KitchenAid 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer, White

FIRST REVIEW 12/29/2009 Purchased on 12/13/2009 I have just bought this hand mixer and have used it a couple of times for baking. I make cakes and mix icing. So far it has been good. This is my first mixer. I did a lot of research online and decided to get this. I was thinking of buying Cuisinart but since this one was my first I thought lets go with the highest reviews. Ok getting to the point PROS: 1. Easy to operate and very light weight. 2. Ergonomic structure and is not so tiring to hold. Can easily hold for more than 10-20 Min at a stretch. 3. Great for mixing dry ingredients at low speeds, speed 1 being the best. 4. High speed is very good too. Formed stiff peaks in eggs in less then 2 Min. 5. If you don't want lot of air in your mixed up ingredients you can use the low speeds till 3. I used it to form a smooth butter-cream without air. CONS: 1. It wobbles a little in your hand. But then its I guess because of its light weight. So I am not bothered about it much. Well I haven't mixed cookie dough so I am not sure if it will do that. And its pretty new so is good right now. I haven't used any other before except for my mom's when I was a kid. So I am unable to compare it with any other hand mixer or any other mixer for that matter. For a first time buy it seems good. And its a space saver as I live in an apartment and the rest you know. I will update this review as I use it so that this will be more helpful. UPDATE REVIEW 5/03/2011 Duration of use 1 year 6 months After 1 and a half year of regular use, Its still performing well. I mixed everything from butter cream, cake batter to fondant and gum paste (equivalent to cookie dough), and it hasn't died or burned on me. But then I have been careful. I don't mix the entire fondant with it. I mix it a little until it forms a soft dough ball and then mix by hand. And when I suspect a burning smell, I stop using immediately. But as a hand mixer, I think its perfect. And hand mixers aren't supposed to be used for cookie dough and the likes of it. Still going good. UPDATE REVIEW 06/13/2013 Used for 3 Years I have been using this hand mixer on and off for the past three years and its still working good. Though using less recently as I finally bought a kitchen aid stand mixer. But I would recommend anyone to buy this. I have put this mixer through a lot. And it can mix cookie dough, at least until it forms a ball. I am sure if you hand knead a little, you can use it for mixing cookie dough too. I have used it to mix bread dough too, but I first use it to mix the dry ingredients and flavors and then add the liquid part. Then as soon as it forms a ball, I use my hand to knead it the rest of the way. Always use the lower speeds for things like cookie dough and bread dough. As I said b4 its not meant for such things.(Those are for the stand mixers.) So I give it five stars. And a thumbs up.

For its intended purpose, it is an excellent and handy kitchen tool. Home use, even with the heaviest batters, should not be a problem. The light weight is a bonus. The design of the beaters enables them to clean themselves, rather than gunk up with globs of batter. The shape of the beaters allows them to clean the bottom of the mixing bowl. Those familiar with the KitchenAid name might expect the same powerful whomp that they get from their KitchenAid stand mixer. Same family, but not the same at all; still, much more than adequate. Having said that entitles this writer to some personal niggles--minor things, to be sure. The beaters are difficult to insert and eject. The top speed is perhaps slower that one might expect, but completely adequate. The cord sticks up at a funny angle and makes it hard to stow the unit in a shallow drawer. The mixer unit, and especially the accesory beaters, are a bit expensive.

I had previously owned and loved a Braun 280 watt hand mixer which died and couldn't be fixed due to its being discontinued. I chose the KPro over the Cuisinart for its high power and reviewers' comments about quietness, and also am betting on its future ability to be serviced. It's just as quiet as the old Braun. Nice and solid standing on end and feels light. Having been used to only three speeds, I was surprised that I actually appreciate having nine speeds--you can really fine tune what you're doing. The all-metal beaters can take repeated dishwasher washings--no plastic to eventually degrade from the heat. The included single whisk (on a lowish speed) did an exceptionally nice job on whipped cream, similar to the fine result obtained by hand whisking. March 2014: I've had this mixer for almost six years now and continue to regard it favorably. It gets heavy use with no problems and is still like new. The single whisk attachment makes very nice genoise cake batter. The technique used with genoise is beating eggs and sugar over simmering water, not something a stand mixer can do.