How to choose a mixer for home?

Engineering idea works constantly and never tires to work for the benefit of mankind. Any queries that lead to the human activities easier and more comfortable, put into practice one by one. There is no doubt that such an unwritten requirement was at the time created and the mixer - electric appliance, which is mixed, kneaded and vzobot whatever it takes in your kitchen. He is, if not the king of the kitchen, it is clearly one of the leaders kitchen appliances in today's economy.

How to choose a mixer? How not to make mistakes and find the one that will meet all your needs? What is different from the mixer blender? Answering these and other questions in this article.

Mixer or blender

These two devices are different. Blender is designed to shred everything. To this end, it is equipped with nozzles with sharp knives and the motor, which gives a very high speed. Mixer blender slowly several times and nozzle with knives is only in some cases, as an additional option. Its main tools: the beaters Whipped mixes and dough hooks.

If you need the functions and mixer and blender, give preference to the mixer, which has blendernaya nozzle for shredding. So you "kill two birds with one stone" by purchasing one household appliance for the kitchen just two functional.

types of mixers

1. Manual.
2. Stationary, including planetary
3. Combined.

Hand mixer

Hand mixer mobile, as none of the entire family of mixers. It is not tied to a place, so you can use them in any part of the premises and any dishes. To the mixer was easier to hold in your hand, its body is made of plastic and is provided with a relatively small engine capacity.

Another plus hand mixer - he is easy to control the cooking process, you can see perfectly everything that happens in a pot. It is compact, so easy to hide in the kitchen cupboard. Typically, a standard set of nozzles: a pair of beaters and hooks for kneading. Easy to disassemble and clean.

Among the few drawbacks is worth noting the low power, on average, from 200 to 500 watts. Knead the dough for ravioli with such capacities hand mixer will not be able to do. Although, there are models with motor power up to 700 watts. If you intend to use this device almost daily, choose a power not less than 400 watts.

stationary mixer

By stationary devices are already mid-market. Their main advantage - they have completely free hands hostess, and thus save her time and energy. While mixer is doing his job, you can safely engage in any other business.

Stationary mixers are more productive than manual. Due to a more powerful engine and a larger set of features and functions. The average power in the range of 500-800 watts. On such a device, it makes sense to entrust the work of kneading dense products.

As the name implies, this mixer has a stationary stand, which is hidden in the engine and the working bowl. The housing may be made of plastic or metal. The greater capacity of the mixer, the greater the need to "shackle" it into metal to give strength and stability.

Among this group there are models of mixers, which in addition to tips, additional turns more and the cup. In this mixing is obtained of better quality, since it allows the nozzle to seize all the "corners" of the bowl and stir the mixture thoroughly for one and the same unit of time.

Among the shortcomings of the stationary mixer is worth noting its dimensions, for which it is necessary to find more space in your kitchen. Also, its high cost relative to the manual models.

planetary mixer

You mixer for at home or on a planetary scale? This, of course, a joke. But there is a great deal of truth in it. Planetary mixers - a group of the most powerful instruments, which are a type of stationary models. Such devices used by professional chefs in restaurants and cafes. And if you also have to very often in serious volumes oven and cook pasta dishes, then this class is for you mixers.

The operating principle of the planetary mixer is that his head moves around its axis and at the same time across the chalice circle. Hence the name, for the similarities with the way the motion of the planets of the solar system.

This principle makes it possible to achieve a perfect result, the nozzle will work the mixture over the entire cup capacity, without neglecting any one centimeter. And it all happens in a short time, as the planetary - one of the most powerful mixer. Their power begins between 600 watts and reaches a maximum around 2000 watts. Therefore planetary models are available to process real time consuming processes.

Planetary mixers are divided into domestic, semi-professional and industrial. For those whose business is to bake at home cakes and pastries, it makes sense to turn our eyes to the semi-professional model.

To withstand heavy loads, which are assigned to the planetary model, their body is always made of metal. He must be very stable, so the weight of 10 kg, even though you are not surprised, there are mixers, and much heavier.

High performance weight, sizes and prices - the only drawback of the planetary units.

combined mixer

If you connect the handheld and stationary mixer into a single model, you get a versatile instrument average price category. Some manufacturers include such models to the manual, the other - to fixed. It's hard to argue with one another, and because all are right.

These models have a stand with the cup and at the same time, disconnect the hand-held device. You only need to select the desired mode of use, based on the situation. The power of such models is not high, close to the performance handheld devices.

Specifications

Power and speed

The most important feature to select the mixer - it's his power. From it will depend on the speed of the unit of work and its performance. But remember that the price of the mixer, and power consumption are also in direct proportion to its power characteristics.

To prepare lung mixtures, such as creams, sauces, batter for pancakes will suffice mixer with a capacity of 150-250 watts. In this mixer will be mastered in no more than 500 grams of product. For denser structure products need more powerful device (300-400 W), which can process approximately 1000 grams of the mixture. If we will focus on large quantities and on such a dense type of test, such as dumplings, then less than 600 W and expect not worth it.

Number of rates in the mixers starts from 2 and ends with the 16th. Each processing speed corresponds to a specific set of products. Usually it is shown directly on the mixer body by means of icons or in the instructions to the device. Liquid products are best processed at high speeds, and dry to avoid flew at low.

The presence of different types of speeds also allows fine-tune the process of mixing and whipping one and the same product, since a slow speed, and speeding up its process of change result in bowl.

Modes and functions

Mixers can have three modes available to them:

1. Normal.
2. Pulse.
3. Turbo.

In normal mode, all mixers are working. You set the desired speed and turn on the device. All the usual operating mode. But the other two modes do not meet all mixers and is not always a pair.

