Hand crank beaters are a thing of the past. Kitchen mixers have come a long way from the toys we once thought they were. C’mon, didn’t you sit on grandma’s kitchen floor twirling away while she did some actual baking? Well now they’re big and bright and boy do they beat a mean meringue.

Now you can bake just like grandma, but without all the wrist-wrenching work. Kitchen mixers can now do the heavy duty, muscle building work for you. They mix, they beat, they whip, they knead. What else could you ask for?

If you can see it, you will use it. Many people have small hand mixers hidden away in some dusty cupboard. In this case bigger is better. If you’ve got a large Kitchen Aid style mixer you’re going to be keeping it on a counter somewhere unless you’re looking for hernia. This keeps it in your eyesight and within reach and, therefore, encourages more frequent usage.

If you are limited on space find a nice deep corner on the kitchen counter where you can store your mixer. This keeps it within view, but out of the way and leaves room for daily counter operations. Try setting it on a cutting board that you can easily slide across your counters. This allows for easy mobility without the burden of lifting the machine. If you’ve got the space, go ahead and leave it out. If it’s always ready you won’t think twice about using it.

Traditionally mixers have been used for cake, and yes, cakes are still probably the majority of what gets made in them. But a kitchen mixer is a versatile machine. You can not only make other sweets and treats with one, but the mixer come in handy for a whole meal. You can keep your hands clean while mixing your meatloaf, add creaminess to your mashed potatoes, and use the dough hook to knead the dough for fresh baked rolls. After dinner the cleanup is easy.

You no longer have to be the one to bring packaged cookies to an event. You can take the stress out of the holidays when you schedule an afternoon for cookie baking. With a kitchen mixer you can make several batches of dough in the amount it would normally take to mix up one. Package and freeze and the next time you get invited to a party or someone stops by, you can offer them a home-baked treat without all the fuss.

(A special tip to remember when using a large mixer for cookies though, is to make sure you don’t over mix the dough. Smooth cookies are what you will end up with if you don’t pay attention, and unless that’s what the recipe calls for, your cookies will spread and flatten when cooking and you’ll lose the chunkiness of homemade hand-mixed cookies.)

Adding a kitchen mixer to your culinary toolbox may be expensive investment. But that’s just what it is, an investment. And by keeping it in sight and ready for use you can guarantee that investment pays out good dividends.

The best kitchen mixers are the ones that can meet your specific preferences, so make sure you’re buying what you actually need and not just what’s popular. Many shoppers opt for a Kitchenaid stand mixer since it’s a leading brand, but other brands like Cuisinart and Hamilton Beach make quality products, too.

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