The Best Hand Mixers for 2026: KitchenAid 7-Speed and Cuisinart
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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A good hand mixer whips cream, beats egg whites, creams butter and sugar, and mixes cookie dough in minutes, without the cost, weight or counter space of a stand mixer. It’s the right tool for smaller recipes and for anyone who bakes occasionally.
Our picks come from Wirecutter’s hand mixer guide, updated in July 2025. Its kitchen writer tested 11 models making genoise sponge batter, chunky kitchen-sink cookie dough, half a cup of whipped cream and pizza dough, building on testing and expert interviews from 2013 and 2018. We haven’t tested these mixers ourselves, and prices change often.
Quick answer: the KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer is the one to buy. Get the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed if you want dough hooks and a storage case included and don’t mind more noise.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Speeds | Included attachments | Warranty | Approx. price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer | 7, with soft start | Beaters, large whisk | 1-year limited | About $90 |
| Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed | 9 | Beaters, whisk, dough hooks, storage case | 3-year limited | About $80 to $100 |
*Prices from Wirecutter at the time of writing.
The best hand mixers
1. KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer: best overall
Best for: most home bakers.
The KitchenAid 7-Speed was the only mixer in Wirecutter’s test to get through the chunky kitchen-sink cookie dough without slowing, stalling or heating up. It creamed butter and sugar quickly and folded in every mix-in. Its DC motor punches above its wattage and was noticeably quieter than the other mixers.
At about 2 pounds it’s among the lightest tested, yet it didn’t whirl around the bowl the way lighter, weaker mixers did. Its oversized whisk made the fluffiest whipped cream and the airiest genoise batter among single-whisk models. A soft-start feature ramps up gradually from any setting, so flour doesn’t explode out of the bowl.
It has no dough hooks (official hooks cost about $24 separately) and no storage case. The speed buttons sit beside a raised metal divider that makes them easy to miss, though the on/off switch is clear. Its warranty is a standard one year.
Pros
- Powerful and quiet
- Light and well balanced
- Excellent large whisk
- Soft start
Cons
- No dough hooks included
- Fiddly speed buttons
- 1-year warranty
2. Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Hand Mixer: runner-up
Best for: bakers who want every attachment in the box.
The Cuisinart mixes cookie dough evenly and whips meringue quickly, though it slowed through chunky mix-ins, took a little longer to reach stiff peaks, and its genoise baked slightly shorter than the KitchenAid’s. It comes with beaters, a whisk, dough hooks and a storage case, and its display shows the speed as a big number. The trigger beater release works smoothly and parts are dishwasher-safe.
It’s loud and starts fast at any setting, which can be jarring with dry ingredients. The storage case is fussy to clip on. Its three-year warranty is a big plus, and Wirecutter has used one since 2013 without complaints.
Pros
- All attachments plus case
- Clear display
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Loud
- Starts too fast
- Less efficient with dense dough
Other hand mixers Wirecutter tested
- KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer: includes dough hooks and a blending wand, but it wasn’t faster than the 7-Speed, was harder to control and flung ingredients. A good option if you want hooks in the box and a quieter motor than the Cuisinart.
- Breville Handy Mix Scraper: a longtime former pick with two whisks, a light and a timer, but it’s heavy and its silicone-coated beaters cracked and shed within a year; replacement beaters have been hard to find.
- Hamilton Beach 6 Speed: about 2.5 pounds, it vibrated and lacked power with butter and sugar.
- SMEG 50s Retro Line: beautiful and good at cake and cream, but it made cracking sounds in cookie dough and fishtailed while kneading.
- Cuisinart Power Advantage 7-Speed and KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power: fewer attachments and speeds, so less versatile.
- Black+Decker 6-Speed and Braun Multimix 2: the Black+Decker stalled in cookie dough; the Braun rattled and its beaters broke on butter and sugar.
Hand mixer or stand mixer?
Hand mixers are better for flexible bowl sizes, portability (including whisking over a double boiler), easy storage, a lower price and, with the KitchenAid, quieter operation. Wirecutter’s favorite hand mixer costs about $90, while its favorite stand mixer costs about $450.
Stand mixers win for hands-off mixing, bigger batches, long mixing times, bread kneading and versatility, since many accept attachments like pasta rollers and meat grinders. Hand mixers with dough hooks can manage pizza dough but require effort. If you bake bread often, see our guide to the best luxury stand mixers.
What to look for
- Power and sturdiness: it should cream butter and sugar and push through dense dough without stalling or overheating.
- A range of speeds and a gentle start: low speeds for batter, high for egg whites, with smooth transitions.
- Useful attachments: a whisk for cream and dough hooks if you knead.
- Comfort: light enough to hold, but not so light it bounces around the bowl.
- Easy beater release and storage: a smooth eject and, ideally, a place to keep parts together.
Tips for better results
Use a deep bowl rather than a shallow one; high sides keep ingredients from climbing out and reduce spatter. Start on the lowest speed with dry ingredients and work up gradually. Scrape the bowl a few times while mixing, and don’t overmix cake batter, which can make it gummy. Bring butter and eggs to room temperature for smoother creaming.
FAQ
Can a hand mixer knead bread dough?
It can handle small batches of pizza or bread dough with dough hooks, but it takes effort. A stand mixer is better for regular bread baking.
Do I need nine speeds?
No. A good range and smooth control matter more than the number.
Is a heavier hand mixer more powerful?
Not necessarily. The KitchenAid is among the lightest tested and was the most powerful.
How do I clean a hand mixer?
Eject the attachments for the dishwasher and wipe the body with a damp cloth. Never submerge the motor.
The bottom line
The KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer is the one we’d buy: powerful, quiet, light and excellent at whipping. Choose the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed if you want dough hooks, a storage case and a three-year warranty in the box.
