Table mixer

An electric, variable-speed stand mixer used to mix, beat, blend, and knead small amounts of batter and dough. The stainless steel bowl is inserted into a moveable stand and then locked into place. Then, the specific attachment is installed. The three most commonly used attachments are the paddle, the dough hook, and the whisk. The paddle is a flat, fan-shaped piece of metal that is used to mix stiff items such as firm batters or doughs. The dough hook is a question mark-shaped attachment used solely to knead bread doughs. The whisk is balloon-shaped and is made of thin wires that are quite fragile and easily broken when used on mixtures that are too firm. It is recommended only for incorporating air into liquids such as heavy cream or egg whites.