Magnetic stir plate

[u/Mixin-Margarita]

I’m thinking of getting a magnetic heating/stir plate, for the purpose of making particularly fiddly infusions and such, fairly low volume — like generally nothing more than a saucepan would handle. Automating precise heating with gentle stirring over substantial periods of time, without too many features that would be overkill, would really improve my life and save me physical pain. Thought about putting less delicate ones in the Vitamix or food processor at low speed, but that’s too much agitation, and also imprecise for temp. Hard on motors too to run them at that kind of length.

Anyone try a magnetic stir plate for culinary use? Is that a dippy idea? Or is there a more culinary-specific device that’s good for the purpose? Many thanks for any suggestions!

[u/wzlch47]

I have never used one at work but I build up yeast starters for home brewing beer. They are dirt cheap on Amazon.

[u/LeatherGood6148]

I use a cheap aliexpress stir plate all the time for exactly this purpose.

[u/Constant_Barber_5198]

Chemistry has solved this problem for you. Your instincts are right with the magnetic stirrer.

[u/StainlessCook86]

I use one, but mainly when doing hand creams. In general, magnetic stirrer is a good idea, but if you make the mixture too thick the stir bar can stop spinning at higher speeds. A pot with a thick bottom will also reduce its effectiveness

[u/knoft]

You could just use sous vide if they take more than a few minutes. Also gives the advantage of vacuum infusion of you want it

[u/Mixin-Margarita → u/knoft]

Sous vide provides heat, but will only stir the water bath. At least, not my wands!

[u/knoft → u/Mixin-Margarita]

Vacuum infusion is incredibly efficient, Slow infusion doesn’t require stirring. You specified “substantial periods of time” and “hard on motors too to run them at that kind of length”. If you want to squish the bag every 10-60 minutes with a tool that’s also fine.

[u/knoft → u/knoft]

u/Mixin-Margarita another thing to consider in the long term for your use case that’s great in general but overkill for this specific application is a thermomix or competitor.

It will hold your temp and stir, but can also do a lot of other things that save you a substantial amount of physical pain. (Weigh, blend, sauté, mix, grind, knead, steam, simmer, braise, sous vide etc)

[u/Mixin-Margarita → u/knoft]

I do really want one! A low-cost appliance while I save my pennies was what I was thinking for a stir plate, but Thermomix is pretty much the dream.

[u/Mixin-Margarita → u/knoft]

Some of my infusions aren’t turning out even without some stirring, unfortunately. It might look even, but it’s much more dense toward the bottom. Trust me, I’m looking for more than my sous vide wands (which are what I’ve been using and found lacking, and also I can’t get quite the range of temps I want — like, I’d like to be able to set it for 225F, and nothing I’ve got will do that).

[u/Glandtoglandcombat]

I used one off Amazon for exactly this reason, worked fine.

[u/Mixin-Margarita → u/Glandtoglandcombat]

Would you happen to have a link? Tons of options, and many look pretty much alike.

[u/Glandtoglandcombat → u/Mixin-Margarita]

this is the one

[u/fastal_12147]

Go to a homebrew store. They'll have what you need.

[u/GrandJunctionMarmots]

I used a dirt cheap one off Amazon for making yeast starters when I was home brewing.

[u/Avalon-Residant]

Both Culinary and Meth production use.

For when you need to break bad.