Electric Hand Mixer Shopping Guide – 6 PRO Tips!
A few years back I considered Standing Mixers to be the bee’s knees of baking appliances in the baking world…
To me, electric hand mixers felt like the poor unfortunate cousins of Standing Mixers that are constantly longing for the day they might evolve into standing mixers.
I thought “if I could just get a Standing Mixer, I will never need a Hand Mixer ever again!”, right?
Wrong!
Hand Mixers are LEGIT and there are some jobs that a Hand Mixer can do 10 times better than a standing mixer.
>> They give you so much control!
Another perk is that the tedious “scrape down the paddle & bowl” sessions are so much less with a hand mixer! I insist on making my Ultimate Chocolate Frosting with a hand mixer.
In a standing mixer it turns out lumpy and takes 3 times as long.
I’ve gone through my share of hand mixers as a full time baker. Some were amazing and some of them frustrated me a lot.
I’ve also decided to flex my I-actually-have-an-architecture-degree-and-can-draw muscles this week! Yay!
The sketches should help you understand what I mean. I hope you enjoy my little, super technical, super beautiful sketches. I’ve even framed them like the pro doodlers do these days.
*HINT* There’s a bonus tip #7 at the end of the post 😉
Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you end up buying one of these products – but it’s at no extra cost to you. I believe each one of them is the best value for money. I’m proud to recommend these tools to you because I know they’ll enhance your baking life at the most affordable rate possible.
Here are 6 key things to consider when you’re buying a Hand Mixer
1. The Base of the Hand Mixer
By this I mean the side of the Hand Mixer you put down on the counter when you’re not using it. If the base is too small, the Hand Mixer will keep toppling over time and time again! It can become blindingly frustrating.
Be sure to buy one that doesn’t have crazy curves or rounded edges toward the base. It’s best when the body shape of the mixer goes straight down into a completely flat surface.
Some designers often try to be cute and add a creative little arch below the base of the mixer. It’s so impractical. A slight variation from a completely flat surface might not have too drastic implications.
The best way is to test it.
Put the mixer on a flat surface and test its stability by pushing it with varied amounts of force. This is a technical way of saying “poke the mixer”! Lol! If it falls over easily, I would recommend that you keep shopping.
The stability of the base also includes the angle at which the power cord comes out of the hand mixer.
Might seem futile, but if the angle is too steep it compromises the stability of the mixer in a standing position. Make sure that the cord doesn’t interfere with the stability.
2. The Shape of the Beaters
Beater attachments are just beater attachments, right?
I’ve come to see that there’s a whole lot more to it!
My dear husband bought us a new fridge last year. He knew I was in dire need of a new hand mixer. I’m super particular about the appliances I buy and he knows this.
The sales lady at the appliance store highly recommended a Bosch Hand Mixer and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
I was so skeptical about his impulsive buy, but it’s turned out to be one of the best hand mixers I’ve ever had. It meets a lot of other criteria, but the main reason I love this hand mixer so much is because of the unique little twist in the beater attachments.
These boys whip things up in at least 30% less time! It’s amazing! I assume that the slight twist agitates the ingredients just that much more during beating, speeding up the creaming/whipping process.
This little edge has saved me so much time over the past year!
Please note that this feature is NOT essential, it’s just a super handy “nice to have”.
I know Bosch Hand Mixers aren’t available everywhere, so don’t worry too much if you can’t get one. There are plenty of other AMAZING hand mixers available! I’ll give you my verdict right at the end of the post 🙂
3. The Weight of the Hand Mixer
Have you ever made 7 minute frosting?
Or a batter that needs to be beaten for 5 minutes?
Even the lightest hand mixer can feel like lead after about 2 minutes.
On the flip side, it also doesn’t help if you get a super light Hand Mixer that falls over when you just look at it. I know I’m exaggerating, but we’ve all had an el-cheapo that falls over like 5-10 times a day.
Not fun.
