Mixer Advice Archives - Standing Mixers

Is a Stand Mixer Worth It: Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying One

There are always new devices hitting the market that are designed to make our lives easier, especially for someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen. Stand mixers have been a topic of debate amongst home chefs and professional chefs alike, and the main question being, “Is a stand mixer worth it?” As a kitchen tool that is far more expensive than manual mixers, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions to know if investing in a stand mixer is worth it.

How Often Are You in the Kitchen?

First and foremost, you’re going to need to ask yourself how often you really bake or have the need for a mixer because if you’re only in need of one once a month or once a year, spending the money on a stand mixer might not be the ideal decision.

On the opposite side, if you’re the designated family member to make every birthday cake or that always makes special batches of baked goods for extracurricular activities, you should definitely buy a stand mixer as soon as possible.

For people who don’t really have an interest in baking or who make meals that can be beaten together with a traditional whisk, there’s no point in spending over a hundred dollars for a stand mixer; you’d be better off with a hand mixer.

What Type of Things Do You Bake?

It’s also important to think about what you typically mix together because one of the most iconic features of a stand mixer is that it has a lot of power under the hood to tackle ingredients that are tough to work with. For example, you can knead dough inside of a stand mixer instead of doing it with your hands.

If you’re someone who generally works with liquid ingredients, a hand mixer will work well, but if you use heavy and thick ingredients, a hand mixer will easily get overwhelmed, and you’ll burn out the motor.

Do You Want to Save Time while Baking?

The easiest way to figure out if a stand mixer is worth it is to think about the amount of time you’re going to save. You surely will spend more money on the appliance than you would on a hand mixer or a manual whisk. However, time is money, and the less time you spend in the kitchen, the more time you can spend with friends and family.

Stand mixers are well-known for getting the job done quickly, which is one of the main reasons as to why people decide to buy them. Instead of having to add all the ingredients and then mix them by hand, you finally can let a machine to do all the tough work for you. This allows you to move freely around the kitchen without having to keep an eye on the mixer while it’s doing its job.

How Much Space Do You Have in the Kitchen?

The vast majority of stand mixers are typically large, which means you’re either going to need to have enough space in your cabinets or on your countertop. With that being said, you can find plenty of mixers that are very aesthetically pleasing and can easily be displayed on your counter, which only adds to the comfortable feeling of your kitchen.

Compared to hand mixers where you’d easily be able to stow them away in your under-the-counter storage. It’s also important to remember that stand mixers are going to be heavier than other mixing equipment you may have in your home, which can make them tough for the elderly to use and maneuver around the kitchen.

Ideally, you’re going to want to choose a single space for storing the mixer so that you don’t have to pick it up and carry it around when you’re ready to start baking.

What Is Your Budget for Kitchen Appliances?

As mentioned, it’s also important to take your budget into account when you start wondering, “Is a stand mixer worth it?” This is because these devices are far more expensive than other small appliances that you might have around your home simply because they help to make cooking easier than ever before.

On average, a stand mixer can cost anywhere from $150 to over $400, depending on the features you’re going to be looking for. If you’re looking for a mixer that is simply going to work with basic ingredients, you can choose a lower-end model that offers convenience, whereas if you need a heavy-duty mixer, you’re going to need to be prepared to spend closer to $300 to $400.

What Features Would You Be Interested in Having?

Many people believe stand mixers are a one-purpose tool, but there are plenty of tasks that they can do for you. Not only do they mix ingredients, but they can also knead any dough, whisk liquids quickly, and more.

Depending on the mixer you choose, you may also be able to find additional attachments for specialty recipes. For example, some popular mixers have attachments for peeling fruits and vegetables so that they can be added to different recipes.

Before you settle on a single-stand mixer, it’s best that you make a list of the things that you’d need to use on a regular basis in order to make sure you’re making the right decision. The last thing you’d want is to invest in an expensive appliance only to have it sit in the corner of your kitchen for months without use.

Is a Stand Mixer Worth It? We’d Say So!

There’s nothing more valuable than being able to save time in the kitchen, especially if you’re preparing for a big and important event. With the help of a stand mixer, you won’t have to worry about monitoring every single step of the baking process, helping you to get more done in far less time.

Although they are more expensive than other tools you may own, they are well worth the cost, and you’ll immediately realize just how convenient they are after you use one for the first time. It’s time to revolutionize the way you bake by relying on a high-quality mixer that does all the hard jobs for you, saving you time but most importantly, helping you to enjoy spending time in the kitchen.

Why Are Stand Mixers So Expensive?

If you missed the memo that baking is back in fashion, then quite frankly you must have been living under a rock the last few years. There are television programs dedicated to creative and inventive baking skills, from the professionals to the amateurs. While on the high street there are artisanal style coffee shops popping up every week with their fresh baked spelt and barley batch loaves. Seems there is a lot of money in dough!

To really do the job justice, though, you need a Stand Mixer. While there are budget brands offering their own more wallet-friendly versions, overall it’s always a piece of kitchen equipment that comes with a premium price tag and is definitely a big purchase. So just why are stand mixers so expensive?

What Is It That Makes A Stand Mixer Expensive?

First and foremost, it’s all about their functionality and the superb engineering that goes into the standard units. The well-known brands like Kitchenaid and Kenwood perform way more than just the one task, and as such, they require a powerful motor to fulfill all the functions.

We are talking mixing, yes, but also grinding, kneading, and blending, as well as processing. The machine needs to be quality engineered and constructed to last in order to continue to deliver on its high-performance capabilities.

Stand Mixers also come with a wide assortment of attachments each designed to fulfill a specific function. Generally speaking, the more attachments you get, the more you are going to have to pay for your Stand Mixer. Many of the big brands might also throw in additional kitchen accessories, which might help soften the blow of your purchase a little. But did you really want a pasta maker?

It’s not just about the number of the attachments though, it’s also about the ease of use. Being able to quickly and easily detach and interchange them so that you can swap from kneading to grinding for example. That type of quality engineering, practicality, and convenience does cost money.

Let’s take a look at some more top recommendations on how to go about choosing the best Stand Mixer for you.

Stand Mixers are predominantly designed for classic baking tasks, so they will have a large mixing bowl and various other attachments as we discussed above, including a balloon style whisk for whipping and whisking, along with dough hooks for kneading.

If you already know what kind of food you are going to be using your mixer to create, then make sure that the version you are investing in facilitates all the essential functions you’ll be using it for.

You might want a flexi beater or perhaps a jug blender, and if you fancy yourself as somewhat of a professional and love creating your own cakes and bread for the whole family, then you might want a fold setting. This will ensure your flour is thoroughly mixed without beating the air out.

Of course, many food processors and multi-tasking kitchen equipment may well come with some mixing functions, and if you are just starting out, they might be a more cost-effective and versatile option for you. Until you fully get hit by the baking bug, that is! If you opt for a model that chops as well as blends, it will be adequate for a novice getting started and won’t break the bank.

Stand Mixers are big and heavy beasts, and they certainly do take up quite a lot of countertop space. However, so many of them are designed beautifully with the kind of aesthetics that you could drool over. Best to measure the space you do have allocated first, though, to ensure that you physically have the area to get your Stand Mixer out and use it. When it comes to Stand Mixers, bigger really is better!

The larger capacity bowls allow you to bake more produce, the units are sturdy and reliable, and the motors have been engineered to be so much quieter than you would have ever expected. Look out for models that also come with integrated lighting. Again, this is a convenient feature, but obviously one that contributes to their more expensive price tag.

It’s all about the Quality

When it comes down to it, perhaps the main reason why Stand Mixers are so expensive is their quality. Yes, you can get versions that are made of plastic, and these will be far more budget-friendly.

However, if you are looking to the big brands and investing in a model that is polished/brushed aluminum or even solid aluminum, then the price tag is obviously going to reflect the use of superior, durable materials. It may well be an expensive purchase, but it will be the only one you need to make.

Expensive Stand Mixers are built to last, and many get passed down through families from Great Grand Mother to Grand Mother, to your Mother and now to you as a baking rite of passage.

That same quality should also extend to the attachment and the motor itself, which is powering your purchase. In the end, it is the durability, reliability, and versatility of your Stand Mixer that will justify its purchase.

The better-known brands shouldn’t be afraid to stand behind their products performance either, so you should also be investing in exceptional levels of customer service and satisfaction in the unlikely event that anything does go wrong with your mixer. Most will offer a 5 year extended warranty for your additional peace of mind, so look out for that before you invest.

Brand integrity

Several very well established brands own this corner of the kitchen appliance market, and they have been around for many years, continually evolving, improving, and innovating with their latest product releases. So one of the other reasons why Stand Mixers can be expensive is that you are buying into this brand history and pedigree.

You can never put too high a price on trust or peer recommendation from the broader baking community, so do your own research before you invest. Also, check out all the positive feedback that happy users of Stand Mixers have given their cherished purchase.

Mixer vs. Food Processor: Which One is the Best for Me?

A kitchen gadget definitively makes your cooking easier–whether you’re preparing something special, or just for your daily meals. Having a mixer or food processor allows you to save time and effort, improving your dishes quality and increasing your menu options. But which one is the indicated?

Nowadays you can find appliances that perform more than a single task. A food processor can be used to mix pizza dough but, is good enough if you want to prepare bread? The best way to define which one suits you, is taking in mind these two issues: What do you cook or make most of the time? And which hand appliance are you substituting? This guide will help you find out.

Food Processors

This appliance replaces the knife, the mandolin, the grater, and the grinder. It changes the ingredient’s consistency (breaks food down). If you love cooking meals from scratch and want to ease the work done, this is the right kitchen aid for you.

Most of them have a pulse button for speed controlling and come with accessories (like interchangeable blades) to increase its versatility. Some models also include paddles for kneading purposes.

The best usage is for chopping or slicing vegetables, or for grating cheese or bread. It is also useful for preparing vinaigrettes, and rough mixtures like hummus or a taco’s pico de gallo. They are also good for puréeing some foods.

With the right attachment, food processors are also useful preparing single doughs, especially those that need low (or none) air incorporation, and low heat transfer to mixtures like pizza, pie crusts and certain kind of cookies or cake batters.

This type of machine is not useful for liquefying process. Nevertheless, in some models, you can find an attachment for such purpose. If your intention is to enjoy a smoothie or prepare a good shake, perhaps this is not the correct aid.

Your food processor must:

Have the proper bowl capacity
Be provided with interchangeable blades for each purpose:
- Slicing
- Chopping
- Shredding
- Grating (at least in two different sizes)
Have a blending attachment
Be equipped with a beating accessory and kneading paddles

“Do you need a large or a mini food processor? It mainly depends on how much you are going to use it. Bigger appliances come with more accessories–becoming more useful and versatile–but in some cases kitchen’s space could be a problem.”

Mixers

A mixer is an appliance specially designed for baking preparations. It replaces the hand beater or the spoons, used in pastry. The main purpose of a mixer is to put the ingredients together, while insufflating air into the mixture.

