Best Hand Blender
For master bakers and apprentices alike, having the right equipment close at hand is an absolute must when it comes to achieving professional-looking results. But let’s face it, who wants to lug out a heavy-duty appliance every time you need to do a little light-duty egg- whipping or batter-mixing. That’s where the efficient little hand-mixer saves the day. It’s quick to assemble, easy to clean, and today’s neat and tidy designs take up zero counterspace in your kitchen. Just pop this handiest of gadgets into a drawer when the work is done and get back to choosing your next culinary creation. And with today’s designs featuring seriously impressive speeds and a multitude of blending attachments, you may need to rethink whether you even need that cumbersome stand mixer.
What Are the Benefits to Using a Hand Mixer?
When compared to the heavy-weight stand-mixer, the upside is obvious: it’s convenient, faster to assemble then put to work, and when it comes to clean-up, simply press eject, wash the blades and this nifty little appliance is ready to store. And for those of us who prefer to clean as we work, a good hand-mixer is an absolute must-have. But where this light-prep genie really takes center stage is when you compare its fast efficient processing to that of using a whisk to whip eggs, your hands to knead bread dough or a spatula to stir a cake mix. You get faster results, less wrist fatigue, and far better blending than you could ever achieve by hand.
What to Look for When Buying a Hand Blender
Weight
Hand-mixers are great at providing control and maneuverability when light prep work is needed. And when it comes to whisking and blending by hand, it delivers not only faster results but helps prevent the wrist and arm fatigue that can occur when using a spatula or wire whisk for extended periods. Another important benefit to this appliance is that it can be used with one hand while the other hand is turning the bowl, stirring the mixture, or adding ingredients. For this reason alone, you want its size and scale to be light enough for you to comfortably hold for several minutes at a time, but substantial enough that it won’t hop around in the bowl when it encounters a heavier batter or dough.
Power
Forget the simple on/off switch. Today’s hand-mixers range up to 10-speeds and can even come with turbo power for those extra thick blends that require a little extra kick. If you plan to use your mixer for light processing of dry goods such as flour or cake mixes, you’ll appreciate those with fewer speeds and an easier, slow-start that helps to prevent powdery ingredients from flying up and out of the bowl the moment the blades start to rotate. For heavier work, such as kneading doughs, you’ll want a little extra fire-power to help push through that bulky mixture. If that’s more your baking style, look at options that feature 250-watts (or more) of power as well as appropriate beaters.
Attachments
There was a time when the zippy little hand-mixer came with just a single pair of stainless-steel beaters and we were happy to settle for that. Not any more. Many of today’s designs include dough hooks, whisks, turbo beaters, and more. Some beaters now come with a full or partial coating across the metal blade to help minimize noise and eliminate the wear and tear on your favorite kitchen bowls. For more thorough processing of doughs and batters, you’ll even find that several brands have designed their beaters to work without that awkward central pole. By keeping the center part of the beater open, you improve the speed and quality of blending while also making clean-up so much easier.
Top 6 Hand Mixers
Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer with Whisk Attachment
Best Budget-Priced Mixer
When your favorite recipes call for whisking, whipping, and folding in dry ingredients, you want to be sure you’re working with not only the right power but the right attachments. And this handy little mixer delivers big with both. Featuring a full 250-watts of power, it offers up 6 speeds including a lower speed start so you can add flour, baking powder, cocoa and more, without creating that usual dust cloud. Swap out traditional beaters with the single whisk attachment and you’re ready to prep a perfect eggy mixture for omelets, quiche, and custards. Kick it up a notch and you’re well on your way to whipping a stiff meringue for pies, cookies and all the makings of a flawless souffle. A handy built-in groove allows you to rest this mixer on the bowl edge as you work while a convenient snap-on storage container keeps accessories clean, tidy, and in one place.
Who Should Buy This Hand Mixer?
This is a great option for the home chef who wants a good quality, versatile mixer that won’t break the bank.
Pros:
- 250-watts of power
- Includes whisk attachment
- Bowl-rest feature
- Snap-on storage
Cons:
- Heavier weight
Specs for Comparison:
Weight: 3.5-pounds
Watts: 250-watts
Speeds: 6 speeds
Attachments: 2 beaters, 1 whisk
MOSAIC 3-speed Turbo-Charged Hand Mixer with Dough Hooks
Best for Power on a Budget
If your motto when cooking is “keep it simple” you’re going to love this basic, 3-speed hand-mixer. Make no mistake that at 200-watts of power and with a powerful turbo-boost feature, this essential kitchen tool can make quick work out of whipping eggs and creams or blending everything from silky smooth cake batters to thick and chunky brownie dough. If breads are your thing, just swap out the traditional stainless-steel beaters with dough-hooks, switch it into turbo mode and it’s ready to plough through your heavy bread or pizza doughs without missing a beat. When finished, one-button eject allows you to easily dismantle for dish-washer-safe cleaning of all attachments. And clips on the back of this unit keep all beaters damage-free and in one place for future use.
Who Should Buy This Hand Mixer?
This is a great, affordable option for the baker who needs a mixer that can tackle everything from cake batter to cookie or bread doughs with ease.
