Best Hand Mixers On The Market – What You Need To Know
Whether you are a rookie or a pro with exceptional culinary skills — when it comes to food preparation a hand mixer is a necessary staple for any kitchen. It makes your work a hundred times easier by expediting food preparation tasks.
So, if you want to froth milk, mix cake batter, prepare the dough, whip cream, shred chicken, etc. — a reliable hand mixer can do it all and a lot more. It makes your work a hundred times easier by expediting food preparation tasks.
Now, it dials down to one question: with so many models on the market, which one’s worth investing in?
To help you out, we put a few to the test. The following are our top picks for hand mixers – go through the reviews and find the perfect hand mixer unit for your needs.
The Best Hand Mixers
Our Top Pick — Oster Hand Mixer with HEATSOFT Technology
If you require a handy-dandy mixer that will be your best friend in the kitchen, the Oster Hand Mixer with HEATSOFT Technology is undoubtedly the best, and that’s why it’s our top pick!
This hand mixer is built to perfection with quality materials. It comes with a variety of attachments that give you the option to do more in the kitchen. Out of the box, you get two dough hooks, one whisk, and two professional-style beaters — all attachments are hand-wash only.
The Oster Hand Mixer has a 270-watt powerful motor with seven speeds and also features a turbo mode for some extra speed at each setting.
This allows for precise mixing/blending to ensure that the resulting texture is as per your liking. Also, switching between speeds is an effortless process, and if need be, the turbo boost can be activated with the push of a button.
Besides these features, what makes this appliance so unique is the HEATSOFT Technology, it softens cold ingredients 12 times faster while mixing — no need to risk overheating in a microwave.
So if you have to bake at a moment’s notice — you can get the butter soft and ready for a beating while it’s getting beaten 12x faster.
Above all, the Oster Hand Mixer with HEATSOFT Technology comes with a storage case to keep the mixer and its attachments in one place, this ensures that you won’t be losing any parts, and it also makes it easy to stow away the unit.
Pros
- HEATSOFT Technology
- Seven-speed options + turbo boost
- 270-watts of power, which is good enough
- Easy to use and clean
- Looks beautiful
- Comes with a convenient storage case to keep all items safe
Cons
- Some users complained that the included beaters are short in height, so it’s hard to use them in larger bowls
Best For Beginners — KitchenAid KHM512C Ultra Power 5-Speed Hand Mixer
If you need a powerful hand mixer that does not cost an arm and a leg, the KitchenAid Ultra Power 5-Speed Hand Mixer is right up your alley. It is best for beginners – and gets the job done every time.
Using it is quite easy, and you won’t get tired of holding it up because it only weighs 1lb 13oz. However, being affordable also means that it doesn’t offer as many attachments as our last pick. Out of the box, you get the unit itself along with a set of beaters, that’s all.
However, the mixer itself more than makes up for that – it has five-speed settings so you can mix chunky ingredients like chocolate chips and nuts at slower speeds, or whip cream and egg whites at the top speed.
The attached cord can be locked on either the left or right of the unit to ensure that it won’t be in your way during food-prep.
The KHM512C is also quite easy to clean, attachments get removed with a push of a button, and all parts are dishwasher safe. It is made from durable stainless steel, so rest-assure that it won’t break down for a long time.
Pros
- A user-friendly device
- Tangle-free operation
- Easy to clean
- Made from quality material
Cons
- It only has five-speed settings
Best Quiet Hand Mixer — Hamilton Beach Professional Hand Mixer 7 Speed 62655
If you don’t want your hand mixer to be heard across the house, go with the Hamilton Beach Professional Hand Mixer 7 Speed 62655. We loved this handy device for its noise-free operations.
It’s a bit heavy, weighing in at 3.94 pounds; however, the features more than make up for that added bulk. With a powerful DC motor that provides seven-speeds and a turbo booster, what more can you ask for?
The Soft Scrape rubberized beaters are its secret to noise-free operations – but it also comes with a whisk, dough hooks, and beaters. Not only is there no noise, but rubberized beaters also help in ensuring that the cookware never gets any scratches.
Furthermore, you also get a snap-on storage case that keeps all attachments safe in one place and makes it easy to stow away the appliance if need be.
It also has an ergonomic grip that makes it easy to hold for a considerable amount of time without stressing your hands. Whether you are right-handed or left-handed, you can position the cord of the Hamilton Beach Professional Hand Mixer as you please courtesy of the swivel cord lock.
Pros
- Seven-speeds and a turbo boost
- Soft Scrape rubberized beaters
- Snap-on storage case for keeping all attachments in one place
- Noise-free operation
- Swivel cord lock for left or right-handed use
Cons
- The snap-on case can be hard to remove
Best All-rounder — Cuisinart HM-90BCS Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer with Storage Case
If you need an all-rounder device that does it all efficiently and comfortably and is made by one of the best brands in the industry, look no further than the Cuisinart HM-90BCS Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer with Storage Case.
A powerful 220-watt motor, chrome exterior, a bunch of accessories to help in preparing food, and reasonable weight — this hand mixer checks all the boxes.
