We needed a new hand mixer, as the old one was getting so noisy we knew it was about to go. A device like this never quits when it's stored away. You just know it's going to quit when you need it most. The Christmas baking season was coming up so we decided to look here at Epinions for what's recommended and what's not.

We decided that generally all the Hamilton Beach and KitchenAid mixer reviews were positive, however dated, so we set out for a couple stores listed here at Epinions as having them to see what models are out there now.

We found the Hamilton Beach 62695r stocked at the first store and since we thought the price was excellent, put it into the cart. Once home I came to the conclusion that this is, as much as one can tell when comparing to pictures and stats, the same as the Hamilton Beach 62695 reviewed many times here at Epinions.

This hand mixer comes with a plastic storage case, which snaps snugly over the bottom of the mixer body. It makes the unit into one piece for convenient storage. Even the beaters store in it. There are 3 different beater types. Included with this model are 2 'Flat Beaters'. Also two 'Twisted Wire Beaters'; without a center post are easy to clean and recommended for thick batters and cookie dough. There is also one 'Single Wisk' for whipping cream. The single 'Single Wisk' (I couldn't resist it) can be inserted into either beater opening. I think you get a good variety of beaters. Those of you who prefer a rounded bottom will appreciate the twisted wire beaters.

The 225 watt Hamilton Beach 62695r comes with a 6-foot cord with a two-prong plug. The beaters on this model eject by pushing the speed control, only if in the off position. The 7-position (6 speeds plus off) speed control is a slider conveniently on the top front of the handle. Behind that is a QuickBurst button for a burst of power at any speed.

Some of the differences between this hand mixer and others are the convenient 'Bowl Rest' feature, which allows it to ride the outer edge of your bowl. Also the mixer will stand on end much like an iron while not in use.

We tested the Hamilton Beach 62695r by mixing up two homemade pie crusts, a sure test of a hand mixer. While I did cut up the two sticks of butter by hand and started the mixing with the traditional two butter knifes it wasn't long before I took over with our new hand mixer. What a relief! What is usually a half-hour ordeal of hand cutting took maybe 15 minutes on the slowest setting.

I usually use two sticks of butter and two cups of flour. That's my grandmother’s recipe, which also calls for a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons of water, if required. Lately I've been noticing that I not only have to use the water but keep adding more. I can remember many pie crusts my mother made without any water. This time I fudged a little and threw in the partial stick of butter I had, about 1/5th of a stick, additional. I don't know if it was the mixer or the added butter but; I used absolutely no water and got a nice workable dough. As I write this I checked the box, a one pound box of butter still weighs a pound.

I use my grandmother’s old pie dish. It's 10 3/4" in diameter and very deep. We peeled 4 1/2 pounds of apples, a mixture of Macintosh and Rome. We put 7 tablespoons of sugar some cinnamon, a half lunchpack of raisins, a little lemon juice, and a few chips of butter into that big pie dish. The above crust recipe covered the pie, and all those apples, twice. With the couple tablespoons left I took one apple slice and baked up a little treat.

We baked the pie for 2 hours 10 minutes at 300 degrees. It was superb. The mixture of sweet apples mixed with the tart, the hard apples mixed with the saucy. The sugar, still hot and crystallized. What a delicious taste treat when even the crust flavors the bakery.

You don't have to buy this hand mixer. Why you can just buy a pie at the super market. Savor the artificial sugar so sweet it burns your tongue, between two pieces of cardboard. You could instead buy one of the little lunch pies, with a taste all it's own.

Buy the mixer, you wouldn't be reading this if you didn't want it.

Bottom Line: If we can mix pie crusts, you can mix anything with the Hamilton Beach 62695r


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 19.99