What is a mixer grinder or Mixie
Mixies are a general term which evolved in India for the Indian kitchen blenders. Mixers or Mixer Grinders are essential for Indian cooking to do the hard work of grinding masalas or mixing an idli or dosa batter. These were earlier done on a stone grinder. Here we will discuss what to look for when buying a Mixie or Mixer or Mixer Grinder.
An introduction to Indian mixer grinders
We have a web site www.iMixie.comexclusively devoted to Indian Mixer Grinders explaining everything about mixer grinders.
There are various kinds of kitchen blenders, mixies, Mixers, etc. So we thought we will try to explain what the various kitchen blender and mixing machines are commonly called. The image here shows the different types of Kitchen machines available called Blenders, Mixerss or Mixies, Food Processors and Food Factory.
In the picture below, 1 and 3 are are called Mixers or Mixies in India. Item 2 is a multipurpose machine called a food processor, item 4 is a combo blender cum food processor called ‘Food Factory’, item 5 is a Stand Mixer and item 6 is a hand held blender with the rotating blades at the end.
The invention of the small electric motor with less than 1 Horse Power (746 Watts) power output in the early 1900’s led to the rapid development of small domestic appliances like blenders, Mixers or mixies, vacuum cleaners, etc. The first electric blender was invented 1922 for making Milk Shakes by Mr. Stephen J. Poplawski, a Polish American. A blender is an appliance which has fast rotating blades either fixed at the bottom of the jar or has blades at the end of a portable hand held device.
Indian Mixers called Mixie or Mixies
Indian Blenders or Mixers are commonly called Mixie or Mixies, a term which evolved in India. The Indian Mixie is the most robust Mixer grinder blender in the world, because they are designed to do the rough and tough grinding jobs like grinding Indian Spices and Masalas for making Curries and for making batter for Dosas, Idly and Vadas. The Indian Mixies are also made to withstand the erratic power supply in India with unpredictable voltages.
Good quality mixers in India
Now in India the choice for Mixers are plenty and choosing the right one requires some research. We have a dedicated website for Indian mixies www.iMixie.com. On this website we discuss in detail about each of the good quality Mixers in India. Please visit www.iMixie.com for full coverage of all good models of Indian Mixies.
Buy online Indian Mixers in USA, Canada and UK
Here are links to buy online 110 volts Indian mixers in USA. Links are also provide to buy online Indian mixers in Canada and UK. The advantage of buying mixers online in your on country is that it will be covered under local warranty and you are assured of service, should any problem arise. In the worst case you can even return for a full refund.
This is the Link for Indian Mixers on Amazon Canada
This is the Link for Mixers (both 220V and US 110V) on Amazon India
This is the link for Indian Mixers on Amazon UK
This is the link for 110V 60Hz Indian Mixers on Amazon USA
Buy online Indian Wet Grinder in USA, Canada and UK
Here are links to buy online 110 volts Indian wet grinders in USA. Links are also provide to buy online Indian wet grinders in Canada and UK. The advantage of buying wet grinders online in your on country is that it will be covered under local warranty and you are assured of service, should any problem arise. In the worst case you can even return for a full refund.
This is the Link for Wet Grinders on Amazon Canada
This is the Link for Wet Grinders (US 110V also) on Amazon India
This is the link for Indian Wet Grinders on Amazon UK
This is the link for 110V Indian Wet Grinders on Amazon USA
History of Indian Mixers
The first ever Mixers made in India was the Sumeet Mixie. The history of ‘Sumeet’ the first Indian mixie is interesting.
Mr. Satya Prakash, the founder of Sumeet Mixie Company, was asked by his wife to repair a Braun mixie she was using. Satya Prakash inspected the burnt Braun mixie and it dawned on him that the foreign mixies were not suitable for the rough and tough Indian cooking needs. These foreign mixies did not have the power to handle the spice grinding, dosa grinding and other tough jobs required by Indian housewives.
So Satya Prakash Mathur, an employee of Siemens India, ventured out to make a factory for Indian made Mixers suitable for the Indian Kitchen. In 1963 Mr. Satya Prakash Mathur floated a company called ‘Power Control and Appliances Company’. 4 other employees of Siemens India also joined Mr. Mathur. By 1965 they had a good design of a workable small electric motor for the mixie. By 1970 they designed a single jar for both dry mixing and wet grinding. By 1980 Sumeet were selling about 50,000 Mixers every month. For a long time Sumeet was the only Mixie available in India and it was the dream of every Indian Housewife to own a Sumeet Mixie. After the death of Mr. Satya Prakash Mathur, the Company’s fortunes declined and the Sumeet Mixie design was copied by other start-up companies and Sumeet sort of disapeared from the market.
