Which is better - a blender or a mixer for home according to customer reviews

It is easier for a housewife to prepare a dish if she has the appropriate kitchen appliances at hand. New electrical appliances for the kitchen are constantly appearing, which makes it more difficult to decide on what you need. In addition, some models may even have similar functions. So, there is still a struggle over the question of what is the difference between a mixer and a blender. These are English names for the technique, which are literally translated as “mix” and “prepare the mixture.” The article will help you decide for which cases a mixer is more suitable, and for which a blender, and how this technique will generally help in the kitchen.

What is a blender used for?

The working element of the blender is quickly rotating steel blades. They do an excellent job with tasks such as chopping vegetables, grinding food into a soft, homogeneous puree, and even crushing ice.

To prepare a small portion, it will be convenient to use an immersion model, and for processing a large volume, a stationary model is perfect. The design of a hand blender consists of a handle with controls and a “base” with knives.

The kit may also include small containers for chopping vegetables and a whisk attachment for whipping.

A stand blender is a tall bowl with blades at the bottom. Sometimes the kit may include a mill attachment for grinding coffee, nuts or spices.

Using the device is quite simple: you place the food in the container, close the lid, press the button at the appropriate power, and in just a couple of seconds the ingredients will be crushed. With a stationary blender, preparing smoothies or purees will not be difficult.

Blender or mixer - what to choose?

First you need to understand: for what purposes such a device is needed. To do this, analyze the operations that you most often do in the kitchen. Understand which ones cause irritation and reluctance to do it. Actually, the choice is small. Practice shows that such operations are:

Beating ingredients for a dish;
Grinding components for subsequent mixing;
Mixing products in a certain proportion.

It may turn out that you do not like all these actions. Now you should study the assortment of stores selling household appliances. Today this is not at all difficult to do. The shelves are simply bursting with various kitchen appliances from world brands. Do not hurry. Check with the store manager. And only then make your choice.

Remember the basic rule: if you like to bake, then buy a mixer. It is designed for beating dough and preparing cream. When there are other dishes on your menu, it is better to buy a blender. It is capable of grinding any product.

What is a mixer used for?

It is important to note that the difference between a mixer and a blender is that the former ensures mixing of products using whisks made of durable metal.

The kitchen appliance is used for whipping eggs, cream, cream and making cocktails, because its rapidly rotating beaters give an airy texture to liquid ingredients.

Just like a blender, there are two types of mixer:
Manual model - it must be lowered into the future dough or cream, holding it by the handle on the body, and, slightly changing the position of the hand, beat or mix well.
And a stationary model , which, in turn, is equipped with a control panel on the body and a large removable bowl for whipping large quantities of products. Usually it has two types of attachments: a whisk and a spatula, necessary for mixing dense dough. The convenience lies in the fact that this model frees your hands, allowing you to take on other work.

Features of choosing a blender ↑

By entrusting our choice of equipment to a store consultant, it often turns out that we are promised almost a home robot that can easily take on any culinary experiments. But in practice, we end up with a broken blender that failed to cope with the task simply because it was not provided for by its technical characteristics . To prevent this from happening, before going shopping, it would be wise to find out how different types of devices differ, and at the same time, whether you should believe the tempting “two-in-one” offer.

Submersible and stationary ↑

There are two main types of blenders, which differ significantly not only in appearance and operating principle, but also in the number of functions they perform.

A stationary device consists of a housing with a container and a lid attached to it. The bowl contains knives that can be either removable or non-removable (of course, the second option significantly complicates the cleaning process).

A stationary appliance is good for a large family and a spacious kitchen

Pros: quickly copes with large volumes (bowl size varies from 0.7 to 2.5 liters), perfectly shakes various cocktails and liquid mixtures, does not require additional utensils, works autonomously, without requiring the presence of the hostess.

Cons: not suitable for preparing small portions, takes up a lot of space in the kitchen, has limited functionality.

Important! Most inexpensive stand mixers will not cope with pureeing food without adding liquid - only the bottom layer in contact with the blades will be processed. For the same reason, it is impossible to crush ice, coffee beans, herbs or nuts in them.

An immersion blender - in addition to the simple chopper we have already discussed, can be additionally equipped with a bowl (or even several) and replaceable attachments. The difference with the stationary model is that the motor of this device is located in the handle and is not “tied” to the container. Therefore, such a blender is more functional, compact and can fully replace even a food processor.

