The 5 Best Hand Mixers, Tested and Reviewed

Our Favorite

Overall, the Breville Handy Mix Scraper is a solid piece of equipment that combines form and function, making for a powerful mixer that's comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver. Extra features like an LED light, built-in timer, and silicone-tipped beaters provide added convenience.

Our Hand Mixer Tests

In order to test functionality, versatility, and durability, we put each mixer to the test by whipping cream and making standard cookie dough. Whipping a liquid like cream helped us get an idea of how each mixer felt in our hands, how easy it was to switch between speeds, and how much splatter was created when mixing at higher speeds. We timed each test and assessed how powerful each mixer was by how the cream reacted. Some mixers could turn the liquid into whipped cream with stiff peaks in about a minute, while others needed multiple minutes to reach stiff peaks.

Mixing thick, sticky ingredients like sugar, butter, and flour helped us assess how easy each mixer was to maneuver. Some mixers felt light and easy to use when mixing liquid but were shaky and unsteady when mixing thicker ingredients. Mixing cookie dough also helped us assess how efficiently each mixer incorporated ingredients. We timed how long each product took to combine the sugar, butter, and flour thoroughly and assessed whether or not we could achieve a consistent, smooth dough. Throughout our testing, we used both glass and metal bowls to assess how loud the mixer and beaters were against different surfaces.

Factors to Consider

Power

A good hand mixer should have a powerful motor that can incorporate ingredients, from thin liquids to thick and sticky batters. We recommend looking for hand mixers with 200 to 300 watts of power; however, models with lower wattage might still work just as well. 

Throughout our tests, we wanted to make sure that each mixer was able to thoroughly combine ingredients without sputtering or splattering. We tested each mixer on high and low speeds and assessed how easy it was to maneuver between power levels. We also noted if high speeds actually equated to more power, and if using more power meant the mixer was more or less difficult to control. We made sure that each mixer performed just as well when whipping cream as it did when mixing together stiff cookie dough.

Comfort

As the name suggests, hand mixers are designed to make mixing tasks easier to do by hand. If you're going to add one to your toolkit, it should be lightweight, easy to hold, and comfortable to use. A convenient hand mixer should be able to rest on its base without tipping over, so you can easily switch between tasks or set it down momentarily when needed. It should also be designed in a way that makes switching between speeds easy to do with one hand. Lastly, the product should feel smooth and manageable no matter what speed you use, from low to high. During our tests, we assessed how easy the mixers were to maneuver with one hand, how heavy they felt, and if weight puts a burden on your wrist.

Attachments

Some hand mixers come with a variety of attachments, while others simply have beaters. When choosing the right one for your needs, you’ll want to consider what recipes you’ll need it for. If you bake homemade bread, look for one that includes dough hooks. For light to medium tasks, such as whipped cream and cake batters, beaters or whisks, get the job done.  

Storage

When buying any kitchen gadget, it’s essential to take storage into consideration, especially if you are short on cabinet space. Hand mixers take up a lot less space than stand mixers; however, you’ll want to look for one that comes with a storage case to help keep the accessories organized.

What Didn't Make the List

Braun MultiMix Hand Mixer ($90 at Amazon)

This mixer missed the mark because it was more difficult to control than some of the others we tested. It felt comfortable when mixing liquid ingredients but was shaky and unsteady when beating through tougher ingredients in our cookie dough test. Plus, we had to use two hands to increase speeds and noticed the motor got louder and louder as we increased speeds.

Black and Decker Helix Performance Premium ($60 at Amazon)

This model had a comfortable handle and intuitive design, but during our tests, the motor was loud, and it took longer to whip the cream than some of the others. Though this machine is designed to rest easily on its base, ours toppled over when not in use.

Hamilton Beach 5-Speed Hand Mixer ($40 at Amazon)

This mixer doesn't have as much power or accuracy as some of the others we tested, but its basic functions can handle simple baking tasks. It performed fairly well in our tests but was a little louder and a bit more cumbersome compared to our winners.

Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer ($23 at Amazon)

This is a simple mixer that easily incorporated the ingredients in our tests using six speeds. However, it was very shaky and unsteady when mixing thick ingredients, and it felt heavy in our hands and created tension in our wrists.

Our Expertise

Laura Denby is a former professional chef and an Institute of Culinary Education graduate. She uses her culinary background to guide her expert product recommendations. She performed thorough hands-on testing for this piece to determine the best hand mixers. Laura's work can also be found on AllRecipes, Food Network, Delish, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, and Southern Living.