By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-11-07 16:40:15 | Updated at 2024-11-07 18:44:50
2 hours ago
From mixing and whipping to creaming and more, a good hand mixer is a kitchen essential
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From gentle whisking to powerful beating, there are many ways to combine ingredients. The best tool will depend on the dish you’re creating, but for mixing, creaming, aerating and beating, the best electric hand mixers will deliver superior results. They’ll combine cake ingredients, fluff egg whites and whip cream within minutes. They can even be effective in shredding chicken or creaming mashed potatoes.
A hand mixer also fits tidily away in your cupboards and is usually at least half the price of a bulky stand mixer. Reshmi Bennett owns Anges de Sucre, one of London’s leading craft bakeries. She says: ‘I use a hand mixer in the bakery as well as at home. From whipping cream to aerating egg whites, or creaming butter and sugar together for cakes and cookies, it’s a vital kitchen gadget. It’s particularly handy when I’m making small batches of meringues and macarons for cake decorations.’
An electric hand mixer normally comes with two rounded beaters for mixing cake ingredients and two corkscrew-shaped attachments for kneading dough. Some of them also come with a balloon whisk attachment, which is ideal for thinner consistencies such as egg whites or cream.
We have sieved through the market to discover some of the best hand mixers for baking and cooking, including the best cordless hand mixer and even some multi-purpose appliances capable of chopping and mincing. You can read my reviews below, followed by answers to some frequently asked questions, but if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:
Which are the best hand mixers in 2024? At a glance:
- Best overall: SMEG HMF01 Hand Mixer
- Best value: Russel Hobbs Desire Matte Charcoal Hand Mixer
- Best quiet hand mixer: Dualit Hand Mixer
- Best multi-purpose hand mixer: Bamix Hand Mixer
- Best hand mixer for family baking: Pro-Cook Hand Mixer
What is the best way to use a hand mixer?
Reshmi Bennett: ‘The best way to use a hand mixer is to always start ‘low and slow.’ Introduce ingredients gradually, increase speeds gradually, and slow down gradually so as to not have batter flying out of the bowl or overwhelm the motor.’
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How we tested hand mixers
The key test was how well the hand mixers combined our ingredients. We tried them out with various recipes including dark chocolate chip cookies, vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing, meringues for Eton Mess, pancakes and pizza dough. Using a mixing bowl with high sides on a stable surface, I always started ‘low and slow’ as Reshmi suggested, moving between speed options and trying out the ‘turbo’ button if there was one.
I was looking for a lightweight device that I was able to comfortably grip and easily navigate through the different speeds. I was checking whether the beaters were able to pick up the mixture efficiently, thoroughly combining the ingredients and without any splattering of batter outside of the bowl. I wanted to be able to eject the attachments and reattach them with finesse, and clean the appliance easily.
The mixers we tested ranged in power from 180W to 400W and had a scale of speed options with many featuring a ‘turbo’ button for an extra boost of whizzing power. Here’s what I found, starting with the best...
Best hand mixers
1. SMEG HMF01 hand mixer
Best hand mixer overall, 9/10
We like: Style and efficiency
We don’t like: Repetitive button pressing to move between speeds
- Speed settings: 9
- Noise level: low
- Attachments: dough hooks, beaters, balloon whisk
While earlier we suggested hand mixers fit neatly away in the kitchen cupboard, I would certainly be flaunting the SMEG hand mixer on the worktop if I had guests round sampling our baked goods. As with most SMEG products, it is a joy to behold.
It’s not just its aesthetics which earned the mixer its place as our best buy. It delivered on every specification. Showcasing SMEG’s trademark retro look, the mixer has the silver logo emblazoned on the side and while I tested a brilliant phonebox red one, it is also available in blue, white, black, cream, pastel green and pastel pink.
Most of the mixers I tested just featured one or two different attachments, but the SMEGboasts three – two dough hooks, a balloon whisk and two beaters. And rather than losing the attachments in the farrago of your cutlery drawer, SMEG provides a cotton bag to keep them all safe. The hooks and beaters were simple to attach and easy to detach with a niche finger hook under the handle, and there was a ribbed, comfortable grip on the handle.
