Industrial mixer - equipment without which no enterprise associated with the manufacture of confectionery can do. We will talk about their features, types and manufacturers in this article.
Types and features of operation
As mentioned above, mixers are primarily used in the confectionery business, since their main function is to whip the mass, saturating it with air. In other words, without it, there will be no biscuits, no meringues, no creams.
There are mixers:
- Submersible. The closest visually close analogue is a hand blender with a whisk attachment. Convenient in that it allows you to work in any capacity. The main disadvantage is the need to constantly keep it, guiding. Large models have fasteners with dynamic supports that allow you to mount the submersible mixer on the vessel in which the product is processed.
- Stationary (planetary). Such an industrial food mixer is good because there is no need to follow it - you just add products to the bowl according to the flow chart, and that’s all. The term "planetary" means that in the process of work, a bowl (deja) and a whisk rotate around its axis. The main minus is the binding to a stationary bowl. Unlike the previous model, you can not choose the capacity to work on your own, but use the one that is included in the package.
At the same time, almost all planetary models designed for production include the following additional elements (in addition to the main corolla):
- nozzle "spatula" - is used to knead the fillings until smooth, grinding the butter for shortcrust pastry and so on;
- nozzle "hook" - used to knead yeast and custard dough.
First of all, you need to understand for yourself the fact that the mixer is not a mixer operator! Yes, it is possible to knead quite a good dough in it at one time, but it is categorically not recommended to practice it on an ongoing basis - the industrial mixer from such a harsh life will fail, not having worked out half the time allotted to it.
The size range of stationary mixers is based on the parameters of the bowl. Its minimum volume is 4.8 liters, which makes such equipment very similar to ordinary household equipment. It's a delusion. An industrial mixer, unlike a home mixer, is able to withstand heavy loads without loss of performance. In other words, household models can work for an hour or two a day at maximum (and then on the principle of “10 minutes work, 20 rests”), while industrial models without interruptions endure shifts of 8 hours.
Submersible mixer Robot Coupe
The most popular in the modern market submersible mixers of the French brand Robot Coupe. By and large, these are shredders that are equipped with a whisk nozzle.
Such nuances do not affect the operation of the unit. Submersible mixers are distinguished by the volume of the processed product, the total range is 1-400 liters at a time.
Mixer industrial KitchenAid
A legend among pastry chefs. The American brand KitchenAid provides a wide range of professional equipment - from a toaster to a waffle iron, but an industrial mixer is an irreplaceable favorite (rave reviews can be found everywhere). The declared life is a quarter of a century! The brand has only two models:
- Classic. An electric appliance with a 4.28 liter bowl is a modest but workhorse. Time-tested, but gradually leaves the market, as the model was replaced by the paragraph below.
- Artisan. This is not even a mixer, but a versatile kitchen machine. It is distinguished by greater power, productivity, is able to work for hours without harm to itself. It can be performed with a bowl of 4.8 liters (54,000 rubles) and 6.9 liters (75,000 rubles). It is, in fact, a kind of transformer. You can buy a lot of nozzles for the mixer, which will turn it into a dough sheeter, a juicer or even an ice cream freezer. There are a number of colors to choose from.
Great choice for small pastry shops. The main disadvantage is the small volume. According to reviews, we can conclude that many confectioners, along with one mixer, buy several additional containers, which allows them to work simultaneously with several types of dough and creams.
Mixer industrial Bear Varimixer
The representative of the heavyweights league. The Bear Varimixer brand factory is located in Denmark and supplies confectionery equipment worldwide. This is a truly unkillable technique! What is even worth the fact that since its inception (and this is 1951), the company has specialized only in mixers, honing parts, trying to provide its customers with impeccably working equipment. This brand is good where there is not enough KitchenAid working volume (even 6.9 liters in conditions of large production - this is very small).
The Danish company offers an industrial dough mixer with a bowl of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 200 liters. The price at the same time ranges from 50 thousand to 2.5 million rubles.
Mixers from China
Those who are not ready at this stage in the development of their confectionery business to invest in the above brands should pay attention to equipment from China. No need to be scared - in the process of work they behave no worse, the only thing is that their operating life is about 2 times shorter. Starfood has proven its best. Their units range in the size of the bowl varies from 5 liters (20 thousand rubles) to 80 liters (350 thousand rubles). This is a solid industrial mixer. The reviews of the owners will confirm the reliability and performance of such a machine. The only thing - to test them for strength with a cool test is not worth it.