Food mixers are relatively simple appliances. Even so, they can have problems. When they do, here's how to take care of them.

How Does It Work?

A food mixer is simply a motor with gears and speed controls.

A food mixer is a motorized small appliance that blends recipe ingredients in a mixing bowl. A small motor rotates detachable beaters in opposite directions. A speed controller varies the electrical current delivered to the motor, thus controlling the beaters' speed.

Food mixers come in portable (hand) and stationary (stand) models. Lightweight portable mixers with small motors handle easier mixing and blending jobs. Stand mixers with larger motors and components can mix larger bathes of ingredients and can kneading dough as well. Portable and stationary mixers operate about the same and can be fied the same way, too.

What Can Go Wrong?

As with other simple small appliances, problems typically involve the parts you use the most. The electrical cord may be faulty. Switches, the motor or motor fuse, and the speed control can all fail. Beaters can be bent or worn and gears can be misaligned.

Fix-It Tip

Mixer speed controls have numerous wires and contacts. If the contacts become corroded or need cleaning, use a small piece of emery paper. Of course, make sure you don't remove excessive amounts of the contact, or it will not close.