Pulse mode runs a separate button, and the mixer running, as long as you hold the button. The harder you press it, the greater will be the speed of rotation of the nozzle. As soon as you release the button or to ease the pressure on it, the appliance will stop or slow down. This mode is convenient to operate when needed special care when working with products.

Turbo mode is necessary in cases where it is necessary quickly, in just a few seconds to bring the finished mixture to the ideal state, for example, to remove the last small lumps. When you press the «Turbo-mode» button, the mixer operates at the highest possible speed, but not for a long time for him.

Additional functions in the mixer a little. The most common and available in almost all models - this button ejection nozzles. Its presence removes the need to make efforts to remove the nozzle from their nests. When you press the button, pop-up tips themselves.

The second and third function do not occur often. One of them - the presence of a timer that stops the process in the time you set. And if there is no timer, and you forget about the mixer is running, then you will save the function "protection against overheating." She also handy if you accidentally reboot your device number or quality of the product. If the mixer stops to cope with the load, "overheat protection," it will stop.

Options mixer

Bowl

Bowls are equipped with combined landline and mixers. There bowls of plastic, metal and glass. The most eco-friendly - it's glass, but they are also the most fragile.

But the most practical would be a bowl of stainless steel. Strong and durable, it will last until you get bored. Only a portion of each metal in a mixer, as you may guess, will have to pay.

Bowls made of plastic are less durable, tend to deform, but come in different colors or transparent, which makes it possible, however, as in glass, to observe the processes taking place in them.

By volume of the bowl may be between 1 and 6 liters. In the semi-planetary mixers meet the bowl 10 liters and more. Very useful if the mixer bowl has a lid. This protects against splashes and allows to refill or fill up the product through the opening, which is usually always in a cover.

With regards to the spray, there is one more point. Whatever the volume was not your cup, use it to the full, you can not, or spray in all directions you provided. Therefore, keep in mind that the cup is always filled up to three quarters of its volume.

nozzles

Whip and hook - the most common tips. We hand mixers usually come in pairs, so conceived design. They may be of different shapes depending on the destination. For example, for the dumpling dough is one hook and the other to butter.

Planetary mixer standard has three nozzles made from hard metal: whisk, a hook and a nozzle for preparing various purees, sauces and creams.

The more expensive models can keep picking up to 5 types of baits. For some blenders, you can not buy additional attachments, depending on your needs.

additional tips

1. Immersion blendernaya nozzle. It is used for soups, purees, sauces and cocktails. Similar to the nozzle hand blender.
2. Universal shredder. It is a plastic container with a nozzle-knives. Designed for grinding nuts, onions, garlic, cheese and other, similar in hardness products.
3. Nozzle for mashing. The shaft with the disc, which has guide.
4. Dear stationary latest generation of mixers can have attachments: meat mincer, juicer, testoraskatka, grater. As a result, your blender becomes a food processor, which can not only whip cream, make a cocktail or knead the dough, but also to cook the stuffing, squeeze fresh juice, chop vegetables and to make sheets for lasagna or noodles pasta.
   

Popular models

When you have decided on the type and characteristics of the future of the mixer, you just have to choose the manufacturer and model specific. Below are a few examples of the most popular models of mixers in different price segments.

• Among the low-cost segment of hand model on the first place Moulinex HM 4101. She's big enough for hand mixer power of 450 W, and this allows the cooking medium density test. In addition: 5 speeds, turbo, two standard nozzles and their disconnection button. Powerful and easy. Price in the region of 3,000 rubles.
• From the family of Philips users distinguish two models: HR1459 / 00 Daily Collection HR1560 and model. They are much cheaper than the same Moulinex HM 4101 because inferior in power. HR1459 - is 300 watts of power, HR1560 - 350 watts. Price, respectively, 1,700 and 2,700 rubles.
• One of the cheapest and popular mixers - a Polaris PHM 3013. His data: power 300 W, turbo, 5 speeds. Nozzles have, making an effort, to remove himself. This is perhaps its only drawback. Price ranges from 1350 rubles.
• Hand mixers with increased features and tips for the price already clearly pass the threshold of 3,000 rubles, reached the amount of 5,000 rubles. These models have included, in addition to standard beaters and hooks blendernuyu nozzle, and some more, and universal shredder. The most popular model: Braun HM 3137, Moulinex HM 411 110, Bosch MFQ 36480 and Bosch MFQ 4070. Their power of 450-500 watts.
• Among the combined models, which are in the same price range as the hand mixers with a larger set of features, are three rotating model with cups and a capacity of 450 W: Philips HR3745 / 00Viva Collecion, Moulinex HM 4121 and Bosch MFQ 36460.
• Stationary mixers in the price range of 4-10 thousand rubles have chosen their leaders and Russian models Gemlux Kitfort brands. Gemlux have some of the best models - this is GL-SM312, GL-SM-88 and GL-SM5.2GR. Their thickness from 1000 to 1200 watts. In Kitfort: CT-1324, the KT-1330, ranging from 800 to 1000 watts.
• Planetary mixers spread of preferences and the prices varied. The leaders beat out Smeg SMF 01 at a price of around 50 000. Also power 800 W, 10 velocities and high carbon steel gears, it has unusual retro design and choice of housing 6 colors.
• In second place in the ranking of a buying worth Turkish Sinbo SMX-2734. Its price reaches a very small planetary mixer for a value of about 8000 rubles. It must be admitted that the manufacturer to save a lot on the body, which is made of plastic. And also, it is not the cup lid, which protects against splashes. But enough good power of 800 W and a function "overheat protection," may to some extent compensate for its shortcomings. However, as the price.
• The third leader in planetary models - an American KitchenAid 5KSM150PSE. Reliable 11-pound operating unit 1600 watts. It operates quietly and confidently, has 10 speeds. It has a price of 50-60 thousand rubles.