Learn how to buy the perfect hand mixer that suits your needs and has features you will love so you can enjoy time spent in the kitchen. Get a reliable appliance for quick kitchen work!
Want to make mashed potatoes in the short term, or do you need whipped cream quickly?
Best Hand Mixer
All you need is the leading hand mixer currently on the market! I have nieces’ wedding coming this month, and I always like to gift things which are both practical and pretty.
She doesn’t have much experience in the kitchen, so I thought I would buy her a smaller appliance for a start. I believe that a hand mixer is a right choice because it will not take plenty of storage space and can come in fashionable colors.
I know her taste, so I thought this would be an easy search, but an abundance of various devices confused me. I had to do more thorough research, and it is a fantastic opportunity to share my results with you, in case you have similar doubts when buying a hand mixer.
With my honest reviews, you’ll be closer to your decision, but first, there are some things you should know before buying one:
Why you need a hand mixer?
If you often cook and bake, then you most likely have a stand mixer in your house, but if you want to do something without having to assemble and clean it for the whole afternoon, you’ll need a hand mixer. There are numerous reasons why should you get one:
1. Storage saving
Stand mixers take a lot of space both on the counter and in kitchen cabinets, and the hand one is easier to store because it doesn’t take much space – not more than a shoebox. Few models have their snap-on storage case, so everything is in one place, or you can store it in the original box to avoid scratches, bumps, or other damage.
2. It is portable
You can put a hand mixer in your bag and make those delicious strawberry shortcakes everywhere you have electrical power. Especially if you move frequently, it is far easier to pack the small hand mixer than the bulky counter stands. If you plan to give it to someone like a gift, you’ll wrap and carry it easily.
3. Easier to maintain and use
A hand mixer is less powerful than a standing one, but it is that simple to use that even your kids can master it. You can shift gears with a press of a single button, it is very easy to change the accessories and quite comfortable to clean – all you need to clean are the beaters, which come off quickly by pressing the eject button. The body of the mixer needs only wiping.
How to buy the best hand mixer?
Hand mixers are suitable for less demanding and quick work in the kitchen, and when buying this appliance, you should keep in mind that a good hand mixer must have some features and some you can live with or without.
To avoid my previous mistakes, I made a list of things/features you should check before choosing the right-hand mixer for you:
1. Power
You want your hand mixer to perform well – no one likes to spend time over a bowl, but you don’t want flour all over your kitchen. So when it comes to power, 220 W is the ideal strength a hand mixer should have.
This power is enough for whipping cream, mashed potatoes, cookie dough, and other things that call for a hand mixer. If a model brings higher power than this, there is a chance you’ll need to pause your work to prevent the motor from burning.
Related: Is it Possible to Microwave Cookie Dough?
Hand mixers are sometimes made of poor quality and inadequate materials that can’t endure the strength of the motor. In those cases, appliances may give off the smell of burnt plastic or melted plastic parts.
If you ever feel the burnt plastic smell or your mixer seems “tired,” you should take a break or contact a repair service. You can never be too careful.
2. Speed
Almost every model on the market has multiple speed settings, ranging from three to nine. But the amount of shifting gears is not essential like the difference between them; if the second speed is the same as the ninth, then the high number of speed settings doesn’t mean a thing.
Basically, you need a variety of speed settings because whipping cream and making dough requires different gears or shifting them in the process. In ideal conditions, your hand mixer should have three low speeds – for delicate mixing and easy start, so you don’t blow ingredients from the bowl.
The contrasts between gears should be notable, but acceleration should be gradual. The five-speed range configuration is the most fitting one for a typical household, on the condition that speeds are well distributed.
3. Ease of use
The point of a hand mixer is to make your kitchen time more comfortable, so if you need to twist your arm in weird positions or the mixer is too heavy, it loses its purpose.
When I say easy to use, I mean setting functions you need and maneuvering easily without having to be creative to mix everything evenly. It has to be lightweight because you’ll spend some time holding it, so weight counts. If your hands hurt just like it hurts when you mix manually, then the device is pointless.
The cord should be long enough so you can access sockets without going into the living room to make mashed potatoes or having to move half of your kitchen. Also, you should be able to put it on the side to avoid a frayed cord.
