Planetary vs Dual Beater Mixers

[rp2813]

Anthony --

Is that modern cord on the C-10 keeping you awake at night? 

 

I don't bake a lot, but my mom sure did.  Once she got a Hobart/KA  K45SS she never looked back, even though the mixer it replaced was a smokin' (but not literally -- that was the '49 Sunbeam) 1950 Westinghouse with infinite speed settings.

 

I never had a stand mixer of any kind in my kitchen until I met Dave.  He bought a KA KSM90 Ultra Power in the late 80's and ever since, planetary is the only type of stand mixer we've used. 

 

I keep a few vintage dual beater hand mixers around for smaller jobs, and I particularly like using my compact yet weighty 3-speed Oster "Knee Action" model shown here.

 

 

 

 

 

[waterwitch]

@rp2813

Haha, YES! I first bought the Hobart with the idea of it being early... turns out it was made in 1952. Needless to say I'll be parting ways with it just as soon as I can get my hands on an earlier model.

 

[ronhic]

Having both vintage and retro mixmasters with and without (model 9) bowl fit beaters and a kenwood chef electronic, and having used mixmasters and chefs since I was 10 (33 years), I prefer a mixmaster with bowl fit beaters for anything other than doughs.

Kelly did a creaming exercise with kitchen aid v's mixmaster not that long ago and the mixmaster beat it blades down!

On the issue of pavs and meringues, nothing beats egg whites up like a mixmaster...and cakes have a much finer texture.

 

[norgeway]

I use...

MANY different mixers, im using a model 11 Sunbeam now, but if I had to choose just one....hands down, my 1956 Kenmore,no comparison!!

 

[petek]

Anything to do with 1956 was simply the best

Myself I use either a KA or Rival handmixer for the small stuff like cake and pancake batter. I use the big Sunbeam as a handmixer for mashing potatoes right in the pot and I use my Bosch Universal for heavy stuff like bread and cookie dough, loves my Bosch, wouldn't trade it for anything except another one.

 

[mixguy]

Mixer Preferences

I desired to collect mixer just to see which mixer I would like the best. I learned that is not one model that is the best to had all recipes well. I prefer cakes made by the creaming method rather than the one-bowl, two-stage or paste mixing methods. One revision of the Betty Crocker Cookbook had all "shortened" cake recipes written in both formats. A Mixmaster model 7 or 9 and the Betty Crocker mixer with built in timer, were pictured in the book.

If you read the advertising or their instruction booklet of a model made during the 1950s you would think you had the finest mixer made! regardless of manufactuer!

I have worked with and own Sunbeam models 9, 12, EM, V-14, MM, 901-10D, 901-9C
GE models M 6, M 8, M 25 and a Powermaster model
Hamilton Beach models G, H, K, & 25 all with the guarded beater assembly.
Hamilton Beach Custom 200 having the built in power drive (14 speed)
Westinghouse Foodcrafter
KitchenAid models K-45SS, KSM5, and a metallic chrome Artisian model.
I like using the beater blade over KA new Flex-beater. The beater blade's slight spiral shape speeds up mixing with less motor effort compared to KA's own beater. The GE and Westinghouse models do not allow the beater positioned close to the inside edge of their bowls, requiring assistance and rubber spatula scraping.

 

[mixguy]

Sears-Kenmore

The Kenmore mixer pictured by norgeway was rated best by CU back in 1956.

 

[tolivac]

Mashed potatoes

Like the Sunbeam MM for this job---makes the smoothest-creamiest ones yet!The KA or Kenwood ones are lumpy.The twin whisk mixers do the best job for mashing.when I used the planetary machines for mashing--started out with the paddle type blade.then used the whisk after adding the milk or cream-used it very breifly at high speed-too long and the potatoes get gluey.

 

[tolivac]

Guess we need to look for 1956 KN mixers!!Never used one-always were exposed to Sunbeam MM-then KA.My Mom,Stepmom,and Grandmother had MM.What sort of attachments did the KN 1956 mixer have-the extra parts were always fun!

 

[launderess]

@sudsmaster

Later though research found out the Sunbeam shown in snaps one posted above (sold on fleaPay) was one of the last "MM" (IIRC) models Sunbeam sold of the Mixmasters, commonly and often referred to by collectors as "PlasticMasters"

Though still incorporating the bowl hugging beater design in many models, these last of the series were mainly all plastic or metal upper housing with plastic underneath for mixer, all plastic base. Some models did not have the bowl shifter lever either. Port for attachments was removed and the area became the spot for beater ejector button.

Sunbeam featured an "American Classic" series of mixers all these lines that came out in the 1980's or 1970's (cannot remember). This entire style is referred to as the "Brady Bunch" since Alice had such a Sunbeam in the kitchen. Would love to say "Mrs. Brady's kitchen" but don't think she spent much time cooking....

