A handheld mixer beats egg whites and whips cream effortlessly to soft, billowy peaks . Although you could do these jobs with a whisk, plan on spending a lot more time and icing down your arm when done. Of course, if you have limited room on your counter, it's a lot easier to pull out a handheld mixer than a standing mixer to beat a few egg whites. The choices . At first glance, most handheld mixers look alike.
All handheld mixers offer a range of speeds.
Newer designs rely on thin, curved wires, and the center of each beater is open. Others have whisks for beating egg whites and cream. Cordless mixers, which come with a recharging base, are also available. What to look for . A good handheld mixer can be used for a variety of tasks, especially beating whites, whipping cream, and making cookie dough.