Mixer Use/Maintenance Tips

You can use your mixer to help make a wide range of dishes, but only if you can correctly use it. Fortunately, mixers (especially hand mixers) are simple appliances to use, particularly if you have glanced over the owner’s manual. Mixers are especially helpful in making desserts such as cakes, cookies, and whipped cream, but they can also assist in mashing potatoes, kneading bread dough, and even making drinks.

 

Start your mixer at a low speed to prevent ingredients (particularly liquid ingredients) from splashing out. Some ingredients, such as nuts, are better mixed in by hand, but for the most part, mixing eliminates the need to manually stir in items. One minute of kneading in the mixing, for example, is equal to twelve minutes of hand-mixing. When mixing, as best as you can, avoid having the beaters scrape the bottom of the bowl; if you have a stand mixer, try adjusting the beater level at the head of the mixer.

 

After you finish mixing, take the beaters out immediately. If you leave the beaters in, food may harden around them and they will become stuck in the mixer (use cooking oil or a hot, damp towel to free them). Another preventative measure you can take is to wipe your mixer clean after using it so as to clean out crevices that trap ingredients. If you have a stand mixer, clean the body with a damp sponge and hand wash the beaters.

 

Some beaters are dishwasher safe, as are the bowls of most stand mixers. Whenever you wash your beaters, however, it is a good idea to dry them immediately so they do not rust. You can also put stand mixer bowls in the refrigerator, but avoid putting them in the oven.