Here’s how to choose the right mixer for food processing for your next baking project!

Baking is great fun, but if you are planning to bake a lot of items all at once you need to make sure if you have access to the right equipment. Mixing up the cake batter for several cakes and kneading dough for a loaf can soon take it out of you. I sometimes wonder how my granny managed, once a week she would bake for most of the day. My arm aches like crazy after beating enough egg whites for just one meringue or making icing for just one cake.

Let Modern Kitchen Equipment Take the Strain

That is why most keen bakers invest in a countertop mixer, blender or food processor. These really are invaluable pieces of equipment. As you can see when you click here, they come in a range of sizes and formats. However, you do need to do a bit of research before buying one. You need a device that is capable of doing everything you want.

Will it Be Up to the Task?

The first thing you need to do is to sit down and make a list of the chopping and mixing tasks you do most. You can use this list to make sure that the countertop device you buy can manage all of those jobs. Taking this approach will narrow down your options.

For example, if you want to make bread you will see that you need to buy a stand mixer rather than another device. This is because blenders and food processors do not have dough hooks. However, if you want to make my oatmeal flour you will need a food processor or blender.

Is it Big Enough?

You also need to think about how much you usually make in one baking session. If you generally only cook a small loaf for you and your partner, a compact stand mixer may be all you need. But, if you are cooking for a big family, you will want to buy a full-size one.

Storage

If you are short on storage space, make sure you buy the kind of food processor, blender or mixer that allows you to stow the accessories inside the bowl. You do not want to have to leave your mixer out on the counter because it is too big to fit it in the cupboard.

Ease of Cleaning

You need to look for a device that is easy to clean. Not all mixer bowls are dishwasher-proof, which is something to bear in mind when shopping.

Noisiness

If you like to bake early in the morning or late at night, when everyone else is in bed, you will want to look for a device that has a reasonably quiet motor. This is especially important if your kitchen is located directly under the bedrooms.

If you are still not 100% sure what type of blender you should be buying, you may find this article useful. It is written by Which?. They are a UK-based consumer group, so you know that the advice you will find on that page will be impartial.