Andrew James Professional Hand Mixer in Red, 300 Watts Electric Mixer, Includes Beaters, Dough Hooks and Balloon Whisk, 5 Speed with Turbo Button

17/11/14 I've done this great little mixer a disservice. In my last update I mentioned the sign of a little rust. On closer inspection it's not actually rust but simply the metal wearinging away ever so slightly from the friction between the beaters and my bowl. To be fair though my mixer is probably put through its paces more than the average. So all good.01/09/14 thought I'd add a little update since its almost a couple of years since I posted the original review. the motor is still as strong ever. The only notable downside is that the beaters seems to be going ever so slightly rusty. Not enough to prevent me from using but something I will have to keep an eye on.I have held off reviewing this product to give it time to break which is what has happened to the last two hand mixers I bought this year. After the beater on my 40 year old Kenwood hand mixer finally snapped on a particular tough batch of royal icing I urgently needed a replacement so bought a cheap one for £4.99 from Curries. Waste of time - the motor failed after one use so returned it and spent nearly £30 on a new Kenwood. Money well spent I thought but the beater snapped on a batch of victoria sponge mix after 3 or 4 uses.So this time I researched and read all the reviews. This was the only mixer that consistently had 4 star+ reviews. So I settled for this one and hoped for the best whilst fully expecting it to fall apart having resigned myself to the old adage "they don't make them like they used to".Well I've had it now for about 3 months and so far so good. But I am cautiously optimistic. So here goes on the plus pointsColour - love itShape - easy to hold and the controls are well placed for turning on and off (can't the same about the Kenwood)Power - Really powerful but the lowest setting is also really low (the kenwood was impossible to control and flour would go everywhere) so you have great control. It doesn't overheat when you use it for a long time.Size - the beaters are long so really good for doing large quantities - I regularly make batches of butter cream using more than 1 kg of icing sugar and its no problem at all.Efficacy - Very effective as a beater - does what you expect. I would describe myself as a heavy user making large quantities and frequentlyDough Hook and baloon whisk - haven't used them.Value for money - excellent and as good as I might expect of any mixer not just a cheap one.Negative PointsAs other reviewers have pointed out you must put the right beater in the right hole. Hardly a down side but definitely worth knowing.that,s itthe only thing I would add is that I feel disillusioned with the current quality of Kenwood and as i am now looking to replace my 25 year old Kenwood Cuisine Food processor because I cannot get a replacement grater blade shaft (annoying because its works perfectly) I am researching the Andrew James range so if their hand held mixer is anything to go by I am expecting good things.

Absolutely love this cheerful, cherry coloured, addition to my kitchen equipment and would never purchase an all-in-one, bowl and mixer package again. Not only can I use my own bowls regardless of size but this item has been cleverly designed with a flat bottom (know the feeling!) to stand neatly out of the way on my worktop. When standing upright with beaters overhanging the bowl it allows baking mixture etc to drop away into the bowl rather than the work surface.The motor is very powerful, facilitating five speeds, allowing simple combining, thorough mixing and whisking. If you really want to pebble dash the walls, the turbo button is available :-). The weight and weight distribution of the machine is very comfortable. It comes with two well made dough hooks, two beaters and one whisk, which are easily inserted into their correct size openings, one being obviously slightly larger than the other and released by a press button on the handle. The cable is short enough and light enough to tuck, either neatly through the handle or to wrap around the base. Everyday it sits staring at me, just begging to be used, so I am running out space in the freezer, having added cheese cakes, sponge cakes, soups, purees etc. Terrific value for such a powerful and quality item.

This hand mixer is wonderful and highly recommended.There are 3 very useful fittings with plenty of power, and much quieter than my old mixer.When going through the different settings it is clear that the motor is very smooth.Because of the power, it has a bit of weight behind it, but it is perfectly comfortable to hold and I do not find it too heavy at all. I also find the handle comfortable to hold and it is easy to change the slider of different speeds. The turbo button is for when you want to have the fastest setting of 5 at a moments notice.The flat surface at the end is perfect and sturdy for setting it down on a working surface.The different sized holes for the fittings are only for the dough mixers and the illustration next to the holes relate to this so you can't go wrong.The only reason for giving it 4 starts rather than 5 is because the button to release the fittings is quite hard to push, although it is perfectly do-able. The best way to release the mixer fittings is to set the mixer on it's end (the flat surface) hold the fittings in one hand to catch them, and then with your other hand press the button firmly.I am extremely happy with this mixer and would recommend it. It is also wonderful value for money.

After my previous hand mixer kicked the bucket (right in the middle of preparing 3 dozen cupcakes for a baby shower I was catering for), I bought a cheapy replacement as a quick fix, only to have that one die also after only a few uses! So, this time I decided to spend a little more than the usual £10-£15 on a hand mixer and see if it would be any better. I didn't want to break the bank but wanted something good and reliable as I use it a lot. After seeing the reviews on this one, I decided to give it a try. I cook and bake a LOT so I needed one that was going to last and could handle thick mixtures (as some are rubbish with thick, dense mixes). I also don't have a lot of room in my kitchen so I wanted something small enough to store in my kitchen cupboard. After using this hand mixer I can confirm that it is a lot more heavy duty than your usual lighter and flimsier mixers. It's sturdy and a bit heavier but can get the job done well and you know it will last longer. I think it's good value for money as you get the extra attachments (i.e. dough hooks and whisk). I also love the colour of it (nicer than your usual boring white or black). It arrived quickly and in excellent condition. I would definitely recommend this mixer and this seller.