Oster HeatSoft Hand Mixer review

If you've ever wanted to whip up a cake but found yourself contending with a hard, refrigerated block of baking butter, then you might be impressed by the innovative thinking behind the Oster HeatSoft Hand Mixer. Excellent in theory for those bakers who might not have prepped their ingredients ahead of time, the heating element of this mixer is designed for making all of your bakes optimally fluffy. We put it to the test against a range of the best hand mixers around to see how it performed, and to see if the HeatSoft function made a tangible difference.

As a somewhat underprepared (but very enthusiastic) baker myself, I was certainly intrigued by the promise of the Oster HeatSoft mixer, especially if it could deliver the fluffy results it claims to. Whilst the cordlessness of competing models is convenient, this heating element has the potential to change the final product of your bake, and anything that can make my offerings more appealing seemed worth a try. 

Beyond its major selling point, this mixer also held promise thanks to the various attachments available and the seven speeds available to steer your way through. Here's how the mixer performed when we put it to the test, and what we thought of that all-important butter-changing mechanism. 

*Please note that the model pictured is the Breville HeatSoft, which is marketed as the Oster HeatSoft in the US. Despite the discrepancy, the two models are fundamentally the same.*

Oster HeatSoft Hand Mixer Specs 

• Colors: One color (white/copper/silver colorway)
• Type: Hand mixer 
• Weight: 4.7lbs
• Speed settings: 7 
• Dimensions: 9.6 x 4.8 x 9.6 inches
• Included: 2 beaters, 2 dough hooks, and a whisk

First impressions of the Oster HeatSoft Hand Mixer

The first thing to note about the Oster HeatSoft is that it's somewhat of a chunky pick in comparison with the other mixers in this lineup. It had the biggest box, and weighed in at the heaviest too, at 43oz with the standard mixer attachments affixed. 

If you have a large kitchen, this likely won't concern you in the slightest. Plus, the reason that the box is so large is thanks to the bonus of three varying sets of attachments to work with. 

Beyond the attachments, I also liked the fact that this mixer comes along with a case that fixes onto the bottom of the mixer. That means you can get rid of the box that your mixer came in and neatly store the unit and all of its attachments in the clear box within one of your cabinets. Of course, the caveat to all of this is that it's not great for those with super-compact spaces, with multiple elements to think about finding a home for. 

The unit itself is a little large, but still fine to manoeuvre. The controls are easy to carry out with one hand, with a lever that can push through the seven different speeds. There's also a boost button to add a little more power to your mixing, alongside the star feature of the HeatSoft button, designed to make your refrigerated butter the perfect consistency. 

Making whipped cream with the Oster Heatsoft Mixer

Our first testing protocol with hand mixers was to try how each model succeeded at whipping cream. The Heatsoft was one of the only mixers we tried with a dedicated set of whisks that you could switch out to, which we put to the test here. In terms of user experience, there's a handy ejector button for that switching-over process, which is great for user experience, especially for people with dexterity issues. 

It felt like there was a nice amount of power behind the HeatSoft mixer, and fixing the lever in place to control the speed was as easy as you'd expect. The whipped cream formed quickly, and the peaks looked like they would hold well, with no excess liquid cream floating around. 

Making cake batter with the HeatSoft mixer 

Obviously, the crucial element to be tested with this mixer is the heating element, which is where the Victoria Sponge test comes in. To get down to the logistics, the promise of the HeatSoft element is that you'll never dabble in mediocre mixes again. 

Cold, refrigerated butter is the enemy of fluffy cakes, giving you an ultimately dense sponge, but with this mixer, you should be able to avoid that entirely. If you're thinking that there's an obvious loophole with using melted or microwaved butter, then think again. Melted butter can give you soggy, flat bakes, and won't serve you any better than a cold, hard refrigerated alternative.

So, the answer to this conundrum, according to Oster, is the HeatSoft mixer. To use the HeatSoft element, you simply need to press the shiny copper button on the back, and you'll know things are heating up thanks to the whirring sound it makes. To put it plainly, the heat element works kind of like a hairdryer and you can really feel the warmth emanating to the butter in your bowl. It's not like the butter melts in front of you, rather it thaws to the right consistency within your mix. I think it really did help with the mixing process of this particular batter, and that it made the mixture nice and fluffy as an end result. It's also pretty fun to use, so even if you think it's gimmicky, it's certainly a fun gimmick to use.

