What is the difference between a planetary mixer and spiral mixer?
Generally speaking,there are two types of food mixers-planetary and spiral/dough mixer.but do you know the difference?
In order to understand them better,we can crack them one by one,firstly let’s talk about planetary mixer.The planetary mixer may sound a bit futuristic, but it is actually a professional equipment designed specifically for beating eggs and mixing ingredients (including dough mixing/kneading). The reason why it is called a planetary mixer is because it adopts a planetary gear transmission system, which allows the mixer to rotate while revolving, just like planets orbiting the sun. This structure allows food ingredients to be thoroughly stirred, emulsified, and whipped in the container (such as batter, cream, filling, eggs, etc.), with excellent results.
The combination of planetary motion and high rotational speed can complete a large amount of material mixing in a short period of time, saving time and labor costs. The transmission device is composed of a motor, a gear set, etc. The motor provides power, and after changing speed, deceleration, and direction through gears, drives the mixer to operate at a set speed and trajectory. Containers are usually vertical structures with cylindrical barrels and spherical bottoms, made of food grade materials such as stainless steel. Some containers are also Paired with lifting and positioning mechanisms for easy operation and material retrieval. The mixer is composed of egg beaters and other components, which can be disassembled for easy cleaning and replacement. The shape and material of the mixer depend on the mixing requirements, and common ones include stainless steel spherical mixers and hook shaped mixers.
There are generally two types of planetary mixers on the market. One is a regular mixer, which has a relatively small size and power, usually around 380 watts, and its main function is to beat (such as eggs and cream). It is usually equipped with only one whisk, which can fully contact and rub the materials, quickly mix the egg whites and yolks, and can also beat the egg whites or cream to produce a delicate and fluffy texture, with no mixing dead corners and high mixing uniformity;
Another type is the versatile planetary mixer, also known as a chef’s mixer, which can reach a power of 550 watts or more and is suitable for processing a wider variety of ingredients. In terms of rotation speed, the speed of a regular mixer is generally around 1500 RPM, while a versatile planetary mixer (chef’s machine) can reach 4200 RPM due to its high power. It is equipped with various accessories, including a whisk, a mixing beater, a dough hook. In addition to beating eggs, it can also be used to mix batter, cream, filling,whip liquids etc., making it more suitable for processing ingredients that require high rotation speed and more powerful.
In summary, if you only need to mix fresh cream or other liquids, a regular mixer is a good choice. But if you need to mix batter, filling, or handle a wider variety of ingredients, a versatile planetary mixer is a better choice.
After discussing the planetary mixer, let’s talk about the spiral mixer (and dough mixer).
The spiral or dough mixer is mainly used for mixing and kneading dough, and its design and function are focused on this task. It can quickly and evenly mix flour and other ingredients, helping chefs improve production efficiency. In addition, the advanced design of the mixing hook of the dough mixer can effectively avoid the adhesion of the dough during the mixing process, ensuring the texture and taste of the dough. The planetary mixer has comprehensive functions but high complexity. As mentioned earlier, the versatile planetary mixer may also include various functions such as cutting, stirring, juicing, etc. in addition to the dough mixing function. Although its versatility provides chefs with more choices, chefs who only need to make pastries may find the operation relatively complicated. In addition, the chef’s mixer may generate a lot of heat when working continuously, so special attention should be paid to heat dissipation.
For chefs or hobbyists who specialize in pastry making, a dough mixer/spiral mixer is more professional and easy to operate. It is designed specifically for flour mixing and dough kneading, of which can complete work quickly and efficiently, reducing the requirement for operator skills. Although versatile planetary mixers have rich functions, their professionalism in pastry production may not be as good as specialized spiral or dough mixers.
Taking all factors into consideration, if your main focus is on making pastry and you want easy and efficient operation, then a dough mixer is a great choice. If you are a versatile chef who requires a machine to perform multiple tasks, then a planetary mixer may be more suitable for you, and in terms of dough mixing, a spiral mixer has more advantages than a planetary mixer.