Hand mixer recommendations

[RootAnn]

@sherylFound this old thread about hand mixers (and irons). Instead of bumping it, I thought I'd just tag you to see what mixer you bought & how it has gone. I saw that KA & Cuisinart were both recommended by many sites but the recent reviewers seem to have issues with them breaking or the beaters are wobbly.

https://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/703977-recs-for-hand-mixer-and-iron/

I have a hand mixer I bought 3 years ago that is now having issues (sometimes it turns on, sometimes it doesn't). I like that it has whisk attachments because we use them for whipping cream a LOT. Its low speed isn't low & it is a low power / use less than 3 minutes or you'll burn out the motor type.

My one before that lasted for 5 years & had a low speed that I liked. The power was good. Its beaters rusted badly and I couldn't get replacements. (This was the #1 problem listed in the reviews - rusty beaters.) The beaters must have been custom somehow as no others seemed to fit it. So, I had to toss it.

I need to be able to mix oatmeal cookie dough, frosting, and whipping cream. I don't use the dough hooks. I'd like something that will last longer than 5 years if possible. It seems KA has gone down in quality the last two years or so, so I can't trust the reviews from people who have had theirs for longer.

Anyone else who has purchased a hand mixer in the last two or so years is welcome to chime in with their recommendations!

[sheryl]

Hi Root Ann!

Your assessment is good and I'm with you on those particulars/features, etc.

Well, I'll try to remember.  I did "consider" KA, Cuisinart and Breville.  I ended up with Cuisinart again and bought one from Williams-Sonoma that is 8 speeds.  I've found 7 and 9 speeds (I think) online but only found the 8 speed to be sold exclusively at WS.  I'm not a WS snob but know they stand by their products.  That was one of my determining factors - ease of exchange/return/replacement.  I reasoned I didn't "need" 9 but wanted more than 7.  This does seem silly to me b/c there just isn't that much difference from 1 speed to the immediate next; it's more noticeable going up by 2's or more - speed 1 to 4 or 3 to 6,  etc.  Like so many other things, while there are improvements one has to wonder if some features on products were made better years ago.  Are there some features to cars that are better from years ago? We know there have been improvements.  So, then I became interested in learning about the internal components, specifically the motor capability.  

I don't remember every detail about my purchase.   I purchased a KA lift stand mixer about 5 years ago and don't use like I thought I would. I do but not often.   I think the KA hand mixers are pretty and wanted to buy their hand mixer but decided not to.  Taking into account the features/preferences already mentioned, I went "again" with Cuisinart.  The 8 speed from WS.  Cuisinart seemed to lead KA (hand) with my preferences and biggest one was MOTOR.  "

With all that said, I made my bundt cake Wed - Pumpkin/Chocolate marbled.  I buy, bake, freeze organic "pie" pumpkins to enjoy through the year.  The "C" mixed fairly well but this batter was large in volume and thick.  Manufacturers should make the beaters another inch or more "longer" and a tad beefier but they don't.  That batter filled up my bundt pan which I "think" has a 16 c. capacity.  Let's say it was 12-14 c. easy - that's still a lot of volume and perhaps I'll use my KA for that recipe in the future.  

I use oatmeal and oat flour for my cookie recipes and the C works fine.  Now, when you add nuts, dried fruits, etc then those "add ins" are dense and as a partial cup it adds that bulky stiff denseness, so to speak.  I use add ins and so that I don't repeatedly "force" the mixer, I'll mixer with that thick dough with add ins for maybe a few rotations with C mixer just to get it incorporated then if I need to I'll finish "kneading" by hand.  

There is only so much a hand mixer can do. It's not that it can NOT mix my dense batch above, but on a regular basis I'm guessing it will wear down/burn out more quickly.

I let the mixer do it's job within reason knowing I should not push beyond it's limit - at least on a "regular" basis.

Hope this helps and is what you were asking I answer.  🙂

I do not remember if I "seriously" considered Breville. My sister likes Breville but I don't know her standards.

When was my post dated?  I don't know how old my C is but I'm guessing approx 2 years.  I don't know if there have been more improvements or not with C, KA, B hand.  I think the motor is the biggest determining factor when considering a mixer. And, secondly, warranty.   Look at the specs for the ones you like.  Compare to their older model (remember - products have some improvements but not always). Compare motor/warranty against the brands/manufacturers.  Look at reviews.  This is always a kick. It's important to read "all" stars.   5 (excellent) to 1 (unsatisfactory).   Read several at each rating for each brand.  I read all stars but focus on the negatives.  Someone's negative may be user-error and not really a negative.  Other times the 1's can be bad and I need to know if it's a "make it or break it" with me.   If someone is mixing my stiff dough for 30 minutes 2x/week and fizzles out after 14 months requiring a new mixer, they may have scored that mixer a "1".  I would smile and think, hmmm that  might be expecting too much from that mixer and 1 was unfair.   I would personally not let that rating deter me on a mixer.  30 minutes non-stop is excessive and not likely but I know you got the idea.

The reviews did rank one better at "mixing" and another at "beating" - I think.  But, again, this is approx 2 year old info so features may have changed.

My C hand came with beaters, dough hook and blending stick (immersion blender).  The stick is not as beefy as a stand-alone immersion blender stick but I know that.  I blended fresh blueberries in pancake batter and it worked fine.

Lastly, Root Ann, (and now you're thinking - Sheryl has more to say? LOL) - appliances no matter how well they are made will only last so long.  IMO, much of that has to do with materials/workmanship.  Look to see "type" of motor and if composition/materials (internal) are metal vs plastic, direct drive motor, etc.

You probably won't go wrong with any mixer you buy.  Just remember like everything else it will have its limits.

Let us know what you decide.

I would recommend the C.  I do not use it daily. Whips beautifully. Nice and quiet!  🙂  

Edited March 14, 2021 by sheryl

[Shoeless]

I bought a vintage handmixer off eBay about a month ago, and couldn't be happier. It was exactly like the one my mom had in the 70s/80s. Here's a link for the same model:  Vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster 5-Speed Hand Held Burst of Power Avocado Mixer | eBay

The older appliances last so much longer than the new stuff. My mom's hand mixer lasted at least 20 years.  I bet if I dug around in her kitchen, she probably still has it. 

[mmasc]

6 hours ago, MissLemon said:

I bought a vintage handmixer off eBay about a month ago, and couldn't be happier. It was exactly like the one my mom had in the 70s/80s. Here's a link for the same model:  Vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster 5-Speed Hand Held Burst of Power Avocado Mixer | eBay

The older appliances last so much longer than the new stuff. My mom's hand mixer lasted at least 20 years.  I bet if I dug around in her kitchen, she probably still has it. 

I don’t need a handheld mixer, but man, I love that avocado Sunbeam! Looks like my grandmother’s, but hers is yellow. (And yep, it still works. She uses it weekly still!). 
 

Since I’m chiming in with comments that aren’t helpful,😁 I’ll add that I have a Cuisinart and like it. I didn’t post before because it’s older than two years (maybe 5-6). It only has the beater attachments and a whisk attachment that’s for whipping cream, and that works *great* and so much better than the normal beaters. 

[Beth S]

I have no experience with this, but KA now has a $100 cordless hand mixer.

https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/hand-mixers/hand-mixer-products/p.cordless-7-speed-hand-mixer.khmb732bm.html?cjevent=e0b3022584f011eb818303360a24060e&cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww