Hand Mixers

Hand mixers work well for quick jobs

Overall, editors at Cook's Illustrated magazine say hand mixers lack the "speed and convenience of a stand mixer." Still, some hand mixers are capable of whipping a batch of heavy mashed potatoes without straining or emitting a burning smell. Just as important as adequate power is a low setting that's slow enough to prevent spattering. Those hand mixers that can perform many of the same tasks as stand mixers do so at a fraction of the cost and countertop space. One downside of many top-performing hand mixers is they are quite noisy.

Testers at ConsumerReports.org say a "hand mixer should be well balanced and comfortable to hold." Mixing may take longer with a hand mixer than a stand mixer, so it shouldn't be too heavy. Hand mixer attachments may include wire beaters (the ones without a center post are easier to clean), a whisk and dough hooks. Hand mixers with a notch underneath allow it to rest on the edge of the bowl with fairly good stability; however, the beaters may be too short to reach the bottom of the bowl in this position (depending on the size of your bowl, of course). Experts agree that an LED digital display for speed settings is easiest to read, and a touchpad is easier to clean than raised buttons or a sliding control.

The Cuisinart Power Advantage 7-Speed Hand Mixer (*Est. $50) and Cuisinart Power Advantage 5-Speed Hand Mixer (*Est. $40) receive above-average marks from a consumer products organization for whisking, mixing and convenience; however, editors say these hand mixers are quite noisy. One foodie magazine compliments the Power Advantage 7-Speed's power and slow low speed that prevents ingredients from spattering. Editors say the digital controls are easy to use and clean, and the contour handle is comfortable. Although five speeds may be plenty for people who want to spend less, the Power Advantage 7-Speed includes a handy whisk attachment. Both have a three-year warranty, which surpasses other hand mixers.

Generally, hand mixer models have not been around as long as some stand mixers and, therefore, have not accumulated as many owner reviews at retail sites. At Cooking.com, about 50 owners give the Cuisinart Power Advantage an overall rating of 4.7 stars out of 5. At Amazon.com, these hand mixers garner an average rating of 4.1 stars out of 5. Owners like the slow-start feature and agree it works well for cookie dough, cake mixes and mashed potatoes. The main complaint is spattering, and some think the slow speed is too fast. A few say the beaters don't stay in or mechanical problems developed shortly after purchase.

If you want a hand mixer that includes dough hook attachments, you have a couple of solid options, but you can expect the price to be higher. One consumer products testing organization says the Dualit Professional 5-Speed Hand Mixer (*Est. $80) whips faster than the Cuisinart Power Advantage 7-Speed Hand Mixer, but wasn't as effective at mixing. Food & Wine magazine gives it honorable mention in its review of hand mixers from 2008. Editors say they like the retro look and retractable power cord; however, they would have preferred a slower low speed for thick dough. The Dualit hand mixer is available in five color choices and includes a whisk, two flat beaters and two dough hooks.

We found consumer reviews for the Dualit Professional 5-Speed Hand Mixer at Amazon.com, where it receives mixed reviews from about two dozen owners. Reviewers say it's powerful but wish it had slower speed settings. It's also comfortable to hold, but a few complain that the retractable cord doesn't work smoothly.

The KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer (*Est. $50) is another option that includes dough hooks, and it was found to be considerably quieter than other hand mixers in one expert review. Rather than a whisk attachment, it includes a blender rod for mixing liquids. Nearly all of the more than 100 reviewers at Viewpoints.com recommend this hand mixer. However, more than 40 owner reviews at Amazon.com reveal that there's not enough variation between the speed settings, and the highest setting isn't powerful enough. Others say the plastic housing cracked and the beaters bent. At 3 pounds, it's heavier than the aforementioned hand mixers. It's available in white, black or red, and is covered by a one-year warranty.

A hand mixer that doesn't earn praise in either expert or owner reviews is the inexpensive Black & Decker PowerPro MX217 (*Est. $20). Editors at one food magazine say this hand mixer's lowest speed setting wasn't slow enough, resulting in splattered batter, and it was extremely noisy. Another professional review also gives it a poor noise rating and just average ratings for whipping and mixing. Additionally, it receives largely poor reviews from 20 people at Amazon.com. Several unhappy owners say it has durability issues -- breaking after only a few uses. Owners also complain that it's loud.