Every bakery’s needs are as unique as the delicious products that they make. In some kitchens, a small mixer works best for the many diverse products that are made each day. Other bakeries may have a few customer favorites that are always flying off the shelves, making a large mixer the best option to keep products fresh throughout the day. Here’s a brief look at the four main types of mixers offered at Empire Bakery Equipment to help you decide on the right mixer for your operation.

Stationary Bowl Spiral Mixers

Empire’s inventory of spiral dough mixers includes the IRIS™ line, which offers customers a great way to prepare their dough for whatever is destined for the oven. With a coordinated movement between the bowl rotation and the two-speed mixing arm, these machines blend your dough ingredients with ease. The front-mounted controls and small form factor make this a great selection for kitchens where space is at a premium, and the dual timers allow you to set the device to transition from low speed to high speed – or vice versa – for mixing ingredients exactly how you need while you take orders or handle your other items in prep.

Rounding out the stationary spiral arm mixer lineup is the MasterMix™ series of mixers.  Strong enough for bagels and gentle enough for french dough, Empire's MasterMix™ Spiral Arm Mixers  are available in a wide range of sizes, from 120-pound to 560-pound dough capacities. These commercial-quality mixers are the best solution for medium to large production bakeries, providing versatility and consistency for every batch of dough. The side-mounted controls also offer programmable timers and include automatic changeover features that take the blending from low to high speed, while the increased output over the IRIS™ line ensures that you can make all the dough you need in a single run of the mixer.

Tilt-Over Spiral Arm MixersTilt-Over Mixer

Offering a great solution for larger dough production needs, these industrial-grade mixers are available in a wide range of sizes, from 220 lbs. to 560 lbs. of dough, to accommodate your production needs. The hydraulic lift included carries mixed ingredients to several predetermined dumping heights, allowing you to carry the dough high or low to a dough hopper, table or trough, depending on your kitchen’s set up – and without breaking your back in the process. As with the spiral dough mixers, the tilt-over combines bowl rotation with mixer movements to more keep moving dough in and out of the mixing zone to develop a perfect dough. This mixer also offers a pair of timers to help keep your production moving along smoothly, while the belt-driven arm and bowl make for a quieter operation and lower need for maintenance than with many other models of mixer.

Removable Bowl Spiral Mixers

Another great solution for larger dough production needs, Empire’s Removable Bowl Spiral Mixers offers the same range of capacities as our tilt-over line. With these blenders, your bakers can swap bowls of new ingredients in or out easily, allowing batches of dough to rise or sit until needed, or prepare a series of ingredients to be put on the mixer in sequence. The combination of the spiral arm and rotating bowl helps keep blending consistent while moving the dough around the bowl to work the mixture evenly, while the independent control panel provides you with some flexibility when it comes to layout. As with all of the mixers in the Empire spiral arm mixer family, these feature a lock out switch that prevents high-speed use with heavier or stiff doughs that could cause damage to the mixer, while the ease to use controls make it simple and quick to learn.

Vertical MixersVertical Mixer

Perhaps the most universal of all is the vertical, sometimes referred to as planetary, mixers. Available in sizes from 20 to 160 quarts, these machines offer three speeds to match your specific needs. The vertical mixer features interchangeable attachments, like the spiral dough hook, a wire whip and a flat beater, which can be swapped out easily depending on your product. With an easily removed top to add more ingredients on the fly and a magnetic safety to prevent accidents, these are a popular choice for many kitchens.

At Empire Bakery Equipment, we can help determine the perfect mixer for your needs, whether it’s a large machine for mass production of bagels or breads or a smaller setup to create great cakes and cookies. Whatever your needs are, we’re sure to have the right solution for you. Take a look at our full line of mixers, or contact us today for help finding the ideal machine to add to your kitchen.