Stand Mixers

When it comes to preparing some types of foods, it helps to have a powerful mixer to make easy work of combining multiple ingredients together. There are two main types of mixers: hand-held and stand mixers. Hand-held mixers are an affordable and lightweight option. However, they can be difficult to use for heavy-duty tasks, such as kneading dough or combining dense ingredients. Stand mixers, on the other hand, are the choice of many experienced cooks and bakers because they have a stronger motor and often come with a variety of mixer attachments, making them the more versatile option of the two.

Also referred to as bowl mixers because they usually come with one or more removable bowls, stand mixer designs include planetary mixers and spiral mixers. Spiral bowl mixers move both the bowl and the mixing head, which is useful for a baking mixer that is used to knead bread dough. Meanwhile, the more popular planetary mixer has a fixed bowl position which allows for a few more attachment options. You also have a choice between a tilt-head mixer with a hinged head that lifts up for removing the bowl, and a bowl-lift mixer that is a solid machine with arms that lift up the bowl to the beaters and hold it in place.

The best place to start when deciding on a mixer is to consider the most common foods that you’ll be using your mixer to make. For example, if you primarily want a cake mixer machine, you might not need a model that comes with attachments other than beaters. However, if you opt for a more advanced model with various speeds and accessories, it can be a more useful multi-tasking food mixer for all types of recipes. There are a surprising number of stand mixer accessories and they can help you make everything from finely sliced meats and spiral-cut veggies to homemade pasta and shaved ice. With the plethora of accessory options, you may be able to eliminate the need for a food processor, saving you money and kitchen storage space.

Next, look at size options. Five quarts is fairly standard for a cake mixer bowl, but you may want to go larger if you plan to make multiple batches at once or if a higher mixing speed is needed. Keep in mind that the best stand mixer for you is one that will fit on your countertop or easily tuck away in a kitchen storage area, leaving plenty of room for other meal prep items, such as cutting boards. No matter what type of food mixer you have in mind, you’ll be pleased by the wide selection of models to choose from at Best Buy.