Technology evolves so quickly these days that it’s hard to keep up with, and bakeware is no exception. Sometimes, though, it can be much more satisfying to stick with traditional, manual methods, especially if you don’t have the budget to splash on gadgets.
When it comes to mixing, some of the fancier pieces of equipment can run you up to five hundred dollars; they might be more convenient, sure, but not everybody can afford them - hand mixers though? Cheap, cheerful… and they’ll never run out of power!
Looking to find a quality manual mixer that’s easy to use, performs well, and doesn’t cost the Earth? We’ve rounded up five of the most positively reviewed on the market right now, to make your choice even simpler and ensure you’re satisfied with your new toy.
Prefer to make your purchases after you’ve done some product research? Our buyer’s guide outlines all of the features you’re looking for in a high-quality non-electric mixer, which should also help you decide which one is right for you.
Answers to some of the most common customer queries can be found via the frequently asked questions section, helping to clear up any remaining concerns and doubts before you commit to buying.
OUR TOP PICK
When you don’t have time to weigh up your options, we’d recommend the Good Grips manual mixer from OXO as a budget-friendly choice suitable for amateurs and professional chefs alike, sure to offer a satisfying result.
OXO’s team of designers examine everyday objects and their purposes, trying to make simple tasks consumers perform regularly as easy and as satisfying as possible, and this product is no exception.
Improving on the classic hand whisk with an innovative design, its smooth steel gears rotate quickly, safely protected inside the upright handle to prevent mess and make cleaning up a breeze, as the beaters can be detached and thrown in the dishwasher.
Both the turning knob and handle are contoured, with a soft, comfortable, slip-proof grip for operating easily, even with wet or messy hands. You’ll be happy to let your kids get involved with this mixer, and they’ll be completely safe whilst using it.
Beaters are also elevated, continuing to work whilst the device itself is resting on the bottom of your bowl, maximizing the mixer’s efficiency and ensuring fluffy eggs and perfect peaks in your whipped cream every time.
Pros:
- Soft, contoured handle
- Efficient balloon-whisk blades
- Two beaters for maximum power
- Sturdy stainless steel design
Cons:
- Requires more effort than other options
RUNNER UP
Taking the traditional manual mixer and giving it a well-needed power boost without the aid of electricity is a stroke of genius from EasyOh; designed to be pushed up and down as opposed to in a circular motion, your arms and your recipes will thank you!
Not only is it affordable, but constructed from sturdy stainless steel with a hollowed handle, so it’s lightweight and durable too - you won’t believe how much time it saves you in the kitchen once you’ve taken it for a test drive.
As it’s sleek and small, you can use it for a multitude of purposes, including beating eggs, frothing milk and mixing up thinner sauces, batters and dressings, and the manufacturer’s simple, easy to use spring mechanism will revolutionize your kitchen.
Customers report that one-handed mixing is possible using this product, so if you’re somewhat incapacitated by injury or just like to multitask whilst you cook, the extra hand freed up by opting for EasyOh’s whisk could be your reason to buy.
Feedback from elderly reviewers or those suffering with tremors also indicates that it is much easier to use a semi-automatic whisk as the up-down motion is not impeded by a wobbling hand and allows for a sturdier grip.
Pros:
- Useful for those with injuries or tremors
- Lightweight hollowed handles
- Spring loaded semi-automatic mechanism
- Affordable yet high-quality
Cons:
- Smaller whisk head may not work well on thicker mixtures
EDITORS CHOICE
If a more old fashioned experience is what you’re looking for - perhaps you want to surprise an older relative with a blast from the past? - then this Prepworks (a subsidiary of Progressive) beater could be just the ticket.
Strong and steady stainless steel blades are shaped in the classic balloon style, with its use of two beaters being easier and much more efficient to use than one whisk models, simply turn the handle and you’re good to go.
Pretty turquoise ABS casing coats the hand-rest, handle and turning mechanism, making for an attractive, appealing mixer that isn’t hard to spot amongst all of your other utensils, so no more rummaging in drawers when you could be baking!
Dishwasher safe and incredibly easy to clean otherwise, not only will it efficiently stir up thinner mixes and beat eggs without breaking a sweat, but it won’t take up the rest of your afternoon to scrub it down when you’re done.
At twelve inches high, it’s a good fit for most budding bakers, and easy enough for a younger cooking enthusiast to use with ease; if you’re keen to induct your kids into the kitchen, consider this simple yet effective mixer.
Pros:
- Traditional, easy to use design
- Fits easily and comfortably in most hands
- Steel and ABS construction for durability
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Customers report that the blue ABS plastic is a different color than advertised
BEST VALUE
Constructed from food-grade stainless steel, worrying about a flimsy manual mixer breaking after its first use is a problem of the past when you pick up the Newness handheld whisk mixer, utilizing a similar up-down mechanism to the EasyOh above.
An effortless spin of the blades is achieved in one fluid pushing motion, requiring minimal force and effort, preventing repetitive strain injuries that eager cooks and bakers might be familiar with; it’s also great if you’ve already got a sore arm but don’t want to abstain from cheffing.
