Choosing the best stand mixer for your needs

A stand mixer is essential for those who love to bake. These powerful appliances can whip up a batter, dough, frosting or meringue in minutes and come with a stunning range of features that allow you to customise them to your exact cooking needs. They can also be used for all of your other food preparation needs, including mixing large batches of ingredients for sandwiches, sausages, sauces, mashed potatoes and much more. At Kitchen Warehouse, we have innovative stand mixers for any purpose. Shop the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixers for mixing, kneading and whipping or go for the Pro Line with 10 optional attachments for mashing, stirring, shredding and more. We also have the Sunbeam Mixmaster that converts to a hand mixer plus the trendy Smeg 50’s Retro Style Stand Mixer to add a pop of colour to your countertops!

Sticks to tilt-head stand mixers - types of food mixers explained

You can find 3 main types of food mixers and the best one for you will depend on your cooking needs and personal preference.

• Stand mixer - A stand mixer sits on the countertop and does all of the work for you. They typically come with a mixing bowl and attachments. You can find tilt-head stand mixers that have a switch to lift the head and add ingredients or bowl-lift stand mixers with a stationary head and a lever to move the bowl up and down.

• Hand mixer - A hand mixer is a handheld device with two electric beaters that can be used to whip and mix batters. They may come with different attachments and are small for easy storage.

• Stick mixer - Stick mixers are held by hand and used to blend smaller amounts of foods. They’re great for blending food directly in the bowl or pot and for smoothing out lumps in batter and sauces.

Stand mixer vs. hand mixer - what’s the difference?

Stand mixers and hand mixers can both mix ingredients to perfection but they are two very different appliances. The right one for you will come down to your individual needs, habits and budget. Check out the pros and cons of each:

• Stand mixer pros - Go hands-free, mix larger quantities of food, comes with many attachments and features for completing a multitude of tasks

• Stand mixer cons - Heavier and take up more room, more expensive

• Hand mixer pros - Small and easy to store, affordable, great for smaller batches, ideal for beginners

• Hand mixer cons - You have to hold the device for the entire time, less powerful, can be more messy than stand mixers

A stand mixer is more than just baking - potential uses

While a stand mixer is excellent for those who love to bake, their many attachments make them great for many other food preparation tasks, too. You can use them to:

1. Whip mashed potatoes

2. Mix meat fillings for meatballs, patties, sausages and more

3. Make homemade ice cream

4. Whisk eggs for an omelette

5. Make sauces and dips

6. Shred meat, fruit and vegetables

Standard attachments included with a stand mixer

Stand mixers come with attachments included, while many also give you the option to purchase additional attachments for more specific food prep tasks. Most mixers will include the mixing bowl, the beaters and a dough hook for kneading bread. The Kenwood Chef KVL8300S Titanium XL also comes with whisks. The KitchenAid Artisan series is an iconic range of stand mixers that come with a wide assortment of attachments. You can find a mixing bowl, whisk, dough hook, flat beater and pouring shield with the KSM150 in Empire Red. The KSM160 comes with 2 mincing bowls and 10 variable speed settings, while the super stylish KSM180 Limited Edition model includes all of this plus features a stunning black and white textured design and 15 optional attachments.

Factors to consider when buying a stand mixer

These factors will help you to purchase a new stand mixer that is just right for your needs:

• Size - Your stand mixer will need to sit on the kitchen countertop, so choose a size that will fit comfortably in the available space.

• Weight - A heavier stand mixer is ideal as it won’t move around on the bench when used.

• Price - Stand mixers vary in price depending on brand and features. price range.

• Power performance - A stand mixer with a powerful motor will glide easily through even the thickest batters and mixtures with ease.

• Capacity - The bowl capacity will determine how much batter or dough you can fit inside. Opt for a larger bowl and stand mixer if you work in big batches.

• Wattage - A quality stand mixer should be at least 200 watts but can go up to 1000 watts for maximum power and longevity.

• Speed settings - Variable speed settings will allow you to have 100% control over your batters and mixtures.

• Materials - Most mixing bowls are made from lightweight stainless steel, but you can also find glass and ceramic bowls.

• Individual cooking needs - A stand mixer with many optional attachments and features gives you the ability to customise your food prep to your exact needs for perfect results.

• Look- Stand mixers come in many different colours from the classic KitchenAid Artisan KSM160 in Matte Black, Onyx Black and Almond Cream to fiery reds and pastel shades, such as Pistachio, Dried Rose and Lavender.

• Ease of use - A stand mixer that has dishwasher-safe attachments will be much easier to clean while a detailed instruction manual will make using it a breeze.

• Noise level- Quality stand mixers should be quiet to use, but larger ones will typically make more noise than small mixers.

Features to look out for

These extra features will make using your new stand mixer even more convenient:

• Versatile attachments

• Heavy-duty beater

• Scraper beaters

• Whisk attachment

• Single dough hook

• Meat grinder

• Pasta maker

• Splash guard

• Bowl lock

• Suction feet

• Spring-loaded tilt head

• Height-adjustable mixing tools

• Stainless steel bowl

• Release button

• Timer

Cuisinart, KitchenAid and more - brands we know and trust

Discover all of your favourite brands at amazing prices that are lower than RRP. Pick up a powerful stand mixer by icons like KitchenAid, Kenwood, Breville, Healthy Choice ,Smeg and Sunbeam.

Buying online with Kitchen Warehouse

Kitchen Warehouse makes it easy for you to prepare and cook food exactly how you want with our extensive range of appliances, from stand mixers to coffee machines and juicers. Pop your favourite products onto a wishlist for buying later or checkout now with free delivery over $100 Australia-wide. We also have gift cards so that your friends and loved ones can choose the exact stand mixer that’s right for them!

FAQs:

What can you do with a stand mixer? A powerful stand mixer, like the KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer, is a versatile, all-in-one appliance that allows you to prepare both sweet and savoury ingredients. With the right attachments you can:

• Mix batter

• Knead bread dough

• Whip cream, potatoes, eggs and sauces

• Shred fruits and vegetables for salads

• Make homemade ice cream

• Blend meat for patties, meatballs, sausages and more

Why should I use a stand mixer? Like food processors, a stand mixer makes food preparation fast, easy and mess-free. Check out these major benefits of adding a stand mixer to your collection:

1. They are hands-free! A stand mixer takes the hard work out of mixing, stirring and more.

2. They come with many optional attachments that allow you to mix, whip, stir, knead, mash and shred depending on your needs.

3. They come with variable speed settings and other options for customisation.

4. They allow you to add ingredients as it mixes or stop and lift the head to add ingredients without getting batter all over the floor and countertops.