Models with rest on the bowl feature are allowing you to safely put your mixer aside while you add ingredients or while reading the recipe, and you will not have to worry about drippings, topple down bowls, or broken devices.
Sure, you can manage with the lack of these features, but if you can choose, why not make your life a bit easier?
4. Accessories
Besides the standard beaters, a good hand mixer can have additional equipment like dough hooks and a balloon whisk. These accessories are not a necessity, but not only that they make your cooking better, but they also protect your mixer.
Making thick dough with beaters is doable, but it will wear off both the mixer and your hand pretty quickly. Dough hooks are designed to overcome that struggle, and due to their shape, it will take less effort and time to prepare the dough. A whisk is a better option for wet mixes when you want foamy texture – whisk offers less resistance, and the results will come fast and without an undue fatigue mixer.
If the mixer doesn’t have appendages included, look if you can buy them separately; you never know you need something until you really need it. I’m sure you’ll hear or read an exciting recipe that needs a dough hook or a whisk sooner or later, and it is easier and cheaper to buy them than the whole mixer.
5. Easy maintaining
Cleaning the body of the mixer is not that tricky; a wet cloth or sponge and soapy water will be enough, but cleaning beaters and other additional equipment can sometimes be a problem.
The recommended option is to wash them immediately after use or to soak them in water, but when I’m in a hurry, this is not my priority. This leads to scrubbing encrusted beaters all night because they have angled areas that are hard to reach, especially hours after use.
One way of softening the filth is to put them in the dishwasher if they are dishwasher safe, but in my experience, the washer never did a good job. Besides, detergent from the dishwasher can damage protective layers on metal and give them a long-term fretful look, which can lead to small metal particles chipping all over your food.
After many nights over the sink, my recommendation would be to wash them manually and right away or at least soak them in water – it doesn’t take more than two minutes.
Now that you know what features and additions you need to search for, let’s find the greatest hand mixer currently on the market. My honest reviews can help you with that:
5 Best Hand Mixers Currently Available: My Honest Reviews 2022
Hamilton Beach 62682RZ – Fast, powerful, and messy
Hamilton Beach is an acknowledged brand, and it is no surprise that their hand mixer has excellent features. It has the power of 250 watts and six speeds, and if that is not enough for you – it has a burst button for every speed.
The downside is that the low speed is a bit faster than usual, so put the beaters down before you start mixing to avoid splattering ingredients all over the kitchen.
This handy mixer comes with traditional beaters and a whisk, which is more than enough for most things. It doesn’t have dough hooks included so don’t make thicker dough with it.
My favorite feature is the snap-on storage case that will keep everything neat. For Tetris lovers putting all attachments including the cord in the case will be a piece of cake but for those who didn’t like this game – practice makes perfect; once you learn how to store it you will love it!
The other thing you’ll love is that Hamilton Beach 62682RZ has a bowl rest feature that allows you to read the recipe or to add ingredients without worrying where to put the mixer or will it mess up your countertop.
The beaters and whisk are shorter than other models, but they are easy to clean, mainly because they are dishwasher safe. Still, I recommend you to wash them manually because if you wash them in the dishwasher, there is a chance they will oxidize.
Pros
- Six speeds and burst button
- Snap-On storage case
- Beaters and whisk
- Bowl rest feature
Cons
- Practically no low speed
- Splatters ingredients
- Short accessorize
KitchenAid KHM512BY 5 Speed – Slow but functional
This model is easy to maneuver with because you can lock the cord either left or right to access ingredients from different angles. It has five speeds, but due to lower watt power (only 145 W), it is quite slow.
When talking about hand mixers, low speed is actually a good thing – you will mix wet and dry ingredients without splattering or blowing flour on your countertop.
But the downside is that it is slow even at a higher speed, so if you are planning to use this hand mixer for heavy-duty jobs, I recommend a more powerful one or a stand mixer. For easier and quick jobs, it will perform well.
It comes with wire beaters, which will be enough for regular use like whipping cream, egg whites, icings, etc. If you want additional accessories (like dough hooks), you can buy them separately but due to their weakness, I doubt you can make dough with this model.
It looks sturdy, but it is made from plastic, so I have my doubts about the durability of this mixer. If you want to make your kitchen more stylish, I’m sure one of the fifteen colors will suit your style.