Especially when there’s batter on the beaters and now it’s all over the counter. *Sigh of note!*
To me, the ideal weight of a hand mixer should be about 680 g (1,5 lbs) without any attachments. You can still go down to 650 g, but anything lighter than that becomes a bit too flimsy.
The weight of a hand mixer is not necessarily on the box, so be sure to take your scale with so that you can weigh it in the store! It may be nerdy, but it’s also kind of hard core when you think about it. Oh yeah. You know it.
4. Watts of the Hand Mixer
You get some powerful hand mixers on the market, but we’re not planning to use it to propel us across the ocean.
On the flipside, you do want a rather powerful mixer that will get the job done, and get it done well.
I recently watched a YouTube video by Cupcake Jemma where they reviewed different Standing Mixers. What an eye opener! Turns out higher watts does NOT mean it’s a higher quality mixer! Click here to watch the whole video.
The Watts refers to how much power goes INTO your mixer, not how much comes OUT! A lower watt mixer often means that the gears inside your hand mixer are of a higher quality, so they need LESS watts to operate.
So higher watts does NOT mean higher quality!
In my experience, 350 Watts is ideal for a hand mixer. But ultimately, it’s your decision here. 350 Watts has just worked the best for me so far.
5. Speed Settings of the Hand Mixer
A turbo speed option is not essential. My current hand mixer doesn’t have one and I honestly haven’t missed it for a second.
In fact it’s actually more important that the slow speeds on your mixer are in fact SLOW. I’ve had 2 hand mixers where the so called “slowest speed” was actually really fast! Try to test this in store if they allow you to.
6. Price of the Hand Mixer
Have you watched “Midnight in Paris”? Rachel McAdams’s mother says on a few occasions “You get what you pay for. Cheap is cheap!”.
I really don’t feel that’s true.
Some famous brands have these stunning hand mixers, but they are so heavy and unpractical. Very strange, but true.
Price does not equal quality when it comes to buying a hand mixer. Specs equal the quality of the hand mixer.
7. Spinning Direction of the Beaters
This point is super important. Generally, we beat things with a hand mixer to incorporate air. Thus it is KEY for the ingredients to be forced to work against gravity i.e. starting at the bottom and ending at the top.
For this to be accomplished, the spinning direction should spin from the inside out, forcing ingredients UP.
If the spinning direction is from the outside in, then the ingredients are being forced DOWN resulting in less air in the mixture.
What you hold the hand mixer out in front of you like a drill, you want the beater on the left to spin anti-clockwise and the beater on the right to spin clockwise.
Summary + My Recommended Hand Mixers
- Check the standing stability of the hand mixer you are considering. Do not compromise on this. Seriously. You can compromise on any of the other points, but not this one.
- Try to get a mixer with twisted beater attachments to save you whipping time. (This is not essential, it’s just a nice bonus)
- Higher Watts does NOT equal higher quality! Often lower Watts indicates better gears on the inside of sa hand mixer. 350 Watts is ideal in my experience.
- Get a hand mixer that isn’t too heavy. 680 g (1,5 lbs) is perfect.
- Don’t go for pretty, go for practical. You will use this hand mixer almost every day. Pretty is a bonus. Pretty hand mixers from famous brands will also cost you a whole lot more.
- Always read the specs of the appliance and decide according to that. Base your decision on the facts, not the brand name!
- Check the spinning direction of the beaters – it should be from the inside out.
- Don’t be too idealistic. Sometimes you’ll have to settle. What’s the best value you can get for your money? As long as your mixer has great standing stability, you should be fine.
Here are 3 options for hand mixers (each the best in their price range) to accommodate your budget:
BUDGET PRICE RANGE: Hamilton Beach 6 Speed Mixer (around US$20)
INTERMDIATE PRICE RANGE: Cuisinaid Hand Mixer (around US$40-$50)
Image Source: Amazon.com
PREMIUM PRICE RANGE: KitchenAid Cordless Hand Mixer (around US$100)
Image Source: Amazon.com
And that’s it!
