Once upon a time, I made cake, bread and pastries for a living as a baker in New York City. While I certainly don’t miss setting my alarm for 4 a.m. (woof!), that chapter spent working in a professional kitchen taught me many things — one of the most notable being: There are a lot of useless kitchen products out there. When your job is to make food as efficiently as possible, you learn which gadgets and gizmos are imperative, and which ones aren’t worth the cabinet and counter space. That being said, an electric mixer is, without question, something my kitchen — professional or personal — will never be without.
Now, what kind of mixer am I referring to? After all, there are several types; you’ve got your handheld mixers, which generally tend to cost a lot less (and take up less space) than their heavier-duty stand mixer counterparts. As someone who still bakes all the time for fun, I have both in my kitchen — but does that mean you should too?
Spoiler alert: Not necessarily. I’m going to break it all down so you can determine what makes the most sense for your needs. Alright, batter up!
The case for hand mixers
Sometimes, you get a craving for fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies but don’t want to make a big to-do of the prep work. It’s instances like this that make me reach for my trusty hand mixer, a basic Hamilton Beach model I’ve had for about a decade. In my opinion, not every baking task warrants lugging out my heavy stand mixer, and cookie dough is just as easy to whip up with a hand mixer.
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The truth is, if it weren’t for having to cream butter and sugar together, many recipes could be prepared by hand with a mixing bowl and a spatula. Alas, this dreaded task is a necessary evil (yes, I’m being a little dramatic), and having some machine-powered assistance makes it a lot less tedious. I’ve found that hand mixers do just as good a job as stand mixers when it comes to this step, so as long as you’re okay with holding it for the few minutes it takes to do the job, there’s no reason to deal with a bulky countertop appliance. In fact, I sometimes appreciate the control a hand mixer gives me, and I don’t have to worry about accidentally overmixing my ingredients (something I’ve done by setting and, quite literally, forgetting about my stand mixer).
Amazon
This is the very hand mixer I use at home, and it’s still going strong years after I first bought it. It comes with beater and whisk attachments, has a long cord and isn’t too heavy, so I don’t mind standing over a bowl with it while it goes to town. No, it doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but its six speeds are more than adequate (I rarely have to set it over the medium one) and it comes with a storage case for the attachments. It’s powerful enough to tackle even the thickest dough, and I often use it to mix cake batter or whip cream.
Check out my full Hamilton Beach hand mixer review for more.
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Rather not deal with cords? This battery-powered mixer can be used anywhere in your home — no more searching for unoccupied outlets. It’s got seven speeds and can run for up to 60 minutes per charge (that’s a lotta brownies). Plus, the included battery is compatible with every appliance in the KitchenAid Go line.
The case for stand mixers
Now, there are, admittedly, certain tasks that hand mixers are not cut out for. Sure, you could use one for whipping egg whites and sugar together to make meringue … but you’d be standing there all day (or, at least, a not-so-enjoyable amount of time). And as far as kneading bread dough is concerned, some hand mixers do come with dough hook attachments — though at that point, I’d say just knead with your bare hands!
Jobs like these make stand mixers more essential for advanced home bakers who want to stretch their pastry muscles beyond simple cakes, cookies, muffins and brownies. Plus, they’re incredible time savers; if you’re embarking on an involved baking project with many steps, being able to delegate the mixing to a machine while you take care of other prep and cleaning tasks is a game-changer. Stand mixers are undeniably more versatile as well — most come with whisk, beater and dough hook attachments for whipping up practically any pastry under the sun, but you can also purchase additional attachments and turn it into a pasta maker, food processor, meat grinder … the limit does not exist. (See below for some examples.)
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The truth is, any home baker who wants to take their pastry skills to the next level will benefit from having a stand mixer, and, fun fact: This is the model that graces Ina Garten’s kitchen. (Hers is white!) Yes, KitchenAids cost a pretty penny, but they’re highly versatile appliances that are built to last … and last. Trust me, when it comes to convenience, it’ll pay for itself within the first few uses.
Target
This is the exact mixer I own, and it’s well worth the investment (and then some). Whether you’re making large batches (the bowl is a roomy 5 quarts) or have a lot of prep work that needs to get done, this workhorse will save you a ton of time and energy. Its 11 speeds cover all the bases, from gentle folding to intense whipping, and the bowl-lift design makes it sturdier than its tilt-head cousin above. In fact, it makes me feel like I’m using a smaller version of the industrial mixers I worked with in professional kitchens. I love the look of mine (I have it in silver), so I leave it on my counter to make dragging it out less of a hassle — though the amount of effort it saves me would make it worth the inconvenience of hauling it out of a cabinet.
The verdict
By now, it’s probably obvious that I think highly of both stand mixers and hand mixers — the one I’d recommend for your kitchen comes down to the type of baker you are, how much space you have and your budget.
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If you’re a casual baker who likes to dabble with simpler recipes like cakes, cookies and bars from time to time, shelling out for a stand mixer isn’t necessary, especially if storage space is precious. You’ll be able to accomplish all of the basics with a hand mixer, you just won’t have as much freedom to multitask.
Home bakers looking to take on more advanced recipes can get away with a hand mixer for a while, but eventually, having a stand mixer will become inevitable if you want to spare your arms from whisking, stirring and kneading into oblivion. Time management is one of the most important components of complex baking projects, so relying on your stand mixer while you attend to other tasks will help you stay on track.
Looking for some baking inspiration? A hand mixer is all you need to make a cake from a boxed mix. A homemade vintage heart cake is more involved, but a stand mixer will make whipping up the batter and buttercream a breeze. Of course, if you’re still weighing your mixer options, an ice cream cake can be assembled without either one in the meantime. Happy baking!
P.S. If you’re leaning towards a stand mixer, here are some cool attachments worth checking out:
