When you get pleasure from baking, you will want among the best stand mixers to provide constant and engaging outcomes. However stand mixers are costly, so you will wish to purchase one which has all of the performance you want, provides good worth, and offers some eye sweet if it is to be displayed in your kitchen countertop.
One of the best stand mixers are versatile and might supply rather more than tasty desserts and bakes. They’re going to be highly effective sufficient to stir bread or whisk egg whites with ease. However with so many various kinds of stand mixer obtainable, it may be difficult to decide on one of the best one in your wants. You’ll want to contemplate bowl capability relying on whether or not you combine up small or giant batches and whether or not you want a compact equipment for those who lack countertop or space for storing. And for those who’ve obtained a eager design eye you may want a stand mixer that provides a pop of colour to your kitchen countertop.
As well as, what number of speeds, options, or numerous attachments does it include? Sometimes, stand mixers include a flat beater, wire whip and dough hook, whereas others may have a splash guard or pouring protect. There are additionally particular attachments for making pasta or mincing, however this is dependent upon the mannequin.
Our best choice for one of the best total stand mixer is the KitchenAid Artisan Collection 5-quart Tilt-Head stand mixer. It is also my go to face mixer, and has been a part of my baking arsenal for a very good few years. Nonetheless, in case your want to batch bake or your ambitions are past being a house baker, KitchenAid Professional Line Collection 7-quart bowl-lift stand mixer, would make a good selection.
Uncover a few of the greatest stand mixers to go well with all houses, wants and budgets.
About us
Camilla Sharman
I began baking from a younger age, as quickly as I may see over the kitchen countertop. I have been lucky sufficient to increase my ardour into my work, the place I write about houses and gardens and get to check, assessment and examine kitchen home equipment.
Helen McCue
Helen began reviewing house and kitchen home equipment in 2007 on the Good Housekeeping Institute and has by no means appeared again. She’s now freelance and critiques all kinds of home equipment, from stand mixers to espresso machines from her house in a fairly village within the UK.
The Fast Listing
This is one of the best stand mixers you should purchase proper now based mostly on our complete on-line analysis and testing. Scroll on for our full in-depth critiques.
Finest total
1. KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart tilt-head stand mixer
With 10 speeds, a beneficiant 5-quart chrome steel bowl, this stand mixer offers loads of punch for normal batch baking. Aside from its velocity and effectivity it additionally seems to be good, and is available in a big selection of pleasant colours.
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Finest price range
2. Hamilton Seaside 7-speed stand mixer
The Hamilton Seaside 7-speed stand mixer is an affordable value and is light-weight and straightforward to maneuver. Though it has a smaller capability than different stand mixers, it nonetheless presents an honest 4-quart bowl.
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Finest mid-range
3. Cuisinart Precision Grasp Stand Mixer SM-50
With a 5.5-quart capability, this Cuisinart stand mixer tops our assessment for one of the best mid-range mannequin. Plus, it is easy to function, has 12 speeds and mixes effectively. It additionally options a horny die-cast building.
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Finest for batch baking
4. KitchenAid Artisan 7-Quart Bowl-lift stand mixer
With a beneficiant measurement bowl, with a 7-quart capability, this KitchenAid bridges the hole between the house {and professional} baker. It encompasses a bowl-lift design and comes with 4 attachments. And as our tester revealed, “it must be each baker’s bread and butter”.
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Finest retro
5. Smeg SMF03 retro stand mixer
This 50s-inspired stand mixer has a big 5-quart capability stainless bowl, and comes with 4 mixing attachments. It is intuitive to make use of and has 10 speeds, good for mixing, whipping or beating.
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Finest skilled fashion
6. Wolf Connoisseur Stand Mixer (WGSM100S)
This 7-quart stand mixer presents a superb capability and offers an impressive efficiency, however you do pay for the skilled privilege. Nonetheless, no further attachments can be found.
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Finest price range big-load stand mixer
7. KitchenAid Skilled 5-Plus Collection 5-quart bowl-lift stand mixer
With a big capability and quick access, tilt-head bowl, this KitchenAid Skilled stand mixer presents a superb efficiency for batch cooking. You too can enhance the performance with considered one of 10 attachments.
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Most modern stand mixer
8. Breville the Bakery Chef
There’s a lot of extras with this Breville stand mixer that makes it stand out from the gang. You get two mixing bowls, a light-weight that illuminates when mixing and a useful built-in timer. Plus it comes with loads of equipment.
One of the best stand mixers you should purchase right this moment
Finest total
With its iconic design, obtainable in 46 gorgeous colours — together with Orange Sorbet, Inexperienced Apple and Dried Rose — the KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer is eye sweet in your countertop. Nevertheless it’s additionally an actual workhorse that tops virtually everybody’s listing of greatest stand mixers, attributable to its quick, environment friendly mixing and quiet operation. I significantly discover it glorious at mixing dough, because the motor is as much as the duty and the equipment stays firmly put with out shifting round. It’s one purpose why the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer is my greatest kitchen buy ever, though I ducked on the great colour alternative and opted for the Almond Cream colorway.
It has the bowl capability and oomph to combine up 9 dozen cookies, 4 loaves of bread or 7 kilos of mashed potatoes. It has a Gradual Begin function to keep away from spattering your counter with a flurry of flour or a splash of milk when it first ramps up. Like all KitchenAid stand mixers, it has 10 speeds and a hub for attaching non-compulsory equipment, together with a pasta curler and a spiralizer. It additionally has a helpful pouring guard, which additionally prevents mild elements, akin to flour, protecting your countertop.
Learn our full KitchenAid Artisan assessment
Finest price range
We cannot lie. This stand mixer will not costume up your countertop the best way a KitchenAid will, but it surely will not make as massive a dent in your price range, both. And you will not sacrifice a lot in mixing outcomes. This mixer seems clouds of whipped cream, tender lemon chiffon cake and two tall loaves of complete wheat bread. The Hamilton Seaside might take somewhat longer to combine than a KitchenAid does, however hey, you are not mixing the batter by hand. And relating to ease of use, the Hamilton Seaside bests all of them.
Not solely is the velocity dial straightforward to show, but it surely additionally has massive numbers, no studying glasses crucial. When you’re by no means fairly positive what velocity to make use of, try the information matching duties to speeds proper on prime of the mixer head. Handles on both facet of the bowl make maneuvering the mixer straightforward, and all the components, together with the whisk, might be popped within the dishwasher. Because the mixer is comparatively light-weight and has a deal with on prime, it is handy to reposition or carry to a closet for storage.
Finest mid-range
Whereas the Cuisinart Precision Grasp Stand Mixer is solidly constructed of die-cast metallic, it’s not overly heavy, which makes it very handy to retailer in a closet or cupboard once you’re not utilizing it. It has a big 5.5-quart mixing bowl and the oomph to combine batter for 5 dozen cookies. Nonetheless, it will possibly solely knead dough for about two loaves of bread, so for those who’re a heavy-duty bread baker, this won’t be the mannequin for you. For its capability, nevertheless, it’s a very reasonably priced and good-looking alternative and is an efficient choice for those who don’t wish to pay out for a KitchenAid Basic or KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer.
When testing, I used to be impressed with the compactness of the design and the convenience of utilizing the velocity dial and lever to carry the lean head. Nonetheless, it comes with a splashguard that’s in two components, and it may be tough to take away if it’s good to step in and provides the elements a guide stir. Regardless of this, it gave a powerful efficiency and simply dealt with kneading dough.
The Cuisinart is straightforward to make use of, and all of the components besides the whisk are dishwasher-safe. It’s obtainable in a number of colours, together with ruby pink, white, black, periwinkle blue, Robin’s egg blue, and silver. You should buy a wide range of attachments, from a pasta curler to a spiralizer.
Learn our full Cuisinart Precision Grasp stand mixer assessment.
Finest for batch baking
When you’ve got a lot of mouths to feed and a standard-size stand mixer overflows with elements, this huge capability KitchenAid, with a 7-quart bowl, might be simply what you want. Our tester thought it straddles the road between a home and bigger business equipment and was succesful and durable, as we come to count on with the model. So, for those who get pleasure from making multi-tiered celebration desserts and whipping up mountains of cupcakes for bake gross sales, this stand mixer is for you.
In contrast to the usual KitchenAid mixer, this mannequin has a raised bowl that is secured by two arms, and the bowl is moved up and down by a lever on one facet of the machine. There is a knack to it, however our tester discovered it quickly turned second nature. It additionally has 10 speeds, with the primary beginning at half velocity, for once you require an ultra-slow setting. It additionally comes with 4 attachments for mixing, whisking, and kneading elements. The flex-edge beater is especially helpful, and virtually equivalent to the device that comes with Smeg’s retro stand mixer, and it ensures the combination on the facet of the bowl is absolutely integrated. There may be additionally a pouring protect which inserts on prime of the bowl to stop messes, though our examined reported it was tough to connect.
