If you are looking at kitchen mixers and appliances, the main decision is usually between a stand mixer for baking-heavy kitchens, a food processor for prep work, or a high-performance blender for everything else. The appliance landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. You no longer need ten different machines cluttering up your benchtop. Below is a guide to what is actually worth buying and why.
1. The High Performance Blenders
A standard blender is fine for a basic smoothie. A high-performance blender can heat soup from scratch, crush ice into snow, and grind grains into flour.
If you want the absolute gold standard, the Vitamix Ascent Series 3500i ($1,399.00) is the machine you will find in professional kitchens. The touchscreen controls are simple to use. Five preset programs cover smoothies, hot soups, dips, frozen desserts, and self-cleaning.
For something in the mid price range, the Vitamix Explorian Series E310 ($549.00) gets you the same motor quality in a slightly smaller 1.4L jug. Physical dials instead of a touchscreen. Straightforward, reliable, and built to last just as long.
The KitchenAid K200 Pure Power Blender ($189.00) sits in the sweet spot for most home cooks. A 1700W peak motor, asymmetrical blades, and a precision speed dial from 1 to 10. It handles hot and cold equally well, and it looks great on a benchtop.
2. The Food Processors
While blenders are for liquids and purees, food processors are for dry prep work. They chop, slice, grate, and knead.
The Magimix 5200XL Food Processor ($869.00) is widely considered the best on the market. It comes with three different bowl sizes nested inside each other, meaning you can chop a handful of herbs in the mini bowl, then immediately grate a kilo of carrots in the main bowl without washing up in between. The commercial-grade motor is whisper-quiet and built to last decades.
If you don’t need that much capacity, the KitchenAid 9 Cup Food Processor ($249.00) is a brilliant everyday option. It features an improved 4-blade system that can mince meat in 10 seconds, and all the accessories store neatly inside the bowl when not in use.
3. The Immersion (Stick) Blenders
An immersion blender is the most underrated kitchen appliance. Instead of transferring hot soup into a blender jug in batches, you simply lower the stick blender directly into the pot.
Bamix invented the stick blender in Switzerland in 1954, and they still make the best ones today. The Bamix Classic Immersion Blender 140W ($219.00) is a lifetime investment. It features a heavy-duty AC motor that is completely sealed, meaning you can submerge it right up to the handle.
For a more budget-friendly option, the KitchenAid Classic Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender ($99.00) is excellent. It comes with a removable blending arm and a pan guard to protect your non-stick cookware from scratches.
4. The Mini Choppers
Sometimes pulling out a full-size food processor is overkill for chopping a single onion or making a quick batch of pesto.
The Cuisinart Mini Prep Pro ($69.95) is a compact powerhouse. It features an auto-reversing SmartPower blade that chops in one direction and grinds in the other, making it perfect for hard spices or soft herbs.
Alternatively, the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Mini Food Chopper ($99.00) is slightly larger and features a handy drizzle basin in the lid, allowing you to slowly incorporate oil while making mayonnaise or dressings.
Where To Buy?
You can explore the full range of kitchen mixers and appliances at Minimax, with options available for click and collect & free shipping Australia wide on orders over $130.