What are hand mixer attachments called?

Hand mixer attachments are commonly called beaters, whisks, and dough hooks. The exact names and the number of attachments depend on the model, and the maker’s published list of included accessories is the reliable source for what comes in the box.

The five hand mixers compared in Best Hand Mixers for Baking and Whipping show the range: some include only beaters, others add a whisk, and one adds dough hooks and a spatula. The sections below explain each attachment type and note what each maker states about its set.

Beaters

Beaters are the standard mixing attachment for a hand mixer. They are the pair of metal tools that insert into the mixer’s underside and rotate to combine ingredients. Makers use different names for the same basic part. Hamilton Beach calls its pair “2 traditional beaters” on the Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer With QuickBurst and Bowl Rest. KitchenAid calls its pair “Stainless Steel Turbo Beater Accessories” on the KitchenAid 5 Ultra Power Speed Hand Mixer, KHM512. OVENTE calls its pair “2 stainless steel whisk beater attachments” on the OVENTE 5-Speed Electric Hand Mixer with Storage Case,150W, Black HM151B.

Cuisinart uses the term “extra-long beaters” for the Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer, 9 Speeds, Extra Long Beaters, 220W, and states that the beaters contain no center posts so ingredients will not clog up the beaters. LILPARTNER lists “two beaters” among the five stainless steel attachments on the Hand Mixer Electric, 450W Kitchen Mixers with Scale Cup Storage Case, Turbo Boost/Self-Control Speed + 5 Speed + Eject Button + 5 Stainless Steel Accessories, For Easy Whipping Dough, Cream, Black. In every case, beaters are the primary attachment for creaming butter, mixing batter, and similar tasks.

Whisks

A whisk is a separate attachment with wire loops, used for whipping and aerating rather than heavy mixing. Not every hand mixer includes one. Hamilton Beach states that its mixer comes with 2 traditional beaters and a whisk, and that all are dishwasher safe. Cuisinart includes a chef’s whisk along with its extra-long beaters, dough hooks, spatula, instruction and recipe book, and snap-on case. LILPARTNER includes a whisk among its five stainless steel attachments, alongside two dough hooks and two beaters.

KitchenAid’s published list for the KHM512 names only the two Stainless Steel Turbo Beater Accessories, so the maker does not publish a whisk for that model. OVENTE’s published features name only the two stainless steel whisk beater attachments, so the maker does not publish a separate wire whisk for the HM151B. When a maker does not list a whisk, the mixer’s box contents are the place to confirm what is included.

Dough hooks

Dough hooks are the attachment type used for kneading heavier mixtures such as bread dough. They are shaped differently from beaters, with a thicker, hooked form. Two of the five picks publish dough hooks in their included accessories. Cuisinart lists dough hooks as part of the included set for the Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer, 9 Speeds, Extra Long Beaters, 220W. LILPARTNER lists two dough hooks among the five stainless steel attachments for its Hand Mixer Electric, 450W Kitchen Mixers with Scale Cup Storage Case, Turbo Boost/Self-Control Speed + 5 Speed + Eject Button + 5 Stainless Steel Accessories, For Easy Whipping Dough, Cream, Black.

The other three picks do not publish dough hooks in their included accessories. Hamilton Beach lists 2 traditional beaters and a whisk. KitchenAid lists two Stainless Steel Turbo Beater Accessories. OVENTE lists 2 stainless steel whisk beater attachments. For those models, the maker does not publish a dough hook, so a buyer who needs one should check the box contents or the maker’s accessory listings.

Other accessories and storage

Beyond the mixing attachments themselves, several makers publish storage and cleaning features that affect how the attachments are kept. Hamilton Beach states that a snap-on storage case holds the 2 beaters and whisk in one place, reducing the chance that the attachments are lost or misplaced. OVENTE states that a snap-on storage case holds the included attachments and that the power cord can be stored in the case. LILPARTNER states that all of the attachments store neatly in a storage base.

Cuisinart includes a spatula and a sturdy snap-on case to store the mixer and accessories. KitchenAid publishes a lockable swivel cord but does not publish a storage case for the KHM512. Eject buttons are another common feature: Hamilton Beach, KitchenAid, OVENTE, Cuisinart, and LILPARTNER all publish a button or lever for removing the attachments from the mixer body. The attachments on the Hamilton Beach, KitchenAid, OVENTE, and Cuisinart picks are published as dishwasher safe; LILPARTNER does not publish dishwasher safety for its attachments.

Published figures for the five picks

The makers publish some physical figures for these mixers, which can help with storage planning. The Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer With QuickBurst and Bowl Rest is published at 8.3 inches wide, 5.7 inches deep, and 9.2 inches high, with a weight of 2.87 pounds. The KitchenAid 5 Ultra Power Speed Hand Mixer, KHM512, is published at 3.5 inches wide, 8.0 inches deep, and 6.0 inches high, with a weight of 2.0 pounds. The OVENTE 5-Speed Electric Hand Mixer with Storage Case,150W, Black HM151B is published at 7.0 inches wide, 8.3 inches deep, and 3.2 inches high, with a weight of 1.8 pounds.

The Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer, 9 Speeds, Extra Long Beaters, 220W is published at 8.46 inches wide, 3.94 inches deep, and 8.94 inches high, with a weight of 4.0 pounds. The LILPARTNER Hand Mixer Electric, 450W Kitchen Mixers with Scale Cup Storage Case, Turbo Boost/Self-Control Speed + 5 Speed + Eject Button + 5 Stainless Steel Accessories, For Easy Whipping Dough, Cream, Black is published at 3.95 inches wide, 9.06 inches deep, and 9.06 inches high, with a weight of 3.15 pounds. Motor power is published as 250 watts peak power for Hamilton Beach, 150 watts for OVENTE, 220 watts for Cuisinart, and 450 watts for LILPARTNER. KitchenAid does not publish a wattage figure for the KHM512 in its listed features.