Why Use a Stand Mixer?

Series Summary

A stand mixer is used for beating, whipping and mixing various foods. It is a more heavy-duty kitchen appliance than the hand mixer, and more effective if you plan to do a great deal of mixing. The head and body of a stand mixer are attached, with a platform for the mixing bowl. Depending on the stand mixer, the bowl or the beaters will rotate during the mixing process. The Kitchen Aid mixer featured in these clips has a classic design, which has changed little since the design was patented in 1918.

In this free kitchen appliance video, our baking expert will demonstrate how to use this workhorse mixer. Jennifer Cail begins with an overview of the parts of a stand mixer, then demonstrates various mixing attachments, such as the wire whisk, the flat beater and the hook. She also shows you various modes of operation, from slow mixing to high-speed whipping. To conclude the series, you will watch a video on how to clean your standing mixer so this powerful baking tool will last as long as possible.

Video Transcript

"First thing I would like to talk about of course is what defines the stand mixer. A mixer which is a stand mixer is the one which has the body and the head attached and has a bowl which is going to go into it. The only other type of mixer, the only electric type of mixer that you usually see is hand mixers and while they have they're own advantages a stand mixer is what you're going to want if you do a lot of work in the kitchen. This is a real work course it's going to cut through doughs and batters and whip up eggs and cream like nothing else. That is why it's really good to have this now there are a couple of different ways that you mixer could be built, this one has a top. You can have ones that lifts up and the bowl comes out that way and within this one this is unique in that. Instead of the bowl spinning you actually have the beaters which spin so you can see that part moving. This also has various attachments that you can have on it the top comes right off of it here so you can put another attachments on. But that is not what we're going to go over today we're just going to go over the basic functions of your stand mixer and why it's good to have one. What it's good for? What you can use if for? The best way to get the most of your mixer."