Rotating both clockwise and anti-clockwise as it moves, you’ll find it does a more efficient job than a classic whisk would, whilst expending much less energy; achieve and surpass the mixing standards of electrically boosted gadgets from your own kitchen!
Cleaning this mixer is as simple as throwing it in a bowl of soapy water, and you’ll find it comes out just as shiny and polished as it was when you purchased it, every time, for those perfect Instagram-worthy food pictures.
Narrow enough to slip into a drinking glass, you’ll also find it proves excellent for frothing milk when you’re making lattes and cappuccinos at home, or muddling up the fruits in your cocktails for a delicious fruity kick.
Pros:
- Thin for versatile usage
- Easy-clean steel design
- Semi-automatic mechanic causes less strain
- Power assist for younger or older bakers
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
RUNNER UP
Yes, this is the third semi-automatic manual on the list, but hey, you can’t say we haven’t given you plenty of options to consider! Easier on the wrist than your traditional whisk, this push-down zip model from Cooks Innovations allows professional mixing at home.
All users need to do is push downwards as they hold the handle steady (similar to the motion of a Shake Weight - remember those?!) and the whisk head rotates; releasing upward moves the head in the opposite direction, for three hundred and sixty degree whisking.
Entirely constructed from stainless steel, handle and all, this offers a professional looking kitchen gadget for a fraction of the price, offering a faster and less difficult manual mixing experience at a cost that’s affordable.
As it’s dishwasher safe, cleaning is as simple as putting it in your machine, but it also comes up just as nicely with soap and water if you’re not that fancy. No more struggling to find batteries or grumbling about your expensive electricity bill!
Not just used for mixing up batters, sauces and dressings, you’ll also find this makes a delicious frothy latte from the comfort of your home, so if spending money at coffee shops is a problem you’re yet to overcome, this mixer could be your saving grace!
Pros:
- Makes a great frothy milk for coffee
- Wipe-clean, simple to maintain
- Efficient semi-automatic spring for easier mixing
- Easy on the wrist for injured cooks and bakers
Cons:
- May not reach the bottom of especially large mixing bowls
Best Manual Hand Mixer Non Electric - Buyer's Guide
Simple and straightforward, the humble hand mixer is made of few components and requires zero additional power, so you might be wondering what else there is to know about one, or what exactly makes a good alternative to electricity.
Consider the following:
Materials
You’ll usually find that most hand mixers are made from stainless steel, a popular choice for manufacturers producing cookware because of its resistance to chipping, damage, or dents; when your mixtures are thicker, you’ll be grateful for this durability.
Steel is much easier to maintain, as it is wipe-clean and usually - with the help of some hot water and dish soap - will come up shiny and new again after every wash. Should high polish be important to you - hey, we all have Instagrams to maintain! - stick with metal.
If you plan to be whipping up a storm frequently, it might be worth considering if your new mixer is dishwasher safe, so you can throw a load in after cooking; decreasing the effort of cleanup will surely maximize your desire to bake!
Size
Manually-operated mixers require you to hold them for a little longer than their electric counterparts, so opting for the lightest - but sturdiest - mixer is your best bet. It’s important to find one that sits comfortably in your hand and isn’t too big or too small.
We’re all familiar with the muscle burn good whisking can cause, and if yours is too bulky or not quite large enough for your mix, you’ll find that it’s even worse, as you’ll need to administer far more effort to get those ingredients incorporated.
Another perk of trying a traditional mixer is the lack of space it will take up in your drawer or cupboard, unlike the electric varieties, which with their various attachments can spill out all over your kitchen - nightmare!
Effort
Although all of the mixers on our list are manually operated, requiring no external power source, a few are advertised as semi-automatic, because they feature a built-in mechanism that assists your hand-power when mixing to take away some of that strain.
When you’re after the satisfaction of hand mixing your next cake batter or whipped cream, but don’t want too much of an ache afterward, consider the helping hand that a slightly pricier semi-auto model offers.
Comfy grips that feel good in your hands and aren’t abrasive will help you to avoid blisters if you’re a regular chef or baker, as well as reducing the amount of effort you’ll have to put into mixing overall, as you won’t feel a need to hold on to the handle as tightly.
Durability
Picture this: you’re happily baking a cake, mixing as fast and as hard as you can for a nice fluffy texture. All of a sudden, your mixer falls apart into your bowl. Boom: inedible cake, compromised by tiny screws and full of choking hazards.
Although the most inexpensive kitchen tools can be tempting, they have often been manufactured poorly and won’t last very long, meaning the money you saved on buying will be spent on picking up a replacement. If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is!
Stainless steel and ABS plastics are, as we’ve said, the best materials to go for when it comes to a long-lasting manual mixer, as the all-plastic varieties tend to lack power and succumb to the pressures of whisking much quicker than mixers that are mostly metal.
Affordability
A major reason to opt for a manual mixer is the considerable difference in price, so don’t get fooled into paying over the odds for yours; they remain such a popular tool because you can achieve the same results as an electric mixer - albeit with more effort - for a tenth of the cost.
