Do you know that many people have rediscovered their interest in baking during the coronavirus lockdown? Aside from reducing stress, baking creates the ultimate comfort food – bread, cakes, and pastries. Plus, baking brings out the nurturing nature of people as they nourish their families.
As a result of this new hobby, social media is flooded with pictures of home-baked bread. Plus, baking-related items like flour, sugar, and butter have been in high demand since the pandemic. Similarly, kitchen appliances and tools like KitchenAid Mixers, stainless steel bowls, rolling pins, and measuring cups and spoons are suddenly popular items.
If you want to join the baking frenzy, ask yourself some questions before choosing a suitable stand mixer. A stand mixer will save you time and energy while giving you better and consistent results.
What Are You Planning to Bake?
Check out interesting recipes. Do you want to start your baking journey with cookies and progress towards muffins and cakes? Or, are you planning to sell bread as a small home business?
Once you are familiar with the recipes and the quantity of food you intend to make, you will decide on your mixer’s capacity and accessories.
KitchenAid Mixers can also be used in making pasta like ravioli. Mixing ingredients for meatballs is a breeze with a mixer. Since the mixer is made from metal, its solid base reduces its tendency to slide. You can be busy with other activities while the mixer does the mixing on its own.
What Is Your Budget?
Although mixing ingredients is a common feature among mixers, the more expensive ones have the following features:
- Heavy-duty mixing
- Larger mixing bowls
- Various mixing speed settings
- More powerful motors
- Multiple attachments
Therefore, your choice of the mixer will depend on the frequency, volume, and kinds of recipes you will cook.
How Heavy Should Your Mixer Be?
As a general rule, heavier stand mixers will remain steady as it mixes ingredients. This feature eliminates your need to handle the bowl while it mixes.
Another factor is how often you will be using the mixer. Choose a light model if you will be getting the mixer in and out of storage frequently. If you are baking at least twice a week, keep the mixer on your kitchen counter instead.
How Many Speed Settings Do You Require?
Depending on the recipe, you will require different speed settings. The simplest models have three settings, while the more advanced mixers have up to twelve settings.
Some recipes start with slow mixing and progress steadily to faster settings. If you are trying out baking as a hobby, you can start with three basic speed settings. Once you gain experience, you can get models with additional speed.
How Will It Look in Your Kitchen?
KitchenAid Mixers are available in various colors like silver, red, pink, pistachio, and blue. Choose a color that blends with your kitchen décor. Nothing will inspire you to bake than a beautiful stand mixer in your kitchen counter.
Is It Easy to Clean?
Stand mixers have many attachments to wash. Therefore, make sure that the pieces are safe for dishwashing. To determine if a model is easy to maintain, check product reviews from people who own the same model.
Once you have started using the stand mixer, there is no stopping you from trying out more complex recipes. Dishes that you previously thought to be difficult will be easier to prepare with a durable stand mixer.