This was the only mixer I tried which had a backlit LED screen to show the selected speed and the running timer in minutes and seconds. It was helpful, but not manually moving a speed dial meant repeatedly pressing a button to move between the nine speeds – which was a little tiresome for the thumb. It did have the most speed settings out of all the mixers, though, with an extra option for ‘turbo’ mode.
The SMEG was serenely quiet, even on speed nine. I trialled the beaters for a cupcake mixture and the dough hooks for white bread rolls. A stand mixer is usually your best bet when it comes to mixing dough, because of its thicker consistency, but the SMEG dough hooks worked well, smoothly spinning through the bulky mixture. This was particularly impressive. All the attachments could go in the dishwasher and the device was easily wiped clean with a cloth.
2. Russell Hobbs Desire matte charcoal hand mixer
Best value hand mixer, 8/10
We like: The ‘turbo’ button
We don’t like: The eject button on the same toggle as the speed settings
- Speed settings: 5
- Noise level: low
- Attachments: dough hooks, beaters
Russell Hobbs are king when it comes to efficient kitchen appliances at an affordable price. The Desire range features hand blenders, food processors, choppers, and of course, the hand mixer. Desirable in name and nature, the hand mixer is a sophisticated black and grey design and one of the more stylish appliances I tried.
It is equipped with two beaters and two dough hooks, but this one didn’t come with a whisk attachment like the SMEG.
The device runs on 185W of power, with five different speed controls, but also has a 350W turbo button which gives a quick burst of high speed to thoroughly whisk through the mixture at the touch of a button.
The slimline handle was easy to grip and comfortable throughout mixing, but I found it was a little stiff switching between the speeds. It is also awkward that the eject button is on the same toggle as the speed settings.
As the beaters moved through the mixture, I could tell it was a little less powerful than some of its competitors. It took slightly longer, but still finished with a smooth batter. The 350W turbo charge definitely helped push things along.
It was one of the quietest appliances I tried – more of a rush of air sound than the usual mechanical noise. The attachments are dishwasher safe and just like the SMEG, the main device can be wiped clean.
3. Dualit Hand mixer
Best quiet hand mixer, 9/10
We like: Integral cord storage
We don’t like: Style might not be to everyone’s taste
- Speed settings: 4
- Noise level: low
- Attachments: dough hooks, beaters, balloon whisk
The Dualit hand mixer was a close second to the SMEG in terms of its mixing ability. I felt as though I was floating through thin air as the beaters swung through our buttercream icing. The appliance is so lightweight and so quiet, yet surprisingly it’s one of the most powerful at 400W. Of all the mixers I tested, it was the most comfortable.
The shiny copper finish, with stainless steel base, is strikingly retro but may not be to everyone’s tastes. Like the SMEG, it came with all three attachments. The Dualit’s beaters were the largest that I tried. I feel that made for more efficient mixing. It also came with balloon whisks and dough hooks.
One of the best features of the Dualit was the integral cord storage, even more savvy than the Kenwood cable wrap mentioned below. It’s brilliant for space-saving and ensures you don’t tangle your bowl up with the wire as you mix.
There are only four speed settings with the Dualit but as I used this one, I wondered if you ever really need any more. Speed One was a perfect slow setting for the beginning of mixing or for combining chunkier ingredients. By Speed Four, it was rapid enough to whizz egg whites effortlessly.
4. Bamix Hand mixer
Best multi-purpose hand mixer, 8/10
We like: Its versatility
We don’t like: Doesn’t stand up well
- Speed settings: 2
- Noise level: low
- Attachments: multi-purpose blade, beater, whisk, meat mincer
The self-declared ‘kitchen robot’, used by chefs worldwide, the Bamix is like no other mixer in the market but certainly deserves its place on our list. It looks like your traditional hand blender – a long thin handle with a long metal multi-purpose blade. And yes, the Bamix does blend. But it also mixes, whips, chops and grinds.
I was excited to try this one out and it did not disappoint. It of course felt different from the rest, but it worked just as efficiently at mixing as the SMEG or the Dualit. The blade works well with pancake or cake mixture, as well as for chopping vegetables, pureeing, or blending soups or smoothies. However, for the best whisking and beating, the Bamix has two separate attachments which you can add on. It also comes with a meat mincer.
The machine is incredibly powerful but only has two speed options. The first isn’t quite slow enough for a ‘slow and long’ mixing technique. The Bamix feels both powerful and durable – it seems like an appliance I could pass down through generations. In fact, Bamix are so confident in their durability, they offer a lifetime warranty for the motor.
