Hand mixers

How to choose a hand mixer

A hand mixer is a small helper that whips cream in two minutes, pancake batter in one and even kneads yeast dough. The choice is wide — here is how to find the right one.

• Power. 300–450 W is enough for cream, egg whites and light batter. 500–900 W kneads yeast and bread dough without straining the motor. On hand blenders, 1000–1200 W means it crushes ice and nuts too.
• Speeds and turbo. 5 speeds is standard and sufficient; 9–12 steps give finer control. The turbo button is a momentary maximum for lumps. A soft start keeps the flour in the bowl, not around the kitchen.
• Attachments. Two whisks and two dough hooks are standard. Look for extras: a blending shaft for soup, a chopper for onions and nuts, a measuring jug, a balloon whisk. Stainless steel outlasts plastic.
• Weight and grip. 0.8–1.2 kg stays comfortable even through a 10-minute knead; a soft grip and good balance spare the wrist.
• Bowl and stand. Sets with a rotating bowl free your hands — the mixer works on its own and you only add ingredients.
• Cleaning. Attachments that eject at one button and go in the dishwasher save time after every bake.

Mixers in our range

Classic hand mixers — Bosch CleverMixx (400–600 W, up to 12 speeds), Philips 5000 series, Tefal QuickMix and Prep'Mix+, Gorenje, ETA Mano, plus budget Adler and Camry at 300–500 W — come with whisks and dough hooks. Hand blenders Braun MultiQuick 5, 7 and 9 (750–1200 W) and the Tefal Infinity Force Pro 5-in-1 chop, purée and whip; the set includes a chopper, measuring jug and whisk. High-power mixers by Adler and Camry at 900–1900 W with turbo suit heavy dough.

Brands

Bosch CleverMixx is quiet and precise, with one-button attachment release. Braun MultiQuick is the benchmark for hand blenders — ActiveBlade technology and the PowerBell shaft do not splash. Philips and Tefal are safe everyday choices, Gorenje and ETA offer good value, and Adler and Camry are the cheapest way to get a mixer into the kitchen.

Related products

For smoothies and soups see blenders, for large batches of dough food processors, for precise recipes kitchen scales. The full selection is in food prep.

Frequently asked questions

Hand mixer or hand blender? A mixer whips and kneads (cakes, creams, dough), a blender chops and purées (soups, smoothies, baby food). If you bake, choose a mixer; for soups and sauces, a blender.

How much power for yeast dough? At least 450–500 W and metal dough hooks. A weaker mixer overheats and cuts out on its protection.

Can a mixer replace a food processor? For small quantities, yes. If you knead more than 1 kg of dough at a time or chop regularly, a processor or a mixer with a rotating bowl makes more sense.

Why does the mixer splash when whipping? The starting speed is too high. Begin at the lowest and step up gradually — soft-start models do this for you.

Can I buy extra attachments? Bosch, Braun and Philips sell spare whisks and hooks separately; with budget models, look after the set that comes in the box.