There are two kinds, hand mixers which are smaller and stand mixers (also called kitchen machines). Depending on the model, they come with standard beaters, balloon beaters, and dough hooks, for bread preparation. A bowl is also included in all stand mixers, but not necessarily on hand models.

The mixer is the best gadget for all related baking procedures. Beating egg whites, creaming butter and sugar, whipping cream, mixing cake batters or kneading bread dough, the mixer is just perfect. For pizza, pie crust or cookies mixers are also a winner, mostly because the final product has the best finishing than prepared with food processors.

Mixers are not useful for blending, or any preparation which implies a substantial change regarding food consistency. Always keep in mind that they were designed for baking purposes.

Your stand (or hand) mixer must:

Have easy access to controls while you’re mixing
Be provided with a time counter
Be stable when standing
Have splash guards
Have dough hook
Bring a balloon beater

“Do you need a stand or a hand mixer? First of all, consider the time you are going to spend baking–remember that if you are using a hand model, you must hold it as long as needed (In bread dough preparation this could become a challenge). Also, keep in mind that some mixing procedures require you use both hands. Finally, your counter or kitchen space would determine your selection.”

Differences between Mixers and Food Processors

The obvious one is that mixers don’t chop, grate or slice anything. For comparison between mixer or food processors, you have to consider their ability on the baking field. In the case of food processors, they can afford such tasks when the dough doesn’t need to lift. Also, they’re not designed for being turned on beating for half an hour.

On the other hand, although the mixers are well designed for pastry purposes, in some cases they can increase the heat of food while beating. This means that for pie crusts, the single and quickly pulse in a food processor will put butter and flour together perfectly without damaging the crust.

Whatever Your Selection is, Always Keep in Mind Your Product’s Musts:

Prefer those provided with stainless steel attachments
They have to be easy to set up and use
Have storage space for the attachments
Usually, these are noisy machines, try to choose a noiseless one
The user’s guide has to be understandable, with clear safety, containing capacities and use instructions
Be easy to clean (dishwasher friendly if possible)
Have multiple speed options, with pulse button
Soft and safe grips, with easy access to controls at any time
Easy to storage if it’s not needed
Be compatible with your location energy regulations and characteristics

The Verdict

If you are chef or cook, a mixer machine is a must among your appliances. It depends on your kitchen or counter space, the frequency that you will use it and the kind of preparations for the model you’re finally going to purchase.

On the other hand, if you want a kitchen aid which permits you to perform several procedures to ease the way you cook, the food processor is the right option for you. Remember in this case that you can do some baking, but it will always be light work and no such complicated preparations.

Finally, if you’re an all-around cooker and are considering if having a mixer or food processor, you better consider having both, each one suiting the best of your needs and desires.

Hand Mixer vs Hand Blender

You don’t want to confuse a hand mixer with a hand blender. They are two different appliances and are both useful but also they do perform different tasks. So hand mixer vs hand blender – which should you choose? Hand mixers are more suitable for casual baking but a hand blender can be used by casual and serious bakers alike.

Hand Mixers

Hand mixers are made with two beaters. It can be used to prepare dough and to make cake batters. You can sometimes use a hand mixer like a hand blender but a mixer can be useful in ways that a blender cannot.

You can purchase several attachments to use with your hand mixer depending on the brand that you choose. With these attachments you can expand the capabilities of your mixer to make it more versatile than a blender can be. Read our article about the best hand held food mixer with reviews on each product.

Mixers are used mainly for baking tasks. They can be used to whip egg whites, cream or pudding and can be used to mix dough.

Hand Blenders

Hand blenders are cylindrical and long and made with multiple steel blades. Because of their long body they can be immersed into a pot or other bowl to puree the contents directly where they will be cooked or served in. For this reason these blenders are usually called immersion blenders. They make it possible for you to create your own mayonnaise, make smoothies and puree your soups right in the pot.

With a powerful motor and blades that rotate these are great items for kitchens to have. They have different speeds at which they can operate depending on what you are mixing or blending. For smoother mixtures all you have to do is run the unit for a longer time or choose a faster speed – sometimes even both.

Hand blenders can be taken apart easily so that they can be cleaned easily as well. Some hand blenders offer you the opportunity to chop garlic, nuts and herbs with attachments. There are also some that allow you to whip up egg whites, cream and pudding.

Any kitchen can benefit from having both a hand mixer and a hand blender. They tend to be on the small side and so won’t take up too much space in your kitchen. Since the two appliances typically perform different tasks then you will find that which one you choose whether the hand mixer vs hand blender is all dependent on the primary use of the item.

You have to pay careful attention to the specs of any device you are interested in purchasing to ensure that it offers the features and has the capabilities that you need it to have.

Differences between a Hand Mixer and a Hand Blender

We have established the fact that the hand mixer and the hand blender are different appliances with different capabilities even though there are some tasks that you can use either appliance to accomplish.

Whether it is handheld or not there are fundamental differences between any type of blender and any type of mixer. A blender is more of a liquidizer as they mainly work to turn things into a liquid form. This means they are great for making smoothies, milkshake and can even turn your cooked apples into applesauce. If you are looking more for creating liquid treats then it is a blender that you will need to purchase.

A mixer does not work to liquidize anything, it only works to combine ingredients. Mixers are great for doughs and batters and so they are great for bakers and an essential for them as well.

Being handheld these will have the advantage of being lightweight but this will mean that they are going to be less powerful than their other counterparts. They are however more versatile and more portable.

With your hand blender you don’t have to worry about having a blender with a heat resistant jar and you don’t have to worry about pouring hot soup from a pot which could cause burns and accidents in the kitchen. With a handheld blender you can turn your chunky soup into a smooth one right there in the pot.

