Smart Shopping: Mixers

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Getting Started l Types l Features l Brands

For whipping, puréeing, and a host of other food prep tasks, a reliable mixer is essential. The market is divided into hand mixers and stand mixers that range in price from $10 to $400.

GETTING STARTED

Just about any stand or hand mixer will do for simple chores. Hand mixers cost less but don't do as well at heavy-duty tasks such as mixing dough. A few models we tested did a good job when we used their dough hooks, though.

Stand mixers are more expensive and take up more space, but a good one can save you a lot of muscle power. A heavy, powerful stand mixer can knead even two loaves' worth of bread dough with ease.

Our tests showed considerable differences in how well particular models of hand and stand mixers performed. And while manufacturers stress wattage and number of speeds, neither figure necessarily translates into better performance. Use this mixers guide to help your buying decision.

TYPES

Match the machine to the way you prepare foods. You might find you need more than one. Which food-prep appliance best suits your style and the foods you prepare? Hand mixers can handle light chores such as whipping cream or mixing cake batter. And powerful stand mixers are ideal for cooks who make bread and cookies from scratch.

Hand mixers
These are best for light-duty tasks such as whipping cream or egg whites, mixing cake batter, and mashing potatoes. But they are not as good as some stand mixers at mixing dough. We found that the KitchenAid Ultra Power 5 and Braun Multi Mix 4-in-1 were the only hand mixers able to mix stiff bread dough.

Most of the top-performing hand mixers have wire beaters without the thick center post found on traditional-style beaters. The wire beaters performed well and were easier to clean.

Stand mixers
These are best for almost everything a hand mixer does, plus mixing cookie dough and bread dough. Their drawbacks are that they are heavier and take up more space. Make sure you'll have enough clearance in the "up" position if it will be sitting on a countertop below an overhanging cupboard.

Stand mixers work in different ways. Some use two beaters, which spin against each other. Others use one beater, which spins in one direction and moves around the bowl the opposite way.

Light-duty stand mixers typically have stationary beaters and a bowl that sits on a revolving turntable. The bowl sometimes needs a push to keep spinning.

With most stand mixers, you tilt the mixer head up to remove the beater(s) or bowl; with the KitchenAid Professional models, you crank a lever that lifts or lowers the bowl.

FEATURES

Match the machine to the way you prepare foods. But you may find you need more than one. Which food-prep appliance best suits your style and the foods you prepare? Hand mixers can handle light chores such as whipping cream or mixing cake batter. And powerful stand mixers are ideal for cooks who make bread and cookies from scratch.

Comfort
A hand mixer should be well balanced and comfortable to hold. A stand mixer shouldn't be too heavy for you to lift into a cupboard.

Attachments
Stand mixers generally come with one bowl and either single or paired beaters, whisks and dough hooks.

Type of beater
Look for a mixer that has wire beaters without the thick center post found on traditional-style beaters. The wire beaters are easier to clean.

Speed
Some stand mixers have as many as 16 speeds and some hand mixers have 9. We think that three well-differentiated speeds are sufficient. The slower the lowest speed, the better, as slow speeds prevent spattering. Some hand mixers have a "slow start" feature, but you can achieve the same result by manually stepping through three or so speeds.

Easy-to-read controls
With some of the inexpensive hand mixers we tested, the switch you use to select speeds didn't line up well with the speed markings.

Stability
An indentation on the underside of the motor housing allows a hand mixer to perch on the edge of a bowl.

Locking power heads
You should be able to lock a mixer's power head in the "up" position so it won't crash into the bowl when the beaters are weighed down with dough. You should also be able to lock it in the down position so beaters don't ride up in the bowl when tackling stiff dough.

Copyright © 2005-2009 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. No reproduction in whole or in part without written permission.

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2009-03-27 11:37:09