Mixer Recommendations for Light Cream Maker™ with Electrolytes

Based on your experience and the properties of Light Cream Maker™, selecting the right mixer is crucial to achieve a smooth, stable cream and prevent pilling.

Overhead Stirrer

An Overhead stirrer provides significantly more shear than a hand-held milk frother. It is capable of mixing larger volumes and handling thicker formulations effectively. For batch sizes of 1-3 kg, a suitable Overhead stirrer with a proper impeller (like a propeller or turbine blade) can provide sufficient shear to create a stable emulsion with Light Cream Maker™.

Importantly, the description for Light Cream Maker™ mentions that mixing speed should not exceed 2500 rpm to avoid damaging the polymer. Many Overhead stirrers have variable speed control and can operate within or below this limit, making them a potentially suitable option.

Homogenizer

A Homogenizer provides very high shear, which is excellent for creating extremely fine and stable emulsions. This high shear is typically very effective at preventing pilling. For 1-3 kg batches, a lab-scale or pilot-scale homogenizer could be used.

However, the critical factor here is the speed limitation of Light Cream Maker™ (not exceeding 2500 rpm). Most standard homogenizers operate at much higher speeds (often 10,000 rpm or more) to achieve their high shear effect. Using a standard high-speed homogenizer with Light Cream Maker™ would likely exceed the recommended speed limit, potentially damaging the emulsifier polymer and leading to formula instability, which could ironically worsen the pilling or cause other issues.

Conclusion

Considering the specific requirements of Light Cream Maker™ regarding mixing speed (below 2500 rpm), a standard high-speed Homogenizer is likely not suitable for use with this particular emulsifier, despite its general effectiveness in preventing pilling.

An Overhead stirrer is the more appropriate choice for your 1-3 kg batches when using Light Cream Maker™. It can provide sufficient shear compared to a milk frother, and you can control the speed to stay within the recommended limit of 2500 rpm.

Additionally, remember the mixing technique recommended for formulas with high electrolytes: create the cream base first, then add the electrolyte-containing ingredients gradually while continuing to mix, adjusting the amount of Light Cream Maker™ if needed to maintain viscosity. Combining a suitable Overhead stirrer with this technique should help you achieve a smooth, stable cream without pilling.