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What Should I Consider When Buying a Kitchen Mixer?

A Kaminsky
A Kaminsky

Most cooks will find they need a kitchen mixer at some point. Blenders are great, but can't mix cookie dough or cake batter. A mixer is the ideal tool. But how does a cook choose the right kitchen mixer?

The first point to consider is how the kitchen mixer will be used. If the cook mostly makes simple brownie, cake or cookie recipes, then he will probably want a standard hand mixer. If he makes breads and more complicated recipes, or meringues requiring whipped egg whites, he may want to think about purchasing a stand mixer. These mixers are much more powerful than a hand mixer and will work by themselves, allowing the cook to work on another part of the recipe.

Cookie dough made with a mixer.
Cookie dough made with a mixer.

Stand mixers may also have attachments, such as pasta rollers and meat grinders, that expand their usefulness beyond simple mixing. However, hand mixers feature attachments now, too. Some include balloon whisks or dough hooks, and if the hand mixer is a powerful one, the average cook can use it for almost any job.

Another consideration for the cook is space. Stand mixers are more powerful, but they also take up a lot of room. They are heavy as well, which makes stowing them under a cabinet impractical. Hand mixers are small and portable. They can be stored in a cabinet or a deep drawer, or set on a shelf. A hand kitchen mixer is ideal for an apartment or any home where counter space is at a premium.

A kitchen mixer is the ideal tool for mixing cookie dough or cake batter.
A kitchen mixer is the ideal tool for mixing cookie dough or cake batter.

A third consideration when buying a kitchen mixer is price. A kitchen mixer can be purchased almost anywhere, and the buyer will usually be able to compare prices and features right in the store. A hand kitchen mixer will usually cost US$15 to $40, depending on the maker and attachments. Stand kitchen mixers start at about US$80. Some of the more popular models cost about US$125. However, stand mixers can cost more than US$400 for a top-of-the-line, professional model with all the bells and whistles.

Stand mixers may be used to blend a variety of ingredients.
Stand mixers may be used to blend a variety of ingredients.

Cooks looking for a good kitchen mixer can comparison shop in the store or on the Internet. This is often a good idea, since the same mixer may vary in price from one store to the next. Considering space and use first will help the cook get the best kitchen mixer for his needs.

Discussion Comments

SarahSon

I know that the kitchen stand mixers are very popular, but I have held back from buying one every time I think about it.

The biggest reason I hesitate is because of how much room they take on the counter and how heavy they are to move. I don't have much counter space anyway, and don't do enough baking to justify having one take up that much space.

I have been able to get along just fine all these years with my little hand mixer and will probably continue to do so for quite awhile.

There are times when I have to do some extra baking, that I think a stand mixer would really come in handy, but those times don't happen very often, so I figure I will save myself some money.

honeybees

My husband surprised me with a red KitchenAid mixer for my birthday. I had my eye on one for a long time and was so excited about this gift.

I always do a lot of baking for the holidays and for years kept thinking how much easier it would be if I had a stand mixer. It is so handy to mix up large batches of batter. I also want to get the pasta roller kit and make my own pasta, but that will have to wait for another year.

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    • Cookie dough made with a mixer.
      Cookie dough made with a mixer.
    • A kitchen mixer is the ideal tool for mixing cookie dough or cake batter.
      By: Yevgen Kotyukh
      A kitchen mixer is the ideal tool for mixing cookie dough or cake batter.
    • Stand mixers may be used to blend a variety of ingredients.
      By: VL@D
      Stand mixers may be used to blend a variety of ingredients.