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Hand mixers are a vital part of any well-equipped kitchen today. Previously, they used to be heavy countertop devices with a solid base. The 1960s witnessed the arrival of the lightweight hand mixer. The subsequent decades saw further modification, leading to the development of today's light, sleek and chic hand mixers.

The hand mixer, as we know today, consists of three parts: beaters, a motorized unit, and an electrical cord. The body of the hand mixer is commonly cased in plastic while the beaters are made of metal. It is the beaters that whip up a frenzy of action when they are submerged in the food ingredients.

The hand mixers reduce cooking time, and get rid of the toil that is commonly associated with kitchen tasks. Among other things, they are used to beat egg whites, whip cream, mash potatoes, and mix cake batter. For heavier work, the heavyweight counterpart of hand mixers --the stand mixers--are preferred.

The hand mixers are quite economical and can be purchased from $20 to $100, in contrast to stand mixers that can cost several hundred dollars more. However, while shopping for hand mixers you must make certain that they fit snugly in your hand. There is always a possibility of the hand mixer slipping out of grasp or dropping to the ground if it has an awkward grip.

There are many cooks who insist on speed. This may be important at times, but it should not be the sole criterion when buying a hand mixer. Mixers with a speed of 16 may be less effective than those with an easy low-medium-high speed range. A great deal depends on the make and style of hand mixers.

Also, it is more practical to buy a hand mixer that runs on electrical power. The battery-powered hand mixers are not as powerful and their speed is affected as the battery wears down.