Updated: 26 Jan 2010

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Introduction

We tested 8 hand-held mixers priced from $49 to $135.

A hand-held mixer’s a useful kitchen gadget and a must-have for keen bakers. They're light, portable and take up little cupboard space.

How well do they perform? Two of the most expensive models topped our test, but two of the cheaper options weren’t far behind.

Models we tested

This report contains test results and recommendations for the following hand mixers:

Checklist

If you're choosing a new hand mixer, here's what to consider:

• Weight: A mixer that’s reasonably lightweight means your arm doesn’t get tired while mixing.
• Handle: A comfortably shaped handle with a non-slip grip will make the mixer easier to hold. The on/off switch should be easily accessible.
• Non-slip base: A non-slip rubber area on the end of the mixer stops it from sliding on the bench. 
• A swivelling or rotating cord: This makes the mixer easier to manoeuvre.
• Attachments: These need to be a decent length (short beaters limit the size of bowl you can use).
• Pulse option: Pulsing gives a short burst of power that can help remove excess mixture from the beaters.
• Boost or turbo option: This gives an extra level of power when you need high-speed mixing.
• Speeds: Look for at least 5 speeds that are noticeably different.
• Electronic controls: These mean the mixer can’t be left switched on and so won’t start operating if plugged in.

See the Test results for details of the features and performance of the mixers we tested.

Tip: Choose a mixer by doing your own “testing”: check how comfortable it is to hold and whether the controls are easy to use.

Hand-held or bench mixer?

If you don’t want to spend much, a hand-held mixer is a cheap alternative to a bench mixer:

	Hand mixer	Bench mixer
Portable	Yes	No
Versatile	Can do most beating tasks	Yes
Mixes heavy dough	No	Yes
Hands-free	No (both hands needed)	Yes
Cost	Relatively cheap ($49-$135)	Expensive ($160-$1000)