Using A Hand-Mixer In Stainless Steel Pots

+ Hello Dearest Hounds +

I own a Calphalon "tri-ply" stainless steel 6-quart saucepot, and I'm wondering if it's safe for use with an electric hand-mixer (aka "beaters"). The reason I ask is that my mother likes to use an electric hand-mixer when she prepares whipped potatoes and she'll soon be using this saucepot for the job.

At home, my mother uses an old stainless steel pot that has all sorts of visible interior dings, scrapes and scratches, and I'm hoping to avoid that with my shiny, handsome pot! That said, if I give her the go-ahead, and indeed my pot is left with scratch marks from the beaters, is it any more than a cosmetic concern? Or do these scratches hinder the performance of the pot?

I'm also curious if I should avoid using metal utensils in general in my stainless steel cookware set (i.e. metal spatulas).. I have an uncle who goes a bit berserk if he sees someone stirring with a metal spoon in one of his beloved stainless steel pots.. Should I be similarly concerned with my own?

Thanks as always for any and all help -- much appreciated!