Hand Mixer vs Stand Mixer: When to Use Them
When you are preparing any kind of food, especially baked goods, you often find yourselves in the need to mix your ingredients. But in this era of modern cooking appliances, you no longer have to do it manually. There are plenty of electric mixers you can choose from that can do the job for you! And the two electric mixers that are absolutely essential to your kitchen needs are hand mixers and stand mixers.
The Basics
- A hand mixer is a mixing device that has a motor within the top portion that makes the beaters move. It comes with a handle and it has to be supported and guided by your hands while you use it.
- A stand mixer is a more luxurious mixing device. The motor – which is usually more heavy-duty than that of a hand mixer – sits within a frame that works as the base for you to place your mixing bowl, holding the mixer in place.
Hand Mixer vs Stand Mixer
While both of these two types of electric mixers will decrease your manual labor, they have a great many differences that must be considered before you make a choice. Let us dive right into them:
- Attachments
Hand mixers are quite simplistic, usually just coming with a flat beater and/or a balloon whisk and dough hooks depending on the brand. This mixer should meet your everyday, basic mixing needs.
On the other hand, stand mixers usually come with a number of additional parts like a flat beater, balloon whisk and/or a dough hook. Moreover, some might have beaters have a silicon coating on the outer parts to help scrape off unmixed materials from the side to give you a much smoother mix.
Some can also house mincers, jug blenders, or food processors, meaning that you get to do a lot more with them than just plain mixing.
- Storage
Hand mixers require very little space in your kitchen. They are also quite easy to move around being such a lightweight appliance.
On the contrast, stand mixers will require much more storage space, especially if you consider the extra attachments. They tend to be pretty heavy and as such can be much more difficult to move. Therefore, you should select a good spot for the stand mixer on your counter and leave it there without moving it around a lot.
- Convenience
Hand mixers only mix where they are directed at. So while using one, you have to use your hands to guide them around the bowl for an even mixing. This requires a fair amount of work, especially if your batter is thick.
However, stand mixers will do the entire work on their own. You can even set a timer and check back later if you have something else to attend to. They also tend to be generally quicker.
- Cleanup
Since most hand mixers are quite basic, they can be fairly easy to clean. But how easy your stand mixer may be to clean will probably depend on its model. While some are comprised of parts that do not let food bits out easily, there are many models that allow you to detach certain parts and even put them in the dishwasher.
Another thing to consider is the amount of splashing your mixer will cause. As your bowl is not fixed in place when you are using a hand mixer, the contents can easily spill. A stand mixer is at an advantage here because it is fixed at a certain position and will likely have a larger mixing bowl.
- Cost
A hand mixer, being simpler and less powerful, will cost you much less than a stand mixer. This makes it suitable for you if you do not want to spend a lot of money. But the additional features and comfort that a stand mixer provides will be a good investment for the long-run as you will be getting an appliance that does a whole lot more than mixing.
Overview
If you don’t cook or bake on a regular basis, or if you are on a budget and don’t want to spend a lot of money on a simple mixing device, we would suggest you go for a hand mixer, as long as you do not mind the effort. But if you have a lot of mixing to do and do not mind spending a bit of extra money and have the storage space, a stand mixer is definitely a smarter option. Now that you know the basics of these two amazing appliances, time to get your own mixer and start whipping up some delicious dishes!
Sources:
- How to Use a Hand Mixer – WikiHow
- How to Use a Stand Mixer – WikiHow
