When Should You Use a Hand Mixer vs. a Stand Mixer?

When it comes to baking, having the appropriate equipment makes all the difference.

In our last article on our favorite manual hand mixer, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of manual hand mixers.

In this piece, we’ll try our best to help you decide whether a hand mixer or a stand mixer makes the most sense for your scenario.

Mixing ingredients is simply one of the duties of a baker. There are many methods for doing this basic chore, including using a spatula, a manual mixer, an electric hand mixer, and a stand mixer.

Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and depending on your circumstances, one way may be preferable to another.

The following article will go through the advantages and disadvantages of the two most effective methods to combine your ingredients: using an electric hand mixer and using a stand mixer.

In addition, we will look at our favorite model in each area. If neither option works for you, learn how to mix batter without using a mixer at all.

Let’s get started!

What are the benefits of electric mixers?

Electric mixers offer several advantages over manual mixers, and electric hand mixers and electric stand mixers each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s see how each variety compares to the others.

Convenience

The extra convenience that electric mixers provide is one of the key reasons why most people consider them.

Electric mixers may perform the same function as a manual mixer (or spatula) in a fraction of the time, all without you breaking a sweat!

This convenience is available with both hand mixers and stand mixers. Stand mixers, on the other hand, make things much simpler.

You don’t have to perform any stirring or whisking with a hand mixer, but you do have to move the mixer around the mixing bowl by hand to ensure that all of the components are well blended.

With a stand mixer, however, it is as easy as placing your ingredients in the mixing bowl, selecting the appropriate speed setting, and walking away. If you bake often, this may save you a significant amount of time in the long run.

Counter space and storage

Although stand mixers provide the greatest convenience, the same cannot be said for the amount of counter space and storage space they demand.

When compared to stand mixers, electric hand mixers feature a smaller frame. Most versions also have detachable accessories, making it even simpler to store your mixer in a cabinet or drawer.

While in use, a hand mixer will usually sit directly in the mixing bowl or just next to it. In any case, it has a modest footprint.

Stand mixers, on the other hand, take up a lot of counter space and cabinet space. They are often hefty and have a huge footprint.

Due of the bulkiness of stand mixers, you generally have a few storage alternatives.

One, you disassemble it after each usage, taking up a significant amount of cabinet space. Second, you keep it in a separate section of the home where there is more storage room. Or, you may just leave it on the counter at all times.

The frequency with which you utilize a mixer will usually indicate which solution is best for your scenario. But keep in mind that stand mixers take up a lot of counter space, at least while in use.

Ease of use

Hand mixers and stand mixers are both easy to use. They both feature detachable attachments that may be switched out for various purposes or cleaning.

Hand mixers are often lightweight, making them simple to maneuver. Nevertheless, since they must be moved by hand, they demand more physical effort than stand mixers.

While combining ingredients, you must move the beaters around the mixing bowl to reach every portion of the mixture. Depending on the consistency of the combination, this might get tiresome after a while.

Stand mixers, unlike hand mixers, are not portable. They are, in fact, rather weighty. They are also rather large in size.

After you’ve selected where you want to store it, it’s best to leave a stand mixer directly on the counter. The mixer itself is quite simple to use. Just add your ingredients to the mixing bowl, select the speed, and start the machine.

Keep an eye on it, and depending on the kind of combination and the mixer, you may need to push some of the components from the bowl’s rims into the middle. Generally, stand mixers are quite simple to operate.

Cleanup

The amount of effort necessary to clean a mixer is highly dependent on the model. Some mixers have elements that do not allow for adequate food release.

Several mixers now include readily removable pieces that make it simpler to clean the hard-to-reach areas of a mixer. Several of these components are dishwashing safe.

As previously said, this is dependent on the individual type of mixer purchased, but it applies to both hand and stand mixers. Just keep these aspects in mind while comparing various models.

Cost

When selecting whether to buy a hand mixer or a stand mixer, most people base their decision on price. Hand mixers win hands down in this category. A standard hand mixer costs less than $50, but a good stand mixer costs between $150 and $500.

If money is a big consideration, a hand mixer is definitely the best option for you. A hand mixer may achieve the same results as a stand mixer, but it needs a little more work on the side of the operator.

If cost isn’t a major consideration for you, you should consider the other pros and downsides we’ve discussed to choose which kind of mixer is best for you.

