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A mixer in the kitchen can speed up your work. It can make your work easier. This wonderful invention can stir saucers and gravies. A mixer can mash potatoes. It can cream sugar and shortening. And, of course, a mixer can mix batters. Mixers come in three styles: portable, stand and convertible.
The portable mixer is held in your hand. You direct the pair of beaters around a pan or bowl. This type of mixer has a light-duty electric motor. It uses from 100 to 150 watts of current. It is mainly used to stir thin batters. Models with higher wattage can stir thicker mixtures. A portable mixer can be used to make packaged cakes, puddings and gelatin. It is useful for whipping cream and beating eggs. And, it is easy to store. It can be kept in a drawer or hung on a wall.
Unlike the portable mixer, the stand mixer haas a rather heavy frame with the mixer head at the top. There is a wide base big enough for large bowls or a bowl turntable. To make sure that things get mixed properly, the beaters usually turn the bowl and turntable as they mix. Some stand mixers use from 200 to 400 watts of electricity. Those with high ratings can mix thick batters and mix bread dough. Because of their size and weight, stand mixers are usually left in place on a kitchen counter.
The convertible mixer is similar to the stand type mixer except than the head can be removed for portable use or storage. Heads of heavy-duty models, however, may be tiring to hold.
On all mixers, speed control switches or dials should be well located. They should be easy to read. They should have an “off” setting for safety. Some mixer controls only have settings for high, medium or low speeds. Other mixers have speed controls that have a better range.
Some mixers have extra attachments or parts you can buy. For instance, bowl sets, plastic beaters for non-stick pans and hooks for mixing dough are all extras. You can get wire whisk beaters for whipping and flat beaters for creaming. Some of these things may be added at no extra cost when you buy your mixer. Other attachments may have to be bought separately.
Almost all attachments have one thing in common – they make kitchen work a little easier.