Your handheld blender however will not be able to make you a nice lemonade out of just ice and lemons. So before you go out purchasing a hand blender you want to look at the different recipes for which you can use it for. Your handheld blender is most suitable to be used for salad dressings, soups and salsas or any recipe that calls for cooked peas and beans.

Your hand mixer on the other hand will be more suitable for beating egg whites and making a variety of egg dishes, cookies, pancake batter and waffle batter. They are also useful for creaming ingredients and whipping cream.

Common Tasks for Both Hand Mixers and Blenders

Though these two kitchen gadgets are designed for distinctly different purposes there are some tasks that they can handle well. Both a hand mixer and a hand blender can be used to scramble eggs to make omelets and they can both whip up some egg whites as well.

After reading through the above you may find that you may not need either a hand mixer or a hand blender. If you want more than what is mentioned here then you could consider a food processor. These appliances can do so much more than whip and mix and liquidize.

They can slice, shred, chop and so much more. They are true power houses in the kitchen and can even knead bread. They are very much multipurpose items and if you want to have one machine instead of 3 or 4 this is a great place to start.

The bottom line when it comes down to a hand mixer vs hand blender is that you need to know what you want out of your kitchen gadgets and appliances. When you can identify your needs then you can identify the type of features and specifications you need. Then will you be able to decide what type of gadget or appliance will offer you the best value for money.

What Kind of Grease for KitchenAid Mixer

What kind of grease for KitchenAid mixer should you use for maintenance? KitchenAid is very popular for their stand mixers and their stand mixer is a favorite in many American homes and even a staple at that. It is very aesthetically pleasing, is powerful and is also very easy to use but it will need maintenance. It will need a little bit of care to ensure that it will last for many years to come.

Maintenance of these mixers is easy and it doesn’t happen too often. For example when it comes to greasing then you don’t have to worry about doing this more than once each year and the job can be done in under an hour. The process requires taking down your mixer but you can find a layout of the machine online that can help you do it the right way.

You will need a couple of tools to get your mixer apart and also to service it.

1 #0 or #1 Phillips screwdriver
1 #1 or #2 Phillips screwdriver
1 medium blade screwdriver
1 small utility knife
Some popsicle sticks or scoopers
Your grease of choice (almost any one will do)
A can of brake cleaner or any degreaser
Paper towels or rags
One or two small brushes – toothbrushes will work
A small container to hold the removed parts
Clothing that can be thrown away after you are done working on the mixer

Once you have all your tools in place you can get online and find the instructions for your particular KitchenAid model on how to take it apart. Print it out so you can have it on hand while you are completing the task.

Let’s Get Started

Once you have your instructions and your tools you want to lay out your work area. You want to work outside as much as is possible or work with all windows and doors open. You want to preferably work by yourself when you are home alone so that no one can interfere with you especially when taking the mixer apart or putting it together.

You want to be concentrating very well during this stage to ensure you don’t make any mistakes. One way to prevent mistakes is to place the plug in a bag and tie it up so you don’t accidentally plug it in while you work.

You will start at the back of the mixer and remove the screws that hold in the chrome strip. You then want to remove the back cover which will give you access to each end of the chrome strip. Keep your container handy to place in your screws so they don’t get lost.

Next you want to take out the ring using the blade screwdriver. You just need to place the screwdriver to the top of the ring and give it a gentle tap while moving around to help release the ring. It will fall out eventually if you keep going just ensure you are being gentle.

At this point you want to lay the mixer on its side, you will see some screws here and will need to remove those as well. Do not remove any of the brush covers those should stay in place.

Next you want to remove the planetary housing or what is also called the snout. You will use the smallest Phillips screwdriver you have and remove the planetary pin from the planetary housing. Then you can remove the housing and separate it from the body. You always want to be gentle when doing this and may need to do the roundabout motion that you used previously until it comes off.

Inside the planetary housing is where you will find the old grease. Depending on when last it was changed it may be funky smelling and since it is grease of course it will be sticky.

You want to next remove the screws around the gear inside the planetary housing. You want to gently split the case ensuring that when you do then you don’t put any stress on the wires that can be found toward the back of the mixer.

You should also be gentle with the gasket. You will find old grease around the internal gearing and it can be very sticky and even tough depending on how long the mixer has gone without a grease change.

Once you have everything taken apart it is time to clean away the old grease. Get your degreaser of choice and your brushes, scoopers and cloths. You want to start by scraping away excess grease with your scoopers and then you can move on to spraying with degreaser and wiping away any of the old grease that’s left behind.

When removing the grease you want to ensure that you are checking for metal shavings – you don’t want to see any of those or else you will need some more maintenance and some professional maintenance at that.

Some parts may need to be soaked in the degreaser based on the condition they are in. You can wait until cleaning one set of parts and then put them back together so that you don’t get too confused when you have all parts taken apart and laying on a desk in-front of you. Some parts will only fit one way so that helps as you have no choice but to do it the right way.

When cleaning the main housing you may find you will get a bit of splatter so that’s why you should start this process wearing clothes that you don’t mind messing up. You can also wear overalls or anything else to protect your clothing as well.

Once you are done all the cleaning and your gears and parts are all clean it’s time to apply the new grease and put the parts all back together. You want to grease the ring gear very well all over to ensure the smooth operation of the stand mixer going forward.

When you are done greasing the parts you can go ahead and start putting back everything back together in the reverse order to how you just took it apart.

Viking Stand Mixer vs KitchenAid

The Vikings are known as the greatest warriors of all times and so anything that is associated with that name is thought of as strong and enduring. While KitchenAid has been around for a long time and is a well known household name the Viking brand is holding its own.

