The Basics: Stand Mixers

The stand mixer is a household staple. These kitchen workhorses are considered indispensable to home chefs and weekend cooks alike. They handle a slew of everyday chores from mixing pancake batter to mashing potatoes, making gravies, puddings, dips and more. They also have the capacity and the torque to power through tough mixing jobs such as kneading bread dough, mixing stiff cookie dough, and whipping cream or egg whites to stiff peaks.

For all their power, stand mixers are relatively simple appliances, consisting basically of a large mixer head that is mounted on its own base or platform. A powerful motor concealed in the mixer head provides the muscle to automatically spin an attachment -- typically one or two beaters, wire whisks or dough hooks -- at speeds ranging from slow to very fast. Stand mixers typically come with one or more work bowls, which either twist-lock onto a stationary base or sit on a round turntable below the motor housing. The mixer head usually tilts back or can be raised up and down to attach the beaters, add ingredients or scrape the work bowl.

Since its introduction nearly 80 years ago, the stand mixer has seen surprisingly few changes in the overall design and construction of the basic model. The familiar mixer head with motor-driven detachable beaters and a spinning turntable still can be found on many models. You'll also find a number of models that now use a stationary bowl design with a single attachment that spirals around the bowl, while simultaneously spinning on its own axis. This style of mixing was perfected by KitchenAid, who named it "planetary mixing action." It was found to be so effective that a number of manufacturers now produce mixers with similar designs.

Improvements that have surfaced over the years include advanced, more powerful motors, self-propelling turntables, sophisticated control switches, countdown timers and an array of optional attachments that let the machine perform all manner of chores, from chopping vegetables to juicing fruits, making pasta and grinding coffee. Another available option in this category is the stand/hand combination unit, which offers the convenience of both portable and stand mixers, and usually costs considerably less than a traditional stand mixer. The one drawback to combination units, however, is they are typically less powerful than traditional stand mixers.

For saving time and effort, you can't beat the power and performance of a stand mixer. The spinning beater or beaters do all of the work for you, and they do it better than you could by hand. As they spin, the beaters incorporate air into your mixture, thereby producing fluffier whipped creams and smooth, shiny meringues. The beaters won't tire when it comes to mixing stiff cookie dough and won't quit until the last remnants of dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed into your dough.

The basic design of either a single beater or two interlocking metal beaters does such a good job, in fact, that the mixer has rendered hand mixing obsolete for certain chores. As a result, many households contain not one, but two mixers, including a stand mixer for heavy-duty food-preparation tasks and a compact handheld mixer for quick jobs. The increased power and performance of the stand mixer, combined with its convenient hands-free mixing, takes the drudgery out of everyday jobs such as blending cookie dough or creaming butter with sugar.

Perhaps the one drawback of stand mixers is their size. With their larger motors and attached bowls or turntables, stand mixers tend to be rather large and bulky, occupying more than their fair share of space on the countertop. Because the mixer head often houses the motor, it usually accounts for the majority of the weight, so the stand base must be large enough to not only support the weight of the mixer head but also to provide sufficient balance so the machine sits firmly on the counter during use. Lightweight models sometimes fail in this area and require one hand to hold the machine in place, which can defeat the purpose of "hands-free" mixing.

Most cooks find numerous uses for their stand mixers, which are sturdy and powerful enough to see each job through to completion. They are a lifesaver when it comes to whipping cream or egg whites, which would be tedious and labor-intensive if done by hand. The powerful motor spins the beaters at such a fast rate, that the whipping is accomplished in a fraction of the time it would take to mix by hand or even with a portable mixer. In addition, the extra air that is incorporated into the mixture results in fluffier whipped cream and stiffer meringues.

Stand mixers now come in a variety of sizes, styles and colors. Standard attachments include the flat beater, wire whisk and dough hook. The newest models offer more power than ever before. Typical stand mixers boast between 250 and 450 watts of power, with a few high-end models boasting up to 1,000 watts of power. Most machines offer an array of speeds to match, the majority carrying between 10 and 12 variable speed settings.

Stand mixers range in price from about $80 for a basic unit to more than $500 for an ultra-powerful high-end model. A wide variety of optional attachments, available for use with select models, can run the gamut from simple splash guards to the more esoteric sausage stuffers, pasta makers, and meat grinders. If you want a single machine that does it all, you can surely find it. Of course, extras such as increased power and specialty features also drive up the price tag, so be sure to choose according to your needs.

Stand mixers usually carry 1- or 2-year warranties. Higher-end units are backed by slightly longer warranties.

