Lady Di Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Thanks to everyone who responded before. You've given me some really valuable opinions. Please bear with me on this subject just a little longer...I was trying to duplicate a friend's recipe for shea souffle. Her's is as light as air -- mousse-like, not cream-like. (I can't find the words to describe her consistency! Airy, mousse, like a cloud, almost foamy, but not foam...) I followed her recipe ingredients with one exception... she used unrefined shea butter, and I used refined. She had used her Kitchenaid, and I had used my handheld. Mine turned out nothing like her's. Mine is like a cream.The only thing I can think that made such a difference was her KA mixer. In shopping around, I've noticed that the KA and the Hamilton Beach (which is much cheaper) use a single beater which looks like a whisk. Do you think that this is the secret to getting the consistency I've described?The other brands of stand mixers appear to use two beaters like my handheld does. I did not know about the heat factor of a handheld. But I'm really wondering if it is the whisk that sets the KA apart and gives you the really fluffy results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Lots of things can make it different - definately the whisk of the KA can matter, the temperature at which she beats, how much she beats, the refined vs unrefined does matter. And the room temp as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Di Posted July 6, 2006 Author Share Posted July 6, 2006 Hmmmmmm. Thank you, Carol. Maybe I should try another batch using the unrefined to see how that changes things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniedb Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 THe stand mixer actually whips at a much faster and stronger pulse than a handheld can. That's why you can whip cream in about 1 minute with a KA vs. 10 minutes for a handheld. You may not have enough power in your handheld to get enough air incorporate quickly enough to achieve a mousse - perhaps you could ask to borrow hers and see if that's the ticket. Sounds interesting, report back if you figure it out, okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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