, pastry, meatloaf or mashed potatoes.
Dough hook – For heavy-duty pizza, pasta and bread dough mixing only. Even so, only the really powerful and heavy mixers can mix a dough properly without jumping off your kitchen countertop. Try the KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer.
Extra
Extra attachments can be bought and turn your mixer into something else (while still being capable of mixing, of course).
Meat grinder – I have this one and I love making all kinds of sausages, meatballs and meatloaf with it. Ham and turkey sausages, anyone?
Ice cream maker – A dasher and a freeze bowl will make you some lovely homemade ice cream if you don’t already own a more sophisticated ice cream maker.
Pasta rollers – Like to make your own pasta? Get pasta rollers to cut the pasta and make those unbeatable homemade pasta to go with the meat balls you made with the meat grinder. Do find out whether they are easy to clean before buying though.
Spare beaters – All shapes and sizes of beaters and whisks can be bought as a spare in case your original one broke. Some can scrape the sides of the bowl while turning as well.
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by Melinda on June 11, 2010
How do you choose the best stand mixer? Here are the main points I think you can consider:
What tasks can it handle?
You’d want to know whether it can mix cake batter, or bread dough, or cookie mix. How do you know? Check the power of the mixer. Stand mixers generally have power from 250 watts to 800 watts. If you only bake the occasional cake or cookies, a basic stand mixer of 250-watt is quite sufficient. A more regular baker will want to look at 350 to 500 watts. Any wattage over that is suitable for the heavy bread baker because bread dough is thick and tough to knead with a stand mixer that doesn’t have enough power.
Basic stand mixer: KitchenAid K45SS Classic Stand Mixer – 250-watt
Heavy duty stand mixer: KitchenAid Professional 600 – 575-Watt
Powerful stand mixer: Cuisinart SM-55 Stand Mixer – 800-watt
Is it heavy? Is it too big?
The size and weight of the mixer is a rather important aspect when choosing a mixer. We want a mixer that doesn’t rival with elephant in weight, and yet still have enough stability to not tumble around when the mixer is in operation. Choosing a mixer which is modest in size also makes storage a breeze, instead of having to allocate a huge space for it.
How much batter can I make in one batch?
Check the capacity of the mixing bowl. Getting too small a mixer is such a blast because you’ll have to do everything twice (measuring stuff a second time gets on my nerves) and the precision is lost. But a mixer that is too big won’t do either, because you’ll have a hard time trying to get an even batter (imagine scraping the sides all the time because of splattering).
Basic bowl capacity: KitchenAid K45SS Classic Stand Mixer – 4-1/2-Quart
Large bowl capacity: KitchenAid Professional 600 – 6-Quart
How much control do I have over the mixing?
One of the mistakes I made when I bought my first mixer, was it had as many buttons as a space shuttle and only my teenage son knew how to operate it. When looking for a good mixer, you would want a mixer that is easy to learn and straight forward. You’d want a mixer with at least 6 speeds and a slow start option to prevent puffing up the floury ingredients. Some mixers offer special custom speeds and modes for special preparation foods. Make sure you know if such additions are necessary and if it will add on to the cost of the mixer.
Will it mix evenly?
The more quality mixers have a rotating spiral action designed to let the mixing action get as close as it can to the sides of the mixing bowl. That way the batter is mixed evenly without you having to scrape the sides to the middle every time.
Is it easy to clean and assemble?
This is one of the most important factors for me! The mixer must be easy to clean and re-assembled after cleaning. Having a mixer that doesn’t attach and detach smoothly can result in a huge hassle just to get the mixer cleaned after each use. The body of the mixer must also not have many nooks and crannies to attract dirt and flour particles that float around when you pour ingredients.
I recommend this easy to clean stand mixer: Cuisinart SM-55 5 1/2 Quart Stand Mixer
What else can it do for me?
