Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongate shaft, a first paddle including a connecting member disposed generally parallel to the shaft and a cross member disposed generally perpendicular to the shaft and coupled thereto, wherein the connecting member includes at least one notch formed along an edge thereof, and a second paddle including a connecting member disposed generally parallel to the shaft and a cross member disposed generally perpendicular to the shaft and coupled thereto, wherein the connecting member includes at least one notch formed along an edge thereof.

Abstract: This invention is a stirrer, impeller or stirrer paddle used for mixing small volumes of liquid in a vessel having a small capacity for liquid, said impeller being characterized by an impeller blade connected to the bottom portion of a support, where the blade has an opening extending through the blade from the front to the back surface of the blade said opening extending across the rotational axis of the impeller. The invention is also an apparatus comprising that blade, a method of mixing components using the apparatus and an array of two or more of the apparatuses.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing viscous material includes a chamber having a cylindrical sidewall and a bottom and receiving viscous material to be mixed; a cylindrical draft tube fixed at an inside center of the chamber to be spaced from the bottom and the sidewall and forming a space between the draft tube and the sidewall to allow passage of the viscous material, and including a heat medium passage therein; a carrying impeller installed in the draft tube and driven by a motor to transfer the viscous material above or below the draft tube and suck the viscous material in the space into the draft tube; and a sweeping impeller installed in the space and rotated in a circumferential direction by a motor to apply a pressure to the viscous material so that the viscous material in the space is not adhered to the draft tube and the sidewall.

Abstract: Current mixing devices do not allow partially-liquefied food contents to be adequately mixed while also thickening the mixture, without creating any burned portions of the mixture or creating any limp, tasteless, and lowered-nutrient solid items. Embodiments of the current invention allows mixture of food contents in a manner resulting in a thoroughly mixed substance that is adequately thick, while also minimizing the amount of limp, tasteless, and lowered-nutrient solid items. The embodiments comprise a handle, a stem, and at least one stirrer blade, with the stirrer blade comprising a mesh surface, at least one v-shaped edge adapted to dislodge portions of the mixture fixedly attached to the inner surface of the cookware. The embodiments are adapted to be used in a method designed to adequately mix and thicken the food contents.