One of the most popular commercial kitchen mixers today is the planetary commercial kitchen mixer. Their wide range of sizes, functions, and shapes make the planetary commercial kitchen mixer a must-have for any food industry.
What is a planetary commercial kitchen mixer?
The mixing action of the planetary commercial kitchen mixer is the inspiration for its name. Compared to other mixers, a thorough mixing action is accomplished with the orbiting of the mixer’s blades from a central point.
This mixing action makes it the perfect mixer for batters and dough needing thorough mixing. The thorough mixing provided by the planetary commercial kitchen mixer also makes it the most ideal for cake icings and frostings and creaming sugar and butter.
What are the different kinds of planetary commercial kitchen mixers?
Commercial kitchen mixers are categorised into three main types:
Planetary spiral commercial kitchen mixer
Perhaps the most powerful kind of commercial kitchen mixer is the spiral mixer. Ideal to use for dense doughs, the rotating bowl with the spiral mixing arm in a fixed position minimises dough flexibility and punishment. However, the steep price tag of spiral mixers makes them the least ideal for everyone.
Planetary horizontal commercial kitchen mixer
Considered more powerful than vertical mixers, the horizontal commercial kitchen mixer is the ideal choice for baking in large batches and heavy dough. They are the easiest to maintain and clean as reaching into the bowl of the mixer is not needed. However, smaller commercial spaces may not find horizontal mixers ideal. Their heavier weight and larger size make them the best fit for big bakeries and restaurants.
Planetary vertical commercial kitchen mixer
A wide variety of food such as milk, doughs/ cream, and more gain a well-suited mixing action using the planetary commercial kitchen mixer. The compact size of the mixer makes it an ideal choice for both small and large kitchens. However, the mixer may not be suitable for bakeries involved in baking large batches of bread or cakes.
Things to consider when buying commercial kitchen mixers
Buying a type of commercial kitchen mixer needs a few things to consider, including:
Budget
The budget is the foremost consideration to think about when buying mixers. However, buying cheap is not ideal as well. Heavy-duty mixers may cost more but they are also sturdy and last for a long time. Investing in a high-quality mixer that lasts for a long time is the better option than going for a cheaper brand that needs replacement after a few years.
Kind of mixer
The options when it comes to the kind of planetary mixer are spiral, horizontal, and vertical. Your need determines the type of mixer to buy. The choice of a mixer depends on the batches you’ll be baking, the ingredients to be mixed, and the size of the kitchen area.
The functionality of the mixer
The different features of the various planetary mixer models have to be considered before making a choice. Some mixer models come with dough whisks and hooks. Some feature speed controls and timers. Knowing what you need determines the suitability of the kitchen mixer.
The capacity of the mixer
The capacity of the mixer has to be seriously considered as well. Planetary kitchen mixers range from the smallest countertop to the larger floor models. A mixer has to meet your needs for it to be considered the best choice.