Now that we’ve discussed some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a hand mixer vs a stand mixer, let’s have a look at our best models in each category.

250 W Hand Mixer from VonShef

Not everyone can afford a KitchenAid stand mixer, and not everyone who can wants one. Besides from being less expensive, a hand mixer has a lot to offer the amateur baker.

If you want power and functionality at a reasonable cost and in a tiny size, this sleek hand cake mixer from VonShef is worth a look.

Design

Although the appearance of a kitchen appliance has no bearing on its operation, it is nonetheless a significant consideration to consider.

This mixer’s red and silver color should stand out and complement the other equipment in your kitchen. Silver wraps around the body and over the top, with black buttons accentuating the gleaming surface.

This mixer is small and portable, with dimensions of 7.2 in x 4.3 in x 3 in. Electric hand mixers are appealing because of their compact size.

When not in use, the attachments are detachable, and the rear end of the device is flat, enabling it to rest on a counter or in a cabinet.

Functionality

While this mixer is modest in comparison to a stand mixer, it offers a lot of capability and delivers a lot of punch.

With a power output of 250 watts, this tiny kitchen device can handle tougher doughs or mixes, such as mashed potatoes.

This mixer has 5 speed levels as well as a turbo button to handle diverse blends. You may use the different speed settings to perform anything from whipping cream to stirring thick gravy.

While not exclusive to this model, another advantage of a hand mixer is its simplicity of use owing to its compact form factor and lightweight construction.

Although stand mixers are bulky and take up a lot of counter space, electric hand mixers are lightweight and simple to use and store.

Uses

Although this mixer is ideal for mixing cake batter for cakes or cupcakes, it may also be used to combine a variety of other meals and mixes. This mixer can do it all, whether you need to stir your gravy, whip egg whites, or create a thick dough.

With a power rating of 250 watts, it can handle most chores.

What’s included?

This mixer comes with two beaters, two dough hooks, and a balloon whisk. These attachments are readily removed and swapped by pressing the eject button on the top section of the appliance’s handle.

The mixing bowl is not included and must be bought separately.

What else to consider?

Overall, this baking hand mixer offers a lot of advantages. Yet, there are certain disadvantages to using a hand mixer.

First and foremost, you must deal with a cord. This mixer’s cable is 5 feet long and extends from the side. Although this is not usually a problem, you must keep the cable out of your way and ensure that you have an electrical outlet nearby to charge the gadget.

In addition, hand mixers need a bit more effort to complete the operation. Unlike a stand mixer, which you can typically set and forget, a baking hand mixer requires you to run the mixer around the bowl by hand and cannot be put down and walked away.

The power of hand mixers is another drawback. Although this device is rather strong at 250 watts, stand mixersoften have ratings of more than 500 watts. This means you may have to work a bit more to attain the same results as with a stand mixer.

Final Thoughts

Although there are certain disadvantages to using a hand cake mixer, their low cost usually makes them worthwhile. It’s difficult to criticize a hand mixer for its shortcomings when it costs a fraction of the price of a stand mixer.

This VonShef mixer, in particular, is a reliable small-kitchen equipment with minimal drawbacks. This mixer can handle almost any mixing task you throw at it as long as you’re ready to put in a bit extra elbow grease when baking. For such a low price, it’s certainly worth taking a close look.

Features

• Electric hand cake mixer
• 250 watt motor for whisking, kneading, or mixing
• 5 speed settings, plus a turbo button
• An ejection button to easily change attachments
• 2 beaters, 2 dough hooks, and a balloon whisk
• All accessories are dishwasher safe

KitchenAid Tilt Head Stand Mixer with Glass Bowl

If you’re like most people, the first thing that springs to mind when you think of a standmixer is KitchenAid. KitchenAid has become a household brand because to its high quality and dependability.

While an electric mixer is never required for mixing cake batter or cookie dough, the convenience and simplicity of use provided by the device easily outweigh the expense.

Determine if you need a stand mixer before purchasing one.

Most KitchenAid stand mixers provide the same features as normal models, such as a mixing bowl, various speeds, and a tilt head.

At the same time, each mixer has unique characteristics that set it apart from the competition. This electric mixer is no different.

What comes standard?

Let’s start with some of the more common features that this mixer shares with other KitchenAid stand mixers. The tilt head is one such characteristic.

