Best Hand Mixers

Richard Kilgore · August 21, 2003

I was sure this had come up before, but a search turned up little. So, what are the best hand mixers? Which ones have dough hooks and are they really useful?

Thanks in advance.

Edited August 21, 2003 by Richard Kilgore (log)

rickster · August 21, 2003

I've had a Krups hand mixer for years that I like a lot. It came with an extra set of spiral shaped beaters that I think are supposed to be for dough, but they're pretty useless. If you're going to do dough in a mixer, you need a stand mixer

Steve Klc · August 21, 2003

We have the current Kitchenaid hand mixer, but use it very rarely--on high speed it is barely possible to make a proper italian meringue buttercream. They're not useful at all in comparison to, say, a 5 Qt. Kitchenaid stand mixer, and have zero use when it comes to dough.

If you plan to explore baking at all, you should probably just skip ahead, put the $50 or however many bucks a hand mixer would cost, toward the Kitchenaid stand mixer--the good 5 quart model is available from Costco for like $249.

rickster · August 21, 2003

Actually the only thing I use my hand mixer for these days is occasionally whipping cream and egg whites, which I have a tendency to overbeat in my stand mixer and I sometimes need in small quantities that are awkward to make in the Kitchenaid. Otherwise, everything goes in the Kitchenaid.

Steve Klc · August 21, 2003

Rickster--very true. One other thing--as one gets more into this baking stuff, buying an extra stainless steel bowl for your Kitchenaid really helps, especially when whipping and folding things together. So in your opinion--which would be money better spent if you already have a K-aid: a second bowl OR a hand mixer? The cost is about the same.

I think I lean toward buying a second bowl.

rickster · August 21, 2003

I have the second bowl too. I think I agree, given the choice between the hand mixer and the bowl, I'd take the bowl. I know I use it more than the mixer.

nightscotsman · August 21, 2003

I have a stand Kitchenaide mixer (with two bowls and whisks) that I use a LOT at home, but I also have a Krups (probably the same as rickster has) that I find really useful for very small amounts and quick jobs. I got it at a garage sale with the dough spiral thingies and a stand it locks into - I agree that these parts are useless. However, I find the shape of the regular beaters seems to beat cream very quickly and incorporate more air than most hand mixers.

Richard Kilgore · August 21, 2003

Okay, I got the message. I'll save my pennies. Costco is a real deal at $250 for the 350 watt mixer!

Alex · August 21, 2003

I've also found a second KitchenAid bowl to be very useful. You can get them on eBay all the time; just make sure you get the right size for the mixer.

I also use my seven-speed KitchenAid hand mixer for jobs that are too small for its big sibling. If you can find one at a big discount I'd recommend it.

$250 sounds like a really good deal.

maggiethecat · August 21, 2003

I think I lean toward buying a second bowl.

When I bought my Kitchenaid there was some kind of promo that threw in an extra bowl free.

I have blessed my luck many times.

Lesley C · August 22, 2003

Hmm...gee I don't know. My Kitchen Aid (purchased in 1988) is at a friend's house right now and I've been using an old hand mixer. I kind of like it. Just made banana bread and it worked very well. It seemed faster to me and I had more control incorporating the ingredients. I agree with nightscotsman. For small jobs a hand mixer is great. I think it mixes better than the stand mixer. But God no, I would never use it for Italian Meringue.

I don't have a second bowl for my stand mixer because when making something like a jelly roll cake, I prefer beating my whites while the yolks and sugar are still being whipped in the stand mixer. I prefer the two machines going at the same time.

So, I'd opt for the stand mixer and a hand mixer, over the two bowls with the stand mixer. Ideally two stand mixers would be my choice.

Richard Kilgore · August 25, 2003

Hmm. So one or two hand mixers, a couple of KAs with extra bowls and whisks, paddles, hooks ought to be about right. :blink:

alanamoana · August 25, 2003

and you're forgetting about the 11-20qt hobart table-top model that you'll need for large batches of dough and buttercream :laugh:

ChzHead · August 25, 2003

Okay, I got the message. I'll save my pennies. Costco is a real deal at $250 for the 350 watt mixer!

You also might want to get one of those 20% off coupons from Bed, Bath and Beyond too. BB&B honors that coupon on all items (even the ones that are printed as exempt from the off at the bottom). They also take expired coupons too!

Good luck! I love my Kitchenaid!

rickster · August 25, 2003

BB&B honors that coupon on all items (even the ones that are printed as exempt from the off at the bottom).

Don't count on it. My local store is very strict about the exemptions, as I discovered about a month ago.

Richard Kilgore · August 25, 2003

Thanks, but I don't think BB&B carries the 350 watt model, which lists at about $395 anyway. Could be wrong.

ChzHead · August 25, 2003

Richard, you're right they don't carry the 350 watt model. They do have the 5qt 325 watt and the 6qt 525 watt model.

Rickster, that really blows that the store by you doesn't offer the extra 'deal'. I'm in Austin and never had a problem.

Cheers!

PastryLady · August 26, 2003

I will tell you what I don't like. I have a Cuisinart hand mixer that I never use. The low setting is too fast. I agree with getting an extra bowl for the 5 qt. The 5qt model has a more cone shaped bowl that will allow you to make smaller batches. Ever since I got my KitchenAid, I really never use the hand mixer anyways.

elyse · October 20, 2003

Alrightie then! I've got two mixer threads going at one time. I was recently at Costco, looking at the KA stand mixer, and I saw a Hamilton Beach, 62005, 10 speed hand mixer with attachments and case. What's Hamilton Beach like these days? I just burned out my mother's Farberware mixer that she's had for over 30 years. :sad: My mixer (whatever it is) is on it's last legs, and I should buy one too. Dang. I don't remember the cost of the HB, but I think it was around $25...? Eh? Feh? Yeh?

sued · March 22, 2004

I have a hand mixer, because my mother had one. In fact, my hand mixer may have been my mother's.

What I have that she did NOT have is a stand mixer. Soon after acquiring my KitchenAid I found that I was pulling out the hand mixer only at the holidays to mash the potatoes. Then I learned that a hand mixer is a terrible tool for mashing potatoes (even though my mother did it :wub: ), and the hand mixer has not seen the light of day for a couple of years.

Can I throw it out? Does anyone use theirs? Is it only of use for those (I feel for them!) who do not have a stand mixer?

Marlene · March 22, 2004

I only recently aquired a stand mixer (and immediately fell in love). However, I still use my hand mixer for a few things like mixing pancake batter and sometimes making Ceasar Salad dressing. :smile:

donk79 · March 22, 2004

My hand mixer also gets used for whipping cream, and whipping egg whites. Doesn't get used for much else, but I'd hate to be without it for these tasks.

maggiethecat · March 22, 2004

My hand mixer also gets used for whipping cream

Yes. I made strawberry shortcake yesterday, and as the KA bowl was occupied by rising focaccia dough, I was happy to haul out the hand mixer.

Please, don't toss it! The day you do, you'll need it.

Jason Perlow · March 22, 2004

A hand mixer is fairly useless but a hand BLENDER is another animal entirely, and a very useful tool.

Braun Hand Blender/Chopper at Amazon

Marlene · March 22, 2004

A hand mixer is fairly useless but a hand BLENDER is another animal entirely, and a very useful tool.
Braun Hand Blender/Chopper at Amazon

Well yes. I have both. I love my Bamix hand blender, but my hand mixer is just right for some things. :raz:

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