How to Choose the Right Mixer-Grinder for Home

Types of Mixer-Grinders

Earlier mixer grinders were equipped only to grind spices into powder, and other vegetables, grains, or fruits into a paste. However, modern mixer grinders are equipped to perform various tasks. Let us understand the features and types of electric mixer-grinders.

Dry Mixer-Grinder: This grinder is ideal for grinding and mixing ingredients into powdered form like grinding. The container is small enough to grind all the ingredients evenly into a fine powder or paste.
Hand Mixer: A hand mixer grinder is useful for whipping cream and beating eggs, as they come with attachments like whisks and beaters which are easily handheld.
Hand Blender: Generally known as a hand-blender or stick-blender, are used for blending smoothies, sauces, soups, or loose batter. It usually has an on/off button at the top to start and stop the grinder to get the desired consistency.
Juicer-Mixer Grinder: A juicer mixer grinder is useful to prepare tasty juices and milkshakes. It evenly mixes all ingredients added to the grinder to enhance the taste of the juice or milkshake.
Wet Mixer Grinder: This wet mixer grinder helps you grind soaked lentils and dals for preparing dishes like idli/dosa and vada batter. It has strong blades that mimic a stone-grinding mechanism.
Slicer and Shredder: This grinder is uniquely designed and equipped to slice and shred salads and vegetables in different shapes and sizes for several cooking and consumption purposes.
Food Processors: These food processors are equipped to perform multiple functions like grinding, mixing, chopping, blending, and preparing juices/milkshakes, all in one mixer-grinder. It comes with various jars and blade attachments to perform different functions.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Mixer-Grinder

Keeping a few things in mind before buying a new mixer grinder is very important. Let's understand them.

Need & Usage: Understand your need for having or upgrading to a new mixer grinder. Whether you are looking for a juicer, slicer, grinder, blender, or do you need a complete food processor. Choose your mixer-grinder appliance accordingly.
Jars: Ensure that the company is offering various jars for various purposes like a dry grinder, wet grinder, juicer, and chutney grinder. Also, check for well-covered lids and locks for spillage safety.
Blades: Different blades are used for different purposes hence, some mixer grinders have jars with different blades or there are interchangeable blades in some mixer-grinders. Stainless steel blades are must-haves for a grinder, as they ensure the longevity and productivity of the machine.
Design and features: A sturdy and well-built mixer grinder with good quality plastic and metal is advisable. The lock is an important safety feature; as the machine cannot start without being assembled properly. Try looking for easy-to-use function nobs and ergonomic build, they give you an added advantage.
Maintenance: If you are looking for a low-maintenance grinder then you should choose a grinder with fewer attachments and jars. A simple one or two-jar mixer grinder will be ideal for you.
Pulse/ Incher function: This function is important as it grinds and mixes the ingredients to crush and grind in even form. This feature helps you to manually push and release the button to achieve a desired texture for the grinding mixture.
Revolutions per minute: RPM is the number of times the grinder revolves in 1 minute. 5,000 to 20,000 RPM is offered by Indian brands. A speed of 18000 to 21000 RPM is ideal for normal tasks like grinding a chutney or preparing a masala/powdered spice.
Speed: The grinding process can be handled more precisely with the help of multiple speed levels. Check for speed levels in a mixer grinder.
Overloading Protection: Look for overloading protection offered by the company as sometimes we tend to fill the jars with more than its capacity, which causes damage to the motor. The overload protection feature acts as the circuit breaker which prevents the breaking down of the machine/ motor.
Power/ Wattage: The higher the power/ wattage the more powerful and noisy the motor is. Ideally, 500 watts is sufficient for normal tasks. For higher-capacity grinding, 750 watts should be enough.
Budget: Consider your usage and budget before you invest in a mixer grinder. A mixer grinder with a juicer is pricey as compared to a simple single-function juicer or grinder. Food processors are on the higher end of pricing as they are multifunctional.
Warranty: Companies offer different warranties on different models based on their features, durability, and price. Mixer-grinders usually come with 2 to 5 years of warranty on the motor and on the body. The longer the warranty, the better, as this helps in timely servicing and repairs of the mixer-grinder as and when required.

Budget Considerations

Budget is an important consideration before any purchase. The price of a mixer-grinder is based on its features and brand. Premium and good quality mixer-grinders offer timely, hassle-free servicing and longer warranties on the product. This often turns out to be worth the extra investment; but there are many affordable mixer-grinder options that come at reasonable prices as well – it is all about setting the right expectations. A regular mixer grinder with two jars is generally priced lower as compared to a complete food processor that offers mixing, blending, grinding, chopping, kneading, and slicing solutions.

If you hardly cook food at home, where grinding chutneys or spices is not your daily routine then you should consider a basic grinder which is not so costly. And if your cooking seems incomplete without homemade masalas or sauces, you should go for a premium mixer grinder that eases chopping and grinding processes for you. The price of a mixer grinder ranges from rupees 2,300/- to 14,000/- and even more depending on product specifications.

Why Choosing the Best Mixer-Grinder is Important?

A mixer-grinder is designed to meet your daily kitchen requirements with reduced effort and less time. Managing time to manually grind spices and batter is difficult hence, mixer-grinders have taken over this job in the kitchen. Having the right mixer-grinder helps you perform various kitchen activities like whipping cream, preparing batter for baking or cooking, slicing and chopping herbs and vegetables for salsa or salads, grinding meat or vegetables for preparing yummylicious sausages, patties, kebabs, or any food item of your choice. A mixer grinder is a reliable kitchen-aid that makes your work simple, fast, and hassle-free.

For more information you can also read Top 7 Prestige Mixer Grinders

Conclusion

The modern cooking process is incomplete without a mixer-grinder. With technological advancement, home appliances like mixer grinders have also evolved, to look aesthetically appealing as much as they are useful. Sleek models don’t just bring you time and value, they also add themselves as an elegant addition to your countertop. At Prestige, we ensure that you get the best quality home appliances at affordable prices. We have a wide range of mixer-grinders, blenders, food processors, and more, to help you pick the best fit for your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the difference between a mixer grinder and a food processor?

A. A mixer grinder is useful for grinding spices into powder and preparing chutneys or batters. A food processor is useful for chopping, slicing, kneading, grinding, blending, and performing much more than grinding and mincing activities.

Q2. What is the difference between a wet grinder and a mixer grinder?

A. A wet grinder is generally used to prepare a paste with soaked lentils and dals for idli and dosa batters, whereas a mixer grinder is useful to grind, blend, and mix dry spices and ingredients.

Q3. What is RPM in a mixer grinder?

A. RPM is the number of times the grinder will revolve in 1 minute. It is the speed of the grinder at which it operates. Most Indian mixer-grinder options come with a speed of 5,000 to 20,000 RPM

Q4. What is the pulse or incher in a mixer grinder?

A. An Incher, Pulse, or Turbo button is a quick-mix feature in a mixer-grinder that helps the user manually push and release the button according to the desired consistency of the mixture.

Q5. What is the right way of using a mixer grinder?

A. Avoid grinding hot ingredients as this will result in the splashing of ingredients all over the kitchen.

Do not fill the ingredients to the brim of the grinding jar.
Ensure that the lid is properly covered before grinding.
Do not forget to switch off the appliance after use.
Regular cleaning & maintenance is advisable for hygienic conditions and durability.

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