So how does the Viking Stand Mixer vs KitchenAid stand mixer fight go down? Let’s explore how the stand mixers from these different brands compare so you can determine which one will offer better value for money.

Viking has been around since 1984 and has built their name making a number of high end kitchen appliances for professionals in their homes as well as in commercial settings. The company has always had a serious dedication to making only the best quality products.

Even their more affordable line of mixers are high end when compared to other entry level mixers on the market. They have a 5 quart mixer that competes with the KitchenAid Artisan mixer and those are the two we will be drawing the comparison on today.

The Viking 5 Quart Stand Mixer

This stand mixer comes in the colors black, red, stainless gray and silver. The stand mixer is designed to be very appealing when it comes to appearance. The body is built to be sturdy with clean and beautiful lines to provide you with an aesthetically pleasing and high quality design.

As impressive as the outward appearance of the stand mixer is you will find the interior mechanics just as impressive if not moreso. The mixer comes with a bowl made from brushed stainless steel.

The bowl also features a handle that helps to make it easy to transfer your batters and mixes to other pans etc. With this mixer you get the standard attachments; a dough hook made from stainless steel, a V beater and a whip also made from stainless steel.

The unit is powered by an 800 watt motor. It offers three output function settings; primary, high and low and uses a metal gear transmission. The three function output settings give rise to 12 different speeds along with a max mode and a stirring mode as well.

There is the tilt head design which allows you to lock the head in either position as necessary to make your mixing experience as easy and convenient as it needs to be. You will also find rear wheels on the body of the mixer that make it easy for you to move it around if necessary.

This model does take up a bit of space so you want to ensure that you have the space necessary if you choose to purchase it. It weighs in at around 9 lbs and measures 17 inches by 8.5 inches by 14 inches. You will need to ensure you have enough clearance over the top of the machine as well to ensure that the tilt head will be able to function properly.

A Viking stand mixer will prove to be a very good investment. Not only are they made to the best quality of standards on the inside and the outside but they are also very aesthetically pleasing. They tend to be on the higher side of the price graph but they do offer a lot of value for money. They are high end appliances because they are superior and you will not regret purchasing one.

The KitchenAid 5 Quart Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid Artisan is an affordable yet very capable stand mixer. It is also an aesthetically pleasing model and is a very popular one as well. As a matter of fact most people think of a KitchenAid stand mixer when they hear the words.

It features a very streamlined design and can be considered as stylish and sleek. Most owners of this model use it and have it permanently displayed on their counters since it is such a handsome thing to look at. But these mixers are not only about their stylish exteriors as they are also big on features and performance.

This mixer from KitchenAid comes with a 325 watt motor and provides 10 different speed settings. It can be used for a number of tasks such as making batters for cakes and cookies and dough for breads and so much more. It features a tilt head design which makes it easy and convenient for you to access the mixing bowl.

As the name suggests the bowl has a capacity of 5 quarts and it is made from high quality stainless steel. The bowl also has a pouring shield with two pieces which helps you to get a spill proof way to transfer your batter. Attachments that come standard with the unit include the dough hook, a flat beater and the wire whip.

This stand mixer comes in a number of colors and some of them are very interesting. There is the Buttercup, the almond cream and the empire red among other interestingly named colors.

Another great thing about this is that it doesn’t take up as much space as the Viking competitor. If you are short on space you will love that this model only needs 20 inches of overhead clearance and takes up less than a square foot of space on your countertop.

It is made to be very durable and is a bit heavy. This is not exactly a bad thing. Since it is so heavy then you can be sure that it won’t vibrate or move around on your countertop while in use. Its weight however means that you will need to have a permanent place for it to stay or else you risk your back and you risk muscle strains having to move it around the kitchen.

You will love how easy it is to clean the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer. A moist towel is all that is needed to wipe down the body of the unit after use. All the attachments are easy to remove and are dishwasher safe so that you can toss them into the dishwasher for easy clean up after their use.

When it comes to choosing between the Viking stand mixer vs KitchenAid stand mixer the one you choose is all dependent mostly on your budget. If you don’t have a problem with paying top price for a top product then you will do well with the Viking stand mixer but if you are on a budget you want to choose the KitchenAid. They are both great models and will do well in your home kitchen.

Cuisinart or KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Stand mixers can be very useful in the kitchen if you do a lot of prep work and baking yourself. They are great for experienced cooks and even novices alike. They are great multipurpose items that can help you with all your cooking and baking tasks from cookies to pasta and everything in between. The more popular types of stand mixers on the market come from the brands KitchenAid and Cuisinart.

Each brand has their favorite option. For KitchenAid it is the Classic Series Tilt Head Stand Mixer with a 4.5 quart capacity. For Cuisinart it is the Precision Master Stand Mixer with a 5.5 Quart capacity. When it comes to price, the Cuisinart option is the more affordable one and from the names you will see that it is also the one with the larger capacity.

The Cuisinart option is available in more color options than the KitchenAid model. The Cuisinart model has 12 mixing speeds while the KitchenAid model has 10 mixing speeds. Both models are made from stainless steel and they come with accessories. They both feature a tilt head design that makes it easy for you to add ingredients to the bowl and for you to remove the bowl and replace it.

The KitchenAid stand mixer has a power hub at the front of the unit. Here is where you can attach all the optional attachments that you can purchase separately. The unit comes with the standard six wire whip, a flat beater and a dough hook.

The Cuisinart stand mixer has a power outlet that allows you to attach extras as well and it also comes with the standard flat mixing paddle, dough hook and whisk. In addition to those things it also comes with a pour spout and splashguard to keep your workspace clean and mess free.