How to Shop

Selecting the right mixer is a matter of preference but will depend to a certain extent on how you plan to use the machine. Nearly all stand mixers can tackle basic mixing chores, but when it comes to more arduous tasks such as kneading bread dough, you will do better with a mixer that has added power. Also, if you intend to work your mixer hard on a regular basis, you should invest in a good quality mixer with quality metal construction. If, on the other hand, you want a unit simply for whipping up an occasional birthday cake or pancakes for Sunday breakfast, then a lower-end model should suffice. Other decision factors include the number of speeds, type of controls and attachments.

Stand mixers are known for their "hands-free" mixing and many units in this category live up to their reputation; however, "hands-free" does not translate to unattended. Mixing requires constant monitoring, and since stand mixers complete their tasks in a much shorter timeframe, you should always remain nearby to keep on eye on the mixing progress. That being said, certain models are definitely capable of working on their own while you retrieve the next ingredient or momentarily attend to another task in the kitchen. Models that are heavier will sit firmly on your countertop and won't move or "crawl" during mixing as some lightweight models tend to do. Some manufacturers have even added suction cup feet to keep their machines planted on the countertop during use.

Other things to consider when shopping for a stand mixer:

Materials and Construction
Stand mixers are typically made either from plastic, metal or a combination. Many low-to-mid range units are available with a plastic housing and a choice of plastic, metal or glass bowls. White is still the most prevalent color for stand mixers, although a number of manufacturers are now offering units in beautiful bold enamel finishes.

Top-of-the-line models in this category feature all metal construction and are built for heavy-duty use. High-end units boast all-metal die-cast construction and, while they are costlier, prove their worth in performance and longevity. These units are usually very heavy, weighing anywhere from 10 to 25 pounds.

Many stand mixers have a set of common features, including removable attachments, a tilt-up head and sturdy platform for the work bowl. A locking feature on the tilt-up head, found on many -- but not all -- models, is helpful, as is a rotating bowl rest. A few models feature gear-driven work bowls, which keep the bowl moving, even with stiff batters.

A different design that has gained popularity, used by KitchenAid and imitators, includes a single attachment (flat beater, dough hook or balloon whisk) positioned on a rotating disc, which not only spins the beater but also rotates it around the stationary bowl. This type of "planetary mixing action" is quite effective in terms of blending ingredients, since the beater reaches all areas of the work bowl. As a result, you rarely need to stop and scrape the sides of the bowl.

Speeds
Standard mixing speeds range from three to 15 speeds. The lowest speeds are best suited for light batters and for incorporating dry ingredients into liquids. Higher speeds are designed for heavy batters and dough, and for whipping cream or egg whites to stiff peaks. The highest speeds whip cream and egg whites to stiff peaks in considerably less time than you could by hand or even with a hand mixer. As a general rule of thumb, the greater the number of speeds, the less noticeable the transition between speeds. This is not necessarily a case where more is better. It is simply a matter of preference.

Controls
Although controls vary from model to model, the most common is a dial control that adjusts speeds gradually -- from low (slow) to high (fast). Other options include slide control levers, pushbuttons and thumb-operated switches that click into place at each speed. Some higher-end models also offer touchpad controls with digital display panels. The newest innovation in this area is a countdown timer, offered on select models, which offers precision mixing and automatic shutoff after the specified time has elapsed.

Power and Capacity
A basic stand mixer has a minimum of 225 watts of power and a bowl large enough to mix a standard batch of cookie dough. The largest models boast commercial grade power up to 1,000 watts, an amount that is probably unnecessary in most households. Many models come with two work bowls, in graduating sizes, the capacity determined by the size of the bowl being used. Stand mixer bowls range in size from 1.5 quarts to about 7 quarts.

The largest models in this class can mix enough food to feed a small army, including double batches of bread, up to 13 dozen cookies or 8 pounds of mashed potatoes.

The hand-stand mixer combination models are usually less powerful than traditional stand mixers. These units are typically hand mixers that come with a removable stand, which allows them to function either in handheld or hands-free mode.

Attachments
Standard equipment for a stand mixer includes a set of chrome or wire beaters, dough hooks and one or more mixing bowls -- usually made from glass, plastic or metal. More manufacturers are replacing the standard chrome beaters with heavy-duty wire beaters. These attachments are effective because they are usually designed without a center post, which commonly causes the dough to "climb" and clog the mixing action. Other accessories may include splatter shields, whisks and/or flat blending rods designed specifically for drink mixing.

Top-of-the-line units (and even some middle-of-the-line units) in this category offer the added advantage of being able to convert to a different appliance by simply adding an accessory. You'll find an assortment of optional attachments such as a food grinder, a pasta maker, a fruit/vegetable strainer, a rotor slicer/shredder, a grain mill, a citrus juicer, a can opener, a food tray, a temperature-retaining water jacket and a pasta roller/cutter.