Black & Decker Hand Held Mixer, 5-Speed

A compact workhorse for everyday mixing

I’ve been using the Black & Decker 5-speed mixer as my go-to for weeknight baking and quick prep tasks, and it’s settled into my kitchen routine with surprisingly little fuss. It’s compact, light in the hand, and thoughtfully kitted out: helix beaters, dough hooks, a wire whisk, an auto-eject button, and a snap-on storage case that keeps everything together. None of that matters if the mixer can’t perform, of course, so I put it through a range of jobs—whipped cream, cake batters, cookie doughs, mashed potatoes, and a couple of small dough experiments—to see where it shines and where it doesn’t.

Design, build, and ergonomics

The chassis is straightforward and sturdy without feeling bulky. At 3.2 pounds, it’s easy to maneuver around a bowl, and the handle shape gives a secure grip without hotspots. The “heel” stands upright reliably on the counter, and the bowl rest notch actually works; I can perch it on the edge of a metal mixing bowl between additions without it sliding off. Expect the usual drips when you park it—no hand mixer escapes gravity—so keep a towel nearby.

The helix beaters are the standout design feature. Instead of conventional metal loops, these reinforced nylon spiral beaters increase surface contact as they rotate. In practice, they pull ingredients together efficiently and tend to be gentler on nonstick and ceramic bowls. They’re also quieter than metal beaters, producing a softer whirr rather than a high-pitched clatter. The trade-off is that nylon has a bit of flex, which you’ll notice if you dive into very stiff doughs—more on that below.

The snap-on storage case is clever and genuinely useful. All the attachments nest neatly inside, the mixer itself becomes the lid, and the whole unit slides into a cabinet as one compact bundle. It saves drawer space and eliminates the eternal game of “where did the second beater go?” The latch takes a moment to line up the first few times, but once you’ve done it, it’s intuitive.

Controls and speed management

You get five speeds plus a “turbo” boost. The speed steps are well spaced for everyday tasks: the low speed is genuinely gentle, which helps prevent flour showers and cream splatter at the start, and the top speed is lively without being chaotic. The turbo button adds a temporary burst of power that’s handy for pushing through a thick bit in cookie dough or giving egg whites a final nudge.

Black & Decker lists a 350 W peak rating (captured over a very short window). In use, the mixer behaves like a solid mid-powered unit rather than a miniature stand mixer—which is exactly what it is. The reduced start-up speed is the unsung hero here; it makes messy starts much less messy, and it’s the feature I rely on most.

The auto-eject button is well placed and works cleanly. A quick press, and the attachments release straight into the sink without me having to touch them.

Performance in the bowl

• Whipped cream and egg whites: This is the mixer’s happy place. It whipped cream to stiff peaks quickly, with minimal splatter, and the helix design kept everything moving through the bowl so I wasn’t constantly chasing pockets around the edges. Egg whites climbed steadily to glossy peaks, and the turbo button was handy for finishing.

• Cake and quick batters: No complaints. The helix beaters pulled dry and wet ingredients together smoothly, and that slow start saved me on multiple flour additions. I still prefer to fold delicate batters by hand for ultimate control, but for standard cakes, brownies, pancakes, and muffin batters, this mixer made fast, even work of it.

• Cookie dough: For standard chocolate chip dough (single-batch quantities), it did fine. I creamed butter and sugar at medium, added eggs, then flour and chips at low to medium. The beaters had enough bite to distribute mix-ins without flinging them out of the bowl. Once the dough stiffens or if you scale up, you’ll feel the mixer working harder and see a bit of flex in the nylon beaters. That’s the cue to either reduce the batch size or switch to a sturdier machine.

• Mashed potatoes: Easy win. The low speed kept starch spray to a minimum, and the result was smooth and fluffy. The helix beaters’ extra overlap helps break up small lumps quickly.

• Dough hooks: Useful with caveats. For a small, soft dough (think a tiny batch of pizza dough or dinner rolls), the mixer handled the initial mixing and a short knead. After a minute or two of kneading, you can feel the strain; the motor warms and the rhythm changes. I wouldn’t use this as a bread-kneading machine. Think of the dough hooks as a convenience for small, soft doughs—not a stand mixer replacement.

Noise is middle-of-the-road: not whisper-quiet, but less shrill than many metal-beater models. Vibration is well controlled at all speeds.

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleanup is refreshingly simple. The smooth exterior wipes down easily, and the attachments rinse clean under warm water. I hand-wash the helix beaters and whisk; they don’t have awkward seams that trap batter, and they dry quickly. The nylon material avoids scratching nonstick bowls and won’t clang around in the sink.

Because the beaters are reinforced nylon, I avoid exposing them to very high heat or trying to “chop” hard ingredients (like large nuts or chocolate chunks straight from the fridge) directly with the beaters. That’s not what they’re built for, and it’s a good way to keep them in shape for the long haul.

Usability touches that matter

• Reduced-start speed: It really does cut down on mess and is a big help with fine powders or delicate starts.
• Bowl/heel rest: Stable and convenient. It won’t prevent drips, but it keeps the mixer out of your hands when you need to measure or scrape the sides.
• Turbo boost: A useful nudge rather than a magic button. Great for brief bursts; don’t use it to muscle through tasks that are fundamentally too heavy for a hand mixer.
• Storage case: Genuinely a quality-of-life improvement. If you’re short on drawer space or tend to misplace attachments, this is a real advantage.

Limitations and what to avoid

• Heavy doughs: The mixer can initiate mixing for small, soft doughs, but it’s not built for sustained kneading of bread or dense pizza dough. You’ll feel the motor and see the beaters flex. That’s your sign to stop.
• Large, dense batches: Scale down or split into two rounds for thick cookie doughs. You’ll get better texture and put less strain on the machine.
• Long continuous runs at high load: As with most hand mixers, give it breaks during heavy tasks.

Who it’s for

If you bake regularly but don’t need a stand mixer—or you want a companion to a stand mixer for quick tasks—this is a sensible, space-saving choice. It’s ideal for whipping cream, beating egg whites, making cake batters and frosting, mixing pancakes and muffins, and handling single-batch cookie doughs. Apartment kitchens, students, and home cooks who value a tidy storage solution will appreciate the snap-on case and light weight.

If bread is a weekly ritual or you’re mixing big, dense batches often, you’ll be happier with a more powerful hand mixer with metal beaters or, better yet, a stand mixer.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker 5-speed mixer balances smart design with practical performance. The helix beaters are effective and quiet; the reduced starting speed keeps counters cleaner; and the storage case is one of those small features that ends up making a big difference day to day. It won’t replace a stand mixer for heavy doughs, and the nylon beaters are best suited to light-to-medium tasks. Within those boundaries, it’s a reliable, easy-to-use tool that earns its spot in the cabinet.

Recommendation: I recommend this mixer for everyday baking and cooking tasks if you value compact storage, clean starts, and a user-friendly setup. It’s a strong performer for batters, whipped cream, and light dough work, with enough power and control for most home jobs. Skip it if you routinely tackle heavy bread dough or large, dense batches—this mixer isn’t designed for that workload.