Choosing the Best Commercial Mixers for Your Kitchen

One of the most useful and versatile pieces of commercial kitchen equipment you can invest in is a mixer. With the attachments and features that match your needs, the right mixer can do a multitude of different tasks and save time, boost efficiency, and increase production. The most important factor in selecting the right mixer is to know your needs; both your needs today, and what you anticipate or hope your needs will be in the future. The following are important questions to consider before making your purchase.

What Will You Be Mixing?

Different materials will require different mixers. If you are mixing light batters and eggs, the demands on your mixer will be different than if you’re mixing hundreds of pounds of pizza dough each week. Determining the absorption ratio (divide the pounds of water by the pounds of flour) will help you to decide which type of mixer is most suitable in your kitchen. The lower the absorption ratio, the more difficult it will be to mix the dough, and the more powerful mixer you’ll require.

What Type of Usage Are You Expecting?

All commercial mixers are designed for hard use. However, that does not mean that all commercial mixers are made for the same sort of jobs. Check the manufacturer’s literature for more information to determine if the mixer is suitable for your place of business. Here is a sampling of what each type of mixture can do. Light Duty Mixers Light duty mixers are best suited for occasional duty, either a few smaller batches each day or perhaps moderate use a few days each week. Standard Duty Mixers If you are regularly whipping egg whites, whipped cream, cake batter, or light bread dough, then a standard duty mixer will perform best for these tasks. Heavy Duty Mixer If you are regularly mixing bread dough or pizza dough, a heavy duty mixer is preferable. They also have more accessories, which increase their usage. How Much Will You Be Mixing? The amount that you will be mixing also plays a significant role in determining your choice of mixer. A five to twenty-quart mixer is sufficient for a smaller restaurant. If you are making pizza or work in a bakery, a forty-quart or larger mixer can accommodate the workload better.

Mixer Types

Planetary Mixers A planetary or vertical mixer has an agitator that turns on an offset shaft while the mixing bowl remains stationary, similar to the orbits of planets around the sun. Planetary mixers feature a variety of attachments that enable you to mix an array of items such as dough, meringues, puddings, and icings. Many feature a hub to allow you to add attachments for grinding, grating, chopping, and slicing. Dough Mixers Dough or spiral mixers contain a spiral-shaped agitator that remains stationary while the bowl revolves around it. This design makes it possible for mixing large quantities of dough at one time. Dough mixers are used to produce a high volume of dough quickly. Vertical Cutter Mixers Vertical cutter mixers are characterized by a large covered mixing bowl, a high horsepower motor, and an interior agitator that enables them to perform a number of functions, such as mix batters or sauce, chop nuts, chopped cooked meat, and knead dough.

Mixer Features

Mixer Size Your mixer needs will determine mixer size. Smaller or countertop mixers with less than ten-quart capacity are designed for placement on countertops.  Medium sized or stand mixers of ten to twenty quarts are designed to be placed on an equipment stand. Anything larger than 20 quarts is considered to be a floor mixer and is designed to be placed directly on the floor. Mixer Speeds Typically, mixers are designed with several different operating speeds for the movement of the agitator or the bowl. Some mixers allow you to change speed while the mixer is in use. This feature will speed productivity. Not all mixers are designed with this in mind. Some require you stop the mixer first before changing speeds. Check the manufacturer’s literature before making your purchase. Horsepower Larger mixers usually have higher horsepower motors than smaller models. More horsepower allows the mixer to mix more ingredients at a time and is required to mix thicker or stiffer dough like pizza dough. Bowl Lift Planetary mixers usually have the mixing bowl attached at the sides near the vertical column.  The bowl can be raised and lowered either manually or automatically. The manual method is the most common. The bowl is manually lifted through either a gear or lever. Electronic bowl lifts enable the bowl to be lifted automatically through the use of buttons. Final Thoughts It is important to determine how often and the sort of tasks you will use your commercial mixer for before making an investment. Mixer size, style, and horsepower are all important features when deciding which mixer to choose for your kitchen.