Cuisinart is a well-reputed brand, making this one of the best machines in the market without a doubt.
The HM-90BCS Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer weighs a bit above two pounds, which is slightly heavy, but courtesy of the 9-speeds it performs quite efficiently.
Out of the box, you get two batter beaters, twin dough hooks, a whisk, a recipe book, and unlike other hand mixers, this one also comes with a spatula. Handling all attachments is also easy as they can be kept in the provided storage case.
The speed settings can be changed via touch-sensitive buttons, and all settings are indicated on the well-placed digital display. If you select one of the first three speeds, you can rest assured that you won’t end up with a splatter or create a mess.
Pros
- Nine-speed settings
- Storage case
- Powerful motor
- Sturdy built quality
- Comes with a spatula
Cons
- The detachable storage case tends to fall off at times
How Is A Hand Mixer Better Than A Stand Mixer?
Here are some of the many advantages of hand mixers as opposed to stand mixers:
- They have at a reasonable price tag as opposed to their traditional counterparts
- They require less counter space owing to their small size
- They are easy to clean – wipe clean the attachments or throw them in the dishwasher
- Great for quick jobs like whipping eggs
- You get all the functions of a stand mixer, etc.
Things To Consider
The Right Base
The selected hand mixer needs to have a small, yet practical base that can shoulder its full weight so that it does not topple over when idle.
So, it is best to buy a device that has the right base without and curves that may distort balance. Also, the included cord should be tangle-free, so it doesn’t get in the way when operating the machine.
Shape of Beaters
Instead of going for a unique and stylish looking beater, go with a simple, tried-and-tested design. The idea is to get all the beating, whisking, and mixing done as fast as possible, and this can be best achieved with a standard beater only.
Speed & Power
If time is of the essence, and your daily routine is filled with a lot of baking or cooking, you may need something more powerful to get things done quickly.
Hand mixers come with three, five, and even ten-speed levels, and typically have a 150-watt motor. But more powerful units may need 400-watts and above to run. Ideally, a 350-watt device is a safe bet for most food preparation tasks.
Price
To get the perfect device for you, consider your needs and don’t base your purchase decision on its aesthetic appeal and features that ultimately won’t be of any use to you.
Because more features also mean higher prices. On the contrary, you don’t want to go too cheap either — ensure that you are not compromising on quality by going for an economical device.
Accessories
Thanks to the provided attachments on modern hand mixers, you can do much more than just mix a few ingredients.
Here are some of the attachments that your hand mixer should have:
- French whisks to whip thick custard mixtures, sauces, and other liquids
- Balloon whisk to beat whipped cream, egg whites, etc.
- A dough hook to make dough for bread, pizza, etc.
Weight Of The Device
Since unlike stand mixers, hand mixers need to be held while operational, it is best to buy a device that does not weight much to avoid arm fatigue. If you have to do a lot in the kitchen like preparing a big batch of cookies — a light-weight mixer can be a godsend.
Look for units that weight less than 2 pounds.
Additional Features To Look Out For
Keep these extra features in mind when narrowing down the best hand mixer for you:
- Go for a unit that makes little to no noise to get work done without disturbing your home. This is primarily a good option if you have a small apartment, have light sleepers in your household, or live with the elderly
- Go with a device with a well-placed ergonomic handle and grip so that it is comfortable to hold and does not slip away during use
- If you have a small kitchen or little counter space, it would be best to stow away the machine after usage. Please ensure that your selected device comes with a storage compartment to keep all attachments in one place and that it has a small footprint so that it can snuggly fit into any space
Tips to Use Your Hand Mixer To Its Full Potential
Once you have gotten your hands on the best hand mixer per your needs, use it properly so that it lasts for a long time. Here is what you need to know:
- Keep it unplugged when not in use
- For safety reasons, ensure that it is unplugged when changing attachments
- Learn what each attachment does for efficient operations—it won’t take you that long to master the appliance
- For mess-free operations, start the hand mixer at the lowest speed, and then move towards higher momentum
- Also, before removing the machine, put it back on the lower settings so that the batter doesn’t get splattered when you raise it
- Keep your hand mixer away from water since electricity is involved. This will keep you and the machine out of harm’s way
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Is My Hand Mixer Not Operational?
Chances are that you have a blown-up fuse. You may need to pull the hand mixer apart to reach the fuse on the inside – or call up a professional service to replace it for you.
Which Is Better Hand Mixer Or Stand Mixer?
Both are excellent devices, but hand mixers are small, which makes them easy to use and store and are ideal for handling food preparation tasks. On the other hand, a stand mixer is bigger and more robust, which makes it great for handling bigger batches.
Can Hand Mixers Be Used To Make Cookies?
Yes, they can. Take the butter out of the refrigerator and put it directly under the hand mixer. It mixes evenly, and since it is not softened before mixing — the cookie dough and the resulting cookies won’t be too flat.
Are There Any Alternates To Hand Mixers?
You can use a manual whisk to mix or whip; however, it takes more time and effort as opposed to an electric hand mixer.
Photo credit: Anton Chernov/Shutterstock