Comparison Electrolux Explore 7 E7TB1-4GB black vs Philips Viva Collection HR3745/00 white

— Hand mixer. Mixers are kitchen appliances designed for mixing and whipping liquids. They are equipped with beaters and may come with additional nozzles. Hand mixers are held in the hand during use, making them more compact and easier to store than stationary mixers. However, they may not be as convenient for long-term use and tend to be less expensive.

— Stationary mixer. Stationary mixers are a type of mixer that comes with a stand-base for stable placement on a table or counter. This eliminates the need to hold the device while in use. However, the size of the bowl that can be used may be limited, and some models may require the use of a specific bowl. Some models also allow for the mixer to be removed from the stand and used as a hand mixer. Stationary mixers tend to be more expensive and bulkier than hand mixers, but they offer more convenience and stability during use.

— Stationary mixer (non-removable). A variation of the mixers described above, which cannot be separated from the stand and imply only stationary tabletop use.

— Immersion blender. This is a simpler version of the previously described blenders, which doesn't include a bowl. It's a handheld appliance with a blender leg-shaped nozzle that can be used with any container. However, it may not be very convenient for long-term use, unlike immersion blenders, which offer more versatili...ty in terms of container size. Also on sale there are immersible blenders without nozzles.

— Blender. Devices used mainly for chopping various products, mashing, crushing ice, etc. The blender consists of a base, which houses the motor and control electronics, and a bowl with a paddle knife located above it. The bowl is usually made removable; this makes it easy to drain (or unload) the resulting product, and also facilitates washing.

— Soup blender. This type of blender not only blends ingredients but also has cooking functions. It typically comes with a variety of preset programs to expand the range of dishes that can be prepared. However, the amount of food that can be produced is limited by the size of the bowl, which is usually around 1.7 liters.

— Chopper. Choppers are similar to blenders in terms of their function and usage (as mentioned earlier). The main difference lies in their design: the bowl is typically situated at the bottom of the device, and it can only be removed by taking apart the top block and axis with the blades. While choppers are less convenient compared to blenders, they are smaller, simpler, and more affordable.

— Chopper (manual, mechanical). A manual chopper doesn't require any electrical connection to function. It relies on manual labor to shred, chop, and mix ingredients within the bowl, utilizing knife blades for these processes.

— Vegetable cutter. These devices can be thought of as mechanized kitchen graters that are primarily intended for processing vegetables. They come with different attachments for grating, chopping, and slicing food, which is much more convenient than using traditional manual graters. Additionally, they are often safer to use, as they are designed to prevent fingers from coming into contact with the blades, unlike conventional graters where there is a risk of injury when working with small food pieces.

— Frother. Frothers are primarily used to create frothy foam, especially when making milkshakes or cappuccino. They can either be stationary, with a container attached to a base that houses a whipping nozzle, or portable, resembling immersion blenders (as described earlier) without a regular container.

— Frother (manual cappuccinatore). A manual frother is a device used for creating a high and fluffy crema, typically for milkshakes and milk-coffee drinks. It consists of a bowl and a special disc whisk designed for this purpose. Unlike electric frothers, manual frothers do not require a power source and are operated by hand.

— Mixer for cocktails. These are variations of the stand mixers discussed earlier, specifically designed for making milkshakes and similar cocktails. The primary function of these devices is to whip foam, usually from milk and dairy products. They typically feature a metal bowl that can safely accommodate crushed ice, and are designed with a high support leg and glass holder for stability.

— Portable blender. A small, low-power blender designed for making single servings of cocktails is available in a compact model. It comes equipped with a built-in battery pack, enabling it to be used in locations where a 220 V power supply is not available. Portable blenders are also equipped with USB or microUSB connectors, making them ideal for travel, hiking, or extended trips.

The volume of the main bowl supplied with the device.

For more information about the main bowl, see "Capacities". And the amount of product that can be loaded into the device at a time directly depends on its volume. On the other hand, a capacious bowl has the appropriate dimensions and cost, and also puts forward increased requirements for engine power. Therefore, you should choose according to this parameter, taking into account real needs. And also you should consider that for stand mixers with a bowl, in most cases, the volume means the total size, and not the useful one. The bowl must be filled less than 2/3 during cooking (here it is already individual and you need to look at the instructions for the product).

The rated power of the device, in fact, is the power of the engine installed in it.

The higher this indicator, the more performant this model is, the more suitable for “heavy” work and the more applications can be provided in the design. For example, in the case of mixers (see “Appliance type”), a power of up to 250 W is considered good for liquid products; for more solid tasks, like kneading tough dough, you should pay attention to more powerful models. Detailed recommendations on optimal power can be found in special sources.

Note that powerful devices are usually equipped with more durable nozzles that can withstand high loads.

The number of speeds of rotation of the nozzles provided in the mixer / blender.

The presence of several speeds allows you to adjust the operating mode of the device to a particular situation. For example, a liquid omelet can be whipped at high speed, but it is better to choose a slower mode for kneading dough. The more speeds provided in the device, the more versatile it is, the more accurately it can be configured for a specific task. In simple household models, from 3 to 6 settings are usually provided, in the most advanced devices their number can reach two dozen.

Turbo mode allows you to significantly increase the speed of rotation of the mixer nozzles for a short time. In this way, unevenness in the whipped product can be quickly and efficiently eliminated, which is especially valuable at the end of whipping. However, note that the turbo mode can only be turned on for a short time, otherwise there is a risk of overheating of the motor.

