Whether you're baking cupcakes for school functions every other weekend, or really enjoy treating your friends to fresh sourdough, implementing a mixer into your appliance rotation will transform your baking experience. Read on to learn all about what is a mixer and why they're a great addition to your kitchen.

What Is a Mixer?

A mixer is a kitchen appliance used to quickly combine wet or dry ingredients to meet the desired consistency. A mixer takes away the manual labor of having to mix, beat, or blend ingredients by hand. This kitchen tool is powered electronically with a motor that has adjustable speeds and interchangeable attachments to cater to a variety of tasks.

Stand Mixer vs. Hand Mixer

There are two main types of kitchen mixers: a stand mixer and a hand mixer.

Stand Mixer

The stand mixer sits upright on a base and features a large bowl that rests on a stand underneath the mixing attachment. The bowl can slide in and out from the stand easily to pour batter or gradually add ingredients. The stand mixer base plugs into the wall and has the speed settings (usually 10+) located on the outside so you can change the beating speed with ease.

There are several attachments that complement a stand mixer, making it incredibly versatile. In particular, stand mixers have the ability to add on several different arms and extensions. Apart from combining wet or dry ingredients together in a bowl, stand mixers can also make pasta, shred cheese, and even scale grains. In addition, most brands feature a line of accessories such as covers and lids to fit their mixers to keep your appliance clean and minimize maintenance.

Hand Mixer

The hand mixer is obviously more hands-on. Also powered by an outlet and electric motor, this mixer has a handle attached to beaters, which you can guide manually. Better for mixing small batches, the hand mixer can be used with any size bowl and usually offers three or four speeds. The attachments for a hand mixer are easily interchangeable and typically include egg beaters, a whisk, bread hooks, and a mixer for smoothies and shakes.

There is no mixer that's better than the other, it just depends on how you plan to use the appliance. If you're baking for dozens of people, the stand mixer is the obvious choice, but if you're just looking to make some homemade whipped cream for your coffee, a hand mixer is far more accessible.

Mixer Features

Bowl Capacity: The convenience of an included bowl is ideal for mixing large amounts at one time. For recipes that feed many people, it's valuable to have a bowl that can accommodate the serving size all at once, instead of having to break your mixture into smaller portions and end up dirtying extra dishes in the process. Think about how many people you usually serve at one time, and choose the corresponding bowl size to best fit your usual recipes.

Number of Speeds: Depending on what you typically make, you may want more than just a couple mixing speeds. Certain ingredients require different amounts of power over different lengths of time, so something more fussy like whipping egg whites could be better suited on a different setting than the single-speed hand mixer.

Weight: Consider the size and storage capacity of your kitchen. If you think you'll find yourself having to store a heavy stand mixer on a high shelf and take it down every time you need it, that may discourage you from even wanting to use it. A portable hand mixer may be more suitable for a smaller space, while a larger stand mixer is apt for sitting on the kitchen counter.

Once you have a mixer in your kitchen, it's hard to go without it The convenience of the motor saves your arm from whisking for hours on end and only makes you more excited to use it again. Shop the link below to get yours today!