Multifunctional blender with food processor functions

To decide between a stationary and submersible model, you need to decide on the processes that you would like to perform using these devices. When it comes to preparing various cocktails, smoothies and pureed soups for the whole family, choose a stationary blender. But if you plan to prepare children’s portions, grind ingredients whose density is greater than that of boiled vegetables and soft fruits, and even use various attachments for shredding, cutting into cubes or strips, buy a multifunctional immersion blender.

Interesting! Potatoes are one of the few vegetables whose puree cannot be prepared with knives alone, only with a special attachment. Due to the large amount of starch, the mass becomes sticky and completely unappetizing.

With and without additional attachments ↑

As already mentioned, a modern chopper can replace several kitchen assistants at once. But the functions it performs directly depend on the presence of suitable additional elements.

The following attachments for hand blenders are popular among housewives:

Whisk for beating eggs, sauces, creams, creams and batters. Most often it is made of thin wire and has the shape of a drop.

A removable whisk attachment can replace a missing mixer

A dough mixer is a spiral-shaped whisk or hook for kneading thick dough. Its value is very questionable, since the dough needs to be cooked for at least 5 minutes, during which it is tiring to hold the handle of the operating device in your hands. In addition, the dense mass creates an increased load on the motor.
Milk frother - a nozzle with a small, rapidly rotating disc-tip will prepare fluffy foam for cappuccino.
Attachment for potatoes - to prepare lush mashed potatoes, you can purchase a special square mesh that will crush the tubers well and will not turn them into paste.

The puree attachment is a great alternative to a hand masher

Important! The more attachments included in the kit, the higher the price of the device. If you only need a blender for making purees or smoothies, even a model with a minimum configuration will cope with this task. There is also no point in overpaying for additional functions if you already have a separate mixer, coffee grinder, dough mixer, vegetable cutter or meat grinder in your kitchen.

With and without chopper ↑

In addition to the basic attachment with knives, several additional choppers may be included with the blender. How much they are needed is up to you to decide, but remember that their presence will also affect the cost of the device.

Mill - a small diameter glass suitable for grinding coffee beans, ice, spices, Parmesan, nuts, chocolate and other hard ingredients.

Important! This attachment only works effectively with devices whose power exceeds 400 W.

A voluminous bowl with a lid and removable knives is designed for chopping meat, fish, and raw vegetables.

The chopper can save the housewife from “onion” tears

On a note! Sharp knives and good blender power will help you chop even raw meat, but you won’t be able to prepare homogeneous minced meat better than a meat grinder - the veins and films will have to be selected manually.

With food processor functions ↑

In addition to choppers and handle attachments, the device can be equipped with various plastic knives or a wave-shaped circle for whipping all kinds of creams, batters and egg masses for omelettes and biscuits. Shredders for cutting fruits and vegetables into shapes are also popular. Typically, nozzles are offered for cutting into strips, cubes, and a grater with large and small cells.

Examples of extended configuration:

Examples of advanced configurations

Kitchen appliances

In addition, in expensive models, the kit may include a juicer, a meat grinder attachment, and even a vacuum pump. The last device is designed for pumping air from containers equipped with special valves. This function is useful for increasing the shelf life of various products both in the refrigerator and without it.

On a note! One container is usually offered by the manufacturer with the pump, but it has a small capacity, so to effectively use this feature, other containers will have to be purchased separately.

Advantages and disadvantages

Now that we have figured out what each device consists of and what it is intended for, it is necessary to identify the advantages and disadvantages.

Blender advantages:

Capable of grinding cooked or raw vegetables and fruits, as well as hard foods;
Allows you to bring the ingredients to a homogeneous consistency;
Has high speed and power;
It has huge potential in terms of functionality with additional attachments.

And there are no minuses:

Heats up quickly and therefore requires a break during operation;
With its help it will not be possible to achieve an air mass;
Has a loud noise;
The stationary model is intended only for obtaining liquid or semi-liquid consistencies (except for the mill attachment)

Despite the versatility of a blender, the quality of individual actions can be significantly worse than that of specialized equipment. This is important to understand when choosing kitchen equipment.

The mixer also has its advantages and disadvantages:

Mixer advantages:

Easy to obtain airy and light texture of dough or cream;
Suitable not only for whipping liquid ingredients, but also for kneading various doughs;
Due to the lower power, it does not heat up too much, so it can be used for a long time;
Whisks ingredients quickly and easily.

Of course, the device has some disadvantages:

It will not be possible to grind solid components, even if you try;
Will cause difficulties when whipping and mixing thick and dense masses;
Just like a blender, it makes noise when working.