Whether you’re looking at a big, bold stand mixer or a smaller hand-sized electric model, by going for a self-operated mixer, you’re looking to save between two and five hundred dollars, and perhaps on a gym membership too, as you certainly won’t need arm day!
Consider your cooking needs
For some, the conservative price tag and satisfying manual work a non-electric mixer offers can be well worth it, because they don’t do a lot of cooking or the recipes they follow aren’t as complex.
However, if you’ll be making a lot of bread for instance, or need to prepare large quantities of a dish at once, it might be easier to stump up the rest of the money and opt for an electric mixer if you have the money to do so.
Likewise, if you aren’t a particularly experienced cook or you struggle to use your arms for long periods of time, it could be that manual mixing just results in unnecessary stress and upset, in which case… are the financial savings really worth it for you?
Frequently Asked Questions - Non Electric Hand Mixer
How do I maximize efficiency with a manual (non-electric) hand mixer?
One tip is to avoid top-heavy mixers with long, heavy handles, as not only will they be more difficult to use - especially with thicker, denser mixtures - but are more likely to force your bowl to tip over when you aren’t using it, which isn’t ideal for keeping things tidy.
Seeking out a mixer that utilizes particularly stiff wires, especially if they are forming that traditional balloon shape (with large, wide loops), will enable you to mix thoroughly, able to sweep the bottom of a round-based bowl and scrape excess ingredients with ease.
As we’ve mentioned above, it’s also possible to pick up a ‘semi-automatic’ non-electric hand mixer, which, although technically still a manual option, features a spring mechanism which reduces the effort of your mixing technique by assisting in movement.
What are the benefits of using a non electric hand mixer versus an electric one?
Automatic mixers might free up your hands for other tasks and pack more power than the average human, but there are a few benefits in choosing a classic when you next bake a batch of your favorite cookies.
When it comes to whisking and folding by hand, a manual mixer allows the user more precision, particularly for delicate mixtures like Italian meringue, or batters that can easily be ruined by overworking - complete control over a mixture can be really beneficial.
We’ve already outlined how much more affordable a manual mixer is, but have we pointed out how simple they are to use? Never mind plugging something in, messing around with fussy attachments or trying to understand what a button does - all you need to do is mix!
If you’re able to exert the effort that manual mixing requires, it can prove a far more satisfying task to whip your own cream or prepare your own fluffy pancake batter, and is more impressive for an audience to watch, should you have one.
Manual mixing is much more fun for your kids to join in with, as hands-on activities are enthralling and occupying, whereas if they wanted to press a button, they probably would have stayed in front of the electronic device you’re trying to pull them away from!
Cleaning a stand or electric mixer can be a pretty painful process too, especially if you forgot to put on your splash guard or things got vigorous too quickly when you turned them on, whereas manual mixers simply need a quick rinse off, and most are usually dishwasher safe!
What can I use if I don't have a non electric hand whisk?
If you don't have a non electric hand whisk, you can make use of two forks by tapping them together. When you're mixing ingredients such as whipping cream and eggs, a non electric hand whisks add in air. Use forks with the same-sized tines and handles. Place one fork on top of the other and ensure that the tines of the forks overlap.
Can you use a non electric hand mixer instead of an electric mixer?
Wondering which one to purchase? Consider your needs and habits before making a decision. Although a hand mixer and an electric mixer are not interchangeable appliances, they can both whip cream or butter. Some individuals never use a hand mixer, whereas some outstanding home bakers never invest in an electric mixer.
What can I use if I don't have an electric beater?
You can use a non electric hand mixer or kitchen utensils you already own, if you don't have an electric beater. For instance, you can use two table knives to cross-cut into the ice-cold butter and flour mix. Also, if you don't have a mixer, you can cut in butter with forks or a pastry cutter.
How do you beat eggs without a mixer?
Start whisking by briskly swishing your non electric hand whisk backward and forward to break up the egg whites until they are foamy. You can accelerate this by placing your bowl of egg whites into a bowl of hot water for a few minutes, stirring intermittently.
Do you need an electric mixer to make cookies?
Cookie dough can be mixed by hand or with an electric mixer.
Can you beat ingredients without a mixer?
You can beat ingredients without a mixer since the point of beating or creaming ingredients is to aerate them. You can create a light and fluffy consistency of eggs, cream, butter, cream, and other items with the use of a non electric hand mixer.
Do you really need an electric mixer?
Although, a non electric hand mixer is not as powerful as an electric mixer, they are inexpensive, easier to store, and more than capable of getting the job done. You possibly don't need an electric or a stand mixer - and even if you think you do, try a non electric hand mixer first.
Final Thoughts
Non electric hand mixers is best for light mixtures like beating eggs. Although it can be used for pancake batter, frosting, cake mix, and more. A manual hand mixer (non-electric), certainly has advantages when compared to using a whisk or spatula.
On the other hand, an electric mixer can handle thicker mixtures, such as bread dough and more. In this case, you'll want to look at getting an affordable stand mixer or a stand mixer for kneading bread dough, instead of a manual (non-electric) hand mixer.
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Thanks, Kathleen!
I’m happy to hear you found the article helpful.