Hand Mixer Attachments | What they are and what they are used for

Practical explanation of all the accessories of an hand mixer and their optimal use

Summary

. Hand Mixer Attachments | What they are and what they are used for
. Hand Mixer attachments types
. Beaters
. Balloon whips
. Dough hooks
. Blending rod
. Spatula
. Snap-on case or Pouch
. Are hand mixer attachments universal?

Owning a hand-held mixer without full knowledge of its attachments is a bit like owning a car and not knowing which pedal to use, how, and why.

Using a hand mixer with the wrong attachments could ruin the recipes you want to prepare, wasting your time and resources unnecessarily.

The second reason, and perhaps the most important one, in distinguishing the types of attachments and recognizing which ones are suitable for a particular use, is that you might burn out the whole hand mixer without being able to repair it except by buying another one.

In this regard, I want to devote an entire article to what types of attachments you can find when buying a hand mixer, their specific functions, and when it is ideal to use one rather than another.

If, on the other hand, you are undecided about which blender to choose, on The Best Hand Mixers in 2022 you will have a selected choice of the best models around.

Hand Mixer attachments types

Typically, hand mixers are equipped with a pair of beaters that are used to mix a variety of ingredients to make the cake batter, whip egg whites to soft, glossy peaks, and whip frosting to coat cakes.

Some models, in addition to the classic beaters, can be equipped with other attachments that are useful for other purposes: one or two balloon whips, two dough hooks, a blending rod, and a case or bag for storing them.

Let’s take a detailed look at each of these attachments and the benefits they can bring to the way you cook.

1 ) Beaters

Traditional beaters are the most common attachments that can be found when buying a hand mixer.

They have a metal frame, preferably made of stainless steel, consisting of a rod whose lower end has two metal strips or wires woven together.

Uses

Traditional beaters are perfect for all those more elaborate mixing tasks with a thick consistency, such as:

1) Mixing cake batters, crepes, and pancakes.
2) Mixing creams such as sabayon cream or custard.
3) Emulsifying accompanying sauces both sweet and savory such as mayonnaise or pink sauce, chocolate or berry sauce.

Some models of hand mixers, such as the Breville Hand Mixer, have beaters with rubberized bottom edges so that contact with the bowl is optimized and all ingredients are incorporated, without splashing all over the place.

2 ) Balloon whips

Balloon whips are an interesting addition to have along with a hand mixer because they allow you to perform some tasks that regular beaters would not be able to do perfectly.

This type of whisk has a metal or stainless steel construction and consists of a rod and a series of thin, flexible metal wires that start at a certain point on the rod and end up in a shape that resembles a light bulb.

Uses

Balloon whips are ideal for blowing a large amount of air into mixtures made from liquid or dry ingredients and creating fluffy, foamy mixtures:

1) Whip egg whites to make meringue.
2) Whip the whipped cream.
3) Incorporate flour, eggs, and sugar for the sponge cake.
4) Create the chocolate mousse.

Depending on the model, a hand mixer may include two small balloon whips or a larger professional whisk.

3 ) Dough hooks

If, in addition to attachments such as beaters and balloon whips, you have the option of using a hand mixer with dough hooks, you have hit the jackpot.

Dough hooks consist of a metal (or stainless steel) rod, the lower end of which is shaped like a spiral with a hook pointing upward.

Uses

These particular attachments are perfect for those very dense and hard doughs that require energy to become uniform, smooth and lump-free, such as:

1) bread and focaccia dough
2) pizza dough
3) Cookie dough
4) Shortbread dough

4 ) Blending rod

The blending rod is an attachment that is not often found in a hand mixer, as it is a tool that is part of another category of small appliances: immersion blenders.

In any case, all kitchen tools with similar functions always tend to “copy” some attachments, so this attachment also deserves mention.

As the name suggests, the blending rod is a long metal rod with a series of blades located at the bottom and above which is a circular-shaped splash guard.

Uses

Its main function is to blend fruits and vegetables to make smoothies or sauces.

5 ) Spatula

The spatula is a useful tool when using a hand mixer, as it can be used to incorporate some of the mixtures that remain on the sides of the bowl, and also for sprinkling frosting on a cake or spreading sponge cake on a baking sheet.

The spatula comes in a few models, but you can find a silicone one at a very low price.

6 ) Snap-on case or Pouch

These attachments are very useful for storing all the tools we have seen so far.

Some models of hand mixers, such as the Cuisinart HM-90S or the Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer, come with a snap-on plastic case that fits snugly on the base and allows all the whips and power cord to be stored compactly and neatly.

Other models can be equipped with a small pouch in which to store attachments, and although not as practical as a snap-on case, it saves having to search far and wide for utensils in kitchen drawers.

Are hand mixer attachments universal?

After seeing and describing all the attachments that can be found in a hand mixer, a more than legitimate question may arise, “But are the attachments of a hand mixer universal?”

Well, all the attachments described in this article are common to most manual mixers, but unfortunately, they are not universal.

For example, the best manual mixers in 2022 almost all have the same attachments, but each mixer has specific connections that connect only and only with the included attachments.

However, it is possible to find a wide selection of all kinds of whips on the market that fit some models of manual mixers, although before making any kind of risky purchase, it is a good idea to read the model’s instruction manual and the description of the various attachments, to make sure they are compatible.