Mixer buying guide

Make light work of many daily tasks, such as kneading, whipping, whisking and beating with a kitchen mixer. This guide will help you decide which small appliances best suit your needs when it comes to serving up tasty meals and treats with minimal fuss every day of the week.

Types of Food Mixers

There are three main types of mixers to choose from, each suited to particular tasks. Depending on how much space you’ve got in your kitchen, or how much you love cooking and baking, you may opt for one, two or all three.

Stand Mixer

Stand mixers are a powerful and versatile force in the kitchen. As the name suggests, these mixers are attached to a stand and sit on the benchtop. Simply add the attachment you need, lock the bowl to the base underneath, switch it on and let the mixer do the rest.

Acclaimed Brisbane chef Josh Lopez, director of the Monstera Group and former executive chef at The Wolfe and GOMA Restaurant, is a stand-mixer devotee. “When a chef establishes a kitchen, the kitchen mixer is in the top five things to buy first. They’re a game changer,” he says.

“What is in the commercial kitchen is now in the domestic kitchen, thanks to popular TV shows. Five years ago, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation. Things get tested in the commercial world and over time that technology gets cheaper. For any budding cook at home, getting a good quality stand mixer will make life more enjoyable and you’ll get more consistent results,” Josh says.

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Hand Mixer

Hand mixers with twin beaters are often the preferred choice for home cooks who might like a more hands-on approach in the kitchen. Hand mixers allow you to hold the mixer over the bowl and keep a careful watch over your mixture, adjusting the speed or motion as required.

Chef Josh Lopez regularly uses his hand mixer to make hollandaise sauce, sour cream dressing or anything that requires smaller quantities. Light, quick and easy to set up and use, they’re also a terrific option for kids who like to feel like they’re part of the cooking experience.

“My kids love the hand mixer. It’s more tactile. They feel more connected and engaged than just watching a stand mixer go round and round,” Josh Lopez says.

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Stick Mixer

Perfect for mixing ingredients in a tall jug or lidded bowl, stick mixers can also be immersed into larger pots to blend up deliciously smooth soups. This handheld appliance with a single shaft is great for making milkshakes, smoothies and dips. They often come with handy attachments that allow you to whisk up tasty vinaigrettes and mayonnaise, or chop herbs and nuts.

“Stick mixers are excellent for smaller or more specific tasks like whizzing up a quick salad dressing or pureeing soups. They’re a great addition to any home kitchen,” says Tania Grillinzoni.

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“

For any budding cook at home, getting a good quality stand mixer will make life more enjoyable and you’ll get more consistent results.

”

Josh Lopez, chef

Hand Mixer vs Stand Mixer

One of the big advantages of a stand mixer is that they operate independently, freeing up your hands in the kitchen and allowing you to multi-task. For certain recipes and applications, chef Josh Lopez wouldn’t use anything else. “I use it to make soufflé, meringue, meringue kisses and, of course, pavlova,” he says.

Stand mixers can also take on serious volume when it comes to quantities of dough and cake batter, and they double as a divine display item if you have the bench space. “We bought a baby blue one that matched the decor and it made the kitchen pop,” Josh says.

Hand mixers, on the other hand, are the compact option for small kitchens. They also allow you to evenly mix your ingredients and get to the sides and bottom of the bowl easily. For Josh Lopez, they have another major perk. “The beauty of hand mixers is there’s next to no washing-up,” he says.

While most mixers come with three standard attachments – a whisk, beater and dough hook – stand mixers often come with a variety of extra options.

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What to consider when buying

A basic kitchen mixer will get those common, everyday mixing jobs done. However, to ensure you’re getting a mixer that will do what you need it to do, or to get more consistent results, there are a few things to consider.

Size and weight

If you’ll only be using your mixer for the occasional homemade cake or trying out a simple new recipe, a smaller stand mixer or hand mixer should do the job.

Look for a larger stand mixer with a bigger bowl if you like cooking in batches, run the cake stall at the school fete, or have your own cupcake side hustle. Smaller bowls hold about 3.8 litres while extra large bowls hold about 6.7 litres. Also remember that the heavier the unit, the less likely it is to move or shuffle around on your benchtop while mixing.

Power and wattage

Look for a hand mixer with at least 200 to 250 watts of power for better performance and longevity. Stand mixers should have a minimum 250 watts of power to handle thicker batters, but they go all the way up to 1000 watts. Just remember the higher the wattage, the more powerful your mixer will be.

Speed settings

The more speed settings your mixer has, the more you can control the end result. You might not end up using all of them, but a mixer with 10 speed settings will give you more options and smoother transitions than one with three settings.

Bowl material

Most kitchen mixer bowls are made from lightweight and durable stainless steel. Glass and ceramic options are also available, but require more care as they can chip or crack.

Features to look for

Attention to detail is really what sets a quality mixer apart from the rest. Look for suction-cup feet to help keep your stand mixer in place, standalone hand mixers that sit neatly on the bench when not in use, and a pouring shield that lets you add ingredients to your mixer while it’s in use without getting splattered.

You can also consider a combo unit where a hand mixer is converted into a stand mixer, and cordless models that give you complete freedom to move around the kitchen and work wherever you like, regardless of where the power points are.

To really up your game in the kitchen, look out for mixers with attachments for cutting and rolling pasta, grinding, sifting, slicing, shredding, peeling, coring, milling, juicing and even making ice-cream.

Budget

New to the world of kitchen mixers? Hand mixers and stick mixers are fantastic entry-level options, while stand mixers – ideal for bigger households or batch cooking – are priced at the higher end of the scale.

Maintenance tips and tricks

Keep your mixer in great working order with a regular clean. Simply use a damp cloth to wipe down the body of the mixer, and wash any attachments with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Also clean out the part your attachments clip into, as they can get jammed up with splattered batter or dough from time to time.

Kitchen mixers come in a wide range of designs and colours. Making birthday cakes for the kids, pavlovas for Christmas, hot soups for winter and everything in between is a joy with a quality appliance by your side. View our full range in-store or online today.

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