I'm on the hunt for a hand held mixer with a slow start / genuinely slow speed setting...

[KBwan]

Or is it like looking for the pink donkey my 2 yr old wants for her birthday. It's not too much to ask, is it? Most hand mixers have 5 speed settings, ranging from 'cover all worktops and people in close proximity with icing sugar' to 'oh it, now there's hardly anything left in the bowl.
Oh wise mumsnetters, please guide me on this journey to cake nirvana.

My mil swears by this one. I've never used it, so can't vouch for her opinion!

Failing that, chuck a tea towel over your arm when you start?

Thanks cakesaregood, I was delighted when I saw your link went to John Lewis... I always look for hours on the internet for stuff and end up there anyway! Will take a trip and see what it's like.
Need cheering up after a disastrous attempt at Mary Berry's pinwheel biscuits - suffice to say mine do not look like hers!

[Smile] But did they taste good?

Yep, get that one. Its got about 7 speeds. Its heavy,but feels v well made

I used to have that one and it does have a genuinely slow speed setting. It was lovely for that reason. My only gripe was that it only lasted just over a year before it stopped working - and they're not exactly cheap. I could just have been unlucky though. I've since had a really cheap one that drives me mad as it splatters icing sugar everywhere. I'm now looking at rebuying another Kenwood, when I can afford one, and hoping it lasts longer next time!

I guess if you get it from JL it would have some kind of extended guarantee anyway to protect you.

I replaced a 20 year old Russell Hobbs hand mixer recently. I got another RH one and I loathe it. It's heavy and has an annoying digital touch button thingy which is so easy to accidentally touch while using it and so one minute I'm on a slow setting and the next it's like a pneumatic drill! Also the cable gets in the way. I think it may be designed for a left- hander. I saw Mary Berry using a kitchen aid on tv earlier and it looked gorgeous. Big money though.

I know. I'd love a Kitchenaid but just can't justify the price. They look beautiful but only really do the same as a hand held mixer which costs £50. So why are they £400?! Plus, they're not as good for things like mashed potato which you can just do straight in the saucepan with a hand held.