The Sunbeam Heritage Hand Mixer 3156 is a powerful, yet compact tool that employs advanced technology to achieve superb mixing results.

Styled in black and silver, this unit consists of an efficient mixer body with soft-grip open style handle, two traditional chrome beaters and a handy display stand that holds the mixer and attachments for clutter-free storage.

We were impressed with the amount of power generated by the mixer's 250-watt motor. There are six speeds, and even the lowest is capable of efficiently mixing batters.

The mixer is controlled via a thumb-operated speed-control switch, which clicks into place at each setting. There is also a Burst of Power button, located just in front of the control switch and in easy reach. The Burst of Power button jumps the power up a notch at any setting. The button is handy whenever you need an added boost.

We also liked the excellent balance on this model. You can stand the mixer on its end while you add ingredients or scrape the bowl without worry of it toppling over. During use, the weight of the mixer body is evenly distributed. We especially liked the unit's soft grip handle, which is not only comfortable to grasp, but also has a slip-free surface.

The only feature we found a bit tricky was the beater eject button, which is incorporated into the speed-control dial. A "smooth" push on the button should eject the beaters, however on the model tested, the button did not push in easily. It took a few tries before we were able to eject the beaters. With the beaters removed, the button presses quite easily. We inserted and ejected the beaters a number of times and found that it got easier, but still required a firm push.

We loved the unit's storage stand, which lets you keep the mixer (attachments and all) standing neatly in a cabinet or pantry shelf when not in use.


Pros: Powerful and efficient motor, storage caddy, excellent balance
Cons: Beater eject button is hard to depress