By tilting the whole top section of the mixer back at an angle, the tilt head allows easy access to the mixing bowl for adding or withdrawing a combination.

This is a standard feature, but it’s worth highlighting since it makes removing or emptying the bowl, as well as changing attachments, fast and straightforward.

The heavy-duty zinc frame is another frequent element. When you get your hands on a KitchenAid stand mixer, you can tell they’re made to endure. The metal body of these machines contributes to their dependability and trustworthiness among bakers and chefs worldwide.

Since we’re on the subject of frames, this model is available in ten different hues. These hues are all incredibly vibrant and unusual, in contrast to some of their other models.

If you don’t want your mixer to be the focal point of your kitchen, you should search elsewhere.

What makes this model unique?

Now that we’ve covered some of the more common functions, let’s look at some of the characteristics that set this baking mixer apart.

The glass bowl is usually the first thing you notice about this mixer. The glass mixing bowl significantly distinguishes this mixer from the competitors and offers some distinct features.

One of the advantages of the glass bowl is its distinct look. Although it may not seem like much of an advantage, when paired with the bright colors of this specific model, this mixer truly stands out in your kitchen. Your visitors will notice it right away.

The 5 quart glass bowl is marked with measurements. When pouring out a mixture, these indications might be useful.

When it comes to pouring out a combination, the glass mixing bowl has both a handle and a spout. The handle and spout make it simple to transfer the mixture to a baking tray.

The power hub is another characteristic of this type. The power hub, which is quite common on KitchenAid mixers, enables you to connect several accessories to the device.

For example, you can mix a batter with a mixer, then knead bread with a dough hook, and then make pasta with a pasta machine. One of the reasons KitchenAid has grown so famous is because of its adaptability.

This baking mixer has ten speed options as well. While it is not unusual for a mixer to have many settings, this mixer has a broad variety of speeds, making it excellent for almost any operation, whether mixing, kneading, or stirring.

What do I get?

So, what’s included with this mixer? This mixer does come with a 5 quart glass bowl. A metal dough hook, a 6-wire whip, and a flex edge beater are also included.

Many bakers like the flex edge beater because it saves time while mixing. The beater features a flexible edge that scrapes the edge of the bowl continually while mixing, reducing the need to scrape the edges with a spatula.

What else should I consider?

While this bread mixer has many useful functions, nothing is perfect. Let’s start with that glass dish we’re so fond of. The glass mixing bowl is unusual for a mixer and adds to its appeal.

Glass bowls, on the other hand, are heavy, which might make pouring or simply carrying the bowl more difficult than it should be.

Glass may also be broken. When this is combined with the fact that the bowl is heavy, it is easy to imagine the bowl being dropped, resulting in a deadly mass of glass on the floor.

On the bright side, if you shatter one of the bowls, you can buy it individually.

The power rating of this mixer is another factor to consider. This electric mixer has a wattage of 300, whereas other versions have far over 500. If you often bake using richer ingredients, keep this in mind.

Although this mixer should be able to handle thicker dough, it will struggle a bit more than a machine with a greater power.

Final Thoughts

In all honesty, you can’t go wrong with a KitchenAid mixer. As previously said, they all have certain characteristics, with something distinguishing one from the next.

KitchenAid mixers are a common sight in most bakers’ kitchens, and with good reason. They’re dependable, long-lasting, and simply a high-quality appliance in general.

Certainly, they are little more expensive than the competitors, but the price is easily justified when the quality is this wonderful.

As previously stated, no one needs a mixer. A mixer, on the other hand, is a must-have whether you are serious about baking or just want to make things easy for yourself in the kitchen.

It’s one of those things you’ll look back on and wonder how you ever lived without.

Features

• Heavy-duty mixer
• 5 quart, glass bowl
• Metal dough hook, 6-wire whip, and flex edge beater
• 300 watts
• Power hub that supports more than 15 optional attachments
• 10 speeds
• Tilt head
• Offered in 10 colors
• 1 year replacement warranty

Wrapping it up

In this piece, we looked at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using hand mixers and stand mixers, as well as our favorite models of each kind.

We hope we were able to provide you with some food for thought while you pick which sort of mixer is best for you.

When deciding on one, consider what you’ll be using the mixer for the most of the time. This thinking process should assist direct you toward the sort of mixer that is most suited to your requirements.

As usual, let us know what you chose and how you enjoy it in the comments!