sprinklefingers

i have a kitchenaid stand mixer.

i also have a sunbeam mixmaster heritage series. i planned a very extensive post detailing the ins & outs of ‘battle mixer,’ but all that shit was, well, boring.

here’s the thing: almost everyone has used a kitchenaid, right? it’s got a deep bowl, its head tilts back away from the bowl so you can attach your paddle, whisk or hook. you pull on a lever to clunk from one speed to the next. the bowl stays in one place while the attachment mixes around. it’s a weighty mixer. get one with enough wattage and it becomes perfect for heavy duty mixing chores. kitchenaid mixers come in a rainbow of colors with an even brighter rainbow of accessory attachments.

but the mixmaster is different. altogether different, actually. first, the bowl is a bit shallow. the head tilts back from the bowl - but you then attach two paddles, whisks or beaters. those turn around while mixing - BUT - the bowl does, too. the mixmaster has two motors - one for the beaters and one for the bowl. and changing speeds with this gem is as easy as turning a dial…the speeds change super smoothly, not at all like the clunky kitchenaid.

all of this said, and keeping in mind my extensive testing over the last week, i have to say that i like the mixmaster a tinybit more than the kitchenaid.

why?

well, i’ll tell you:

• the mixmaster mixes batters LIKE A DREAM.
• i barely have to scrape down the mixmaster bowl.
• the mixmaster’s speeds change incrementally - therefore, very smoothly.
• the mixmaster’s bowl is offset which makes easy/clean work of adding ingredients while the mixer is running.
• the mixmaster is called mixmaster (for crying outloud!)
• the mixmaster is light.
• the mixmaster’s bowl never gets stuck on the mixer (this happens to me ALL THE TIME when mixing a lot of thick dough in my kitchenaid.)
• the mixmaster has old-school style beaters so my kid won’t miss out on the joy of licking them clean.

but, even with all that praise, the mixmaster wouldn’t be my first choice for a few mixing jobs. i’d still turn to my kitchenaid for mixing most thick yeast doughs. and cookie doughs. and, of course, kitchenaid offers a world of accessories turning the mixer into a meat grinder, sausage stuffer, ice cream maker, pasta roller, veggie shredder, etc. so, kitchenaid wins, hands down, in the versatility department. the mixer can be many, many machines in one - and that makes it pretty much amazing.

but, seriously, if you’re just looking for a mixer to help you out with everyday mixing jobs and you don’t see yourself grinding & stuffing your own sausage in the future, the mixmaster is for you.

and if we’re comparing prices…the mixmaster is worth every penny of it’s (super reasonable) $129 price tag. with the kitchenaid coming in at around $300 (plus additional cash if you want any accessories,) the mixmaster is pretty much perfect.

my week of mixer battles:

vanilla cake batter
winner: mixmaster

peanut butter
winner: mixmaster

chocolate cake batter
winner: mixmaster

marshmallow base
winner: mixmaster

brioche dough
winner: kitchenaid

i declare the mixmaster the winner of battle mixer!

ps: yes, i totally get that the mixmaster isn’t as pretty or iconic as a kitchenaid. but looks weren’t a factor in this here battle, so there.