Most stand mixers now have very convenient features such as timer, splash guard, overload protection, and locking tilt-head. Standard attachments are usually the whisk, the dough hook and the beater. Some even have vegetable/meat grinder, and pasta or sausage maker. All these may or may not add to the price and you will have to decide whether you need these or not. If you are not sure you want these now but may want to buy attachments later on, this stand mixer is a good option: KitchenAid Artisan Mixer.
How long will it last?
Stand mixers are usually not cheap so you will want it to last as long as possible. Choose a good brand or make that is sturdy and has great reviews on the durability and customer service. Also look out for a good warranty offered by the company.
Well, I hope you can find the best stand mixer, because a good mixer will make baking so much more fun and trouble-free. Do check out my recommendations here: Best Stand Mixer – Top Picks
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Finally, let me introduce you to the only handheld food mixer in my review, theCuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer.
Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer
Most Budget and Top Rated Hand Mixer
The Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer is definitely the most budget compared to the other hand mixers, carrying a significantly lower price tag of only approximately $50. At current, the Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer is the TOP RATED hand mixer for its category.
The Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer comes bundles with a 220watt mixing motor, which means it can handle the range of tasks expected of a hand mixer. It beautifully whisks my egg whites and other light mixing tasks as expected from a hand mixer, like beating my cake icing!
What I love about the Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer is that the cord makes the mixer an ambidextrous device. With that, my left-handed son can always be “asked” to help out with the mixing duties. In addition, I seem to notice that, unlike other hand mixer brand designs, using the Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer for a prolonged period of time doesn’t strain my wrists and arms, which I find as being a pleasant surprise. (And to address those who don’t like white, the Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer also comes in pink)
With that said, the Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer also comes with drawbacks. My mixer work fine until now but I do read that there are some complaints about it has a rather short lifespan. Well, I hope my Cuisinart PowerSelect Hand Mixer can last long. Anyway, what I’m glad is this Cuisinart PowerSelect CHM-7 Mixer comes with a 3 years warranty, which takes off the worry that the mixer has a short life-span.
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by Melinda on May 15, 2010
Well, i have to say, these days, we consumers are spoilt for choice. I remember back in the days where I would watch my mother mix all sorts of food with either her hands, or the one and only choice of food mixer in the market. Now, there are dazzling arrays of choices for us to choose from, with variety ranging from motor speed, color, design, specific purposes and functions. I know that it seems rather confusing and daunting at first to pick a mixer that suits your needs; after all, I was hopelessly lost when I first stepped out to purchase my first mixer.
5 Essentials Points For Buying A Best Mixer
However, after years of experience, here is my personal guide of points that perhaps you would like to observe when looking for that perfect mixer for you and your family:
- Power
- Size and Weight
- Controls and Speed
- Durability
- Cleaning and Assembly
Power
Mixers these days typically have motors ranging from 175 watts (which are handheld mixers, like the Cuisinart 7-speed hand mixer) to powerful 750 watt stand-up mixers. Usually, for home use, a mixer that falls between the range would do fine as we wouldn’t want food splattering all over because of having TOO much power.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of the mixer is a rather important aspect when choosing a mixer. We want a mixer that doesn’t rival and elephant in weight, and yet still have enough stability to not tumble around when the mixer is in operation. Choosing a mixer which is modest in size also makes storage a breeze, instead of having to allocate a huge space for it.
Controls and Speed
One of my mistakes I first committed when I bought my first mixer, was it had as many buttons as a space shuttle and only my teenage son knew how to operate it. When looking for a good mixer, you would want a mixer that is easy to learn and straight forward. A must (at least), is a mixer with 6 speeds and a low speed option to prevent splattering. It is to note that certain models offer special custom speeds and modes for special preparation foods. Make sure you know if such additions are necessary and if it will add on to the cost of the mixer.
