Hand Mixer Buying Guide
Chances are that if you do much cooking, the time will come when you’ll need some version of a hand blender. Whether you’re a professional chef with top-of-the line equipment, or a home cook just learning the ropes, there are a few basic things to look for before you buy. Pronto’s Hand Mixer Buying Guide can help you find the perfect solution for all your needs (see also our
Blender Buying Guide).
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the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Style of mixer
You’ll want an immersion blender for mixing soft food items, mixing foods while cooking and/or in a variety of containers. Hand mixers with blades are best for heavier applications like mashing potatoes, mixing dough or forming that perfect cake batter.
Wattage v. RPM
Revolutions per minute are more important than wattage. Electrical power will only get you so far, so choose a hand mixer or blender with an RPM range of 520-10,000.
Speeds
Hand blenders with a minimum of three speeds are the best option for versatility. Some models come with up to nine speeds if you’ll be doing a lot of precision mixing.
Which blades are best?
Stainless steel won’t stain, can be used with heat, and may perform better than plastic with hard substances. Plastic won’t scratch saucepans or bowls. Removable blades make for easy cleaning.
Custom containers
Some hand blenders come with containers for mixing. Choose one that offers deep containers with rounded edges to prevent splashing and ensure you blend or mix evenly.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
Braun MR5550 MCA-V Hand Blender
The Braun MR5550 MCA-V Hand Blender is the perfect marriage of immersion blender and hand mixer with blades. Starting at $50, this hand mixer delivers top-of-the-line performance with its 600W motor, and the range of attachments makes this an extra-special value. As a hand blender, it offers the flexibility of immersion blenders, fitting into practically any container you choose to use, yet you can switch to a whisk or a chopper as needed. With a dishwasher-safe blender shaft, and a wall-mountable holder, the value of this unit can’t be beat.
experts say
Restaurant Equipment World Inc.—“The Dynamic MDH2000 Hand Mixer is very light and easy to handle. It is a high quality, high performance product, easily dismantled in a 1/4 turn (available with mixer attachment only) for easy cleaning. It is powerful enough to be used in cooking pots holding up to 25 gallons. It will blend 12 gallons of cooked vegetable soup in under 3 minutes, including stringy vegetables such as leeks and celery. It is likewise recommended for fish soups, among others.”
Source: Restaurant Equipment World Inc.
pro buzz
What hand mixers do the Pros use?
Want to blend like the pros? Food Network Star and Celebrity Chef Tyler Florence, author of ‘Tyler’s Ultimate’ cookbook and proprietor of Bar Florence in New York loves Braun’s immersion hand blender and says it’s a “great tool for soups especially because you don't need to move the hot soup to a blender - just take the blender to the soup pot.” <a href="http://www.aolfoodblog.com/2006/12/20/ty...
more
Want to blend like the pros? Food Network Star and Celebrity Chef Tyler Florence, author of ‘Tyler’s Ultimate’ cookbook and proprietor of Bar Florence in New York loves Braun’s immersion hand blender and says it’s a “great tool for soups especially because you don't need to move the hot soup to a blender - just take the blender to the soup pot.”
Source: aolfoodblog.com
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Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
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Entry level hand mixers often have limited speed options and low-power motors. They can be great for the occasional mixing need. |
Compare prices at 17 stores
$29 - $60
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Features you’ll find in this range include a broad variety of speed settings, accessories and attachments for multi-tasking, and a more powerful motor. These products are great for the home chef who wants to get heavy use out of a hand mixer. |
Compare prices at 7 stores
$99 - $100
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In restaurant quality hand mixers, you’ll find the most powerful motors and long-life durability for high-volume, heavy-use mixing needs. |
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shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Immersion Blender
Also known as a hand blender, this wand-shaped device is best used with soft foods, can be used in a variety of containers and offers flexibility via attachments for all of your basic mixing needs.
Wattage
Hand mixers will often rate their motors in Wattage. Wattage determines the size of the motors by rating the amount of power that they process.
RPM
Revolutions Per Minute. This rating is used to convey the power of the motors, in terms of how quickly they spin. The faster the motor can spin, the more effective it will be in processing food.