She additionally thought it did not fairly hit the mark on the seems to be entrance like the usual KitchenAid tilt-head mixers, though she stated it is “removed from boring”, and remains to be obtainable in a variety of colours.
Total, this stand mixer carried out exceptionally nicely and our tester could not fault its efficiency in the course of the testing course of.
Learn our full KitchenAid Artisan 7-Quart Bowl-lift stand mixer assessment.
Finest retro
Smeg’s retro stand mixer doesn’t win factors for fashion alone. It’s an important performer. It presents a 5-quart bowl capability — an honest measurement for batch baking — and comes with 4 attachments, together with a really useful flex-edge beater that’s nice at pulling all elements into the combo. Plus, it presents 10 velocity settings, giving a lot of precision relying on whether or not you wish to flippantly mix elements or shortly whip up some heavy cream. The Smeg stand mixer can also be tremendous intuitive to make use of, though it’s a bit on the heavy facet, which could be a little bit of a problem for those who don’t plan to maintain it out in your countertop.
Clear-up is straightforward, as all the components might be positioned within the dishwasher, other than the silicon strips on the flex-edge beater, the wire whisk and pouring protect. It additionally homes a hub the place you possibly can connect further equipment, to make pasta, grind meals and slice veg. Total it’s an important alternative, but it surely does include a premium price ticket.
Learn our full Smeg retro stand mixer assessment
Finest skilled fashion
When you’ve got a professional-style kitchen and desire a mixer that matches proper in, you’ll love the Wolf Connoisseur Stand Mixer. It has the identical spectacular chrome steel design, full with a pink knob, because the Wolf vary. And as you’d count on, it additionally prices prime greenback. That is one massive heavy countertop equipment designed for individuals who bake usually and in giant portions. In truth, the bowl can deal with sufficient batter for 14 dozen cookies or dough for 8 loaves of sourdough bread.
Whereas on most bowl carry mixers, you flip a crank to decrease and lift the bowl, on the Wolf you rotate the bowl itself to regulate its peak. There are a dozen settings on the velocity dial however you possibly can cease wherever in between for plenty of nice tuning. There’s a pulse setting for chopping butter into flour for pie dough or simply not overbeating a cake batter once you add within the dry elements. If you flip the Wolf on, it begins off slowly so by no means get an enormous splatter. There’s a hub up entrance for non-compulsory attachments however thus far, none can be found. When you’re not a fan of the signature pink knobs, black and chrome steel ones are included with the mixer.
Finest price range giant capability
With this mixer in your kitchen, you possibly can go forward and double up on recipes — it has the ability to deal with the dough for six loaves of bread or 72 cookies. At Thanksgiving, it will possibly mash 7 kilos of spuds, leaving you free to carve the turkey and whisk up the gravy. This mixer is massive and heavy and is unquestionably for bakers who bake rather a lot and infrequently and wish to give a stand mixer pleasure of place on the countertop. And though it doesn’t have the capability of Kitchenaid’s Professional Line Collection 7-quart bowl-lift stand mixer, it nonetheless offers a beneficiant bowl capability for mixing.
In fact, you possibly can enhance the performance of the stand mixer through the use of over 10 non-compulsory hub powered attachments, from the meat grinder to juicer and the spiralizer. As a multi-functional kitchen equipment it will possibly save area in your kitchen and look good in your countertop on the similar time, whereas ridding your cabinets of different small home equipment.
Most modern
Whereas it’s not the most affordable stand mixer at $399, we love the modern, heavy-duty design of Breville’s Bakery Chef. It comes with an assortment of equipment together with a 5 quart glass bowl and a 4 quart chrome steel bowl, so you will have the choice to make smaller portions, which makes mixing totally different portions simpler. It additionally encompasses a lamp which illuminates the bowl so you possibly can higher see how your recipe is coming alongside. Plus, the built-in timer lets you stroll away and depart the mixer to get on with it’s job — a selected plus when kneading bread that takes 10 minutes or so.
There are 12 speeds to select from and with load sensing expertise, the mixer will regulate its energy based mostly on the resistance of the elements – that’s a fairly spectacular function. And though it’s not obtainable in as large a variety of color-popping colours as KitchenAid fashions, it does are available in a alternative of seven finishes — from brushed aluminium, to damson blue, olive tapenade and royal champagne.