Durability
The last thing you want to see, is your brand new mixer falling apart piece by piece into the mixture, resulting in a ruined mixture, ruined mixer and a ruined dinner. A mixer is a kitchen device which will (definitely) get heavy usage, thus, the durability of parts is vital. The mixing blades shouldn’t bend, break or come apart easily. After all, the mixer isn’t a little puppy that should be given extreme care.
Cleaning and Assembly
Last (but definitely not the very least!), the mixer must be easy to clean and re-assembled after cleaning. Having a mixer that doesn’t come apart (in a good way) easily or re-assemble easily can result in a huge hassle just to get the mixer cleaned after each use.
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by Melinda on April 6, 2010
I have use a lot of mixers, some of them are good and some of them are not that durable.
Anyway, if you cook a lot, you must have at least one mixer at home. I have used my mixer for mixing, beating, folding and whipping food ingredients.
In the market now, there are two kinds of popular mixer: hand mixer and stand mixer.
Best Mixer
I use stand mixers more compared to hand mixers, so I’m going to start sharing more about my experience in picking the best mixer from stand mixers first.
How Does a Stand Mixer Look Like?
Well, here is a photo of the stand mixer:
How About Hand Mixer?
All mixers are really easy to operate, but how about easy clean up? This is something we going to look into when we pick the best mixer.
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by Melinda on March 24, 2010
This Hamilton Beach 62695N hand mixer is one of the best hand mixer you can get for such a low price.
Light weight, very powerful, easy to hold, and I like the case for storage and the whisk attachment. Excellent for preparing boxed cake, cookie mixes, and also mashed potatoes. This hand mixer is the extent of my cooking and baking! Recommended:)
Hamilton Beach 62695N Hand Mixer
Hamilton Beach 62695N Hand Mixer
- Powerful 225-watt motor
- Traditional beaters, wire beaters, and whisk provide versatility
- Six speeds, with QuickBurst button for extra power
- Stainless-steel beaters and whisk are dishwasher-safe
- Mixer stands up, and the cord wraps for compact, tangle-free storage
User Feedback:
Overall, a lot of user give this hand mixer a very good rating. Here is one of the owner feedback from amazon that I found useful:
“This is a really niffty little mixer – great for what it is intended to be used for. I especially love the storage unit that is attached to it – no more mis-placed beaters!! (Which is why I needed to buy a new one) Yeah!!! “
Caron Mittler from amazon.com user feedback
Further Information
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by Melinda on March 7, 2010
Let’s face it. Many of us see baking as a chore because it involves mess, too many gadgets, and lots of time. This holiday season, Euro-Pro brings to you the Euro-Pro EP585R 10 Speed Pro Mixer that is specifically designed for light duty mixing. Priced at an affordable $59.99 from Amazon.com (down from an original $89.99), it is a versatile stand mixer that can easily be converted to a hand mixer. Unlike other mixers, it is small and lightweight, unobtrusive yet tasteful to brighten up your kitchen counter.
Euro-Pro EP585R
The coolest thing about this Euro-Pro P585R stand mixer besides its bright red color is that the tiltable head enables ingredients to be conveniently added into the mix while mixing. Customers have also noted that their hands tire less easily due to the ergonomic handle design. Besides, the bowl and the beaters both move and can both be set to different speeds. The product also comes with beaters, dough hooks, a stainless steel bowl with lid, a plastic bowl and a spatula. One year limited warranty is guaranteed.
Some customers have noted, however, that Speed Pro Mixer doesn’t work well in stand mode. Although the beaters are powerful, they cannot reach the bottom of the bowl and mixing can be uneven. For those who bake in large quantities, the stainless steel bowl can only handle around two boxes of cake mixes, so it might not be practical. Also, the beaters are known to bend easily, making it unsuitable for the avid baker.
However, if you only bake seasonally and you don’t mind doing some work by hand, or you’d like your kids to experience baking first hand, this is the perfect mixer for you. Grab it from Amazon.com’s Home & Garden Store by 31 December 2008, and you can even get a one-year subscription to Bon Appétit magazine with your order!