Now let's move on to the models

We'll start with mixers that have a bowl

MOULINEX HM 41213E

The model is interesting with its good power, which is enough for kneading dough and whipping anything, with a rotating bowl, which is made of high-quality plastic; choice of up to five speeds; turbo mode; a good rubberized handle that allows you to hold it comfortably and securely in your hand; possibility of removing the mixer stand with bowl. Accordingly, the mixer can be used separately.

BOSCH MFQ 36460

This mixer is good, like the previous model, but the plastic is already white. This model is easy to hold in your hand and switches speeds, moves smoothly and is not loud.

Now let's look at a mixer without a bowl

The model is notable for the fact that, unlike the model with a bowl, it has less power, but the performance is the same. Four speeds, turbo mode, which will allow you to quickly finish the mixtures or kneading dough if you are running out of time. Oh, yes, I forgot to add that such models are assembled not in China, but in Europe.

When can it be used outside of the rules?

You can always do something not according to the rules, you just need to be careful and careful. Same with the blender. You can use it to whip cream!

To do this, you need a whisk attachment and a high container, which, most likely, is already included in the kit. It is important to set the device at low speed so as not to get oil instead of air foam.

It is highly not recommended to use a metal attachment with blades, because whipping will still not work, expensive products will spoil, and this is quite sad.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that the cream must be cooled in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours, or even overnight, before use.

Although you won't be able to get very active with a mixer, you can experiment with chopping soft foods (such as bananas). With enough diligence, you can bring the consistency to a puree state.

What's better

Grinding, shredding, mixing food - all these processes occur in the kitchen with enviable regularity.

As you can see, each device has its own skills. The following conclusions suggest themselves:

if non-solid ingredients are being processed and the question arises, what is easier to beat the whites - with a mixer or a blender, then the answer is obvious - it is better to prefer a mixer;
blender – grinder of solid products. It will easily “crush” vegetables, fruits, nuts and even ice. The blender turns all the components into a single mass, so making cocktails with it is a pleasure.

Despite the fundamental difference between these two types of equipment, manufacturers found a solution - they began to produce combined models.

It is best to have both a blender and a mixer on hand in the kitchen. The first one can handle most tasks with ease, especially if it is equipped with a whisk attachment. The mixer will be a godsend for those cooks who require really high-quality mixing of ingredients.

2 in 1 mixer with blender attachment

A 2 in 1 mixer is a combination that makes it possible to take into account all the user’s needs and get delicious dishes using one device. Grinding vegetables, turning into puree, whipping light cream or kneading dough are some of the many possibilities of this product, and it’s great!

In order for each function to work smoothly, there is a control panel for switching speeds, as well as a Turbo mode.

The unit combines all the qualities of its fellows, thereby simplifying the life of the owner. If there is a small child in the house, then a 2 in 1 mixer will help you quickly chop vegetables and meat and mix them into a consistency convenient for feeding.

Besides, you always want to surprise your guests with an unusual dessert. Such a unit is undoubtedly necessary for preparing various types of baked goods, be it cakes with fruit filling or pastries.

It is important to understand that 2 in 1 devices can either have low power, allowing you to use only a few functions, or be super versatile, activated by a light touch of a button.

No matter how wonderful the technology may seem, there will still be some shortcomings. The weakness of a mixer with a blender attachment is the unequal distribution of power between operations, so most often meat grinders do not do their job well enough.

In addition, large units weighing more than 10 kg require a separate place for them, usually on the table, since getting them out for each cooking session is quite problematic.

The most attractive for experienced housewives turned out to be compact desktop devices, which quickly and easily filled the market compared to bulky and impressive models. Amateur cooks, in most cases, prefer easy-to-use mixer-blenders from the budget line, because their chopping ability and bowl volume will do an excellent job with a small amount of eggs or preparing the most delicate puree.

Functional purpose of the mixer

The working element of the mixer is one or a pair of rotating whisks made of high-strength metal, which ensure mixing of liquid and bulk ingredients into a homogeneous mass and saturating it with oxygen . The range of devices differs in performance and form factor. The devices are divided into two types: hand-held and tabletop.

The mixer allows you to turn egg whites, sour cream and cream into a light foamy mass, prepare creams, and beat pancake dough. Using a mixer, you can prepare homemade mayonnaise and beat the butter.

On a note! For kneading thick dough and mixing viscous ingredients, mixers with a powerful motor are equipped with hook-shaped rotating attachments made of steel rods, as well as an attachment with knives in the form of a small immersion blender.

Mixer Kitfort KT-1330 on Yandex Market

Mixer Gemlux GL-SM-88 on Yandex Market

Mixer Kitfort KT-1336 on Yandex Market

Mixer Bosch MFQ 36480 on Yandex Market

Mixer Gemlux GL-SM6.8 on Yandex Market

Which is more convenient to use and store?