How we examined
We use many indicators when reviewing one of the best stand mixers to see whether or not an equipment can ship on efficiency. It may be a problem as a result of, within the course of, we eat our approach by way of numerous bread and cake! Nonetheless, though we put the stand mixers by way of a variety of blending checks, we additionally think about different elements.
We’re at the moment working our approach by way of testing all the stand mixers on this information. Nonetheless, these we’re nonetheless to check have been rigorously chosen by way of shopper analysis and by checking on-line critiques to make sure we’re recommending one of the best stand mixers available on the market right this moment.
Measurement and weight
When testing every stand mixer, we have a look at its measurement and weight, contemplating whether or not it’ll match below a wall-mounted kitchen cabinet and the way straightforward it’s to maneuver round. For example, if you wish to retailer your stand mixer in a cabinet, will lifting and shifting it onto your countertop be tough? The capability of the bowl is one other side — what number of cookies or loaves of bread are you able to make in a single batch?
Design
We additionally think about the general look of the stand mixer, as we understand that appears are essential in case your equipment goes to be a everlasting fixture in your countertop. Plus, we think about the variety of colour choices obtainable, as some stand mixers can be found in each colour below the solar.
Ease of use
We additionally assess how intuitive an equipment is to make use of — can it’s unpacked and used with out studying the directions, or do you want extra perception earlier than the primary go? The positioning of the controls can also be essential, together with how straightforward they’re to make use of. And though not many people like to consider cleansing, that is one other essential ingredient that we assessment. Are there any hard-to-reach components, and which equipment are dishwasher protected?
The equipment in motion
Throughout testing, we charge issues like energy and the way nicely every stand mixer performs at numerous duties and speeds. This consists of whisking, mixing batter, and kneading bread utilizing the totally different attachments. Throughout this course of, we additionally checked out how user-friendly and sensible the equipment was to make use of and monitored the noise stage.
The dough hook
First, we connect the dough hook and mix the elements for a loaf of bread. We examine how nicely the elements come collectively earlier than setting the mixer to knead the dough for 10 minutes. Throughout this time, we measure the noise stage in decibels and monitor how a lot of the stand mixer is shifting on the countertop. As soon as the ten minutes are up, we examine the consistency of the dough to see how clean it seems and whether or not any ingredient remnants are left across the fringe of the bowl.
The flat beater
We then progress to creating a vanilla sponge utilizing the flat beater. Whereas the butter and sugar are creamed collectively, we notice how nicely the elements are integrated, how a lot stays on the sting of the bowl, and whether or not any intervention is required. The remaining elements are added, and we monitor how nicely the cake batter comes collectively inside a couple of minutes. If the stand mixer has a pouring protect, we additionally monitor how straightforward and efficient it’s to make use of. The proof can also be within the pudding, and we think about the feel and style of the ultimate bake.
The whisk
Our closing flourish is utilizing the whisk, which we use to whip heavy cream. We time how lengthy it takes for the combination to carry its form and type a persistently that might be used for piping. We additionally notice which velocity setting was used and whether or not the heavy cream splashed when being combined.
Three issues to contemplate earlier than shopping for a stand mixer
Will it match?
Stand mixers might be cumbersome in measurement, so be certain you will have sufficient room for it in your countertop. To do that, measure out the place you propose to put it, making an allowance for the added peak clearance for those who’re taking a look at a tilt-head mannequin.
How a lot can it combine?
Some producers will point out what number of batches their stand mixer could make directly, akin to what number of cookies or desserts. These are essential stats to concentrate to, extra so than the bowl measurement or wattage, as a result of they signify the effectivity of the motor. When you like to bake bread as an illustration, some stand mixers can solely deal with one loaf at a time, whereas others could make two.
When you’re unsure for those who want a full-size stand mixer, make sure to try our information available mixer vs stand mixer.
Tilt-head or bowl carry?
With a tilt-head design, you tilt the pinnacle again so you possibly can look into the bowl and add elements. This additionally lets you take away the bowl and alter the attachments when crucial. On a bowl carry mannequin, you elevate or decrease the bowl utilizing a crank. Tilt-lift designs are typically shorter and smaller in measurement than bowl carry fashions, however you will want further peak for once you tilt it again. Bowl carry designs wont want the additional peak clearance, however are slower and fewer handy when it comes to checking the bowl and scraping it down.
