Mixers > below $40 Mixers

Advantages: Easy to use and clean.
Disadvantages: Can be messy.

Black & Decker is a reliable brand. We got this mixer from my daughter's grandma. We have owned it for about two years. Here's what it has: Five speeds, eject button, Power Boost, standard beaters, whisk beaters, spatula attachment. Well, the only thing I have ever used it for, in two years, has been to make mashed potatoes, which were more like whipped potatoes. It does a great job for that. I used the standard beaters for this. I also used the ...
...doesn't snap into the motor part. It snaps on to the stems of the beaters. I never use that. It just seems awkward to me. The speed I use for potatoes is #2. And actually, I could keep it on #1 and it would be sufficient. It seems like the lower speeds run VERY fast. If I could think of an improvement, it would be a splash guard bowl to use with it. The Power Boost feature just gives you a burst of power. I've tried it, but not really used it for ... Read review

Advantages: Numerous Attachments, burst of power feature
Disadvantages: None

...it in the Handy Dandy Oster 2534. This mixer has been everything i needed and more. For starters it is backed with 250 watts of power which has been more than enough for all my needs. Thats just the start though. It has a retractable power cord which i have found utterly convienent when im mixing in tight spaces sometimes and dont need the long cord getting into everything. So yes it mixed my cakes, and mashed potatoes, and cookie dough without issue, ...
...tough jobs with heavy mixing, it comes with a special Burst of Power feature which allows for an added boost of power at the selected speed simply at the push of a button. This helped me to get through those heavy mixings much easier. You know what though? Theres even more! This mixer came with attachments that have made it incredibly versatile. Include was a whisk attachment for those easier mixes, a drink mixer which has been awesome when my family ... Read review

Advantages: Works well
Disadvantages: none

I have other Sunbeam products--an iron, a breadmaker--and have been pleased with their performance. I read a lot of the reviews here on Amazon before ordering my mixer. I agree with what most people say about it. It was well worth the price. It is a nice handling mixer, has good balance, and doesn't feel cheap. It has plenty of power to do anything that I need it for. I don't think I've even used the highest setting yet. The biggest test for any ... Read review

Advantages: FAST, easy, healthy, store food in the container it is prepared in
Disadvantages: Not hands free

I love my bamix. It is a huge time saver. I can do my mixing right in the pan while it is on top of the stove. Great for sauces and gravies. It replaces some of my bulkier appliances such as the mixer, food processor and blender. It's stand takes only a few square inches of counter space so it can sit out where it is handy. It crushes nuts, crackers and ice in seconds, you choose how finely you want things ground even to the point of making peanut ...
...in the jar you are going to store it in. You can make whip cream from skim milk, and ice cream from frozen strawberries and skim milk! Cleanup is a breeze. I melted my grinder attachment through my own fault and they replaced it even after a full year. It comes with a recipe book and a CD that contains how to videos. It's only drawback is that you have to hold it while you are using it, but as most things are very quick this isn't much of a problem. ... Read review

Advantages: Quality, useful, saves time
Disadvantages: Takes up counterspace, attachments can be pricey

...finally treated myself to this KitchenAid stand mixer. It's in the Artisan series and the version that most people think of when they think of KitchenAid's stand mixer. It's the perfect size for most home cooks. This has proven to be worthy of the counterspace it sits upon. It makes quick work of making whipped cream, cookie dough, cake batter, creamy pie fillings, and egg whites into perfect meringue. I love that this machine can be made even more ...
...with are dishwasher safe, along with the bowl. The unit can be easily cleaned with a damp towel. I would recommend that if you do not use your mixer very often, to put a cover on it or clean the bowl before you use it. Even though I don't use this machine enough, it's worth it for the few times a year that I do. ... Read review