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by Melinda on February 27, 2010
The Cuisinart CHM-3 Electronic Hand Mixer 3 Speed is a powerful mixer suitable for all kinds of mixing. It is light and small, which provides for comfortable holding and easy storage. There is an exclusive swivel cord for both right-handed and left-handed use. The product also comes with a recipe book and a three year limited warranty.
Cuisinart CHM-3 Electronic Hand Mixer
The unique selling point of this product is that it has extra long self cleaning beaters with no center posts, which makes this product very easy to clean. This is what attracts most people to buy this hand mixer. The extra long beaters bring a lot of fluff into egg whites in no time and customers have also been very pleased with the results. Although there are only three speed controls, most customers have been delighted at the power of the mixer—it handles heavy batter very well. The stylish design also adds points to it.
However, some customers have complained that Cuisinart CHM-3 hand mixeris too powerful even on its lowest speed, such that batter splatters all over the kitchen. For a handful, the mixer wasn’t durable enough. The plastic gear stripped because it couldn’t take the heat.
If you need a light mixer for heavy duty mixing, and you want something that is very easy to wash, I’d say this is the mixer for you. If bought with Baker’s Secret 10-by-16-Inch Nonstick Cooling Rack from Amazon.com, you get can a very good deal—a near 50% discount.
Just a reminder though: if you are going to buy this product, make sure you get a deep mixing bowl or you are going to create a mess!
Further Information:
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by Melinda on February 8, 2010
KitchenAid KHM7T 7-Speed Ultra Power Plus Hand Mixer is an ideal baker’s companion. It may not replace a stand mixer but it is great as a hand mixer. As one of the most labor-saving kitchen appliance, it creams, whips and beats with ease without you needing to drop a single sweat! Designed for easy-cleaning (beaters are easily ejected), this kitchen device saves you time and muscles.
KitchenAid KHM7T 7-Speed Ultra Power Plus Hand Mixer
KitchenAid KHM7T 7-Speed Ultra Power is a great help especially when it comes to preparing for house functions or a holiday dinner. This kitchen appliance is a little powerhouse which mixes all your necessary ingredients efficiently and in a jiffy! You can use it for almost anything from cookie dough to creamed or mashed potatoes.
Another big advantage is that this mixer is also relatively quiet. This is a plus if you need to use it for a lengthy period of time. Besides that, after mixing, all you have to do is remove the beaters, pop them into the dishwasher and wipe the exterior. One user commented that the beater eject button appears to be more substantial compared to the Cuisinart models.
A note of caution: This is a right-handed mixer with the cord on the right side. So for left-handers, this might be a factor to be considered.
KitchenAid KHM7T 7-Speed Ultra Power Plus Hand Mixer is not exceedingly cheap and but is reasonable for its quality. It is easy to use, easy to clean and easy to store – can you ask for more?
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by Melinda on February 2, 2010
KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer is stand mixer equipped with 250 watts of mixing power. This enables you to make even the most difficult mixing task seem easy. The handy accessories, instruction guide, mixing tips and 67 recipes (anything from crispy waffles to caramel walnut banana torte) make the whole package complete! Not to forget, there is a one year warranty should anything go wrong!
Great Features
KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer has a mixing attachment that rotates in two motions which effectively mixes ingredients without the need for the rotation of the bowl. This is because the mixing motion covers the entire bowl. Compared to other kind of mixers, this type of mixing motion does not require the sides to be scraped with a spatula. Therefore, it saves you time so that you can continue doing your any other work while allowing the mixer to work on its own as it does not need around-the-clock minding.
A word of caution: this kitchen appliance is heavy so it would be preferable to decide in advance where you would like to display it. Apart from that, most users rarely have any serious complaints.
Some might find that KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer is on the high end in terms of price but they usually report retrospectively that it was well worth the price they paid. Whether you are into baking or cooking, this machine can satisfy any mixing at your desire. Have fun experimenting at your leisure!
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