This KitchenAid Hand Mixer Has a Near-Perfect Amazon Rating with Over 13,000 Reviews

Small but mighty, the KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer is the more compact, lightweight counterpart to the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. It can mix batters and whip egg whites to stiff peaks in just a few minutes. These tasks can be accomplished by a regular whisk (which I also have), but not without a serious arm workout. 

My KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer has gotten a fair amount of use in the few years I’ve had it. For cake batters and banana bread, I use my hand mixer to ensure everything is evenly combined, and the fast speed at which the beaters move incorporates air into the batter, which helps give my baked goods a nice rise in the oven. If I’m making scrambled eggs or a frittata for a crowd, I break out my KitchenAid mixer to get the job done faster.

When I have a big baking project, the hand mixer inevitably comes out. Over the past year, I’ve been making layered cakes from scratch for the first time, and that means whipping up homemade frosting. From cream cheese frosting for carrot cake to classic whipped cream for a summer strawberry cake, the speed at which the KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer can combine ingredients and change their texture never ceases to amaze me. What other kitchen appliance can turn a liquid into a solid in mere minutes? Changing the speed is as simple as pushing a slider on the handle to speed up or slow down the blades. It even has a swiveling cord that you can lock into place so that it’s not in your way.

As far as cleanup goes, an ejector button at the top releases the stainless steel beaters, which can be hand washed or placed in the top rack of the dishwasher. To clean the body of the hand mixer, wipe the power cord, cord strap, and hand mixer with a damp cloth, then dry everything with a soft cloth. Make sure the mixer is unplugged before cleaning it. And if you want to avoid getting sweet potato casserole all over your kitchen walls like I did last Thanksgiving (oops), make sure to power down the mixer before lifting it from the bowl.

A KitchenAid Stand Mixer is still something I want to have in my kitchen one day, but in the meantime, I love the efficiency and portability that the KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer provides. If the only whisk you have in your kitchen is a basic metal one, I’d highly recommend picking up this powerful tool for your baking and cooking needs.

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Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a freelance writer, editor, and former New Yorker based in sunny Panama City Beach, Florida. Her writing has been featured in HuffPost Food & Drink, Forbes.com, Insider, The Kitchn, MarthaStewart.com, Thrillist, and more.