Whether you own a commercial kitchen, run a bakery, or otherwise do a lot of cooking for business purposes, a mixer is going to be one of the most important investments you will ever make. One of the most common types of commercial mixers is the planetary mixer. Named for its globular shape and impressive power, these mixers are rather large in capacity and have a lot to offer business owners. Yet, they do have their pros and cons to consider. Take a look at some of the pros and cons of planetary mixers to help you decide if this is the best option.
Pro: Planetary mixers tend to offer the versatility of using other attachments.
One of the greatest advantages of planetary mixers is the fact that they are highly versatile in their design. Most of the mixers allow users to use different mixing blades, of course, but they often have a port on the front where other attachments can be connected. For example, something like a meat grinding attachment could be installed into the port and utilize the turning power of the mixer itself.
Con: Planetary mixers are larger in size than something like a spiral mixer.
Planetary mixers are large in stature and mixing capacity, which can be problematic for commercial business owners that have a small space to work with. It is best for the mixer to have its own stationary area on the workplace floor because it will not fit on a counter or table.
Pro: These mixers offer the capability of mixing large batches at one time.
Planetary mixers may be large, but their size allows users to mix large batches of material at one time. The bowl of these stand mixers can be several quarts in volume, which is ideal for commercial kitchens or industrial operations. Even better, the speed of the mixer can be fine-tuned, and there are multiple mixing blades that can be used.
Con: The typical planetary mixer is a very heavy implement.
Planetary mixers need to stay stationary when they are mixing large batches of heavy dough, so most units have weighted feet to support the mixer. This can make the mixer itself really heavy, which can be a problem when you go to move the mixer around. However, the extra heft of the unit is a good sign of its durability as well, so this is something most professionals don't mind.