I hope this post has shed some light on the process of buying a hand mixer.
Have fun when you whip out your digital scale in the store to weigh the prospective hand mixer. Make sure you are wearing shades at the time and playing “Bad to the Bone” in the background 😀
Chat soon
Aurelia 🙂
POPULAR BAKING TIPS
POPULAR BAKING BIZ TIPS
Got a question? Something to add? Let’s chat in the comments section down below! (I respond to every single comment)
Hi Aurelia,
I found your post to be very informative and I enjoyed your writing style too! I have a question about the style of the beaters on hand mixers. The Hamilton Beach mixer you recommended has flat shaped beaters. A lot of mixers on the market have beaters that look like thick round wire. (Similar to the Kitchenaid cordless mixer recommended.) I have read a number of reviewers say that the rounded style beaters don’t do as good a job at whipping potatoes …they leave lumps. (I use a mixer infrequently & mainly use it for mixing cake batter, making whipped cream or meringue, and whipping potatoes for guests who prefer their potatoes that way.) Have you tried both styles of beaters, and have you noticed a difference in their performance?
Thank you!
Hi Catherine, thank you for your question and I am happy to hear that this post was informative for you. Typically, the flat shaped beaters are used for dough. Kinda like a bread hook with a mixer, so that is what I would mostly recommend using those beaters for, but if it helps in other ways that is always a plus – thanks again!
Hi l enjoyed reading through your content, is their any unique or exceptional differences between 5 speed and 7 speed hand mixers.Then, I notice my Kenwood mixer with 7 speed 380 watt do smell and gets hot when am using it. what could be the cause. Ruth from Nigeria
Hey Ruth! Most mixers can’t run on their maximum speed for very long, so be careful that you don’t burn out the motor. If you need to mx something on maximum speed for a long time you can mix for half the time, let the machine rest for a minute or 2 and then mix again.
Thank you! That’s soo cool you did this little guide!
You’re welcome Marina! 😀
I see it weights 2.5#. Not exactly lightweight. Also a lot of comments on Amazon say the beaters are junk and rust after very little use. When did you recommend this brand? I didn’t see a date on your review.
Hey Caroline, thanks for your comment! I created the post about 3 years ago and haven’t updated it recently – I’m terribly sorry about that. It was very negligent and irresponsible of me. Early 2018 the VonShef mixer was quite different. It wasn’t so heavy and the beaters were better quality – AND the price was cheaper! It seems they started taking shortcuts in production and earn more profit a well. I spent a few hours last night reading hundreds of reviews on Amazon and updated the post so the info is more current! I’ve also recommended 3 hand mixers now in different price ranges because everyone doesn’t have the same budget. Once again, I apologize that I didn’t keep a closer eye on the information in this post. Thanks for pointing it out!
1. Are the 3 mixers listed now, the updated hand mixers?
2. It seems that the Kitchen Aid is the only hand mixer with the recommended beaters?
Thanks for any information you may offer.
Hey Patricia, thanks for your comment 🙂 The 3 listed hand mixers are the updated ones yes. Please note in the post I explain that the twisted beaters aren’t essential, they’re just a handy extra bonus. Ordinary beaters work just fine 🙂
I was given a VonShef hand mixer but I was thinking about returning it The book that came with it said to only run the mixer for two minutes and then it had to rest for five minutes. That does not seem right to me.
Hey Patty, thanks for your comment 🙂 That is very odd. I doubt anything bad will happen if you let the mixer run for 5 minutes straight. It’s worth a shot! I know it’s a great quality machine. If you smell something burning, then of course please switch it off immediately.
Hey, I loved this article. Actually, I wanted the best hand mixer for kitchen use and the amazing thing is that I found your article and this helped me to learn something different and great reviews about the hand mixer. You shared some good points here. Thanks a lot..!
So glad the post helped you to make an informed decision Rachel! You’re welcome 🙂
This is a great guide and also very entertaining. I can just imagine how confused kitchen stores will be when everyone starts weighing their hand blenders!