Stand Mixer Overview

When looking for a stand mixer you want to get the best one your money can buy because these appliances are really great items for any well used kitchen. They are great as a multipurpose appliance that can work as a food processor and aid in all kinds of food preparation.

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Stand Mixer

Dough Hook Attachment – this should be made from a top quality material and be sturdy enough to do up to two lbs. of dough at a time without damage
Power of the motor – you want a stand mixer to be able to mix dough for bread without burning out, shaking or straining the machine or the motor itself
Whisk Attachment – this is great for quickly whisking egg whites into top quality foams or meringues
Paddle Attachment – this is great for quickly and efficiently creaming egg and sugar mixtures and also doing meatball mixes and mashed potatoes
Planetary motion – this is most efficient and provides the best quality spin power and contact to have the best quality mixes
Port for added attachments is also a great idea since this will mean your stand mixer can do so much more things and take over from other multiple kitchen appliances

Bowl Design and Capacity

You can find stand mixers from both brands that provide you with a capacity of more than 5 quarts but this is not exactly necessary unless you are doing more than 6 loaves of bread at a time. Home bakers will do well with a 4 or 5 quart capacity bowl.

When it comes to the design of the bowl you might find bowls with narrower mouths and taller sides easier to work with. These bowls allow the ingredients to fall to the bottom a lot easier and allows for less scraping on your part.

The downside to the taller narrower bowl is that it will be a bit harder for you to add ingredients while the unit is in use. This is something that can be easily fixed by feed tubes and plastic lid guards – so you can look out for those features.

The wider the bowl the harder it will be for you to work with small amounts of ingredients and you won’t get the even mixture and texture that you need to have a perfect menu item. Of course if you know that you will always be using the bowl to capacity then a wide bottomed bowl could work just fine for you.

Stand Mixer Power

When you compare wattage you must understand that this tells you about how much power the mixer consumes and not how powerful the motor is going to be. So you will find mixers with 800 watt motors and mixers with 325 watt motors.

The bigger number is not better as this means that your mixer will be using up more power to operate. If you find two motors that perform well but have different wattage ratings it is better to take the one with the lower wattage especially if you are trying to have an energy saving kitchen.

Additional Attachments

Both companies offer additional attachments that you can purchase at an additional cost. The types of attachments you may need are going to be dependent on what you plan to use your stand mixer to do. If you plan on using it mainly for baking then the standard attachments that come included with the purchase price are all you need.

However the companies have options for those who want to use their stand mixers as a multipurpose kitchen appliance. You can find all kinds of attachments from food grinders to slicers and more.

Both brands offer these additional attachments but one thing that KitchenAid offers that Cuisinart doesn’t is the ice cream bowl. If you love ice cream and want to do homemade you can get a KitchenAid stand mixer for that.

While you may not need an additional attachment at the time of purchase of your stand mixer you still want to purchase one with the capability to use attachments as your needs may change over time. That way when you are ready to start using the stand mixer for something else then you won’t have to go out and purchase a brand new one and will only need to get the necessary attachment.

So which should you choose, a Cuisinart or KitchenAid stand mixer? Look at your needs and then decide which one will best meet them.

Everything You Need to Know About the Best Kitchen Mixers

With so many mixer options on the market, finding the best kitchen mixers can be hard, especially if you’re not looking in the right place.

There are so many different kinds of mixers, like the kind you just drop down in a pot of soup and turn on to mix the ingredients, or the electric one you fight with to get the attachments in and out of, while holding your elbow up in the air to get the beaters down in your cake batter properly.

There’s also the big industrial type mixer that can literally mix anything in huge quantities. Most of us have at least one type of mixer in our kitchens.

As far as the best goes, most consumers prefer stand mixers, the commercial kind, over the smaller, more manual mixers. Stand mixers can take on the heaviest of tasks and mix the largest amounts of ingredients much faster than another mixer, blender, or food processor.

They also look pretty professional, too, so you can daydream about your culinary career while you make the dough for your biscuits. You don’t want just any mixer though, you want the one that’s going to be best for you and exactly what you need.

How Do You Find the Best Kitchen Mixers?

The best kitchen mixers are not easily found in a retail store, since they’re usually a little more expensive than a hand held mixer.

Recommended for you: Best Hand Mixers of 2017

When you go searching online for the best mixers, you’ll find that it’s difficult to hunt down any other type of mixer except a stand mixer, because they’re rated the best all around.

They’re easy to use and pretty easy to clean up, so customers are generally satisfied with them. Mixers make your kitchen life easier, and the stand mixer makes it even more so since you don’t have to hover over the mixing bowl. With a stand mixer, you can walk away while the mixer does the work.

No wonder stand mixers are rated the best! Just drop in the ingredients and walk away? Who doesn’t need that? Some of the best ones come from common household brands, but you usually won’t find these in Walmart. KitchenAid and Cuisinart are among these commonly heard names, and their mixers review pretty well, too. We’ll list the five best ones right here for your convenience.

The Viking Professional VSM700BR mixer grabs a spot for being one of the best with its seven-quart capacity bowl that can hold up to five pounds of flour. It’s fantastic for batters for cakes, pastries, and cookies, and comes with multiple attachments for all of your mixing needs.

It’s super easy to adjust the speeds, and even easier to handle because the bowl, well, has a handle. The head locks into place securely and you can attach other accessories to it as you roll it across the counter on the included wheels. Talk about easy!

Which One Will Take the Cake?

