In general, the mixer should be chosen, paying attention to its design and proceeding from the methods of its use. Maybe someone will need this information
All mixers are conventionally divided into
two types: manual and
stationary.
Hand mixers are generally low-power (150-240 W) and are designed primarily for whipping liquids and preparing various kinds of mixtures such as creams, sauces, etc. Hand mixers can be convenient for preparing precise small portions (for example, fresh food for a baby) , allow you to use any dish, eliminating the need to scrape the prepared mixture along the sides of the bowl.
As the name implies, the hand mixer is held by hand during operation; usually such devices do not come with their own bowls.
Hand mixers are a budget option and cost less.
Stationary mixers are fixed on a special stand - holder, equipped with a container (bowl) for mixing and do not require additional participation from a person.
Mixers with a bowl are more expensive and have a more complex and bulky design, but they are more convenient to use: they free up your hands for other things, they cope better with tough dough, and you do not need to decide in which container is the best to mix and whip products.
Together with the bowl, the set always includes a stand on which both the container and the mixer itself are attached. Some models are additionally equipped with a bowl rotation function - the bowl can be rotated using a special automatic drive. This allows the food to mix more evenly.
Most stand mixers can be removed from the bowl and used manually.
Power (from 200 to 1000 W)
Power determines the speed of the device and its performance. In other words, the more powerful the device, the more types of work it can perform. However, it should be borne in mind that more powerful devices tend to be more expensive and consume more electricity.
Therefore, when choosing a mixer, again, you need to decide what tasks you intend to solve with its help.
If the device is only needed for whipping creams, preparing batter (for example, pancake) and mixing "light" products, then an inexpensive 180-250 W model will be enough.
If you plan to use a mixer for kneading a denser dough, you will need a "stronger" device with a power of 270 watts or more. In low-power models, the rims are made of metal and resemble a wire frame, they may not cope with the "heavy" dough. The beaters on powerful mixers have wider and more durable blades.
Number of speeds (from 2 to 16)
Usually the mixer has several speeds (usually from three to six, but there are more).
The speed switch allows you to select the optimal mode for each type of product.
Many manufacturers on their devices near the speed selector place small pictographs showing what kind of work this or that mode is suitable for.
Operating modes (pulse and turbo mode).
Turbo mode - the possibility of a short-term increase in the speed of the mixer.
This function allows you to significantly increase the rotation speed of the attachments by pressing a button.
Turbo mode is turned on at the end of cooking for a speedy and high-quality completion of work.It can be used only for a few seconds, otherwise there is a risk of overheating of the motor.
Turbo mode allows you to quickly puree especially soft and delicate products, break up lumps in the dough.
Pulse mode... In pulse mode, the mixer motor does not work constantly, but with short pauses. This allows you to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary stress on the motor when processing particularly hard products such as frozen fruits or ice.
It is also worth paying attention to the body material and the bowl material.
Body materialModels made of plastic are more common - an inexpensive, lightweight and practical material. Models with stainless steel inserts are less common. Steel gives the device a more expensive and solid appearance.
Bowl material in stationary mixers it is made of plastic, stainless steel and glass.
Plastic is an inexpensive and lightweight material, but it has a drawback - it is prone to deformation.
Stainless steel bowls are a little less common than plastic. Steel is more expensive, but stronger.
Capacities
from glass are considered more environmentally friendly.
Bowl volume (from 0.8 to 6.9 l)
The larger the volume, the more ingredients can be processed in one work cycle.
All bowls are designed in such a way that even in a large container (up to 4 liters) you can mix food in small portions. When choosing a mixer, it should be borne in mind that the volume of the bowl, in which the products can mix well, without splashing throughout the kitchen, will be less by 0.2-0.5 liters of the total volume.
Nozzles (from 1 to 5).
Hand blenders may include
corollas for whipping liquid products and
hooks.
Whisk attachment allows you to quickly and efficiently whip cream, eggs, as well as creams and batter (if there are no special attachments for them). Most modern mixers are equipped with at least one such whisk. (Photo for example)
Hooks for kneading dough are paired nozzles made of steel in the form of a spiral, designed for preparing thick and tough dough. (Photo for example)
Universal shredder in the set is intended for cooking pâté minced meat, chopping nuts, herbs, cheese, berries and other products in small quantities.
Typically, the shredder is a container with a lid, at the bottom of which an impeller knife is fixed.
Puree nozzle made of plastic intended for the preparation of homogeneous thick dishes. With this nozzle, you can make mashed potatoes, mousses, creams, etc.
The nozzle is a round flat disc with guides.
Blender attachment - submersible, designed for the preparation of purees, baby food and sauces.
The attachment is a steel or plastic rod (leg) about 15 cm long with a two-bladed knife at the end.
To prevent the food being prepared from splashing, the knives are protected by a special cap in the form of a domed non-removable cover that covers the knife.
Also, some stationary models are equipped with a stationary blender bowl.
but hand blenders are no exception
Some models have a special
compartment or holder for storage of accessoriesincluded in the kit.
This device can be designed for all attachments or only for some of them, in addition, it can be built-in or removable.
Almost every model has
button for detaching attachments, which is the ability to automatically detach the attachments after the end of the mixer operation, which greatly simplifies the process of changing attachments or removing them.
Soft rubber grip mixer makes working with the device more comfortable, preventing the handle from sliding into the palm of your hand.
Stationary mixers can be completed with
protective cover for the bowlto prevent food splashing. Typically, such a lid has an additional opening that allows you to add ingredients directly during mixing.
Cord winderThe presence of a special compartment on the body of the device for storing the power cord is useful if you rarely use a mixer, and the device lies in a box or in a cabinet for a long time, waiting in the wings. When winding the cord in any order, it can break at the folds. The cord winding device minimizes the risk of such breakage.
Power cord length (from 1.0 to 1.7 m)
It is desirable that the length of the mixer cord is at least 1 m. Too short a cord will complicate the operation of the device and reduce its safety level.
Weight (0.67 to 7.9 kg)
Obviously, the lighter the hand mixer, the less hand fatigue when using it. If you choose a device from the stationary category, this parameter is not so important. If you are planning to purchase a hand mixer, you should pay attention to its weight.