Lol! Yes that will be HILARIOUS! Glad you enjoyed the guide Jessica 🙂
Thank you Aurelia for your research, experiments and illustrations. I knew this was the article for me when you commented that hand mixers give you more control! Thus why I have never bought a stand mixer. What brought me here? I thought umm, maybe I should finally invest in a stand mixer…. wellll when I saw all the considerations, e.g. power, capacity, color, brands, watts, speed (oh my) blah 3x I reasoned, home baking should not be this complicated! So, I will stick with purchasing a quality hand mixer. And who knows, maybe it will propel strong enough for me to tread the Atlantic ocean to S. Africa to shake your hand! Thanks!
Hey Kimberly! Thanks for your comment 🙂 It’s SO TRUE; a stand mixer can make your life easier, BUT a high quality stand mixer is about 10x more expensive than a high quality hand mixer! Glad this post has helped to give you some clarity and peace of mind.
Your content wasn’t just helpful, your writing style and tone were relatable. I laughed out loud when you wrote about not needing a mixer we can paddle across the ocean with! Facts! Thank you for helping me think through my mixer purchase all the way from Nigeria.
Hey Serah! So glad to hear the post was relatable and helpful! Happy baking 🙂
It was very helpful to read the tips that you have provided. And i was buying it for the very first time, so it was very informative.
Thanks a lot!.
I’m so glad to hear this was helpful Aki! 🙂
I just have to leave a comment here (which I haven’t done in years!) I enjoyed reading your blog. It is so informative and I learned a lot, without drowsing off halfway! It is a really fun guide! Thanks a lot. 🙂
Thanks so much Marla! Glad you enjoyed the post 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Great article thank you Aurelia . How does one actually know whether the whipping action is from outside in, pushing down, or inside to the outside of the mixture? What does this look like?
Happy baking.
Lynn
Hi Lynn! Glad you enjoyed the article! From the inside out would mean that the left beater is spinning anti-clockwise and the right beater is spinning clockwise. This is what you want. It will grab the mixture in the bottom of the bowl and circulate it upwards to the top – creating a more aerated mixture 🙂
I’m sorry, but the beating direction is only a matter of physical perspective. Think about a stand mixer on a kitchen island. Standing behind it, the beater to your left is going counter-clockwise. But walk around the island and face the mixer, and now the beater to your left is going clockwise. No matter which way they’re set, the opposite motion is occurring from the other side. RPMs are the primary factor in terms of incorporating air into a mix.
Hi there Jo! Thanks for sharing your input. While what you said is true for STAND mixers, this post is specifically about HAND mixers. The spinning direction of the 2 beaters does influence how much air you incorporate depending on whether they’re forcing the mixture up between the beaters (where there’s no resistance, just air) or down between the beaters (where the mixture then hits the side of the bowl and many of the bubbles inevitably burst because of slamming into a hard surface). You’re welcome to differ, but I’ve tested this literally thousands (not exaggerating) of times and respectfully stand by my observation 🙂 Have a great day!
how do twisted beater attachments look like? can you share the mixer model so i can google it up?
Hey Amin! You can check out Bosch’s website. All their hand mixer models have slightly twisted whipping beater attachments.
I just decided to buy myself my first ever mixer and I already found a hand-held & a stand mixer with a teeny tiny difference in price so I’m torn. Reading your blog shed so much light though and it’s also super relatable. Thank you for such an amazing content!
Hi Mariel! Thanksfor your comment 🙂 I’m so glad to hear this post brought you more clarity!
Thanks so much for the helpful info! So many times I click on titles like yours and it’s just click bait. But you actually did the research and gave such practical advice. I’m sure the store employees thought I was weird for using their kitchen scales to weigh the hand mixers. Thanks!
Hi Tanya! Oh I am so happy to hear that the post was so helpful to you 😀 Weighing a hand mixer ABSOLUTELY looks weird, but it’s such an important step – lol! Glad you did it! *high five*