Cuisinart stakes its claim with the SM-55 model and a five-and-a-half-quart capacity that can hold a whopping twelve cups of flour. It handles all sorts of batter and cream really well, and even comes with a DVD to teach you how to use it, if you don’t already know.

It’ll also teach you some new recipes inside the manual and comes with a few different attachments, like the whisk, dough hook, and splashguard. It’s super easy to operate and starts out slow so it doesn’t splatter your ingredients everywhere. With a digital timer and the capability to do literally any task you need, this is one fantastic mixer to consider.

Next up is the Breville five-quart die-cast stand mixer. It deals with batter and dough extremely well, but it won’t quite hold as much dough as most recipes call for. That may be a drawback, especially if you bake a lot of bread.

The controls on this mixer are easy to control, with a guide printed right on the mixer, and a digital timer to make sure you mix for the correct amount of time needed. Are these the best kitchen mixers for your countertop?

And the Winner is…

KitchenAid wins the top two spots with the Ultra Power KSM95ER and the Artisan KSM150PSYP models. Second place goes to the Ultra Power for its capacity to hold eight cups of flour and excellent mixing capabilities.

It handles any task well with the included attachments and the settings are easy to read and adjust, as they click into place so you’ll always be sure of what you’re doing. You can also attach accessories like a pasta maker or a grinder to it, so it might be a bit more than just a mixer.

When we talk about the best kitchen mixers, there has to be one that comes out on top, and KitchenAid did that. The Artisan stand mixer is a huge hit with consumers with its superior sturdiness and awesome variable possibilities. The attachments are easier to put on and take off than most mixers, and it comes in twenty-five different colors for your personal touch.

It won’t slow down while you’re mixing tough ingredients, either, so that’s a pretty big plus because it means it’s still going to get the job done just as fast regardless of what you throw in it. With the five-quart bowl and the beautiful color selections, you can’t go wrong when purchase the KitchenAid Artisan.

Have you found your perfect mixer? We’ve found the best kitchen mixers for you, so all you have to do is decide which one will work the best for your and look the best on your countertop.

Mixing doesn’t have to be difficult, and with any of these mixers, it won’t be. You’ll be able to blend up your batters and doughs in a jiffy and clean up the mess just as easily. What are you waiting for? Go order yourself the best mixer for your needs and budget!

To Buy or Not to Buy: Cheap KitchenAid Mixers

When you go hunting for a kitchen mixer, you might have a super small budget, so you need one that isn’t going to put a huge dent in your wallet. It can be hard to find one that fits your budget and actually works the way it’s supposed to, but it’s not impossible.

With all the brands sitting on the shelves at the retail stores close to you, it can be simpler than you might think. From Cuisinart to KitchenAid, there’s a mixer out there that will cover what you need without destroying your bank account.

You can find cheap KitchenAid mixers just about anywhere, including Walmart, Target, and online. They carry the brands and models that most of us see in our mom’s or grandmother’s kitchen, and they’re easy on the price tag. Sometimes you just don’t need a big, bulky, heavy stand mixer to blend up a couple of eggs!

What are My Options for Cheap KitchenAid Mixers?

We’re glad you asked! We hunted down some of the best, but most affordable KitchenAid mixers on the shelves. Luckily, you can find these at most retailers if you have trouble purchasing things online, so you can pick one up on your next trip to buy groceries. Two birds with one stone, yeah?

So let’s make your life a bit easier and show you the ones we’ve found. Coming in at around seventy dollars, we’ve got the KitchenAid KHM512LR model. It comes with five speeds and a locking swivel cord, so it stays out of the way and you can attack the bowl from any angle.

The cord is also rounded so it’s super easy to wipe off if you happen to sling a little mashed potato on it. The beaters are stainless steel and the eject button on the mixer make sit really easy to drop them in the sink or the dishwasher when you’re done using it. It scored four and a half stars out of five, and customers said it was very light, simple to operate, and quiet. They seem to love it!

Is that model a little high for your budget? It’s okay, we’ve got some more cheap KitchenAid mixers to show you! With these two models coming right around sixty bucks, you won’t be shelling out a huge chunk of change to get what you need. They brought the RRHM5WH model to the table with its five speeds and perfect proportions.

It got a nearly perfect rating with a 4.8 out of 5 stars, so it looks as though the customers are super satisfied with it. It’s easy to use and clean, as well, so it’s pretty much a no-hassle mixer. How great is that?

We’re Not Done. Keep Reading!

The second sixty-dollar model we’ve got on the list is the KHM512PK model. This is a pretty basic model and has some similarities to other models that KitchenAid offers. It has a bunch of the standard features that KitchenAid likes to include in their mixers, like the five speed settings and the ejector button.

KitchenAid really likes their stainless steel attachments, too, because they won’t rust like chrome beaters will. They also use Turbo II beaters, so they’re shaped better for faster, more efficient mixing. This one also has the locking cord, and it comes with a one-year replacement guarantee, so if you have an issue with it, KitchenAid will help you out.

This next model rings up at about fifty bucks, so it won’t break the bank and it’s cheaper than the KHM512PK model with all the same features and attachments. Remember how we said the last one was a pretty basic mixer and had similarities to other mixers?

This one is basically the twin sister of that one, but for a lower tag, so you might prefer this one. Since it’s a lesser cost with all the same functionality as the previous model, it seems to be a pretty popular choice. Cheap KitchenAid mixers just get better and better, don’t they?

Hold On, It Gets Better.

As far as cheap KitchenAid mixers go, the four we’ve covered already are pretty fantastic, are they not? But there’s one more we’re going to bring up, and it only costs about thirty-five dollars. Talk about affordability. KitchenAid likes being a top choice among consumers, so they gave us this handy little gadget.