In pulse mode, the mixer motor does not work constantly, but with short pauses. This allows you to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary load on the motor when processing particularly solid foods, such as frozen fruits or ice.

Some models of stand mixers have the bowl that can rotate using a special power. This provides more uniform mixing and speeds up the process.

Automatic cooking programs provided in the design of the device. Classic blenders and soup blenders are mainly equipped with such programs (see "Type").

— Soup. The traditional soup program is designed to cook soups where ingredients must be cut into small pieces rather than mashed or pureed. This program ensures that the ingredients are cooked properly. In a soup blender, it's possible to cook soup without unloading the chopped products, whereas regular blenders only offer chopping capabilities.

— Cream soup. The cream soup program is specifically designed for puree soups where ingredients are thoroughly ground and contain a significant amount of liquid. Unlike mashed potatoes, cream soup has a smooth texture, which is achieved through this program. It's important to note that puree soups can be served both hot and cold, with hot soups requiring a soup blender and cold soups being suitable for regular blenders.

— Puree. The puree program is specifically designed for cooking various purees, particularly fruit and vegetable purees, which are thicker than cream soups and require more power to cook due to the lower liquid content. These dishes can be prepared using either raw or pre-processed ingredients, making them suitable for both soup blenders and regular blenders.

— Steam cooking. The steam cooking program is exclusively available in soup blenders and is designed to cook various products using steam. This meth...od of cooking is considered healthier than classic boiling water since it preserves more nutrients, making it a more advanced and healthier cooking option for certain foods. Steam cooking requires a heater, and therefore, this program is only available in soup blenders.

— Sauces.The sauce cooking program is available in some blenders, and since there are many types of sauces, it's important to specify which types of sauce the program is designed for.

— Milk porridge. The cereal and milk cooking program is exclusively available in soup blenders and is designed for cooking dishes that involve milk. One of the main considerations when cooking with milk is to heat it carefully to prevent burning and spillage, and this program takes that into account.

— Smoothie. The smoothie program is designed to prepare thick drinks made from fruits, vegetables, or berries mixed with juice and other ingredients such as milk or nuts. These drinks are both tasty and healthy, as they are easily digested and retain a high level of nutrients. The consistency of a smoothie is typically similar to juice with pulp or cream soup, but it must be liquid enough to drink through a straw since it is a drink.

— Ice pick. The ice crushing program is specifically designed for breaking down ice into small pieces, but it can be tough on blender blades due to the hardness and density of ice. Therefore, this program often uses a pulsed mode to effectively crush ice without damaging the blender's blades.

— Self-cleaning. This programme is designed for cleaning the blender from food residues and dirt. It is activated by pouring warm soapy water into the device and turning on the programme, which effectively washes out residues from all parts of the bowl. This is a convenient alternative to hand-washing the container in the sink.

In addition to those described above, modern blenders may provide other programs — for example, "baby food" or "warming up".

— Blending arm. A blending nozzle is a long rod-like attachment with a protective cap at one end, containing a bladed knife. It can be attached to a conventional mixer, essentially turning it into a blender.

— Wide blending arm. A blending nozzle, or blending arm, is a long rod-shaped attachment with a protective cap at one end, housing a bladed knife. The wider width of the blending arm allows for faster blending and easier processing of larger quantities of food products.

— Beaters for whisking. Whisking nozzles for liquids such as cream, eggs, and batter, are commonly found in modern mixers as a standard attachment.

— Kneading hook. Special nozzles in the form of thick wire spirals, designed for kneading thick dough.

— Knife for chopper. A cutting-type attachment with blade knives attached to the bottom of a cylindrical shaft and turned at a 180-degree angle to each other. It is used for grinding ingredients of different hardness in the blender jar. The cutting elements of such knives can have both straight and serrated blades.

— An ice pick. An ice pick is a specialized tool for crushing ice, nuts, and frozen fruits/berries. Its serrated blades make it easier to break the solid structure of ice without dulling the blades. I...t is commonly used with powerful blenders that come with a glass or metal chopper bowl. Although not all blenders include an ice pick, it can be purchased separately along with a heavy-duty chopper bowl main function crushing ice and other hard ingredients.

— Knife for kneading dough. The kneading knife is ideal for making yeast dough with a less dense structure in small quantities. It can also be used for mixing and whipping creams. Typically, this type of knife is made from durable plastic that pulls the mass rather than cutting it like steel. For larger volumes of dough, it is recommended to use a specialized hook attachment instead.

— Disc for shredding/slicing. A slicing disk is a circular attachment with slots that function as blades when rotated. This feature enables it to rapidly and uniformly slice fruits and vegetables into thin pieces, making it particularly useful for processing large quantities of food.

— For dicing. This attachment is designed to cut fruits and vegetables into small, uniform cubes. It is particularly useful for preparing salads and traditional soups.

— For puree. This is a plastic attachment typically used for creating smooth purees and thick blends from fruits and vegetables.

The presence of a sieve in the delivery set of the device.

— Pulp sieve. Typically found in conventional blenders, this device is a vertical tube with fine mesh walls that fits into the bowl and sits atop the blade. Its primary function is to separate pulp from fruit and vegetable juices: produce is placed inside the tube, the blade crushes it, and the juice is filtered through the mesh into the bowl while the pulp remains inside the tube.

— Cappuccinatore (frother). This device is specifically designed for creating milk foam and is used only with specific appliances (refer to "Device type - Foamer"). It typically consists of a bowl with a foaming mechanism at the bottom, rather than a nozzle, and is often not detachable.

Other types of nozzles, in addition to those described above, can be supplied in the kit.