What to Look for Before You Buy a Hand Mixer

We love stand mixers for heavy duty baking and blending, but sometimes you need a gadget that’s more—well—handy! Hand mixers are perfect when you need to whip up fluffy egg whites or cream butter and sugar together for chewy chocolate chip cookies. But choosing the right mixer can be tough, especially when you aren’t sure what exactly to look for.

To help you choose the perfect mixer, you can depend on our hand mixer buying guide below.

Find a Good Weight

All hand mixers are compact (that’s kind of the point, right?), but some are more lightweight than others. Using a lighter hand mixer helps prevent arm fatigue when you’re mixing up multiple batches of fudgy brownies. But when the mixer is too light, it will be harder to control. Pick up a mixer from the in-store display to find a weight that’s right for you.

What Functionality Do You Need?

Speed: Hand mixers come with three, five and even 10 speeds to choose from, depending on how much variety you want or need. For mixing dry ingredients, a mixer with a slow start feature will prevent messes and splatters. And while the majority of mixers have power of around 150 watts, you can buy one with additional power of up to 220 watts which is great for blending thicker dough.

Attachments: Plan to use your hand mixer for more than beating together baking ingredients? Buy one that comes with a variety of attachments like a dough hook, whisk or spatula. Sturdy stainless steel beaters will hold up the longest, but if you’re worried about scratching up your set of nice mixing bowls, choose attachments that have a protective silicone coating. Try this Hamilton 6-speed mixer with soft, silicone-coated beaters.

Special Features to Consider

Sound: No need to worry about waking up the kids on a Saturday morning making waffles from scratch if you’re using a hand mixer that’s specifically designed to be as quiet as possible. Reviewers recommend this 10-speed mixer from KRUPS for its powerful (yet quiet!) build.

Handle: While there are a variety of handle types and sizes, it’s important to choose one that is both ergonomic and easy to hold (think: rubber or silicone grips). You don’t want it slipping out of your hands as you mix.

Space-saving design: For any cooks who are tight on space in the kitchen, look for a hand mixer that has a retractable cord or a smaller body to help you squeeze it into even the most packed cupboard. Since hand mixers are an awkward shape, some also come with a storage case so they can be stacked in a closet or neatly arranged in a drawer.

The Cost of a Hand Mixer

The cost of a hand mixer can range from $20 all the way up to $100, depending on the quality and amount of special features it has. If you use your mixer frequently, consider getting a more expensive, higher quality one that will last longer. Finding a mixer with a warranty to cover any damage or broken parts is a smart idea, too.

Use the hand mixer buying guide above to make your perfect purchase—and then make one of these unexpected recipes with your brand new mixer!

Surprising Recipes to Make with a Hand Mixer

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Orange Pumpkin Chiffon Dessert

When pumpkin season rolls around, I like to find new ways to enjoy it in almost all my cooking. This creamy dessert feels so festive this time of year—;it gives you classic pumpkin pie flavor with just a kiss of orange. —Donna Roberts, Manhattan, Kansas

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Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

When I serve this easy mash, the bowl is always scraped clean. Before holiday feasts, I make it early and keep it warm in a slow cooker so I can focus on last-minute details. —Jill Thomas, Washington, Indiana

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Mocha Baked Alaskas

Make these baked Alaskas ahead of time—you can torch the completed desserts and freeze them up to 24 hours before serving. —Kerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida

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Ricotta Gnocchi with Spinach & Gorgonzola

When my family comes for a visit, they always ask me to make this unique dish for dinner. Homemade cheesy gnocchi is topped with a rich sauce made with butternut squash, spinach and Gorgonzola.— Brud Holland, Watkins Glen, New York

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Can't-Eat-Just-One Cinnamon Rolls

My cinnamon rolls have been known to vanish quickly. Once I dropped off a dozen rolls for my brothers, and they emptied the pan in 10 minutes. —Regina Farmwald, West Farmington, Ohio

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Cheesy Sausage Stromboli

I've had a hundred requests for this recipe over the years. Perfect for brunch or as an evening snack, this sausage-filled bread is not tricky to make—and I never have to worry about storing leftovers! —Vada McRoberts, Silver Lake, Kansas

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Pineapple Carrot Cake

This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I've ever eaten. It's so simple, too, because it uses two jars of baby food instead of fresh carrots that need to be grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida

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Midwestern Meat Pies

When I moved to the Midwest in 1966, I discovered many ethnic foods that I had never heard of before. One of my friends introduced me to this runza recipe, and it quickly became a popular dish with my family. —Dolly Croghan, Mead, Nebraska

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Chocolate S'mores Tart

I created this tart for my kids, who love having s'mores on the fire pit. It’s truly indulgent. We simply can't get enough of the billowy marshmallow topping. —Dina Crowell, Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Cheddar-Veggie Appetizer Torte

