Planetary Mixers

A planetary mixer is an adaptable kitchen appliance often called an 'all-purpose' mixer due to its ability to perform various tasks and is commonly used in professional kitchens and is ideal for bakeries. It operates at multiple speeds and is ideal for combining wet and dry ingredients. The design features a static bowl with a mixing arm that moves, mimicking the motion of planets, which is where it gets its name. This mixer doesn't just mix dense bread and pizza doughs and pastries; with the appropriate attachments, it can also prepare sauces, meats, and potatoes and perform slicing, beating, and grating functions. Mixing at higher temperatures is another advantage, as it can produce firmer, thicker, and denser doughs suitable for various culinary applications.

All mixers come with essential attachments like a dough hook, beater or mixing paddle, and whip or whisk, perfect for various mixing tasks such as kneading dough and whipping cream, whether that's with a small commercial mixer, a 20 litre planetary mixer or a larger model. Additional accessories are available to enhance its functionality, including cutters for quick slicing or chopping, vegetable preparation attachments that enable slicing, dicing, and shredding, and meat mincers for fresh, quality ground meat. These interchangeable attachments expand the mixer's capabilities, making it an invaluable tool in commercial kitchens for efficiently handling diverse culinary tasks.

The hook, beater, and whip attachments for 20 litre mixers and 30 litre planetary mixers, plus other sizes, are crucial for different baking tasks: the hook efficiently handles heavy doughs like those for doughnuts, pizza, and bread; the beater or paddle is best for lighter batters such as waffles and cakes; and the whip or whisk is ideal for airy mixtures, perfect for meringues, beaten egg whites, and whipped cream. These attachments are indispensable for achieving the desired consistency and texture in various recipes.

The mixing capacity of, for example, a 30 litre mixer or 40 litre mixer, is not the same as its bowl capacity; it's usually less due to factors like the mixer's motor power, which affects capacity based on the consistency of the bowls contents—whether dry or liquid—and its consistency. The type of flour used, the temperature of ingredients, moisture content, and absorption ratio also play roles in mixing capacity and mixing speed, especially since doughs with lower absorption ratios are harder to combine and thus have lower capacities. These considerations are key to maximising the mixer's efficiency in commercial use.

To determine the absorption ratio for a 60 litre planetary mixer, for example, simply divide the weight of the water or other wet ingredients by the weight of the flour or other dry ingredients. This will give you the hydration level of your dough, which is essential for achieving the desired texture and quality in your baked goods. Accurate measurement is important for maintaining consistency, especially in commercial baking.

Choosing the right commercial planetary mixer, whether it's belt driven or gear driven, depends on your kitchen's specific needs. Gear-driven mixers are more durable, making them suitable for heavy use and dense doughs, but they are noisier and require stopping to change speeds. Belt-driven mixers, on the other hand, allow speed changes during operation and are easier and cheaper to maintain, though they may not be as long-lasting. Your decision should be based on the kitchen's usage intensity, dough types, noise preference, and maintenance budget.

Planetary mixers come with either fixed or variable speeds. Some models like the Kingfisher TS240 40 litre Planetary Mixer - EB40, will offer three fixed speeds suitable for various mixing tasks. On the other hand heavy duty mixers feature variable speeds, allowing more control over the mixing process. The speed settings are crucial for these all-purpose mixers, as different speeds are needed to perform multiple functions, from gentle blending to vigorous kneading. It's important to consult the user manual for the recommended speed settings for different types of food and quantities to ensure optimal results and maintain the mixer's longevity. If you're looking for a food mixer to primarily prepare dough, including bread and pizza dough in restaurants, bakeries and pizzerias, rather than perform a range of tasks as planetary mixers are designed to do, then spiral mixers are the preferred choice. Read more about the Difference Between Spiral & Planetary Mixers.

Planetary mixers typically feature removable bowls. This feature allows for simple transfer of mixture to other containers, which is particularly convenient when quickly processing large batches or multiple recipes. The removable bowl also facilitates cleaning and can significantly increase output by allowing a clean mixing bowl to be attached and used immediately after the previous one is removed. The removable bowl is a key advantage in commercial settings where efficiency and speed are essential.