Tilt-lift fashions are typically cheaper and extra light-weight, however bowl carry mixers supply extra energy and bigger capacities. When you’re unsure which to purchase, think about what you may be making in it. If you’d like a stand mixer for on a regular basis baking, akin to beating cake combine and whipping cream, go for a tilt-head design. When you like to bake bread or want a mixer which might dish out numerous cookies, then a bowl carry mannequin is the best way to go due to its energy and measurement.
Which attachments do I exploit?
Stand mixers now include a number of attachments and equipment for various functions, so many who it may be somewhat intimidating to a brand new baker. Right here’s a breakdown of what the principle instruments achieve this which to make use of:
Flat beater: This attachment ought to include each stand mixer. It’s used for on a regular basis beating and mixing — nice for creaming butter and sugar collectively for desserts in addition to batters and frosting. Some flat beaters additionally include a rubber or silicone edge to allow them to higher scrape the elements from the sides of the bowl.
Wire whip: Used for whisking, this attachment whips air into elements. It’s generally used to make whipped cream or meringue.
Dough hook: Because the title suggests, this attachment helps combine and knead doughs, so it’s what it’s good to use for those who plan to bake recent bread or pizza. Dough hooks can seem in a ‘C’ form or may appear to be a spiral.
Different helpful instruments embrace a splash guard or pouring protect. These sit on prime of the bowl whereas the mixer is operating and stop elements from forking out. Some manufacturers additionally promote glass bowls along with chrome steel. With a glass bowl, you possibly can higher see the elements being combined, however they’re naturally extra fragile.
The way to use and take care of a stand mixer
- Test the beater-to-bowl clearance. The underside of the beater should not contact the underside of the bowl, but it surely should not be too distant from it both. Getting this good means higher mixing and fewer stopping to scrape with a spatula. The guide provides you with directions on methods to make an adjustment.
- Earlier than deciding to double (and even triple) up on a recipe, look in your mixer’s person guide to learn how many kilos of flour your gadget can deal with directly.
- Except your mixer particularly has a soft-start function, all the time begin mixing on low, then ramp as much as a better velocity, to keep away from spattering.
- Do not be tempted to make use of a spatula whereas the mixer’s operating, even when a recipe says to scrape continuously as you beat. When you do not cease the mixer first, the spatula can get caught within the attachment and you will wind up with a beater or whisk that is twisted off form.
- For the loftiest, fluffiest whipped cream, chill the bowl and the whisk earlier than whipping.
- After you are completed mixing, elevate the beater or whisk barely above the floor of the meals and run the mixer beginning on low, then excessive, to spin off any extra combination.
- Test the guide to seek out out which components can go within the dishwasher. When you disregard its recommendation, you might wind up with discolored or broken components.
When to switch your stand mixer
You possibly can count on a stand mixer to land six to 10 years, though most will include a one to five-year guarantee. Nonetheless, for those who personal a KitchenAid stand mixer, you’re in luck, as this model claims its mixers will final for no less than 15 years. Some KitchenAid house owners have reported their stand mixers lasting even longer than this — and mine is actually on the best way to exceeding the anticipated timeframe too! Though, for those who’re a KitchenAid proprietor, you’re extra more likely to change your stand mixer as you fancy a distinct colorway, relatively than it’s stopped working.
Some producers provide the choice to purchase and prolonged guarantee, however this isn’t one thing that we suggest. Over the long run you might pay out greater than you spend on repairs.
What in case your stand mixer gained’t begin?
When you discover your stand mixer gained’t begin, the pinnacle may want a easy adjustment, and this may be accomplished by following the guide’s directions.
What in case your stand mixer makes an odd noise?
This might be an indication that the components want lubricating or a worn gear may should be changed. All of those repairs are pretty straightforward to make and cheap, making them worthwhile. Nonetheless, in case your stand mixer stops altogether, it might be that the motor has failed. As a information, if a restore prices greater than half the value of a brand new stand mixer, we suggest changing it as an alternative.
How a lot do you have to spend on a stand mixer?
Home stand mixers can vary in value from $50 to over $800, so how are you aware how a lot to spend? It should partly rely in your price range but additionally on how you propose to make use of it. When you solely bake the occasional cake and don’t want a robust motor to knead dough, a stand mixer on the price range finish will likely be enough in your wants.
Nonetheless, in case you are a daily baker and wish added performance that makes baking a breeze, akin to a big capability bowl and the choice so as to add attachments, akin to a mincer, pasta maker or spiralizer, then you definately’re higher off investing in a pricier mannequin.