Commercial stand mixers are a big investment and can really form the backbone of your business. That’s why it is so important to regularly maintain your mixer so you can get years of usage out of it, prevent breakdowns and keep your kitchen moving.

Safety First

Whenever performing routine maintenance, always make sure that the mixer is turned off and unplugged. You never want to accidentally engage the mixer when you’re not prepared to do so. Never risk your own or your employees’ safety.

Thorough Clean

You are probably already cleaning the external attachments, such as the agitator and the mixing bowl, but every couple of weeks or so it is a great idea to do a deep and thorough cleaning of the entire mixer. A deep clean only needs a couple of tools:

• Flathead and/or Philips screwdriver
• Cleaning brush
• Soap and water

Oil, flour, dust and other ingredients can gunk up your mixer, causing it to overheat and malfunction. This kind of dirt accumulates in the base, the planetary gear housing, the drip cup and the bowl guard. Take out any screws keeping these parts to the rest of the mixer, remove the section and clean it thoroughly. You will see the grime and dirt that is building up, so just clean it until it is all gone.

In a busy kitchen, things tend to get a little messy. Areas on and around your mixer may get splashed with all kinds of ingredients that you would not usually expect. Be sure to wipe down the entire mixer with just a damp cloth. Never pour or splash water directly on the mixer itself. Every mixer is different and will therefore require different maintenance. Refer to the user manual for any other parts that require routine cleaning and be sure to clean those parts properly as well.

Check for Imminent Failure

While performing a thorough clean, check all the parts to determine whether they are in good operating condition. This means that there is no breakage, decay or rust buildup. Whenever you see a part starting to wear out, order a new part and replace it as soon as possible. Keeping up with standard replacement parts will ensure that your mixer as a whole will remain in operation. 

Neglecting a failing part could result in complete failure of your mixer, as when one part wears out the rest of the mixer will have to pick up the slack. Before you know it, the whole mixer will need replacing. 

Lubrication

To keep the mixer in smooth and consistent operation, be sure to familiarize yourself with the parts that require routine lubrication. Some mixers have a slideway that needs lubrication several times a year, and some planetary gear housings require lubrication as well. Always check your user manual for the specifics on what parts need lubrication and how often.

Use a food grade lubricant that is compatible with your mixer, and always refer to your user manual before selecting a lubricant. It is a good idea to always keep some lubricant on hand so that you can keep up with routine maintenance whenever it is needed.

Mixer Space

It is also very important to maintain cleanliness in the area around your mixer. Make sure that nothing can get in the way to impede your mixer’s operation or become a hazard. Make sure that there is plenty of space for the mixer to do what it needs to do without interfering with anything else. And be sure to keep a clear path from the mixer to the power outlet in case of emergency.

Basic and routine maintenance can prevent a slowdown or accident when you least need it. Refer to your user manual for any specific maintenance that needs to be performed and make sure you keep up with it on a regular basis.

Texas Restaurant Supply has all the equipment you need to get the most out of your kitchen. Check out our inventory today!

Dough mixers are a vital part of restaurants, bakeries and pizza shops. They save tons of time and can allow your business to meet the demands of a growing customer base. Just as there is no shortage of usages for commercial mixers, there’s no shortage of types of mixers, so finding the right one can feel a bit overwhelming. But don’t worry, here are some tips to help you select the best commercial dough mixer for your business.

Dough Mixers

Dough mixers are different from other mixers because of their unique design. Also known as spiral mixers, they feature a bowl that spins around a mixing device. The mixing device, or agitator, remains stationary. Dough mixers are generally best for mixing large quantities of ingredients, which gives them a distinct advantage over planetary and vertical cutter mixers.

Speeds

Depending on the model, some dough mixers feature different operating speeds. Unlike household mixers, commercial mixers usually only offer one or two speeds. Models with two speeds generally offer a high speed setting that allows for more evenly distributed ingredients and better oxidation, and a low speed option that keeps things from getting messy. Some models allow you to change speeds during operation and some even do it automatically. 

Horsepower

Commercial dough mixers come with motors in a variety of horsepowers, from less than one horsepower to more than six horsepower. Depending on the quantity of dough you are making at once, as well as the speed at which you will be operating, you will need different breadths of power. For instance, thicker doughs like pizza dough will require higher power models to create better quality dough. 

Capacity

How much dough you will be making in a single batch depends on your specific business needs. Commercial dough mixers come in a variety of sizes, from 20 to 300 pound capacities. Larger mixers generally have more horsepower in order to handle several hundred pounds of ingredients at once. This also means they are more expensive than the smaller ones. While it’s nice to be able to produce a lot of dough at one time, finding a mixer better suited to how much you will actually be handling will result in a better allocation of resources and kitchen space.

Voltage

Smaller dough mixers often require a voltage connection of 110 volts, while larger ones need 208 or even 240 volts to operate at peak efficiency. Be sure your kitchen has the electrical capacity to handle these machines before you make a decision. Determining whether or not it’s worth it to improve your kitchen’s electrical infrastructure depends on how better off you will be with a larger dough mixer over a smaller one. 

Batch Size

Despite the larger capacities, there are still several advantages to producing smaller batches that result in better quality dough. Small batches can result in higher flour protein levels, less water in the dough, more shortening in the dough and higher mixing speeds. It really comes down to quality over quantity. Still, sometimes you just need to produce a lot of dough at one time.

Heavy v. Standard Duty

For larger quantities and heavier ingredients, be sure to select a heavy duty mixer that can deal with the stress you’ll be putting it through. Standard duty mixers are better suited for versatility and are not really suited for pizza or pasta doughs unless in smaller quantities. 

Choosing the right commercial dough mixer really comes down to how much dough you’ll be making at one time, and how high you want the quality of the dough to be. Smaller dough mixers create smaller batches, which might be enough for some businesses but can leave larger ones with much to be desired. Likewise, larger dough mixers can handle a lot more at one time, but are much more expensive and might not be worth the investment.

Texas Restaurant Supply offers everything you need to get your kitchen in full operation. Check out our mixer selection and the rest of our inventory today!