How to choose a mixer

Today there is a huge variety of useful household appliances that greatly simplify our lives. These include a mixer, the presence of which in the kitchen every housewife will appreciate. It greatly simplifies the cooking process by helping to mix or beat foods. Manufacturers of household appliances offer a wide selection of different models, among which it is not easy to find what you really need.

What is a mixer and why is it needed?

A mixer is a special device that beats and mixes products at high speed. Many people often confuse it with a blender. However, their main difference is that the mixer does not have sharp blades, and its main task is to beat, not chop.

The so-called heart of such a device is a motor that runs on electricity and ensures the rotation of the nozzles. The first copies were very large and cumbersome - not every housewife could afford such a device, which was not only extremely expensive, but also took up a lot of space in the kitchen. Modern mixers are very compact. In the markets you can find significantly inexpensive models with low price and power. Such specimens are suitable for those housewives who do not cook very often.

Types of home mixers

Hardware and electronics stores offer two types of mixers - manual and stationary. They differ not only in size and design, but also in power.

Features of hand and stand mixers

Basically, home mixers are divided into manual and stationary. Based on the name, it’s easy to guess - the operating principle of the first type of units assumes that they need to be held in the hand. At the same time, the stationary one whips automatically, without anyone’s help. This greatly simplifies the cooking process, since while the stand mixer is whipping the dough, the housewife can do something else.

Hand mixers are a lighter option, suitable for any occasion. Using such a device, you can whip food in any bowl, mug or pan, which greatly simplifies the cooking process. Manual units have a small motor that provides fewer revolutions.

A stationary unit works independently, it has much more power, but such devices are more expensive than manual devices.

ATTENTION! Before purchasing this or that machine, think about it: is there really a large amount of food to be whipped, or can you get by with a small but convenient manual option? In this case, you must be guided solely by your preferences.

A hand mixer also has a plus - it is quite simple and easy to clean, practically does not need to be disassembled, and to clean it from food residues, you just need to rinse. However, unlike the stationary version, a hand mixer must be held during operation, which does not allow you to perform any other action at the same time.

Planetary mixer

The planetary mixer works on the principle of rotation of planets in the solar system, and also moves around its axis. This feature makes it easy to mix very viscous products of large volume - a fairly large and capacious planetary version is suitable for housewives who spend a lot of time in the kitchen and often prepare a variety of dishes.

Which mixer is better

Before purchasing, it is important to decide what exactly you want to get from your mixer.

To choose the right mixer for your home, you need to pay attention to the following criteria:

1. Power. First of all, the power of the device is important, since the strength of the rotational element and the quality of mixing the products will depend on it. It is important to remember that the higher the power of an electrical product, the more electricity it consumes! Hand mixers have power from 160 to 400 W, while stationary ones can reach 1000 W. Basically, 300 W is enough for work - such a unit easily whips both batter and cream into a thick foam.
2. Functionality. The simplest examples have only three speed switching modes. The more capabilities and speeds, the higher the cost of the product. If you use the instructions for the device, you can find out for which product it is better to use one or another speed, so that the process of beating food is more rational.
3. Additional functions. There should be a special button on the body that is responsible for ejecting the nozzles. Also, a high-quality product should have an additional function of protection against engine overheating and notification of this.
4. Bowl volume.

IMPORTANT! When choosing a mixer with a bowl, you should decide in advance on its size and what you plan to beat in it.

The dimensions of the bowl indicate the volumes of prepared dishes:

• 1 liter bowl allows you to beat ingredients for sauces or omelettes;
• 2 liters can accommodate products for making dough and purees;
• 3 liters is the most common option, as it is ideal for preparing almost any dish;
• more than 3 liters are used by professionals who prepare large volumes of food daily.

The material used to make the bowl is also important. It is necessary that it is not scratched or damaged during the cooking process. Plastic, glass or metal are best suited for this. Plastic is the simplest and cheapest material, it is lightweight compared to others, and in the event of a sudden breakdown, it can be easily replaced with another, similar bowl.

In order for a household assistant to work for a long time, it is necessary to properly care for it - after each work, thoroughly clean it from existing contaminants. Do not beat thick dough with standard attachments - this will lead to overheating of the engine. Also, do not wash the mixer body under running water - it is best to simply wipe it with a damp cloth.