In terms of the tests that were carried out, this mixer delivered speed and efficiency in the timed test to establish just how long it takes for the batter to form. It took under two minutes to reach perfect consistency and yielded fluffy results. In terms of how loud it was, it has to be said that the HeatSoft element is kind of a racket, with the hairdryer comparisons coming back to the fore. The sound recording was nearing the 80-decibel mark, which might not the appropriate for a household with sleeping children in the vicinity, for example.

Making cookie dough with the Oster HeatSoft mixer 

One of the main things I liked about the HeatSoft mixer is that it goes all out on attachments. For this particular dough-based task, it was time to turn to the two included hooks, which are designed for bread, cookies and beyond. The main thing I wanted to establish through the cookie dough test was how well it combined chocolate chips, because the last thing you want is your chocolate unevenly distributed within your bake. 

After a short period of mixing, I was impressed by how the chips combined after putting in minimal effort. Whilst it wasn't as hassle free as using one of the best stand mixers, the feel of the mixer makes it quite nice to get into all of the edges of a mixing bowl. 

Cleaning 

If there were to be a downside assigned to the multi-faceted element of this mixer, it's that the clean-up is a little more complex than you might want. Whilst the mixer heads, dough hooks and whisks can be put straight into the dishwasher (or in hot, soapy water), the vent for the HeatSoft element signs you up for a little more vigorous cleaning schedule, and another thing to factor into your kitchen routine. 

The filter, which needs to be cleaned every 3-6 months, can be accessed by pulling back the heater vent cover. It will need to be washed with hot soapy water and dried before it's returned to the unit. You might also need to pay some attention to the removable nozzle part of the mixer at the front if it comes into contact with your mixer. If you don't mind a little extra maintenance, this is unlikely to sway you from your purchase, but if you're of a no-frills mindset, it might influence you to think again. 

How it compares 

When it comes to the mechanism that can magic up soft butter for you, the Oster HeatSoft Mixer is somewhat unrivaled, capturing the attention of any baker who needs to cool this very important ingredient. Beyond that, the next direct comparison is likely going to be a cordless mixer, which has a feature that similarly goes the extra mile.

So, in terms of price and similarly showy features, a similar model for comparison would be the Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Hand Mixer, which has an RRP of $79.95, alongside $69.95 for the Oster mixer. If you are very short of plug sockets, or love the idea of a minimalist no cord mixer, then the Cuisinart will be worth a look-in, but if cordlessness isn't much of a pull to you, then the HeatSoft mixer but just have that added element you're looking for. I would recommend the Oster HeatSoft for anyone who especially struggles with dense bakes, as it might just be the breakthrough you're looking for. 

Should you buy the Oster HeatSoft Hand Mixer?

There's plenty to like about the Oster HeatSoft mixer, from aesthetics of the delicate copper detailing to the practicality of the storage case. The unique thing about this mixer, the wonderous butter function, is genuinely something that you can't find elsewhere. It will appeal to anyone who is serious about getting the texture of their baked goods just right, and is satisfying to use at the same time. 

If you've already mastered taking the butter safely out of the fridge when you want to whip something up, or if you find that you can survive without it, then the Oster HeatSoft still gets points for it's versatility. It performed well in all of our tests, and has a solid range of speeds and the best pick of attachments from all of the hand mixers we tested. Those who are invested in the aesthetics of KitchenAid or Smeg might overlook this one on those grounds, but if you're looking for something innovative, the Oster HeatSoft mixer is a genuinely great buy. 

About this review, and our reviewver

Molly is the Ecommerce Writer across Homes shopping content, spending time reviewing products to see if they can earn a place in buying guides. She has turned her hand to testing stand mixers, hand mixers, and more in order to pick out the features that matter the most to readers.

This hand mixer was tested alongside a range of other hand mixers at the Future testing facility in Reading, as you'll see from the photos within this review. This particular mixer was also available to be kept for long-term testing, so this review will be updated in the future to reflect what it's like to have the appliance in your kitchen long-term.