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There are so many kitchen appliances these days that deciding what you need can be confusing. While these appliances make cooking easier, knowing which ones you actually need will save you time and money. Those who find themselves cooking on a regular basis may decide to invest in several mixers and blenders to serve their needs. So, what is the difference between a kitchen mixer and blender? Here are some basic information hand mixers, stand mixers and blenders.

Blenders- The container that comes with the blender can be made of plastic, glass or stainless steel and contains markings with measurements. Blenders can be used for many different things but are best at making smoothies, milkshakes, purees, soup, and crushing ice. Typical ingredients that would go in a blender include fruits, vegetables, yogurt, milk, liquids and ice.

Hand Mixers- Most people are familiar with the hand mixer. The hand mixer is a small, motorized kitchen appliance that is lightweight and portable. It allows you to mix ingredients in one bowl quickly and with less effort than mixing it manually. Nowadays, electric hand mixers are most popular, allowing the experienced cook to whip up something for cooking and baking within a reasonable time frame.

Stand Mixers- If a hand mixer is best for smaller jobs, a stand mixer (or kitchen stand mixer) is best for medium to large jobs. They are quite an investment, so you will have to decide if you really need one (or if you just really, really want one!) Kitchen stand mixers are “hands-free” and can be used to mix thick bread dough and cake batter, whisk egg whites, and prepare large batches of food at a time. Kitchen stand mixers typically come with 3 attachments: a dough hook, flat beater, and a wire whisk. The dough hook is for kneading, the flat beater for cake batters and the wire whisk for eggs and such. Other attachments, such as pasta rollers, food grinders, sausage stuffers, and ice cream makers can be bought at an additional price.