Handmixer

A handmixer is a portable electric mixer designed to mix, beat, and whip ingredients in a bowl. It is typically used for tasks such as cake batter, whipped cream, scrambled eggs, and light doughs. Hand mixers are common in home kitchens and offer a compact alternative to stand mixers, with the motor housed in a handheld unit and detachable attachments for different tasks.

Most handmixers have a motor housing with a handle, a power cord, and a control switch or dial to adjust speed. Attachments are usually stainless steel and can include fixed beaters, a wire whisk, and dough hooks. Some models add additional features such as a turbo or pulse setting, reverse-pitch design for better incorporation, or a slow-start function to reduce splatter. Several models offer dishwasher-safe attachments, while the motor housing should be wiped clean and kept dry.

Operation is straightforward: the user holds the unit above or inside a mixing bowl and blends ingredients by moving the beater attachments through the mixture. Speeds vary from gentle to high, with low speeds suitable for beating eggs or merging dry ingredients and higher speeds for whipping cream or batter. Heavy doughs are typically beyond the capabilities of most handheld mixers, which are better suited to lighter to medium-duty tasks.

Safety and maintenance emphasize unplugging before attaching or removing parts, keeping fingers away from moving beaters, and avoiding immersion of the motor housing in water. Regular cleaning of attachments and proper storage help prolong the device’s life. Hand mixers became common in the early to mid-20th century and remain a popular, compact option alongside stand mixers.