If you are a frequent baker and use a stand mixer...

[Anonymous]

I still dont get how a hand mixer is different than a stand-up mixer. Its still the machine doing the work. Its not like you are comparing it to actually mixing by hand with a spoon.

[Anonymous]

I have a great hand mixer that I rarely use because I'm always using the stand mixer. I find it mixes things more uniformly than the hand mixer and is essential for anything that has to be beaten for longer than a couple of minutes. I actually feel MORE like a baker when I use the stand mixer! I've had mine for 12 years now and use it about once a week...it's my go-to. The hand mixer is used about once every other month.

[Anonymous]

OP here--thanks to all of you. I guess I will keep it. Like the idea of using it primarily for heavy doughs and double batches. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I am a frequent baker and I don't own a 'stand mixer' either.

My $25 stainless mixer has lasted 10 years and has all the different attachments--dough hook, etc. I haven't had the urge to splurge on a stand-up...but do like the looks of the splashy red Kitchenaid one!

I always wondered...does stuff really stick to the sides with a stand-up? I take my hand-held mixer and go to the outer edges...something it doesn't seem you could do with a stand-up.

[Anonymous]

I have a few thoughts as a guy who likes tools. Sometimes a new tool is better but it takes adjusting because it breaks your routine. In your case you probably haven't gotten used to a new routine that makes use of that time your hands are free.

That said, a lot of guys build with old hand tools even though there are better tools on the market, simply because they like the feel of it in their hand. Whether it is habit or sentiment, that is a perfectly good reason. I like holding my granddad's tools even though I can knock through a job faster with my new tools. Maybe you relax while you are using the hand mixer. It can be kind of meditative.

Last to thE person with the scraping question there are self-scraping mixer blades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a frequent baker and I don't own a 'stand mixer' either.

My $25 stainless mixer has lasted 10 years and has all the different attachments--dough hook, etc. I haven't had the urge to splurge on a stand-up...but do like the looks of the splashy red Kitchenaid one!

I always wondered...does stuff really stick to the sides with a stand-up? I take my hand-held mixer and go to the outer edges...something it doesn't seem you could do with a stand-up.

This kind of blade allows you to scrap the sides. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015TMHFG/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001MCF7XA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1KWAK82YTE0H3MPWCM4J

But I normally use my regular beater and stop every now and then to scrape the sides and bottom.

I bake cakes from scratch all the time with my Kitchenaid... I don't understand the "feeling one with the dough" sentiment at all. It sounds goofy to me. You're still using a mixer after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still dont get how a hand mixer is different than a stand-up mixer. Its still the machine doing the work. Its not like you are comparing it to actually mixing by hand with a spoon.

I don't get it either. OP?

[Anonymous]

For a long time I just used a hand mixer as well but eventually upgraded to a BIG kitchen aid (not the kind at Target but the BIG one from the website. It can kneed like 7 loaves of bread at once or something like that.) Anyway I really like it for the speed (who doesn't want to save time?) and versatility. I like that it can kneed bread, I have an attachment for slicing and grating which I don't use often but when I need it I love it, I can get an attachment for making pasta or ice cream etc. So for me it's about saving time, versatility and frankly it just looks good. It's Bing Cherry and it always stops people in their tracks when they see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still dont get how a hand mixer is different than a stand-up mixer. Its still the machine doing the work. Its not like you are comparing it to actually mixing by hand with a spoon.

I don't get it either. OP?

OP here--to answer your question, there is a difference to me. With a hand mixer, I am scraping the sides, moving the mixer around, and generally constantly monitoring and adjusting; I am involved the entire time. With a stand mixer, the mixer is doing everything--to the point where I don't even have to be watching; I can be doing something else entirely while it is mixing! That just feels weird to me. You may not agree, and that's fine, but I see a definite difference. I think the guy poster above who was talking about tools has it exactly right.