Stand Mixer Or Hand Mixer: Which Is Best for Baking?

It seems like a slightly shallow question, but it’s one of those questions that has divided the baking community down into two very contrary camps. One side claims that hand mixers are pure evil, while the other camp claims that stand mixers are all bs. Nobody can seem to agree on what’s best and both tools have their own icons of superiority and debasement around which they orbit like satellites.

Where do the lines of demarcation actually fall? What is generally agreed upon is that hand mixers are faster than stand mixers. So if speed is what you want, go for a hand mixer!

The two tools have different purposes and each has its own niche in the kitchen. Hand mixers are good for smaller batches (typically less than 5-6 at a time) and more delicate tasks like making whipped cream, cake crumbs and beating egg whites. Stand mixers are more suited for mixing larger batches (anything over 6 or 7) and mashing potatoes or crushing ice.

Stand mixers are also more suited for blending, stirring and kneading. If you’re making bread and need to knead dough, a hand mixer isn’t going to cut it. The power in a stand mixer’s motor is also much more controlled and consistent than that of a hand mixer. You’ll get the same mixing power (or lack thereof) every time you use it. A stand mixer is great if you’re making something that needs to be mixed in a very specific way, like meringues or angel food cake which require constant whipping and careful mixing.

On average, stand mixers cost twice as much as hand mixers, but they’re worth their weight in gold if you do a lot of baking. A stand mixer is able to lift and knead ingredients with such ease (and power) that it simply isn’t possible to do with a hand mixer.

There are different kinds of stand mixers, each with its own pros and cons. A basic stand mixer can cost you anywhere from $50-250 depending on what features it has. European-style stand mixers are the most expensive but also the best in terms of quality and performance. If you can splurge, this is the route I would recommend taking because they last forever and perform better than any other kind of mixer out there (although some people will argue that point).

The Kitchenaid Artisan stand mixer was the first in its class and still is one of the most dependable and well-rounded. It has all the bells and whistles you’d find on a deluxe model, but it’s also made to last and doesn’t require as much maintenance as a lot of other models. The key to this mixer is to get one that’s between 5 years old and 10 years old because they’re known for holding up well over time.

A lot of people will point to a KitchenAid Pro line as being a better choice because it’s more durable and cheaper. However, the Pro line tends to have lower wattages, which means you’ll need to buy more stand mixers in order to do what you need it to do. Also, the Pro line has some weird and frustrating attachments that don’t work very well. This might sound like a non-issue but in this day and age, we want everything to be easy and consistent and the Pro line doesn’t always live up to those expectations.

A lot of people have also bought cheaper stand mixers to try and save some money. I’m not opposed to this idea on paper, but in practice it’s never a good idea because you get what you pay for. Your mixer will break sooner, you’ll have to replace it more often, and there are always more expensive (but more worthwhile) options out there like the KitchenAid Artisan which I recommend over any other stand mixer.

If you’re on a budget, it’s better to just find a hand mixer that suits your needs than to buy a cheap stand mixer that’ll break under pressure.

So which wins between stand mixers and hand mixers? If you’re looking for something that’s dependable and versatile, I’d say the stand mixer is the way to go. If you only need to make whipped cream or egg whites every now and again, get yourself a hand mixer.

If you want an actual comparison between the two tools, here are some pros and cons:

Stand Mixer Pros:

Powerful mixing action allows you to whip up fluffy cakes in seconds.

Accessories like beaters and whisks allow you to perform more specialized tasks.

Can accommodate larger batches of ingredients.

Makes precise, uniformed batters and doughs. Hand Mixer Pros:

Quick and easy to clean.

Less expensive than a stand mixer. Cons:

Doesn’t work for blending, kneading or mashing potatoes (or crushing ice).

Hand Mixers have become way more popular than stand mixers in the last few years because of their convenience and low price point. There are a lot of great hand mixers on the market so it’s worth researching the kind that works best for you in your kitchen situation.

Choosing a hand mixer can be harder because there’s so much variety and quality to think about when it comes to the specific kitchen tool. You have the choice of electric and manual mixers, both of which come with different types of attachments. A lot of people will say you should save money on your mixer and get an electric model, but personally I don’t see any reason why you’d want one over a regular one (that is if you can afford it). So if you’ve got the money and want something really special then go for it.

Is it better to mix a cake by hand or mixer?

I’m sure some of you have already made up your minds, but I’ve been mixing cakes by hand for years now. Some people say it’s better to use a stand mixer for batter, but personally I feel like there’s no need to. Ingredients speed up the process and getting a hand mixer is easy if you’re in a jam and don’t have time to run around looking for an appliance store like this one.

A lot of the time I make cakes from scratch (which by the way, is completely acceptable in baking). This is a practice they never really taught me in culinary school. I think they assumed that most people would just buy cake mixes because it’s easier and faster. The only thing is if you start baking from scratch, you’ll never go back.

It’s hard to say whether or not a stand mixer can make a better batter than a hand mixer, but I will say this: the quality of ingredients is extremely important. If your ingredients are of poor quality and aren’t full of flavor, then you’ll have problems regardless of what kind of appliance you’re using to mix them with.

Can you hand whisk instead of using a mixer?

You can be sure of getting a high quality product with the Cuisinart Hand, Stand Mixer. They are able to mix, blend and whisk all in one. The mixing is done via the blades of the mixer in order to mix ingredients well enough.

With the whisk being attached, you are able to use it on whisks in order to get a better result when mixing ingredients. The power cord allows you to move around while mixing, which keeps it from getting in your way or placing strain on you. There is also an attachable splash guard and dough hooks that will help get a better result when mixing your cake batter.

What attachment should I use for frosting?

When it comes to frosting, you should use a whisk. You can attach the whisk to your hand mixer or even attach it to the end of a wooden spoon. The metal part of the whisk is designed in order to make sure that your frosting will attach well when used with this attachment’s four cups.

There is no need for an electric stand mixer with these attachments as they have all been designed in order to fit with this hand mixer’s design. If you are planning on making a cake or a batch of cupcakes, then you should consider purchasing one that has this type of attachment for best results. You will be able to get better results and make sure that your cake looks perfect when frosted.

Is a hand mixer as good as a stand mixer?

There are still people who believe to this day that hand mixers are not as good as stand mixers for mixing batter. I feel like that’s just a myth and it’s not true. Definitely, stand mixers can handle more than enough ingredients at once, but if you need to make a fluffy mixture of ingredients that are too big for your mixer, then you can give it a shot.

If you want to get the most creative out of your hand mixer, then use it. You shouldn’t have to worry about keeping the beaters in place or having them clog the blades of your mixer. You shouldn’t have to worry about remembering to manually start a mix and you shouldn’t be afraid of overdoing it. These are just some myths that people like to believe because they don’t want to shell out the big bucks for an appliance that can handle all of your mixing needs.

CONCLUSION:

Stand mixer can do the work of a hand mixer, but hand mixers are made to handle simpler tasks than stand mixers can. there is no reason to use a stand mixer instead of a hand mixer at the moment. You should get your hands on one if you want to get your hands in the kitchen. The Easy Hand Mixer is a durable and easy to use 5-speed handheld mixer that makes baking and cooking much more fun and easy. It comes with attachments for mashing potatoes, making icing, beating egg white and chocolate frosting, stirring batter for cakes, creams, soups and sauces, whipping cream and buttercream frosting and whipping egg whites.