Black & Decker Lightweight Hand Mixer

Why I reached for this compact mixer

Counter space is precious in my kitchen, and I bake in bursts—weeknight brownies, a Saturday pancake stack, the occasional batch of meringues. That’s exactly the niche the Black & Decker mixer fills. It’s a lightweight, corded hand mixer with a simple control layout, five speeds, and a power boost. Nothing flashy—just the right blend of portability and capability for light to medium tasks.

Design and ergonomics

At about 1.1 pounds, this is one of the lightest hand mixers I’ve used. That matters more than it sounds. Fatigue creeps in quickly when you’re whipping cream by hand or holding a mixer over a bowl for several minutes. The reduced weight and compact footprint (roughly 7.3 x 6 x 4.2 inches) make it easy to maneuver and comfortable to hold.

The comfort grip is genuinely comfortable: slightly contoured with a soft finish that stays secure even with damp hands. The heel and bowl rest are practical touches. The mixer sits upright reliably on the counter, and the bowl rest notch does help park the mixer on the rim between stirring and scraping. That said, the bowl rest works best with bowls that have a defined lip; on very rounded or thick-rimmed bowls, I preferred resting it on the heel to avoid wobble.

Build quality is what I’d call sensible for the category: a sturdy plastic housing, straightforward controls, and metal beaters that lock in with a firm click. It’s designed to be tossed in a cabinet or drawer without fuss.

Power and performance

This mixer is rated at 175 watts. In practice, that’s plenty for the jobs a hand mixer should handle: cake batters, muffin mix, quick breads, pancake batter, whipped cream, and egg whites. I whisked four egg whites to stiff peaks in a few minutes without the motor straining. Whipped cream was similarly straightforward—start on low to get motion going, then step up through the speeds to finish.

With thicker batters, like a chocolate cake with butter and sugar creamed beforehand, it stayed smooth and consistent on mid-range speeds. Where I draw the line is heavy doughs—stiff cookie doughs loaded with chips and nuts, fondant, or anything bread-like. That’s stand mixer territory. Pushing a 175-watt hand mixer into those tasks is a good way to tax the motor and, worse, torque the beaters in ways they weren’t meant to handle.

Speed control and the power boost

The five speeds are well spaced for a hand mixer. Speed 1 is gentle enough that dry ingredients don’t immediately plume out of the bowl, and speeds 3–5 give you the headroom to fully incorporate and aerate. The power boost adds a short burst when you need it—finishing stiff peaks or smoothing a small pocket of butter that didn’t fully soften. I used it sparingly; the regular speed steps covered most needs, and the boost is best as a quick nudge rather than something you hold continuously.

Transitions between speeds are predictable, without abrupt jumps that can send batter flying. There’s no electronic slow-start here, so a little discipline goes a long way—begin low, then step up.

Noise and vibration

Noise is moderate. On low it’s a soft whirr; on high it’s present but not shrill. Vibration through the handle is minimal, even at higher speeds, which contributes to that “I can keep going a few more minutes” feeling when whipping or creaming.

Beaters and mixing quality

The two professional-style beaters slot in positively and eject easily for cleaning. They’re dishwasher-safe, which I appreciate, but I usually rinse and go—batter doesn’t have much time to cement if you clean promptly. The geometry of the beaters promotes good bowl coverage; I didn’t find a lot of unmixed pockets beyond the usual scrape-the-sides spots. For smooth batters, mixing is thorough and consistent, and the aeration for cakes and meringues is on par with pricier hand mixers.

A note on durability and use: these beaters are wire-style. They’re ideal for whipping and general mixing, but they’re not meant to pry through stiff masses. If you routinely make heavy cookie doughs or try to mash cold butter straight from the fridge, expect more flex and potential stress at the weld points. Work smart—soften butter properly, break up thick mixtures with a spatula before mixing, and keep to mid speeds on the thickest tasks you attempt.

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleanup is almost effortless. Press the eject button, drop the beaters into the dishwasher, and wipe the body down with a damp cloth. There aren’t many crevices for batter to hide, and the finish wipes clean without smearing. The cord is standard length for a countertop appliance and flexible enough to wrap loosely around the body for storage. With the compact size, it tucks neatly into a drawer alongside the beaters.

The 2-year limited warranty is appropriate for a hand mixer in this class and adds a bit of peace of mind if you’re a frequent baker.

Everyday use tips

• Start slow. Keep flour or powdered sugar where it belongs by beginning at speed 1 and stepping up gradually.
• Use the boost as a tap, not a crutch. Short bursts help finish peaks or smooth small lumps.
• Mind the bowl rest. It’s handy, but if your bowl lip isn’t a match, park the mixer upright on its heel.
• Respect the scope. Save heavy doughs for a stand mixer; this tool excels at light to medium batters and whipping tasks.
• Give it breaks in long sessions. If you’re whipping multiple batches back-to-back, a minute of rest between runs keeps heat buildup in check.

Where it fits in a kitchen

I see this as an everyday utility mixer for small kitchens, new bakers, college apartments, or anyone who doesn’t want the commitment of a stand mixer on the counter. It’s quick to grab for weeknight bakes and weekend brunches, light enough to handle with one hand, and strong enough for the most common mixing jobs. If you bake occasionally, it’s likely all you need. If you bake often—but mostly cakes, muffins, and whipped toppings—it can still be your primary mixer. If you do big batches of stiff doughs, treat this as a complement to a stand mixer rather than a replacement.

Trade-offs and limitations

No hand mixer at this size and power level is a do-everything machine. The trade-offs here are sensible: low weight and compactness over brute force; simple controls over extra attachments. There’s no whisk or dough hooks in the box, just the two beaters, which keeps the kit straightforward but limits versatility. The wire beaters are efficient for whipping and mixing but can flex under abuse. Finally, while the five speeds are well separated, there’s no ultra-slow micro-speed for folding—use a spatula for delicate incorporations.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker mixer hits the mark for an affordable, compact hand mixer: light in the hand, easy to use, and capable across everyday baking tasks. The 175-watt motor pairs well with the five-speed range and power boost, and the comfort grip and stable heel/bowl rest make sessions feel controlled rather than cumbersome. As long as you keep it in its lane—whipping, beating, and mixing light to medium batters—it delivers consistent results with minimal hassle.

Recommendation: I recommend this mixer for home cooks who want a lightweight, reliable tool for routine mixing and whipping. It’s a strong fit for small kitchens and occasional bakers, and a solid everyday companion for cakes, muffins, pancakes, whipped cream, and meringues. I wouldn’t recommend it as a heavy-duty solution for stiff cookie doughs or bread-like mixtures; if that’s your primary workload, a higher-powered hand mixer or a stand mixer is the better investment. For its intended jobs, though, this compact mixer is easy to live with and easy to like.