Stand Mixers & Hand Mixers
Stand mixers and hand mixers are must-haves for any complete kitchen& the stuff of wedding registries, gift lists and any baker's pantry. The alternative is using a whisk manually, and even then you can rarely achieve the kind of effects these small kitchen appliances can craft in just moments. Whether you're an amateur chef, a master baker or an expert at food prep, you'll likely want a stand version on your counter—even opt for stylish colors from KitchenAid to lend a pop of personality to your kitchen. Keep this on your countertop, then pull it out when it's time to go to work.
Do I Need a Stand Mixer, a Hand Mixer or Both?
The answer depends on how often you bake and what you make. Stand models are made with one main purpose: to churn large quantities of ingredients for a long period of time if necessary. Some recipes require this, while others don't. For anyone who wants to up their game and start baking breads, craft multiple batches of cookies or brownies or use precision when it comes to certain tasks, these are a necessity. Another pro of these countertop models? Stand mixer accessories and attachments. These attach and can handle different tasks besides mixing, kneading and whipping. If you're a true chef and love trying out new things, you'll want to make sure you've got all the attachments you need, from pasta rollers to meat grinders and even ice cream makers. You'll be able to craft complete meals from scratch, from ground-beef ravioli to fresh mint ice cream.
In short—if ease and flexibility in recipe-crafting sounds like something you want, investing in a stand version is the right move to make. But if some of those attachments sound too complicated and you don't bake very often, a hand version may be perfect for you. You can use it to do many of the manual things a stand mixer can, but you'll need to use a little extra elbow grease. Other benefits include portability and simple storage: unlike their hefty counterparts, a smaller hand version can be taken apart and stored. In many cases, hand models are less expensive than their countertop counterparts, so if you're not sure which one is right for you, pick out a hand model and see how well you function with it. If you find that you need more power, functionality and might, it's time to upgrade to a stand model. It's truly a good idea to have both in your home.
If you're still not sure which model is right for your needs, you're in the right place. Our team of experts has been helping people outfit their kitchens with the perfect gear for cooking and baking for years. Give us a call at 800-860-3577 for advice tailored to meet your needs, or if you live nearby, head into our Gourmet Shop to see some of our most popular models in person. But if you'd rather do research from home, explore our expert mixer buying guide to learn more.
