I feel I have to preface this Epinion by stating that I generally like Hamilton Beach products. I own both an electric can opener and a juicer made by HB, and both products work fine and are a good bargain for their respective selling price. The same cannot be said about the Optimix (model number 64580). After testing it, I am relieved I didn't actually buy the thing, or I might have been an unhappy cook (at least until the day I threw the contraption in the trash can). The Optimix would have a better chance of selling with a bright pink paint job and the word "Barbie" attached to the side, because this thing is nothing more than a glorified toy. I try to find at least three good points to every appliance I review, but I might have to really stretch to make three here.

On the plus side:
1. It certainly is inexpensive. Our store retails the Optimix for $29.99.
2. The Optimix's performance as a hand mixer was satisfactory in most cooking chores.
3. It, uh, has a very nice paint job, and the box it is packaged in looks very nice as well.

On the negative side:
1. Anyone who has ever used a KitchenAid stand mixer will wet themselves laughing over the Optimix calling itself a stand mixer. This thing is a hand mixer on a plastic stand, and nothing more.
2. The bowl does not turn, nor does the beater rotate through the bowl. More often than not, you will have to turn the bowl by hand. Again, it's just easier and more efficient to take the thing off of the stand and use it as a hand mixer.
3. It's not really that stellar as a hand mixer. Proving once again that wattage means next to nil in kitchen appliances, several products with a lower wattage capacity (and lower price) blow this lame duck right out of the pond in terms of performance and durability.
4. The second time we used the mixer with a stainless steel bowl, the beaters began to chip. Chrome-flaked cheesecake, anyone?
5. Speaking of cheesecake, the Optimix choked badly trying to cut through the softened cream cheese, almost to a point that I expected smoke to come pouring out of the vent. I didn't bother with a dough of any kind, but maybe I should have to put this toy out of its misery.

In conclusion, from the department of the obvious, don't bother with the Optimix. Don't let the low price or the claim that this is a stand mixer fool you. If you only have thirty dollars to spend on a mixer, get a hand mixer from, well, just about anyone else. If you want a stand mixer, save your pennies and buy a KitchenAid. You don't even have to take my word on that, just go back and read the dozens of glowing Epinions about all of the KitchenAid stand mixers. In any case, don't waste your money on the Optimix.



Recommended: No