A line forms quickly behind this quiche-like torte at family gatherings. The wedges are easy to eat as finger food, plus it's delicious hot or cold. — Barbara Estabrook, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

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Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

I said I'd bring dessert to a holiday party and tried this recipe. I'm sure you'll agree it tastes as luscious as it looks! —Dawn Lowenstein, Hatboro, Pennsylvania

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Easy Batter Rolls

The first thing my guests ask when they come for dinner is if I'm serving these dinner rolls. The buns are so light, airy and delicious—and help make the meal. —Thomasina Brunner, Gloversville, New York

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Frosty Watermelon Ice

For a different way to serve watermelon, try this make-ahead frozen dessert. It's so refreshing on a summer day...and you don't have to worry about seeds while you're enjoying it. —Kaaren Jurack, Manassas, Virginia

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Majestic Pecan Cake

This recipe truly lives up to its name. The pecan-dotted cake is stacked in three layers, and made-from-scratch frosting is the crowning touch.—Karen R. Jones, Claypool, Indiana

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Bacon & Sun-Dried Tomato Phyllo Tarts

Frozen mini phyllo tart shells are so convenient and easy to use. Just add a savory filling featuring sun-dried tomatoes and bacon, then pop them in the oven.—Patricia Quinn, Omaha, Nebraska

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Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

When my husband and our three sons sit down to dinner, they ask, "What's for dessert?" I have a happy group of guys when I report that these rich bars are on the menu. They're chockfull of yummy ingredients. —Lee Ann Karnowski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin

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Homemade English Muffin Bread

Most of my cooking and baking is from scratch, and I think it's worth the time and effort. Everyone enjoys homemade goodies like this delicious bread. —Elsie Trippett, Jackson, Michigan

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Best-Ever Sugar Cookies

What makes these cookies the best ever? A delicious cream cheese dough flavored with vanilla, almond and a hint of nutmeg that's wonderfully easy to work with. The adorable decorations don't hurt, either! —Christy Hinrichs, Parkville, Missouri

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Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Tired of the same old side dish, I whipped up this new family favorite. We can't get enough of these loaded mashed potatoes at our house. Often, I'll prepare this casserole ahead and refrigerate it. Then I bake it just before serving. —Dawn Reuter, Oxford, Wisconsin

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Red Velvet Crepe Cakes

It's well worth the time to make this beautiful and delicious cake. Each moist layer is separated by a rich and creamy filling. Treat your family on special occasions with this cake. —Crystal Heaton, Alton, Utah

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Pepperoni-Sausage Stuffed Pizza

For 30 years, friends have been telling me to open a pizzeria using this recipe. It even freezes well. —Elizabeth Wolff, Carmel, Indiana

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Sweet Potato-Cranberry Doughnuts

I grew up near Idaho, which is famous for spudnuts, a doughnut made from mashed potatoes. I reworked a recipe using sweet potatoes and cranberries to come up with this variation. I like to serve them for dessert. —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California

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Hot Almond N Cream Drink

Just a few sips of this drink, with its rich almond flavor, will warm you up in a hurry. I'm the food service manager for a Christian camp and it's a favorite each year at our Christmas party. —Kaye Kirsch, Bailey, Colorado

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Upside-Down Banana Monkey Bread

Everyone digs in to monkey bread thanks to its pull-apart shape. We add banana slices and pecans to top this already scrumptious showpiece for a brunch or family gathering. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts

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Cherry Tomato & Basil Focaccia

When I had 80 pounds of tomatoes, I got creative incorporating them into meals. Sometimes I slice this loaf into squares to make sandwiches with fresh mozzarella cheese and deli meats. —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas

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Hazelnut Macarons

Julia Child had a love of life and French cooking, as she and and Alex Prud'homme described in the book My Life in France. The woman who introduced Americans to the delights of French cuisine would find these crisp, chewy French-style macarons cookies a delight, too! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Quick and Easy Bread Bowls

Impress all your friends by serving cream soups or dips with this bread bowl recipes. It's one of the most popular recipes on my blog, yammiesnoshery.com. —Rachel Heidenreich, Marshall, Michigan

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Meringue Shells with Lemon Curd

We love a dazzling dessert of meringue shells filled with lemon curd. It’s sweet and tart, crunchy and fluffy. Top it with whipped cream and berries. —Kris Brill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Muffuletta Cheesecake

When I needed a party appetizer and couldn’t find a recipe I liked, I created my own. This savory spread boasts the flavors of a classic Italian muffuletta sandwich. —Helen Flamm, Dayton, Ohio

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Come-Home-to-Mama Chocolate Cake

You'll spend less than a half hour whipping up this cure-all cake that starts with a mix. Sour cream and chocolate pudding make it rich and moist, and chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate make it decadent comfort food at its finest. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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The post What to Look for Before You Buy a Hand Mixer appeared first on Taste of Home.

Amanda Tarlton