Dualit 5-Speed Professional Hand Mixer, Chrome

Powerful and Good Looking, Quality Suspect
Bottom Line: Glad I bought it to replace a pathetically weak KitchenAid (the 7-speed digital), but it falls below the build quality standards you associate with Dualit.

Pros:

* Powerful and fast - whips egg whites in 1/2 the time it took my KitchenAid.

* Comfortable to hold - large handle and good weighting make it easy to hold for long periods.

* Looks good on shelf or on counter - Subjective, of course, but the retractable cord makes it neater and easier on the eyes.

Cons:

* Switch and cord retraction mechanisms have that vague, raspy feel of cheap components about to break. They may last forever, but they feel shaky out of the box.

* Chrome surface is over plastic, which usually scratches. Mine has resisted moderately forceful attempts to scratch it (using a scissors point). At least the plastic is light in weight.

Incidentally, whatever Amazon's information may show, this mixer's box...

Great overall but needs a slower 1st speed
This mixer has great power. Great for heavy batters, and fast mixing. But....it needs a slower 1st speed, a lot slower, just to get the dry ingredients in without spraying them all over the place, and for folding delicate ingredients. I like the cord wind up feature, sometimes a little hard to use but definitely worth the small effort for the neatness it provides. Also has a nice flat back so you can stand it up on the counter instead of hanging it off your mixing bowl while adding ingredients requiring 2 hands. Overall I'm glad I got it but there are certain things I cant use it for because the the super high 1st speed.

Worst Ever
This was my most expensive hand mixer and the shortest lived! I have not even had it a couple of months and the motor burned out. I was whipping butter and noticed the smell then little black shavings flew into my bowl then it died! I am SHOCKED, I really had high expectations from this product.
Very disappointed.

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