Stand mixers, the workhorses of a busy kitchen, are capable of much more than whipping up cake batter. Additionally, they are excellent for kneading dough and whipping glossy, stiff-peaked meringues. With a choice of sizes available, there’s no doubt you’ll find the appropriate stand mixer for your needs; there are small and compact models for those with limited room, as well as larger, professional-looking pieces of kit that are excellent for large families or those who bake in batches. Additionally, anything in between!
Whether you’re an experienced baker or new to the world of bread, cakes, and pastries, a stand mixer is a necessary tool. While a hand mixer would suffice, stand mixers are more powerful, which means they can effortlessly complete creaming and kneading duties, saving you time and effort.
We examined a wide variety of stand mixers from well-known brands such as KitchenAid and Kenwood, as well as Bosch and Russell Hobbs. We evaluated the build quality, efficiency, and accessories of each model by putting them through their paces using triple-tested BBC Good Food recipes.
What is the purpose of a stand mixer?
A stand mixer, alternatively referred to as a food mixer, is a kitchen appliance that utilises a rotating mechanism to perform repetitive kitchen activities. Due to the variety of attachments and enormous capacity of the bowl, they excel in baking, kneading dough, whipping, and whisking, and perform significantly better than food processors (although the two are occasionally confused due to their similar’spinning’ motion).
Stand mixers feature a hinged main body with an output for attachments such as whisks, beaters, and dough hooks, although you can frequently update and purchase a variety of attachments. They are renowned for their ability to whisk egg whites, whip up dough, and cream butter with sugar in record time. They often have straightforward speed settings and are simple to operate. They’re a mid-sized device, around the size of a slow cooker or blender.
All of the stand mixers we evaluated include a dough hook, a beater, and a wire whisk. This makes them excellent for bread, all types of cake from chocolate to fairy cakes, as well as thicker batters such as carrot cake and gluten-free cake recipes. The wire whisk is ideal for meringue-based desserts such as lemon meringue pie and pavlova, as well as more adventurous dishes like tiramisu meringue roulade.
However, stand mixers are quite adaptable, so take notice of their alternate uses to get the most out of your equipment. If you’re a fan of dumplings, use a beater to thoroughly combine your ingredients; for inspiration, consider our gyoza and pork momos recipes. Even better, you can produce your own butter by beating cream until it splits. Then, once butter is produced, separate the liquid from the particles.
Stand mixer vs. hand-held mixer
A hand mixer is capable of doing a large number of the same baking duties as a stand mixer. A hand mixer (sometimes referred to as beaters) likewise uses rotating attachments but is much smaller than a stand mixer, making it more inexpensive. They store simply and are simple to clean. If you’re looking for a gadget to accomplish the bare minimum, the best hand mixer will definitely enough.
A stand mixer is more powerful than an electric mixer, with a higher wattage and a larger capacity. They may be more adaptable, as some come equipped with a range of accessories. One significant advantage is that, in comparison to hand mixers, they are completely hands-free, allowing you to continue working on other tasks while they function. The spacious bowls are ideal for containing materials and minimising mess. Additionally, they are more capable of handling heavier mixes such as pastry and pizza dough.
In the end, a stand mixer is a better option than a hand mixer, but it all depends on your budget.
What features to look for when shopping for a stand mixer
Capacity: is this similar to batch baking for cake sales? You’ll require a larger bowl capacity and possibly a more powerful mechanism capable of processing larger volumes of mix. Purchase the largest machine that will fit in your kitchen.
Versatility: stand mixers are extremely versatile when equipped with the appropriate attachments, which range from pasta rollers to sausage makers. Consider the variety of bolt-on accessories available if you plan to frequently use your machine for a variety of kitchen tasks.
Weight: If you’re short on counter space and will be transporting the stand mixer in and out of storage, keep in mind that some of them are very large. This is critical if you battle with your back.
Value for money: there’s no use in spending a lot of money on a gadget-laden machine with numerous accessories if you’re only going to use it to produce basic cakes on a rare occasion.
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