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I treat baking as a competitive sport. I need my cookies to be flawless. I require perfection from my pies. I am not happy unless my cakes come out supremely moist with an excellent crumb. But I could never quite achieve all these things until I traded in my wooden spoon and whisk for an electric hand mixer. The best hand mixer doesn’t just seamlessly transform flour, eggs, sugar, and fat into ultra-luxe cake batters and superlative cookie doughs—it also makes baking a hell of a lot easier. I no longer exhaust my wrist while whipping cream, and now I can actually make meringue.
Do you need a hand mixer?
The short answer is no. Not having a hand mixer—or any electric mixer—won’t stop you from baking, but it may restrict your repertoire. “There’s so much you can bake without an electric mixer, including cakes, cookies, pies, brownies, even laminated pastry,” says BA contributor Sarah Jampel. “And if you typically use vegetable oil or coconut oil instead of butter because you’re vegan or dairy-free, you’ll get around fairly easily without one.”
For recipes that call for whipping egg whites or creaming butter and sugar, though, you’ll want this specific kitchen tool, since it’ll be difficult to achieve good results by hand. “Recipes where the texture relies heavily on aeration—like sponge cakes or pavlova—are off the table without a mixer,” Jampel explains. And for things like marshmallows, yeasted breads, and kneaded doughs, even a hand mixer probably won’t cut it. You’ll need a stand mixer, a kitchen appliance with a powerful motor that can run for an extended period without burning out. (If you’re in the market for one, read our picks for the best stand mixers on the market.)
Jampel adds, “There’s also something to be said for accessibility—electric mixers may make it possible for people who don’t necessarily have the strength or dexterity to mix or stir for long periods of time to continue baking.”
Why is the KitchenAid cordless hand mixer my top pick for the best hand mixer?
As a left-handed baker, my KitchenAid hand mixer has many perks, but what I really love about it is that it’s completely cordless. I received it as a gift last year (note to all with bakers in their lives) and these days, I can’t imagine cooking without it. It has seven different speeds for all the stirring, mixing, and whipping that I’ll ever need. And since it has its own built-in battery, I can take it out of the cabinet and use it, sans outlet, anywhere I please.
Not only am I a lefty, but also my kitchen has only one outlet, located to the right of the counter. Less than ideal. But thanks to my cordless hand mixer, I no longer have to battle with an annoying wire or position my body at an uncomfortable angle to use it. The fact that you don’t need an outlet to power it up and that you can use it anywhere in the kitchen (or outside of the kitchen—you do you) is a perk for both lefties and righties alike.
Unlike other cordless mixers, this one isn’t big and bulky. I love that the back of the mixer has a flat surface, which means it can stand upright on its own and that I don’t have to find a place to rest batter-covered wire beaters. I also appreciate its Soft Start feature which brings the beaters up to speed slowly to prevent splattering. The built-in battery lasts for multiple uses and can power through four batches of chocolate chip cookies before needing a recharge. In addition to its functional upgrades, this versatile, 7-speed hand mixer’s sleek matte black design makes it one of the most attractive cordless hand mixers you’ll find. Bonus: The beaters are dishwasher-safe.
Having a built-in battery has one drawback: it’s a little heavier than other handheld mixers. Plus, it’s fairly basic as far as hand mixers go—just your standard beaters and a charger—and is not as powerful as some of the more expensive models on our list. So, if you’re in search of a not-cordless option (and maybe a few extra frills), read on.
A high-end mixer that’s smarter than all of us
Meet the queen of all hand mixers, the Breville Handy Mix Scraper. It’s fully equipped with high speed settings, rubber scraper beaters, and Breville’s Beater IQ technology, which detects which attachment is in use and automatically adjusts to the optimal speed. The rubber-coated beaters mean you can smoothly scrape the mixing bowl without any clanging, and the timer means you don’t have to guesstimate how long you’ve been mixing.
With nine speed settings, this mixer’s motor is powerful. The Breville also boasts more accessories that enhance the versatility of the machine, including pairs of dough hooks and balloon whisks (not included). All of its accessories are dishwasher-safe, and it also comes with a plastic snap-on storage container that attaches to the bottom of the mixer so you can stow the swivel cord and gadget attachments away. Consider this the best option for serious bakers who may not have the counter real estate for a hefty stand mixer.
The best budget hand mixer to get the job done
Get the biggest bang for your buck with the KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer. “It performs the basic tasks of a fancy stand mixer for less than one quarter of the price,” writes BA contributor Alyse Whitney. We also love that it’s compact, lightweight, and easy to handle. While it isn’t cordless, it does feature a simple swivel that lets you lock the cord toward the right or left side to keep it out of your way while mixing. It also has a quiet, fairly powerful motor with five speeds that can handle mixing cookie dough and beating eggs or heavy cream, plus an eject button for easily releasing the stainless-steel beaters when you’re done. If you’re a beginner baker or the type of person who only makes cookies a few times a year, this is the best handheld mixer for you.
A chic mid-century-inspired statement piece
You’ll want to whip up pineapple upside-down cakes and îles flottantes with this retro Smeg 9-Speed Hand Mixer. But even though the design is vintage, the tech is anything but with an LED backlit digital display and a comfy ergonomic nonslip handle. Its motor is slightly less robust than the Breville Handy Mix’s, but is still plenty powerful. The speed control panel is easy to read and navigate, with just two buttons that switch between nine speeds, plus a turbo boost setting.
It comes with beater attachments, whisk attachments, and dough hooks, so you can use it for everything from whipping heavy cream to kneading bread dough. Bonus: A cute little fabric storage case is included, and it’s available in a variety of colors, including pastel blue, black, red, and cream. Like my cordless KitchenAid, this one can stand on the countertop on its own.
More Best Baking Tools 2022
- The Best Whisk for Egg Whites, Whipped Cream, and Vinaigrettes
- You Deserve a Culinary Torch Even If You Don’t “Need” One
- The Best Kitchen Scales and Why You Need One
- It’s Time to Upgrade Your Rolling Pin to This Simple Beauty
- The Best Oven Thermometer Will De-Fraud Your Oven
This piece was originally published in 2021 and updated by Megan Wahn in 2022.