Pros
- Low speed
- Easy to maneuver
- Cord Lock feature
- Various colors
Cons
- Plastic
- No accessories
- Weak
Cuisinart HM-90BCS Power Advantage Plus 9
The only problem is inconsistent speed – it starts very fast then slows down. If you forget about it (like I did) its 220 W power will remind you with quite a noise.
This beauty includes beaters, a chef’s whisk, dough hooks, a spatula, and the instruction/recipe book, so all your needs are covered – from making mashed potatoes to pizza dough.
It’s easy to work with and it is made from quality material so it will last. Maintaining and storing would be no problem because all the accessories are simple to wash both manually and in the dishwasher.
Regardless of material from which accessories are made, I don’t like to wash them in the dishwasher because the acid from detergent may affect the protective layer and accelerate rusting and decaying of accessories.
If you have limited storage space, a snap-on storage case is ideal for you and anyone who appreciates good organization. All components fit in the case nicely – once you get the hang of it.
The cord must be in the case, and it needs to be folded with care, to avoid fraying or twisting it. With a little bit of nervousness, I was able to fit everything on the fifth attempt; it is worth the trouble when you see how neat it looks in your cabinets.
Pros
- Snap-On storage case
- Super fast and powerful
- Three low speed
- Plenty of accessories
Cons
- Inconsistent speed
- Not so easy to store the cord
VonShef BLUE 250W Hand Mixer
This mixer has similar features as the previous one on today’s roundup, but with some improvements. It is more durable, and it looks more sturdy.
The cord is 3.3 ft long so you can manage it easily and comfortably without any acrobatic moves we usually do with hard-to-reach sockets and short cables.
The power of 250 W is more than enough, and you have five speeds to accommodate any thickness of mixture you are whipping or kneading. It has a low-speed setting, but the difference between all the speeds is so delicate that there is a chance you’ll miss it.
If you need additional speed, you can use turbo power, but it may perform differently depending on the thickness and texture of the ingredients.
VonShef BLUE 250W Hand Mixer comes with wire beaters, dough hooks, and a whisk all made from stainless steel, so you don’t have to worry about any chipping or delamination. They are shorter than usual, so you’ll have to use a little more power to scrape ingredients from the bottom of the bowl.
Although attachments are made from stainless steel and are dishwasher safe, I don’t like the risk, so I recommend you to wash them manually with soapy water.
You can choose from pastel green and bright red colors, both in combination with silver so that you can harmonize it with your kitchen elements.
Pros
- Power of 250 W
- Long cord
- Stainless steel attachments
- Turbo button
Cons
- No low speed
- No difference between speeds
VonShef BLACK 250W Hand Mixer 5 Speed
This elegant mixer looks robust in silver and black color, and it has the power of 250 W, but I don’t think that thin wire beaters would endure that power. I have the feeling that under pressure, they will break or bend.
When it comes to additional equipment, this hand mixer comes with two dough hooks and one whisk, which is more than enough for regular household needs. They are coated in chrome but made from copper, so there is a risk that your cookies could have an additional ingredient – chrome flakes from the whisk and hooks. To be safe, please wash them by hand!
VonShef BLACK 250W Hand Mixer has five speeds, and there is a notable difference between speeds so you can adjust it to whisk, mix and knead without making a big mess.
And with the turbo button, you can boost your hand mixer even more. I don’t usually use this button, but it is useful when you hear that the mixer struggles.
It is simple to use and it’s lightweight, so even your kids can use it if they like to “help” you around the kitchen.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Additional equipment
- Simple to use
- Elegant and sleek design
- Low speed
Cons
- Chrome coat can chip off
- Flimsy
See also: Favorite Whipped Cream Dispensers
Conclusion
All mentioned models are among the top five in their category for a reason, so your decision should depend solely on your needs.
If you want an ordinary but powerful mixer, you should go with Hamilton Beach 62682RZ – it doesn’t have a low speed or much additional equipment, but it will do the job quickly and good.
If you love to bake and experiment in the kitchen you should try Cuisinart HM-90BCS Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed. It has plenty of accessories, and within the nine-speed settings, you’ll surely find the desired one.
Both models have a snap-On storage case, so you don’t need to worry about organization and storage.
If you have more questions or you want to share your experiences, please don’t be shy, I’ll be more than happy to help you! 🙂