Their three speed Ultra Power hand mixer comes in white to match any set of kitchen appliances, and they gave it stainless steel beaters with an ejector button, so it’s super easy to use. It has a DC motor in it, and it operates effortlessly with a switch just where your thumb sits on the handle.

Some consumers had a hard time getting comfortable with the handle, so it may not be suited for larger hands or arthritic fingers.

With a lightweight design and quiet operation, this mixer earned a 3.9 out of 5 stars, strictly because of the difficulty with the handle, but most customers are extremely happy with it for the price.

It powers through the ingredients nicely, and doesn’t splatter everywhere, so it might be the perfect mixer for most. If you’re truly looking for something that’s going to get the job done and not hurt your finances, this is probably the best option you could have.

Cheap KitchenAid mixers have a tendency to be pretty similar with varying price tags, so it probably won’t hurt to pick out a more affordable option rather than spending half a fortune on one that claims to be better than the rest. It’s going to be based more on what you need and what you have to spend on one.

Are you ready to purchase your newest kitchen gadget? Head on over to your nearest retail store, like Walmart or Target, or pull one up online or any other retailer website to get your order in. Best of luck with your new family member!

Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer Review: Could This Be Your Perfect Mixer?

We all know what it’s like to have to make three separate batches of cookies because we couldn’t fit everything into a regular sized mixing bowl. You can throw all the ingredients in and go at it with your hand mixer, but the bowl will never be big enough and you’ll just have to keep redoing the dough until you get the amount of food you need.

The struggle is real, but it doesn’t have to be. Why should you keep making several batches when all you need is a larger mixer?

With stand mixers, you get a much bigger capacity for your recipes with more powerful mixing. You see them on television all the time, that huge mixer that sits on the end of the chef’s island. They literally walk up, toss in the ingredients, set the mixer speed, and walk away. Don’t you wish you could do that? It’s easier than you think.

See, that giant mixer is just one of many stand mixers on the market, and since we can’t all be professional chefs, we’ve found some affordable and sturdy options that you can buy for your home. They come from Hamilton Beach stand mixer reviews, so you’ll know you’re getting a great appliance at a good price.

Where Can You Get One?

Hamilton Beach makes a ton of different kitchen products, but it makes some pretty snazzy stand mixers, so we’ve pulled Hamilton Beach stand mixer reviews to show you. Did you know that they made a hand mixer that doubles as a stand mixer? Well, they do!

The hand mixer just pops on to the stand to turn it into a heavy duty mixer, then pops back off to become mobile again. It’s got 290 watts of power to go with its trademark shift and stir bowl for easy mixing. It comes with the usual attachments, the beaters, whisk, and dough hooks, and has six speeds with a quick burst setting.

This nifty gadget also has a bowl rest so you won’t be losing batter all over the counter. The four-quart mixing bowl also makes greater quantities easier to work with.

The hand/stand mixer got three out of five stars because they sometimes have difficulty with the mixing actions and the bowl. They say that they have to continually stop and scrape the bowl, and that the bowl doesn’t stay still on the stand.

Another consumer said that the controls were difficult to change, and that it would jump speeds because the knob is hard to slide. Keep in mind that it is a hand mixer with a stand to double as a stand mixer, and is not a full on stand mixer like some of the other options at hand.

What About a Sturdier Mixer?

While the “kill two birds with one stone” mixer may not be the sturdiest, don’t give up hope because Hamilton Beach has definitely got a mixer you’ll love. One of their popular options is the classic six speed stand mixer. Hamilton Beach stand mixer reviews show that this one gets 4.3 stars out of 5.

There is literally only one bad review on this mixer, and it was because the buyer didn’t quite like the function of the mixer. Some fit and some don’t, and that’s exactly why you have to find the perfect mixer for you.

The Hamilton Beach six speed stand mixer has a 300-watt motor and a three-and-a-half-quart bowl for large capacity mixing needs. It comes with three attachments and a fold setting as well, so you can add flour to the mix without dusting everything within a three-foot radius in white.

The flat beater, whisk, and dough hook are also capable of the machine’s complete bowl coverage feature, so you won’t have to stop and scrape every so often to keep the mixture going. The two-way rotation ensures that you can toss in the ingredients and walk away and it will all be mixed precisely and professionally.

Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer Reviews Show Top Choice

There is one Hamilton Beach mixer that stands out above the others. They have a series called Eclectrics, and they’re fully constructed with metal, so there’s no worry of breakage. They use two-way rotation technology and a constant flow of power from the 400-watt motor to ensure prefect mixtures.

It also has twelve speed settings to use with the three different attachments that are included in your purchase. Who doesn’t need a dough hook, whisk, and flat beater? Those attachments knock out every tasks you could think of when it comes to using your stand mixer.

It also comes with Hamilton Beach’s three-year warranty, so if anything every happens to it, they’ll take care of it. It’s got a quick release button on the head to make tilting it up to remove the bowl super simple and fast. How efficient is that?

With four and a half stars out of five, it seems to be the top choice among the Hamilton Beach stand mixer reviews, with the only complaint being that a buyer in particular didn’t like the sound. They said that the lowest setting sounded terrible, as if the gears hadn’t been greased before the machine was assembled. That’s any easy fix, and Hamilton Beach will take care of it.

Stand mixers can have a pretty serious impact on your mixing and cooking times, so they can be handy for nearly any recipe you might think up. Hamilton Beach stand mixer reviews are all fairly positive, so it’s pretty safe to say that this is a good brand to go for. Whether it’s batter or dough you want to mix up, these mixers can take on the task and get it done quickly and efficiently.