All and all plastic aside these later mixers aren't all that bad according to some. Certianly are better than the China built stuff that came later (Sunbeam switched production from the USA to Mexico, then later to China). Underneath the housing these mixers are pretty much the same as the "V" and Mixmaster series that preceeded them, and IIRC the 12 series as well. What is different in some respects (again this is from reading comments, cannot be sure) is that certain tweaks were made to give these units more power for the watts. Oh another good thing is that the plastic housed units are lighter. This makes them easier to use when detached from the base as portables.

Sunbeam is one company that has been raped and pillaged by corporate raiders for the past 40 years or so. This accounts for the often cheapening of the brand and attempts to simply trade on the fame rather than produce a quality product.

Sunbeam in it's early years never pulled a "Dormeyer" that is having several flavors of mixer on the shelf at the same time. But later as the company changed hands like a cheap tart at a prison rodeo that changed.

In general methinks other stand mixer makers suffered from Sunbeam being the "Bendix" of mixers. That is having patented the bowl hugging beater system others had to find other ways. Hobart went one way when introducing the Kitchenaid mixers to housewives, HB, Dormeyer, and the rest did so as well.

Really is some what of a shame Sunbeam didn't decide to keep the "Power Master" series. Bet if they had worked out the bugs those units would have been the rival to KA mixers as intended.

 

[launderess]

Creaming vs One Bowl

Ever since one was allowed to bake in Mother Dear's kitchen used the creaming method for cakes where required. Then several years ago picked up/came upon Rose Levy's "Cake Bible" and thought, sweet mystery of life at last I've found you.

Or so one thought.

While Ms. Levy does have unique approach to making "shortened" or butter cakes, did not know it was simply a variation upon the old "one bowl" method that had been around for ages. It really only dawned upon me when reading through my vintage (circa 1970's) Better Homes and Gardens cookbook last week. Further confirmation came later that day when hitting my again vintage "Joy of Cooking" .

Am going to try baking a pound cake soon using my old creaming method to see what one has been missing. IIRC the one bowl methods gives up some volume for the sake of producing a more tender "melt in your mouth" cake.

 

[hunter]

"Cake Bible"

I use this book as a reference, but interestingly enough, have never made many of the recipes in there.

They just aren't to my taste.

However, I DO use some of her components - like the icing recipes, and such.

And the interchange charts about ingredients are invaluable if you are working for people with allergies. Example: for my gluten intolerant wife, I calculated how much protein was in high gluten flours and made equivalent substitutions with gelatin. It gives better results, especially as she cannot eat eggs.

Personally I prefer to use the creaming and emulsion method when making cakes, unless I'm just using a cake mix which does happen sometimes. (but then I usually taste it and say 'I prefer my homemade ones and they are cheaper!')

 

[kenwashesmonday]

We use the old Sunbeam Mixmaster model 5 for regular cakes mainly because it's so easy to scrape the bowl while it's mixing.  The Kitchenaid 600 comes out for cookies and bread.

 

Ken D.

 

[mattl]

I guess the question that comes to mind is is there a "holy grail" of Sunbeam Mixmasters?  Had Sunbeams growing up, switched to Ronson in the early 70's then on to KA.  If I were to add one more Mixmaster to my collection what should it be?

 

[norgeway]

RONSON!

I wish I could find one of those Ronson built in units!

 

[kenwashesmonday]

MattL wrote: "If I were to add one more Mixmaster to my collection what should it be?"

 

I like the model 7, the first one with the beater ejector.  The beaters get a little stuck in my model 5 sometimes, it helps to rub a tiny hint of veggie oil on the snap rings before inserting them.

 

I assume most of you guys have seen this wonderful site:

http://www.angelfire.com/home/flexibleshaft/SunbeamFoyer.html

 

[petek]

Problem with the Ronson built ins is parts/attachements are much more difficult to find that the Nutones.

 

[launderess]

@hunter

Try Rose Levy's "Cake Bible" cheesecake,it is divine.

Made the banana/sour cream version for this past Easter and it was a huge hit.

Yes, will agree the CB is a great resource. Her charts regarding measurements and weights have become my go to point. Weighting out ingredients is so much easier and one can have baking day over with faster.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

My Kitchen Aid is a single-blade (I guess "planetary") mixer...!

I do find myself scraping unmixed batter & blending it in w/ the mixture as I pur it from the bowl to the pan...

I really thought I was going to buy a cheap-o two blade hand-held design, but for most, I'm satisfied w/ my table-top model...!

Just think we could have been a bit more creative on the color!

-- Dave

 

[jetcone]

Kelly

Love that idea for switching beaters on the KA! Will try that as I do love the cake batter out of my Sunbeam 10 & 11 better, it seems lighter to me.
Kelly, did you make our birthday cakes with Kevin's KA or his Sunbeam?? They were moist and light all the way,well at least the piece I was able to scarf down before Gansky inhaled my devils food cake!

Has anyone fooled around with that high powered Electrolux where the paddles are stationary and the bowl turns underneath?? They come up on flea bay every so often.