One thing I didn’t like about the Bamix is that you can’t stand it up on its own while baking, like all of the other hand mixers, so there’s a greater risk of ingredient spillage. However, it does come with a great stand which can be screwed to the wall of the kitchen or propped up on the side.
The main Bamix device was easy to clean, simply running it under warm water. The attachments are quite small so a little awkward to clean. While you can put them in the dishwasher, I was a bit worried I’d lose them.
5. ProCook Hand mixer
Best hand mixer for family baking, 7/10
We like: Lightweight, so good for kids
We don’t like: Little difference between speeds
- Speed settings: 5
- Noise level: loud
- Attachments: dough hooks, beaters
A nice and simple hand mixer with two attachments – the classic beaters and the dough hooks. The five speed options, the turbo button and the ejector are over three different toggles which makes navigation easy.
I tested this one out with a keen nine-year-old baker who wanted to make cookies for her friends. The appliance was lightweight enough for her to use it comfortably and the easily navigable buttons meant it wasn’t complicated for her to control. It also has a self-stand design so it can be placed down easily without any spillage.
It mixed the cookie dough efficiently within a few minutes. In black and silver with a mirror design, it’s a nice-looking appliance for any family kitchen. The attachments can be placed in the dishwasher while the device can be wiped clean, like most of the other mixers.
6. KitchenAid Cordless hand mixer
Best hand mixer for cleaning, 8/10
We like: It’s cordless
We don’t like: The mixer is quite clunky
- Speed settings: 7
- Noise level: medium
- Attachments: beaters
How many times have you ended up with your cake mix dripping off your electric cable or the cord awkwardly wrapped around your bowl? Or perhaps you want to move between rooms as you get your mix on. Say hello to a cordless hand mixer.
This was the most expensive hand mixer on our list, but I am now totally convinced having a cordless appliance is worth paying extra for. The mixer is part of the KitchenAid’s Go range, which features six cordless products including a food chopper and a coffee grinder, all fuelled by a rechargeable power station. A full battery gives around 60 minutes of non-stop mixing time and can be fully charged within three hours.
The hand mixer itself is quite heavy, thanks to the battery. It has seven speed options and very round beaters compared to its competitors. Cleverly, these can be used for whisking and for creating dough as well, so no need for multiple attachments.
The KitchenAid was quicker, quieter and tidier than a lot of its competitors and it efficiently whipped up egg whites to prepare meringues within minutes. It was easy to move between the different speed settings. The lowest had a lovely Soft Start feature. By speed seven, it is rapid but still quiet and still caused no spilling of the mixture. The beaters can be placed in the dishwasher and the rest can be wiped clean. And of course, no need to clean any cord.
7. Judge Cookware Twin blade hand mixer
Best budget hand mixer, 8/10
We like: The storage clip
We don’t like: The handle
- Speed settings: 6
- Noise level: loud
- Attachments: dough hooks, beaters
I was really impressed with this hand mixer at such a low price. The Judge Cookware mixer has a 350W engine, one of the most powerful out of all of the mixers I tested, and has six speed options. This one came with dough hooks and beaters and like the ProCook below, I liked that there were three separate buttons for speed, ejection and turbo mode.
The mixer comes with a helpful guide to which speeds you need to use for which type of baking. 1 and 2 are for starting mixing, folding in dry ingredients and so on. 3 and 4 are for preparing batters, creaming butter and sugar. 5 and 6 are for whipping more liquidised mixtures. A niche feature of the Judge mixer was a savvy storage clip, which you can slot into the attachment receptacle and then place the beaters and hooks onto it.
Initially, it was a little stiff moving between speeds but it seemed to loosen up as I continued mixing. It’s a lightweight and compact appliance, but the handle was quite thick and heavy, so may not comfortably suit a smaller fist. The final batter was a smooth consistency and stood up to its much more expensive competitors. A great budget option.
8. Kenwood QuickMix Go
Most stylish hand mixer, 8/10
We like: The easy storage
We don’t like: The counter-intuitive speed selector
- Speed settings: 5
- Noise level: loud
- Attachments: dough hooks, beaters
At 350W, this Kenwood mixer was one of the most powerful I tested yet one of the cheapest at £39.99. But what really makes it stand out is its savvy storage system. The mixer has an integrated electric cord wrap and comes in a very compact storage box, which features perfectly shaped slots to neatly store the mixer’s attachments. The box has a handle, making the QuickMix Go easy to move around.
You can choose either a matte clay red or storm blue, both gorgeous colours. The appliance comes with a handy teaspoon and tablespoon measurer which also slot neatly into the box. A helpful guide shows you which attachments you should use for certain recipes, with which speed and duration.
The mixer comes with two beaters and two dough kneaders and while it was easy to navigate between the five different speeds, I found it unnatural that you pushed your thumb upwards to decrease the speed and downwards to fasten the pace. That would take some getting used to.
It was quite a noisy device and while it mixed the cupcake mixture reasonably well, I did find I needed to use a spoon to pick up some of the mix from the bottom of the bowl.
9. Haier i-Master series 5 hand blender with hand mixer attachment
Best hand mixer for ambitious bakers, 7/10
We like: Its range of uses
We don’t like: The size
- Speed settings: 5
- Noise level: very loud
- Attachments: multi-purpose blade, beaters, chopper, puree
The Haier i-Master is similar in many ways to the Bamix, in that it has a main blender appliance to which you attach different equipment. With the Haier, I had to attach a separate hand mixer attachment, which has the conventional beaters. It was a little long-winded to set up before getting anywhere near our cake mixture. It also comes with an attachment for chopping and a chopping bowl.
Once I got the mixer in the bowl, with the beaters attached, it felt huge and heavy and was difficult to grip. And although there are adjustable speeds, the slowest was still incredibly powerful and with the device being so big, you had to hold on tight. But it made for a fantastic mixture once I got used to the speed.
Like the Bamix, you can’t stand it up so it’s not ideal for resting halfway through the mixing. It was easy to detach the attachments and some of them, including the beaters attachment, are dishwasher safe. The Haier feels like a very professional piece of equipment and something you can imagine in a professional chef’s kitchen, so a great investment for an ambitious or career baker.
10. Salter Bakes electric hand mixer
Best for attachments 7/10
We like: It has all three attachments
We didn’t like: The noise level
- Speed settings: 5
- Noise level: very loud
- Attachments: dough hooks, beaters, balloon whisk
I loved that this one came with all three attachments – the balloon whisk, the kneading hooks and the beaters. Of course, the SMEG and the Dualit both have all three attachments but they are at least double the price of the Salter.
Salter has a number of different electric hand mixers and I found this to be the best one in their range. A narrow design in a stylish copper and beige finish, it was one of the most stylish out of all the mixers I tried.
There are a few downsides, though. The 250W motor felt and sounded as though it was about to take off. It vibrated aggressively and noisily, which didn’t make for a very pleasant mixing experience.
There also seemed to be very little difference between the five speeds, which meant I couldn’t start off with a slow mixing and move between speeds. This was difficult since I was trying to fold butter into sugar. I ended up with some of the mixture outside of the bowl.
I liked the separate eject button. Some of the other models had the eject button on the same toggle as the speed settings. Sadly, you can’t put the attachments in the dishwasher like most of the other models I tried, so this isn’t as easy to clean. At £29.99, this is a great value mixer, but it doesn’t do the job as well as some of the more expensive models.
Hand mixer FAQs
What should I look for when buying a hand mixer?
A hand mixer, most importantly, needs to be comfortable to hold. When looking to buy one, it’s best to actually hold it to see how the handle fits in your hand, how heavy the mixer is and how much it vibrates. Since you will be using it for at least a few minutes at a time the more comfortable it is in your hand, the better.
How many speed settings are ideal for a hand mixer?
Technically, mixers only really need to offer three speeds – low, medium and high. More speed options offer more control over mixing and whipping, though.
What are the benefits of a hand mixer compared to a stand mixer?
A hand mixer is tidy and convenient to store and takes up very little kitchen real estate compared to a stand mixer. They are also very easy to clean and portable.
What attachments are typically included with a hand mixer?
A hand mixer usually comes with a pair of whisks or beaters and a pair of dough hooks.
How do I clean and maintain a hand mixer?
You can easily clean a hand mixer by removing and rinsing the attachments in warm soapy water (or dishwasher) and the body with a warm, damp cloth. Make sure to have the gadget unplugged before doing so. Make sure everything is dry before you put it away.
