Food Preparation Buyer's Guide

Hand Mixers

Hand Mixers are very similar to stick blenders in that they are very versatile and can be used with a variety of bowls. They require very little maintenance and cleaning is fairly simple, with a quick rinse mostly being adequate. 

Due to their low variation of settings, they are usually a cheaper alternative to a stand mixer and make them useful for home use or for smaller catering operations.

Food Mixers

Multi-purpose Mixers are ideal if you are looking for a range of attachments. For example, Lockhart's Chefquip food mixer features separate mincer and vegetable prep attachments. Multi-purpose mixers also come under the guise of Planetary Mixers, these stand mixers are named because of the circular movement of the mixer around the wall of the mixing bowl. This allows for an even mix of whatever food is being prepared. Planetary Mixers can also accommodate a variety of attachments, meaning they are useful for batter, soft dough, whisking and beating.

We have our own exclusive range of Chefmaster Planetary Mixers which are ideal for both home use and commercial kitchens, withstanding small and larger tasks.

Bowl Mixers

Bowl mixers are ideal for baking, and some kitchens that make their own bread or baked goods, usually feature a bowl mixers solely for dough preparation.

Commercial bowl mixers are extremely reliable and require very little maintenance, meaning they are great value for money. The biggest concern with bowl mixers is using the speed settings incorrectly and mixing dense foods on high settings too quickly. 

This can lead to a motor burnout, so proper training and adequate care should be taken when using bowl mixers.

Hand Blenders

Hand Blenders come with or without a cord. They work by being submerged into the food, and are ideal for blending or pureeing food straight in the bowl. 

Hand blenders can come with a range of accessories, such as different blades for different purposes, increasing their functionality. 

Hand Blenders are usually lower in price than other blenders due to their limited tasks and require very little maintenance and cleaning other than the blades. As with all blenders, be careful not to over work the blender by using it on heavy or dense foods.

Stick Blenders

Stick Blenders, or sometimes called Immersion Blenders, are also classified as Handheld Blenders, but for the purpose of this Buyer's Guide, they have been split into 2 categories to differentiate between the smaller, domestic versions, and the larger, commercial versions. 

Stick Blenders are normally a lot bigger, to cope with bigger tasks. This makes them ideal for the commercial kitchen where large pots and vats of food needs pureeing or blending quickly and efficiently.

The main difference is usually the power, with commercial versions pushing 700 watts, whereas domestic versions can be as low as 100 watts. Consumer testing has shown that even 100-watt models can perform satisfactorily though.

Food Blenders

Similar to countertop mixers, these are designed to stay put and feature a jug or container to blend the food in. They are great for smoothies and frozen drinks, with them being a major feature of any juice, smoothie & laksa stand.

Other uses include soup and ice crushing, if the appropriate blade is fitted, this is important to research before any purchase. Another important point to consider when buying a food blender is what material the jug/container is made out of. They can come in Glass, which is the material of choice, allowing you to see the blending process and therefore you won't over or under blend the desired food/drink.

Other materials include Stainless Steel and Polycarbonate. Both are cheaper and lighter than Glass, but Stainless Steel is mainly used for frozen goods, as the Metal retains the cooler temperature better, leading to a better end-product for milkshakes and frozen smoothies for example.

Polycarbonate is durable and light, but can be prone to scratching, making it difficult to clean, and may lead to eventual cross-contamination and tainting of flavour. Make sure your jug is coated with a scratch-resistant coating before purchasing.

Gravity Slicers

Gravity Slicers are ideal for cutting fine slices of meat, cooked or raw, and as such are used intensively in butchers and similar shops.

Gravity Slicers are ideal for keeping costs down when trying to cut dry-cured hams for salads and sandwiches, and give an even, clean cut.

The main thing to remember with these slicers is safety first, and always clean the blade after cutting raw meat to avoid cross-contamination and potential food poisoning.

Chefmaster Food Preparation Machines

We understand that kitchens can be hectic environments to work in, even at the quietest of times. 

That's why we have handpicked a selection of food preparation equipment to help chefs maintain quality when time is limited. All of our food preparation products have been designed to allow those working in the catering and hospitality industry to process food in a quick and efficient manner. 

The Chefmaster range includes light duty stick blenders, to heavy duty Planetary Mixers, to help professional chefs chop, dice, mince and mix their entire menu.