Laura Ashley and VQ have teamed up to create stylish kitchen appliances that are sure to become kitchen staples. I've been making my way through all of them and the hand mixer is easily one of my favourites.
Imagine taking the best stand mixer on the market and shrinking it down into a handheld, nifty appliance. Well, that’s what hand mixers can do. Increasingly, hand mixers are tackling these tasks with more and more style. Enter, the Laura Ashley VQ Hand Mixer.
Laura Ashley’s iconic china rose print transforms this technically flawless mixer into a thing of style. It’s the perfect wedding gift, bakers gift, and pick-me-up gift too. Even better, you can pick it up from Amazon directly.
Specifications
Unboxing
It’s rare that brands deliver appliances in compact and attractive packaging, but this is one of those treats. The hand mixer is sent with whisk, dough hooks, and mixing attachments, as well as a smart storage bag for all the different parts. I was impressed at just how much they had managed to cram into such a small box and even more impressed that all the different components were recyclable. In this day and age, I think it should be regulatory. However, it isn’t, so I really appreciate when a brand goes that extra mile to deliver sustainable packaging.
What is it like to use?
I mentioned that this has five different speed settings and three different types of attachments (whisk, mixer, and dough hooks). That’s pretty standard for any hand mixer, so it’s really important to test out the power and quality behind the hand mixer. That’s what the following tests are designed to discern, but it’s worth noting a few general usage points. The wide handle can work for both right and left-handed users. It’s also not a heavy hand mixer — this is actually surprisingly light (but still robust).
Who would it suit?
I’ve already mentioned that the attractive design and luxury extras (such as the storage bag) make this a strong candidate for a gift. The china rose pattern has a gorgeous bucolic feel that I think would particularly suit a cosy cottage. However, it’s still smart and beautiful enough to work well in any and every kitchen. Plus, it’s compact enough to pack into a deep drawer or small cupboard.
With five speed settings and a generous wire at the back, this is perfect for left and right handed users as well as curious bakers. There are hand mixers that come cordless, with more attachments, and more power settings, so if you’re a very picky and serious baker, you might want to consider your options. However, I would be very happy to use this for home baking.
Test 1: cake
Having mixer attachments is, in my opinion, the most important part of a hand mixer. Creaming butter and sugar, mixing cake batter, making sweet cookie doughs and pastries all rely on having robust and powerful mixers. I ran the Laura Ashley VQ mixers through a series of different tests, all based on the simple creaming combination. To begin, the first speed settings feels like a little jolt. There’s not enough to send sugar over your counter, but there’s still enough that you’ll need a good, stable grip. Within a couple of minutes, I made a good mix. My first test was buttercream icing, which blended into a smooth, thick fudge. It was described to me as ‘Betty Crocker quality’ which is, in spite of my baker’s snobbery, a huge compliment.
I’ve also made cookie dough with the same fixtures and they brought all the components together without much male in my wrists or arms. Even with the chocolate chunks, these mixers carried on working deftly, creating a beautiful dough. It’s an impressive result, but make sure that you stick with the lower power settings. There’s almost too much power as you set it up harder.
Test 2: bread
Anyone who kneads dough by hand will know that it’s a proper arm workout, so having a nimble appliance that can do it for you will prove popular. I slotted the dough hooks into the (still beautiful) hand mixer. It did a great job of bringing together my dough. The recipe I selected was quite thick, so I needed to work up the scale of power settings. Keep it low initially to keep the flour in the bowl, but you might end up on quite a high setting just to keep the hooks moving. They’re more than capable, but will need guidance.
Test 3: whipped cream
I am a terrible hand whisker, so anything that automates whipping cream scores top points in my book. I tested this out with both double cream and vegan cream to see how well it could whip. As with the other two tests, it’s important to start slow. Then, once you’ve got a feel for the splashes, you can crank this up to full power. Within two minutes, I could see both creams thickening up. After three minutes of painless whisking I had some gorgeously stiff white peaks. The whisk didn’t get too heavy in my hand, nor did the vibrations make it uncomfortable to hold. Overall, it was a lovely user-experience.
Cleaning
All of the accessories can go in the dishwasher once you’re finished with them, which makes the whole clean up very easy. I would make sure to keep them with your cutlery, as they are very fine and delicate — they could easily get lost or battered around if they were set loose by strong jets of water. I washed mine by hand, which is the longer route, but it gives your parts a better chance at lasting longer. You can also use the warm soapy water and a damp cloth to wipe down the body of the hand mixer. Mine didn’t get particularly dirty, but getting some splashes and smears on your baking accessories comes with the whole baking package.
Should you buy it?
If you want a beautiful hand mixer or you’re looking for an extra special gift for your baking friend, this is perfect. I’d be tempted to buy the whole collection for my kitchen, if I had the budget.
