Stand Mixer vs. Hand Mixer: What’s the Distinction?

A mixer is an important equipment in any baker’s toolkit. However does the kind of mixer matter? In any case, stand mixers can price as much as tons of of {dollars} and take up helpful counter high house. You would possibly surprise in the event that they’re definitely worth the funding, or if you will get away with utilizing your electrical hand mixer as an alternative. 

The reply actually is dependent upon what you’re making. Whereas each home equipment serve completely different functions, you’ll be able to usually use one or the opposite in recipes that decision for a selected mixer. Study what every brings to the desk so that you get essentially the most out of both instrument. 

What’s the distinction between a hand mixer and a stand mixer? 

Hand and stand mixers are each thought of “electrical mixers.” They’re capable of whip, whisk, beat, and cream lots of the identical combos of substances, however they work fairly in a different way. 

A hand mixer sometimes comes with two “beaters” that connect to its base. The beaters spin in reverse instructions at varied speeds to combine substances and/or incorporate air. Gripping the deal with, you progress the beaters across the bowl to make sure even mixing. 

A stand mixer has a specialty bowl that attaches to its base. A paddle/beater, whisk, or dough hook connects to a single rotating head that permits the attachment to maneuver across the bowl. This lets you merely take note of mixing pace. Sometimes, you have to to scrape the underside and sides of the bowl to evenly incorporate the substances.

Advantages of a stand mixer

Stand mixers are way more versatile than hand mixers. Their attachments can accomplish nearly any baking activity, from beating to whipping to kneading. Aftermarket attachments, like pasta makers and meat grinders, can remodel any stand mixer into an all-around kitchen workhorse. Past their versatility, stand mixers are considerably extra highly effective than hand mixers, which can quicken any mixing activity.

Stand mixers are greatest outfitted to deal with giant batches of cookie doughs and cake batters. The dough hook makes them the higher instrument for many bread doughs, particularly these which can be stiffer or are enriched with butter, sugar, and/or eggs, in addition to recipes that decision for in depth mixing, like Italian buttercream or marshmallows.

Such recipes can take an exceptionally very long time with a hand mixer, which will not be the arm exercise you need. You can additionally threat overheating the motor, which introduces a brand new set of issues.

Advantages of a hand mixer

Hand mixers are smaller and lighter than stand mixers, which makes them simpler to maneuver and retailer. You may just about use a hand mixer with any bowl you could have available. Fashionable hand mixers may include further attachments, like a single whisk, a pair of dough hooks, and/or a mixing rod (a small model of an immersion blender), which considerably improves their versatility.

Due to their maneuverability, hand mixers are higher than stand mixers for smaller batches of batters and doughs and small portions of cream and egg whites. Most stand mixers received’t make sufficient contact with a small quantity of butter and sugar for creaming, or heavy cream or egg whites for whisking to any type of peak.

When to make use of a hand mixer vs. a stand mixer

It’s at all times greatest to make use of no matter mixer is really useful in your recipe, however there are occasions when you’ll be able to simply substitute one for the opposite. Listed below are some good normal guidelines: 

When you need to use a hand mixer or a stand mixer

• Use both a hand mixer or a stand mixer for creaming and aerating butter and sugar. A hand mixer will take roughly 25% to 50% extra time, however it can get you to the identical place.
• Cake batters and cookie doughs will be made with both a hand mixer or stand mixer. If utilizing a hand mixer with cookie dough, be ready to do some further stirring and folding along with your palms. And have a spoon or spatula able to deliver the dough collectively on the finish.
• Use both mixer (or each) in case you have a number of parts of a recipe to combine. Or, purchase an additional bowl in your stand mixer. 

When you need to use a stand mixer

• Use a stand mixer for giant portions, similar to recipes that produce greater than two dozen cookies, or greater than a single-layer cake.
• Combine and knead bread doughs with a stand mixer. If you do not have a stand mixer, it is higher to knead the dough by hand.
• Use a stand mixer for recipes which have lengthy mixing occasions, similar to marshmallows and European-style buttercreams. Should you use a hand mixer, be ready to combine not less than 50% longer.
• Use a stand mixer when you want to multitask, like if you pour sizzling sugar syrup into whipping egg whites for buttercream. Hand mixers are, effectively, too hands-on so that you can do a lot past holding the mixer (and doubtlessly, the bowl). 
• Whip three or extra egg whites with a stand mixer.

When you need to use a use a hand mixer

• Whip cream with a hand mixer until you’re making a big amount that makes use of greater than two cups of cream. It’s straightforward to over-whip cream with a stand mixer; run it on medium pace and punctiliously watch the cream.
• Whip small portions like one to 2 egg whites with a hand mixer.
• Use a hand mixer when working over a double boiler.

The underside line? It doesn’t matter what instrument you could have available, you’ll be able to combine up one thing scrumptious.