Pros:
- Turbo-boost feature
- Clip-on accessory storage
- One-button beater ejection
- Includes dough hooks
Cons:
- Fewer speeds
Specs for Comparison:
Weight: 1.87-pounds
Watts: 200-watts
Speeds: 3-speeds
Attachments: 2 beaters, 2 dough hooks
SHARDOR 5-speed Hand Mixer with Turbo Option and 5 Attachments
Best for Power
If you’re thinking about phasing out your old stand-mixer for something a little more compact and user-friendly, this is the replacement you’ve been looking for. Let’s face it, you never want to have to sacrifice power or versatility when down-sizing your countertop appliances and with 350-watts of power, this 5-speed hand-mixer with turbo function is anything but a compromise. Not only do you get the 2 traditional stainless-steel beaters but you also receive dough hooks and a whisk attachment for optimal whipping and blending results. And because this mixer has been designed to continually vent-out hot air, you never need to worry it will over-heat and shut down due to prolonged use – it’s simply built for the long haul. A clear, snap-on base holds all accessories and even stows the cord for neat, easily accessible storage.
Who Should Buy This Hand Mixer?
This is an ideal appliance for the home baker that is looking for a versatile mixer that brings a lot of extra power and can be used for extended periods of time without overheating.
Pros:
- Vented design prevents over-heating
- 5 speeds with turbo function
- Compact snap-on storage
- Includes beaters, dough hooks, whisk
Cons:
- Louder operation
Specs for Comparison:
Weight: 3-pounds
Watts: 350-watts
Speeds: 5-speed
Attachments: 2 beaters, 2 dough hooks
Breville 9-speed Intuitive Hand Mixer with 9 Attachments
Best for Fool-Proof Results
For those who appreciate fool-proof technology, you’re going to want to check out this intuitive 9-speed hand-mixer. It actually recognizes the type of beater you’ve inserted, and recalibrates its speed and power to achieve the blend that’s ideal for that particular attachment. Whether whipping eggs using the generously sized balloon whisks, mixing cake batter with the rubber-tipped beaters, or working through a heavier mixture with the dough hooks, this handy little appliance automatically adjusts for always perfect results. Plus, an open, no-core-designed beater allows for smoother blending of batters as well as easier clean-ups. And because its lower half is coated with rubber, these beaters act as spatulas to continually draw all ingredients up and into the mix without ever scratching or etching the sides of your favorite mixing bowls. Snap-on storage keeps all accessories and swivel cord tidy and always within easy reach.
Who Should Buy This Hand Mixer?
For skilled or novice bakers, a little extra help is always appreciated and with this versatile hand-mixer, you get not only power and versatility but an intuitive appliance that recalibrates its power and speed each time you change the beaters.
Pros:
- Auto-calibrates speed to match attachment
- Rubber-ended beaters
- Dual balloon whisk attachments
- 9 speeds plus boost feature
Cons:
- Heavier weight
Specs for Comparison:
Weight: 4-pounds
Watts: 240-watts
Speeds: 9-speed
Attachments: 2 beaters, 2 dough hooks, 2 balloon whisks
KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Mixer with Turbo-Style Beaters and Swivel Cord
Best for Quick Whisk Jobs
For beaters that can’t be beat, this top-quality hand-mixer with stainless-steel turbo style attachments is about to become a must-have addition to your arsenal of kitchen equipment. Not only does this essential little appliance bring 60-watts and 5-speeds of power, its open-blade-construction also delivers a smoother, more thorough blend to everything from cake batters to chunky cookie doughs. And because a great hand-mixer is all about ease of use, this unit features a swivel cord that can be moved to the left or the right as you work, then locked into place so you always have full range of motion. Single-press ejection and easy-clean attachments make this unit a great option for those quick jobs that don’t require a full stand-mixer but need a little more fire-power than hand mixing.
Who Should Buy This Hand-Mixer?
This lightweight design is the easy, ideal choice for when you need to quickly whisk eggs, whip cream, or blend light batters.
Pros:
- Swivel, locking cord
- Soft-start speed
- Turbo-style beaters
- Single press ejection button
Cons:
- No built-in storage
Specs for Comparison:
Weight: 2-pounds
Watts: 60-watts
Speeds: 5-speed
Attachments: 2 turbo beaters
Black+Decker 5-speed Hand-Mixer with High-Performance Helix Beaters, Dough Hooks and Whisk Attachments
Best for Power and Versatility
You won’t need a bulky stand-mixer when you introduce this powerful, 5-speed, turbo-boost appliance to your kitchen. Not only does it come with over-sized helix beaters that can blend large volumes of ingredients faster and more thoroughly than standard-sized attachments but you also get dough hooks and a wire whisk for even greater versatility. Made from reinforced nylon atop stainless-steel, the helix beaters are ideal for processing heavy batters but gentle enough to prevent damage to your mixing bowls. You may think that 250-watts of power is sufficient to tackle your toughest mixing jobs, however, this handy little gadget has a one-touch turbo-boost feature that will instantly increase power to any of the five speeds you’re working with. Best of all, a snap-on storage container keeps all these extra attachments damage-free and within easy reach.
Who Should Buy This Hand-Mixer?
Offering serious power and a range of well-designed attachments, this hand-mixer is a great option for those who want just one appliance that can do it all.
Pros:
- Turbo feature boosts power
- Larger, helix-shaped beaters
- Includes dough and whisk attachments
- Reinforced nylon prevents bowl damage
Cons:
- Louder operation
Specs for Comparison:
Weight: 3.15 pounds
Watts: 250-watts
Speeds: 5-speed
Attachments: 2 helix beaters, 2 dough hooks, 1 whisk
Bottom Line
Today’s hand-mixers come in such a wide range of speeds, power levels and even attachment designs, that they can easily replace the typical stand-mixer when it comes to performance. They’re not only more affordable than their bulkier counterpart, but they also take up a lot less storage space and are easier to set up and use when duty calls. For anyone who bakes, a good-quality hand-mixer is a time- and wrist-saving alternative to whisking and blending by hand, and if we’re honest, it’s practically guaranteed to deliver better results every time.
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