Factors To Consider When Choosing A Stand Mixer

When you decide to buy a stand mixer, you will first have to consider your needs. No doubt shopping for a mixer can be very confusing because of the vast range of models available for sale, all with different combinations of features, capacity, accessories as well as functions. But if you have determined what your needs are, you will be able to automatically reduce the range of choices and pick the right one that suits your requirements and budget.

For example, think of how often you need to bake bread in a given week and how many people you need to do that for. In short, think of how you will be utilizing the mixer and the amount you need to make each time. This can then help you to determine the wattage of your mixer and its capacity. If you have a small family, you certainly don’t need a big mixer as you might find it too cumbersome to use and its efficiency too may not be optimal for processing small quantities of ingredients. On the other hand, if you have many members in your household, you would need a large mixer that won’t put a strain on its motor whenever you need to process a big quantities of dense dough.

Once you are able to determine your needs, you will also have a better idea of the type of the accessories you will need. Some mixers can also be used to grind meat, make cheese and perform a wide range of other tasks. You will need the right attachments for the different jobs but the options are available if you want them. While most mixer standard packages comprise only the beater, whisk and dough hook, you can opt for the other accessories to make your work easier. You can buy them separately if you so choose once you know what your needs are.

In terms of safety, it is advisable to choose a stand mixer with an overload feature built-in. While you should always follow the product guide in terms of length and speed of usage, it is still better to have this function available to prevent the mixer from overheating. As we tend to use mixer heavily at certain times of the year, this is a practical feature to have to avoid having it malfunctioning when we need it the most.

When it comes to mixing action, you should try to get a mixer that can cover as wide an area as possible. Some mixers are not able to mix the ingredients properly because they do not get close enough to the side of the bowl. Usually, a mixer with the beater moving in one direction and the shaft moving in the opposite direction will result in the ingredients being more evenly mixed.

Next, it is also better to have a mixer which is more on the heavy side. A weight of about 25 pounds is a good start. This is because if you are going to mix large quantities or dense dough, you need the mixer to be heavy enough so that it will not bounce and move around your kitchen counter top.

Lastly, you should also look at the durability of the mixer. Some mixers are more expensive than others but they may have an all-metal construction, including the gears, which should be able to last you longer.

Read up about the Kitchenaid Artisan Series Stand Mixer, why you should have it and the various Kitchen Aid Dough Hook models. Learn a little more before you buy if you don’t want to end up regretting your purchase!