Black & Decker Helix Performance Premium Hand Mixer, 5-Speed Mixer

A compact workhorse with a few quirks

I picked up the Helix mixer because I wanted something compact for weeknight baking, quick whipped cream, and occasional doughs without committing counter space to a stand mixer. After several weeks of testing it across batter, cream, egg whites, cookie dough, and even a pot of mashed potatoes, I’ve got a clear picture of where it shines—and where it doesn’t.

Design, build, and what’s in the box

The Helix mixer is a straightforward, corded hand mixer with a 250-watt motor, five speed settings, and a turbo button for short bursts. The headline feature is its helix-shaped beaters: reinforced nylon spirals that increase surface area and overlap as they turn. In the box you get two helix beaters, two dough hooks, a single wire whisk, and a snap-on storage case that doubles as a caddy for the tools.

Build quality is typical for a budget-friendly hand mixer: mostly plastic housing, a comfortable handle, and simple controls. The reinforced nylon beaters feel thick and sturdy, and their softer material is gentle on nonstick bowls. The auto-eject button has a positive, satisfying click, and I had no trouble removing attachments even with sticky dough on them.

A quick tip on fitment: the beaters are keyed, so make sure each beater is in its correct side and pressed until you hear an audible click. If you try to insert without lining up the shaft, they’ll feel loose or ride high. Once clicked in, mine stayed put under load.

Setup and storage

I love the idea of the snap-on case—everything in one tidy package that pulls easily from a cabinet. It works best if you coil the cord neatly and seat the attachments in their designated spots; otherwise the mixer doesn’t sit perfectly flush on the case. The latches are fine for pantry storage, but I wouldn’t carry the whole thing by the case alone. Think of it as a dust cover and organizer, not a briefcase.

The heel and bowl rest are genuinely useful. When you pause mid-recipe, the mixer perches on the bowl edge or stands on its heel without tipping. That said, it’s still a hand mixer: if your bowl rim is very thin or very thick, expect some awkwardness and keep a towel handy for drips.

Speed control and turbo

Five speeds are plenty for most tasks, and the reduced starting speed is the unsung hero. Starting slow means flour stays in the bowl and cream doesn’t splatter. The speed steps climb predictably, and turbo gives you a quick bump when you need to push through a thicker spot or finish a mix. I treated turbo as a momentary aid—not something to hold down continuously—and the motor tone stayed healthy throughout testing.

Noise is mid-pack: noticeable but not shrill. Vibration is minimal at low to mid speeds, more present at the top speed with the dough hooks. After extended mixing, the housing warms slightly, which is normal for this class of mixer.

Performance: batters, creams, and eggs

The helix beaters do their best work on pourable batters and dairy. Cake and muffin batters mix quickly and evenly, and I noticed less tendency to sling ingredients out of the bowl compared with traditional open-wire beaters, especially at the start. The spiraled shape seems to pull batter from the sides and fold it back into the center, which reduces scraping. I still scrape once or twice for best results, but I found fewer dry pockets overall.

Whipped cream is a strong suit. The nylon doesn’t chill like metal, but it incorporates air efficiently. I could go from soft to firm peaks with good control. Egg whites also whipped up well, though the single whisk attachment isn’t a magic wand—two balloon whisks would be faster. I preferred the helix beaters for meringue because they’re more stable and less splattery in the early foamy stage, then finished with the whisk for fine texture.

Cookie dough and heavier mixes

For cookie dough, I kept the mixer in the low to mid range while creaming butter and sugar, then bumped a speed for incorporating dry ingredients. The motor handled typical batches without bogging, and the beaters didn’t clog. The nylon has a touch of flex when the dough thickens, which slightly cushions the mixing action compared with rigid metal beaters. The result was consistent dough with minimal flour haze—a nice perk of the slow-start and helix sweep.

The included dough hooks are perfectly adequate for small, soft doughs—think a single pizza dough ball or a small loaf. However, this isn’t a stand mixer. Use short bursts, let the dough rest between mixes, and stop if the motor tone drops. The hooks knead, but they won’t replace a dedicated kneading setup for larger or stiffer doughs.

The potato question

I tried the helix beaters on hot, drained potatoes with butter and milk. The mixer broke them down quickly, but getting ultra-smooth mash was challenging. The helix design, with its broader openings and slightly shorter profile, tends to aerate and fling small bits if you push speed too high. I got the best texture by starting with a potato masher to break things down, then finishing on a low speed with the helix beaters. If your goal is perfectly silky potatoes using only a hand mixer, traditional thin-wire beaters have an edge.

Ease of use and ergonomics

The handle is comfortable and well-angled for bowl-side work. Weight and balance are good; I never felt wrist fatigue during typical mixing sessions. The control layout is intuitive: a slider for speed, a thumbable turbo, and a big eject button that’s hard to miss. The cord is standard length and doesn’t fight you, though a swivel would have been a nice addition.

The one ergonomic nit: in deeper bowls, the helix beaters are a bit short. You’ll end up tilting the bowl or dipping the mixer more than you might with longer metal beaters. In shallow mixing bowls this isn’t an issue.

Cleaning and durability

All the mixing tools are dishwasher-safe, and the nylon beaters release batter cleanly with a quick rinse. Nylon’s big advantage is that it won’t scratch nonstick or delicate finishes. The tradeoff is heat and staining: I avoid leaving them resting against very hot cookware and I wouldn’t use them in caramel or syrups. For everyday baking, they feel robust and haven’t warped.

The housing wipes down easily. Because the mixer can stand on its heel, you can pause between steps without laying it flat and spreading batter on your counter or the body.

Where the Helix shines

• Quick, splatter-free starts thanks to slow-start and predictable speed steps
• Excellent performance with batters, whipped cream, and light to medium doughs
• Gentle, non-scratching beaters for nonstick bowls
• Useful storage case that keeps accessories together
• Big, positive eject button and easy attachment swaps

Where it falls short

• Helix beaters are a bit short, which can be awkward in deep bowls
• Ultra-smooth mashed potatoes are tougher to achieve without a preliminary mash
• Nylon has a little flex; not ideal for very stiff doughs or high-heat applications
• Storage case latches are more “organizer” than “carry case”

Final thoughts and recommendation

The Helix mixer is a practical, friendly tool for everyday home baking. Its slow-start, predictable speed range, and helix beaters make it less messy and more forgiving than many budget hand mixers. I reached for it again and again for cakes, muffins, whipped cream, and weeknight cookie doughs because it’s easy to set up, easy to clean, and easy to store.

It’s not a replacement for a stand mixer if you routinely knead bread, and it’s not the silver bullet for perfectly smooth potatoes unless you pair it with a quick hand mash first. The nylon beaters are a thoughtful design for nonstick cookware, but they introduce a bit of flex that you’ll notice in heavier mixes.

Recommendation: I recommend the Helix mixer for bakers who want a compact, affordable hand mixer that excels at batters, creams, and everyday mixing with minimal mess. If your priority is heavy kneading or ultra-smooth mashed potatoes using only the mixer, look for a model with longer, traditional metal beaters and a higher power ceiling. For everyone else, this is an easy, space-saving tool that punches above its weight in the jobs most of us do most often.