It is extremely important to take care of kitchen appliances, because the duration and quality of use depends on it. It is necessary not only to ensure the cleanliness and integrity of the device, but also to store it correctly.

Failure to comply with the required conditions may be grounds for denial of warranty service. Let's try to dive a little into this topic and find out what nuances there are.

Oddly enough, the answers to most questions are found in the manufacturer's instructions, in the sections devoted to storage and operating conditions. In turn, there should be recommendations for extending the service life.

General requirements for the maintenance of kitchen appliances:

It is advisable to place the most necessary devices in easily accessible places. Let them be arranged in several rows on the shelves;
Categorize, for example, cocktail utensils and the like;
Place the lightest and most compact devices on the top shelves, and large and massive equipment on the bottom shelves. It is better to allocate a separate section in the kitchen for bulky units;
Planning your workspace and furniture in advance will allow you to quickly access tools;
Long-term storage requires removal of removable parts. To ensure that nothing gets lost, it is better to put everything together in a shipping box.

Not recommended:

Store devices on their sides;
Place small equipment on a vibrating surface and operating equipment;
Store appliances on the floor.

As we have already defined, mixers and blenders are divided into stationary and manual. Now let's take a closer look at the ease of use and storage of each of them.

Let’s make a short list and carefully cover it point by point:

The first place is occupied by manual models due to their compactness. Finding a place for them on the shelf will not be difficult. As practice shows, they must be light so that they fit more comfortably in the hand, although they still won’t be able to be used for a long time. Such devices are great for small families, as they are designed for small portions.

Next we have miniature stand mixers and blenders . We touched on this point a little in the “2 in 1 Mixer” part. The peculiarity of these units is that the cook’s hands are free during the process, so it becomes possible to move on to other work, for example, while the dough is kneading, you can quickly crumble the future filling.

On the last line of the list are large models of stationary mixers and blenders . A separate place for such devices needs to be prepared in advance; for small kitchens it will be problematic to allocate a certain area, creating a comfortable workspace. For this reason, this technique is more suitable for professional cooks who cannot do without large bowls and a powerful electric motor.

Sooner or later there comes a time when equipment breaks down and fails. This happens either due to improper use, or simply due to wear and tear over time. No matter how much this saddens us, we should not give up, we must try to find a solution to the problem.

Simple repairs require desire, tools and some initial skills in the field of electronics and electrical engineering.

Consumer Reviews

Below are reviews from consumers about whether they use a mixer or a blender:

Blender Blade Repair

Hardly anyone can sharpen blender knives on their own without a special tool and a decent amount of experience, but everyone can replace a dull part according to their strength.

To do this you will need:

Disconnect the device from the power supply;
If you have a stationary model, then remove the bowl;
Using a wrench, unscrew the nuts and remove them;
Take the knife using the cloth;
Considering the left-hand thread, unscrew.

Usually the kit comes with a spare blade, but if you don’t have one, you’ll have to buy a new one, based on the model name.

Cleaning required

Before starting work, be sure to unplug the device from the outlet.

Unscrew the ring nut, which is located under the blade holder;
Using gentle movements, clear the knife from the stuck object;
If the integrity of the blades is damaged, replace them with new ones;
Wash the parts with detergent under running warm water;
Dry and assemble thoroughly;
Check functionality.

To repair a mixer, it is important to know its internal structure, understand how this or that part works and what its breakdown will lead to.

The device consists of:

Engine;
Mode switching mechanism;
Gears;
Removable whisk attachments;
Fan and ventilation holes;
Cord strips.

Breakdown of the mixer is most often associated with disconnection of contacts in the internal structure, violation of the integrity of parts of the electric motor and gearbox, or damage to the power supply in the cord. Let's look at solutions to such problems.

If there is no power, then you need to check that the plug is connected correctly to the network and that the cord is unbroken. If the latter is still damaged, it should be replaced. If the gearbox malfunctions, the gear stops rotating, so it is easier to update the part.
The lack of rotation of the rim symbolizes damage to the planetary mechanism. If an uncharacteristic click is heard when turning on, it is necessary to check the rotation of the gears and the safety of the electric motor belt.
Problems with the switch lead to disruption of the speeds. If the switch is autonomous, then only a specialist can handle it.

If it is based on mechanics, then it is necessary to check the location of the wires and clean the contacts from dirt and dust. The burnt wire needs to be replaced.

If you were unable to find out the cause of the breakdown on your own, you should contact a small household appliance repair service. Sometimes there is absolutely no choice but to buy a new device of better quality.

