With the invention of the small electric motor -- sometimes called the fractional horsepower motor -- during the early part of the 1900s, the floodgates were swung open for the invention of myriad new home and kitchen appliances. It was during this time that innovations such as motorized massagers, food blenders and mixers were developed.

A hand mixer is a compact motorized appliance that runs on electricity; its function is to combine ingredients while baking or cooking. Many of the original mixers were quite large and resembled today's floor mixers commonly used in the commercial baking business. As time progressed, the size and price of mixers decreased, and by the mid-50s, nearly every kitchen counter included a mixer.

Still, during that time, mixers were countertop appliances that were heavy and all-inclusive. An attached base held the bowls in place, and the head of the mixer was lowered into the bowl for mixing.

As the 1960s approached, the hand mixer was introduced. By that time, designers had reckoned that home cooks wanted an even lighter mixer, so they developed one that did not require a heavy base. Hand mixers are comprised of the motorized unit, blades, and an electrical cord. They became an instant success because they were handy to use in bowls on the counter or pans on the stove; their compact size allowed them to be easily stored away when not in use.

The basic body of a hand mixer is usually plastic, although the beaters are typically made of metal. A hand mixer can be easily purchased at most discount stores, major retailers, specialty cooking shops, and online. Prices for a hand mixer can range from under $20 to around $100; prices vary based on quality, features and warranty.

In addition to the common hand mixer, some newer versions of hand mixers have come along through the years. Today, makers of hand mixers offer a variety of different styles and shapes of cordless hand mixers. Regardless of which type of hand mixer your prefer, a handy and versatile hand mixer is something that no well-supplied kitchen should ever be without.