How to repair jammed mixer jar
Jammed stuck mixie Mixer blade is a common problem and it happens when the seal in the bearing of the blender mixie blades leaks and salty water from the food from seeps into the bearing of the mixie blades causing it to corrode and get jammed. The mixie will stop working under these conditions. The best solution is to take it to the nearest service center of the Mixie to replace the blade. But we give below some tips how to repair this in an emergency and also how to prevent the jammed mixie blades from happening
For emergency repairs keep the mixie Mixers jar upside down and pour some cooking oil into the space where the motor coupler is. Pour just enough oil to keep the level of oil to below the rubber or plastic motor coupler. Leave aside for a few minutes and then twist the rubber or plastic motor coupler with the help of a plier or similar hand tools. The first few turns will be very tight, but once it starts turning a few times it will loosen up. While doing this the jar should be upside down with a little oil under the rubber plastic motor coupling to lubricate the mixie jars blades. Once the jar blade moves freely, you can put it on the Motor base and run it empty for a few seconds at a time, till the jar blade runs freely. You can use penetrating lubricants like WD40 instead of cooking oil and it will work faster. After the mixie jar has loosened you must first mix some water alone and throw it off. This is to clean the jar.
To prevent Mixers jar getting jammed, always wash the inside of mixie jar with fresh water and always keep the blender jar upside down to allow water to drain away from the Mixers jar bearings. When you have finished doing your grinding jobs, the best way to clean the insides of the Mixers jar is to pour about a cupful of water into the jar and then put it on the mixie and run it for about 10 seconds at slow speed. This will make the insides of the jar easier to clean after. It is always a good practice to clean the jars immediately on finishing your mixer grinding jobs. When cleaning the outside of the mixer jar make sure that you do not let water come in contact with the mixer jar motor coupling at the base of the mixie jar. Always twist the rubber coupler at the bottom of the jar to make sure it turns freely.
An occasional spray with WD40 or similar lubricants, on the mixer jar bottom on the bearings below the rubber coupler will keep the jar in top condition. After the WD40 spray storing the jar upside down over night or for longer periods, will keep the mixer grinder jar working perfectly. You do not have to worry about WD40 being poison and getting into your food, because WD40 is certified safe. WD40 is safe because it is sprayed so often in many workshops, people are actually breathing in the WD40 fumes. Just to be sure of no bad taste in the food, the next time you need to use the Mixie jar for mixing, put in the jar a little water and run it for 5 seconds and throw that water away.
We have more detailed tips on Mixie usage in our website www.iMixie.com.
Advantage of Online buying of Home Appliances
Whatever Home Appliance you plan to buy, it is best to first do an online research about all available types and models on the leading online retailers in India, namely Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal. The advantage of first doing an online research about products you plan to buy is that you get to see all the available models of the product and you get to compare prices online. After this you can go around to the showrooms and do window shopping.
You should then decide to buy from the cheapest and most reliable source. When buying online, you can be sure that you will not get fake products and you are assured of after sales service. This is because the giant on-line retailers arrange for delivery to your house directly through the manufacturers of the product. Due to the high volume of business from the big online retailers, all manufacturers will make sure that any delivery on behalf of the big online retailers are of the best quality and that after sales service is provided on a priority basis.
If ever you have any problems, then you can go back to these online retailers and complain. All of these big online sellers have a reputation to keep and they always make sure that all complaints are promptly solved.
Advantage of buying AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, etc. online
Buying online fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and other major kitchen appliances is now the better option in India, just like it is in the USA and other advanced countries. There are several advantages of buying online. First of all, you get unbeatable bargain prices. Secondly, you get new and genuine products. Other benefits include no interest EMI payments, able to return the product for a full refund if not satisfied, etc.
Just to give you an example, below are some of the benefits Amazon India, the leading global online retailer, offered in India during their last sale. The same deals are not always available, but it is a good idea to check this link to the special offers page on Amazon.in India website.
- 30 to 50% off on ACs, Fridges, Washing Machines, Microwaves, Small Appliances, Chimneys, etc.
- Up to Rs. 10,000- off in Exchange
- No cost 0% EMI
- 10% Cashback on CitiBank Cards
- 100% Genuine Products
- Pre-Scheduled Delivery and Installation
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