Which model is better to choose?

A few tips from experts in the field of household appliances will help you solve the dilemma and decide on the choice of device:

if there are small children in the family, it is better to use a blender - the device will help you instantly prepare pureed vegetables or fruits with the ideal consistency;
fans of sports nutrition will also find a blender useful - they can make a protein drink or smoothie in a matter of seconds;
A blender will also be an indispensable assistant for housewives who often prepare homemade baked goods - preparing dough and creams will definitely not take much time;
to create a homogeneous or porous structure, you will need a compact mixer - a simple and easy-to-use device that can instantly cope with light tasks;
if the unit is purchased for infrequent use, a mixer with 2-3 speeds and several attachments included will be a good solution.

Let's sum it up

So which is better - a blender or a mixer? There is no point in comparing anymore.

Having information about the structure of devices, functionality, advantages and disadvantages of a particular type of model, we can easily say that this technology complements each other.

Every self-respecting housewife should have both a mixer and a blender on hand, because thanks to them a huge range of different delicious dishes is revealed.

But you have to make the choice between a stationary model or a manual one, a budget line or an expensive one, advanced functionality or a simple device.

I hope you found this article helpful.

What is the difference?

In the process of cooking, there is often a need to beat, stir or chop various products, and it is worth noting that for many operations both a mixer and a blender can be used.

To figure out which device should be used in each specific case, you can use a special table of the most common operations with products.

Type of transaction	Blender		Mixer
Type of transaction	Stationary	Manual	Mixer
Shredding vegetables/fruits	Yes	average	No
Making puree	Yes	average	No
Grinding nuts/breadcrumbs	average	Yes	No
Ice crushing	Yes	average	No
Making cocktails	Yes	average	average
Beating whites/yolks/eggs	No	average	Yes
Making homemade mayonnaise	No	No	Yes
Batter for pancakes	average	average	Yes
Dough with the consistency of thick sour cream	No	average	Yes
Pie dough	No	No	Yes

Manual analogues

Hand whisking is the easiest way to replace the mixer. To obtain the desired consistency of the ingredients being prepared, use:

an ordinary whisk;
table fork;
glass jar and a lid under it.

The principle of using a fork and a whisk is the same, you just need to beat the ingredients with your hands. The main disadvantage is that you cannot manually reach the mixer speed.

It is necessary to speed up your hand movements as much as possible. This method will be sufficient for whipping protein cream and butter.

Using a jar is slightly different.

Place the ingredients in the jar.
Close it tightly with the lid.
Start shaking the contents as fast as possible.
Within 5 minutes you can achieve the desired result.

TOP 3 best mixers

Kitfort KT-1343

A universal device with many programs and functions that simplify the work.

A powerful stationary mixer with a planetary mixing system that fully complies with high quality standards.

During operation, the installed nozzle rotates around its axis and quickly moves in a circle, thoroughly mixing the loaded products.

A high-power engine and a sufficient number of attachments allow you to obtain a mixture with an ideal consistency.

Specifications:

power – 1000 W;
number of speeds – 6;
number of nozzles – 3;
case material – plastic;
weight – 4.5 kg.

Advantages

quality of materials and workmanship;
elegant and stylish design;
almost silent operation;
intuitive interface;
the presence of an easily removable protective cover.

Flaws

the whisk does not reach the edges of the bowl while beating;
slight odor from the protective plastic cover;
short time of continuous operation.

Bosch MFQ 3010

A highly reliable device that combines multifunctionality, high-quality assembly and an affordable price.

An ergonomic two-speed model with four attachments included, which is powerful enough to complete any task.

An important feature of the electric unit is the high quality of materials - thanks to this, the device is reliably protected from mechanical damage.

The mixer also has a pulse mode for quickly mixing ingredients.

Specifications:

power – 300 W;
number of speeds – 2;
number of nozzles – 4;
case material – plastic;
weight – 0.9 kg.

Advantages

easy removal and replacement of attachments;
accelerated operation in pulse mode;
reduced sound power level;
compact design and light weight;
high strength materials.

Flaws

slight heating of the plastic case;
there is a slight vibration during whipping;
the appearance of a specific odor when operating at high speeds.

Philips HR3745/00 Viva Collection

An attractive multi-tasking mixer that stands out for its quiet and long-lasting operation.

A planetary mixer, presented in a durable snow-white plastic case and complemented by suction feet, necessary for a stable positioning of the device on the work surface.

The design is equipped with a capacious bowl designed for 3 liters of liquid, a cone-shaped whisk for whipping and hooks for kneading dough.

Specifications: