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Mixers Performance

Cheap Mixers Mixing Results.

Ingredients are certainly critical, but even the best won't give you delicious results if the mixing process is subpar.
Users rave about the KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed in mixers reviews on Buzzillions where one home baker says this mixer deftly manages oatmeal cookie dough and other thick, tough mixes. Mixers reviews at Target are equally positive; one user calls it a miracle mixer and says batters are creamy smooth in a matter of minutes. Another cheap mixer that finds favor with consumers for expert mixing is the hand/stand Cuisinart HSM-70 Power Advantage; one mixers review at J&R reports that mixing thick bread dough and cookie batter is easy and fast, and adds there's nothing this mixer can't blend. A mixers review at Macys.com agrees, and notes the Cuisinart HSM-70 easily mixes thick body butters for beauty products. The Kalorik 5-Speed is a bit underpowered for serious cooks, asserts a serious cook in a mixers review on Amazon, but it does a fine job on lighter fare, such as cake mixes and egg whites. A few users posting comments on Overstock, on the other hand, say the Kalorik 5-Speed handles heavier doughs without much sweat.

Mixer reviews for the Hamilton Beach Hand/Stand Mixer 64650 are, well, mixed at Macys.com, where one post says batters mix up smoothly and another reports it doesn't mix well in standing mode and is very heavy to use in hand mode. The Sunbeam Heritage 2350 stand mixer takes some hits from users in mixers reviews on Walmart who report that some ingredients get pushed to the sides so you have to manually help the mixing process along.

Cheap Mixers Cleanup.

Baking and whipping can get messy, which makes clean up an issue -- but it doesn't seem to plague this product category. According to a mixers review of the KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed on Amazon, this low-cost model is easy to use and clean -- just wipe it down, pop the beaters off and stick them in the dishwasher. Another mixer that scores on the clean up scale is the Cuisinart HSM-70; hand/stand mixers reviews on Amazon give this model favorable ratings and one baker says it's fairly easy to clean but for the batter that sometimes sticks to the ledge of the beaters.

Review continues below

Low-cost Mixers Ease of Use.

Consumers expect mixers to be user-friendly, meaning an acceptable weight and convenient attachments; a digital screen and slow-start are welcome extras. The KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed delights users, according to mixers reviews at Cooking.com; consumers like its light weight, easy-to-read display screen, steady power, and slow start option. Other users write that it's a breeze to use and the portability is a plus. Although the KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power hand mixer doesn't garner reviews as favorable as the mixers reviews of the KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed, one user posting on Amazon is pleased with the light weight and assorted attachments. Easy to use is a strong selling point for the Cuisinart HSM-70 Power Advantage; mixers reviews on Amazon appreciate the flexibility and convenience of this combined hand/stand mixer and one user calls it the best of both worlds. The Kalorik 5-Speed earns points with cooks for its light weight and hand/stand versatility, but a couple of mixers reviews on Overstock grumble about minor issues, like needing two hands to tilt the mixer out of the batter (one to press the release button and one to pull the mixer up) when it's in the stand position.

On the other hand, ease of use seems to be a problem for the hand/stand Hamilton Beach 64650. One mixers review on Amazon points out its faults: it lacks a locking mechanism to hold the head on the stand, the bowl spins if you don't hold it in place, and without a slow start option, the action starts out too fast. The Hamilton Beach 64650 fares slightly better in mixers reviews at Cooking.com, but one consumer gripes about the design, pointing out that the short stand makes it hard to add ingredients even when the bowl is pushed to the side.

Cheap Mixers Durability.

For the most part, cheap mixers seem to last quite a while. Durability is a strong suit for the KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed hand mixer; one mixers reviews at Target reports it's been going strong for 10 years and another mixers review on Epinions says the KitchenAid has gotten a heavy workout for four years and shows no sign of giving up -- even after being dropped. Mixers reviews of the Cuisinart HSM-70 Power Advantage hand/stand model on Cooking.com are mixed, with one user noting it seems sturdy but another complaining about noise from parts rubbing against each other. But overall, users like the sturdy feel of this mixer, according to mixers reviews on Amazon and say it seems like it will last for years. Consumers seem to recognize the physical limitations of the Kalorik 5-speed, and those using it for lighter tasks report few breakdowns. But others write in mixers reviews on Meijer and Overstock that the motor konked out when faced with thick, heavy doughs.

Indeed, durability seems to be a problem for some cheap mixers. Several users posting mixers reviews at Target mention that the motor on the Hamilton Beach 64650 died within a year of purchase (one specified two months) or after being used for heavy batters. Additional reviews of the Hamilton Beach 64650 on Amazon air similar gripes; one user reports that this cheap mixer broke after nine months and only about 10 uses.

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Best Cheap Mixer

KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed
Gold Medal

KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed

There are several perks with the simple and stylish KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer: beaters without a rod down the middle, digital touch screen to adjust the seven speeds and slow start option, a sensor to keep the speed accurate even when mixing thicker batters, and a 200-watt motor. Users love this powerful little hand mixer and the big results it produces.
Mixers Deals

Good Cheap Mixers

Cuisinart HSM-70 Power Advantage
Gold Medal

Cuisinart HSM-70 Power Advantage

Ease of use defines the Cuisinart HSM-70 Power Advantage Hand/Stand Mixer, with its many accessories (including a 3.5-quart mixing bowl, beaters, dough hooks, and whisk) and LED display screen. This mixer offers the choice of a hand or stand mode and boasts 220 watts of power, seven speed settings, and a slow start setting. Users like the durability and appreciate being able to tilt it back to add ingredients when locked into the standing position.
Mixers Deals

Kalorik 5-Speed

An acceptable hand/stand cheap mixer, the Kalorik 5-Speed comes with a four-quart bowl, two beaters and a dough hook, and features a 210-watt motor and five speed settings, plus an additional turbo speed setting. In standing mode this mixer tilts back on for adding ingredients, but its light weight also makes it a convenient hand mixer. Some users complain that it's made of low-grade plastic although most are satisfied with its mixing ability and value price.
Mixers Deals
 
 
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Don't Bother Cheap Mixer

Hamilton Beach 64650

Don't be fooled by the low price tag on this hand/stand mixer. Even on paper the Hamilton Beach Hand/Stand Mixer seems a little lacking: it has no slow start option and no display screen to easily adjust the speed, although it does feature 290 watts of powers and comes with a four-quart mixing bowl, beaters, dough hooks, and whisk. Users have multiple complaints about this mixer, including durability and a tendency for the motor to die when mixing thick batters.

 
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