I have a full size mixer, but it takes up so much room on my countertop that I have been searching for a hand mixer that is both reliable and powerful. Trying to get the power of a full size mixer from a hand held model can be challenging. I have finally found one that has come very close. The Black and Decker Power Pro, model MX95.
This mixer has several features that I think are perfect. My old mixer only had 3 speeds, but this Black & Decker model has a total of five speeds! If that weren’t enough, there is also a power boost button that will give each speed an added boost of power. The eject button works smoothly, and ejects the beaters from the unit without having to touch the beaters when they are full of batter. As far as the beaters go, this mixer has the standard chrome beaters, but it also comes with whisk beaters! I can’t tell you how beautifully this attachment makes a batch of home made whipped cream! It comes out so smooth and thick!
The handle is unique as well, featuring a smooth grip that is colored gray, while the rest of the mixer is white. It isn’t cushioned, per se, but it is definitely softer than the hard plastic material that the rest of the mixer is made out of.
The mixer itself has 230 watts of power. I don’t usually have to use it on the highest speed to get the results I desire. When I mix up a cake batter, the second or third speed are adequate. When making brownies or cookies, I use the 4th speed, as these batters are much thicker than cake mix. The first time I used this, I compared, in my mind, the performance and power to other high priced brands. The Black & Decker is much more reasonable priced and affordable.
According to the manual, the mixer works for: blending, stirring, mixing, beating and whipping. If any of these speeds bog down, the power boost button is there for that extra umph of power.
The handle is not only comfortable, but it is amply sized for a mans larger hands. It has a wider, thicker handle that is easy to grip, and I would imagine this design would be great for any persons who are suffering with any type of arthritis in their hands and struggle with being able to tightly grip objects.
If I had to pick a flaw in this design, it would be the way the speed controls are laid out. I have used many mixers during my 30 year marriage, and the arrangement of the controls are usually within easy reach. With the Black and Decker the controls are above the handle, but they move from left to right, instead of forward and backward. I find I sometimes have to turn off the mixer to get the right speed. It’s definitely an unusual design, and I can’t figure out why they made it this way.
Still, even taking this under consideration, I would buy another Black & Decker Power Pro in a heartbeat. It’s a great, powerful hand mixer.
