When it comes to baking any item, standard beaters or mixers take a considerable amount of time to mix, whip egg whites to a stiff dough, make whipped cream, and generally mixing recipe ingredients together . I remember watching my Mother creaming butter and sugar by hand back in the day and wondering how on earth she had the strength. I thought she was superwoman! In today’s modern kitchen, a reliable stand mixer is a must, especially if you are an avid baker.
So if you are just starting out on your baking journey or perhaps looking for an upgrade to your current mixer. This review will give you a flavour of the best stand mixer on the market. As you will see, stand mixers can vary in power, functionality and style and we are here to ensure you find the best stand mixer to suit your needs.
Thing to Consider Before Buying a Stand Mixer
Stand mixers are expensive buys. To make sure your investment doesn’t turn into frustration, be sure to check for the following features and aspects to get the right unit for your kitchen.
- Capacity
Although we have mentioned the stated bowl capacity from the manufacturer in the review section, the actual holding capacity is slightly less than that. You cannot fill a 5-quart bowl with 5-quart ingredients all the way up to its full. The actual capacity is 1 or 1.5 quart less than the stated amount.
Therefore, consider the recipes that you will be preparing and then aim for a suitable size. If your recipe generally require 5 quarts of mixture, be sure to get a unit with a 6-quart bowl. One handy tip to remember is if you are making a lot of bread and cookies, don’t buy a mixer less than 6-quart in size. Go for the biggest Stand Mixer to bake more efficiently.
A 5-quart mixer is more suitable for for small non commercial baking needs.
- Speed Settings
A versatile stand mixers is enhanced more due to the variety of speed settings available to to handle different tasks. You can slow stir the mix or set it to its highest setting for whipped cream and other similar tasks that require fast mixing.
- Motor Power
The ability to deal with a thicker and heavier mix has a lot to do with the motor power. For most needs, you will find a 325 watts motor to deliver sufficient power to finish mixing tasks efficiently. However, if your baking needs require the more powerful Stand Mixer, be sure to get a unit with a 600-700 watts motor.
- Compatibility
One of the reasons why people get stand mixers is to use the additional attachments to enable the mixer to become a culinary center. Allowing you to make fresh pasta, noodles, pizza dough, sausage, bagels, ice cream, and many more items.
Note that not all the models are compatible with all attachments. If your baking requires one or a few particular attachments, make sure you purchase the right model, which is compatible with your desired attachment.
- Ease of Use
Even if you get a large Stand Mixer, you will be able to operate the tool with ease. However, there are a few things that significantly enhance the user experience as well as convenience.
A unit with a tilt-head design allows you to add ingredients easily, also eases attaching other accessories.
A pouring shield further eases pouring ingredients in the bowl. You can add ingredients from the side without turning off the power switch.
Top 10 Stand Mixer Reviews
We have included a nice selection of mixers from budget to high-end. We believe a good Stand Mixer will stand the test of time and is an investment in your baking prowess.
1. Aucma Stand Mixer,6.5-QT 660W 6-Speed Tilt-Head Food Mixer, Kitchen Electric Mixer with Dough Hook
For those who are looking for a good quality stand mixer which will not break the bank, you certainly cannot go wrong with this Aucma 6.5 Quart 6 speed stand mixer. To regularly bake a cake or make large batches of dough, this mixer would be more than enough. Powered by a 660 watts motor, it has all the necessary power to handle your day-to-day home baking tasks.
The bowl size is 6.5-quart, which is considerably large for mixing dough for cookies, loaves of bread, and mashed potatoes in high quantities in a single batch. Its stand out feature is the tilting head, which make adding ingredients to the bowl an absolute breeze. The Aucma maintains its stability with anti-slip suction feet. Manufactured to a high standard with a stainless steel bowl which make it easy to clean with the added bonus of looking good.
Ok so how does it actually perform as a mixer:
Dough Hook: a very convenient add, making dough will never be the same again with this handy tool, spinning up a dough ball in no time. there is a little bit of manual intervention required.
– the paddle is another great addition but does need some intervention to ensure all ingredeints gets added.was nice, but I have to tell the truth & give a thorough review, the mixer paddle never really whips the bottom at all. You have to stop and make sure that the bottom ingredients are being incorporated. But this is still way more convenient than mixing all ingredients by hand.
Whisk Attachment consistently whipped up ingredients using various speeds, but again you will need some manual stoppages to check for consistency. Overall verdict: Perfect for beginners, excellent if your new to baking and need a stable reliable mixer to increase your experience.
- Variable speed settings
- Powerful motor
- Large mixing bowl
- Useful Attachments
- Budget Friendly
- Not dishwasher safe
- Manual intevention required to mix all ingredients
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2.KitchenAid KSM180QHSD 100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Stand Mixer, Passion Red
When it comes to the cream of the crop KitchenAid is just that. It is the top of the range when it comes to stand mixers. To be honest this review will feature KitchenAid mixers regularly among the Top Ten list, simply because the brand is so good. You may pay extra for the privilege but as we have noted earlier, a good stand mixer is an investment worth spending that little bit extra.
We had to feature this gorgeous limited edition Queen of Hearts stand mixer from KitchenAid. It has an oldie worldly and feel but is no way limited in its functionality. This is a mixer you can set and forget and return to perfectly mixed ingredients. With 10 speeds and attachments including coated dough hook, coated flat beater, 6-wire whip and one piece pouring shield. You can also purchase over 14 different attachment to make pasta, burgers, ice cream and much more, effortlessly.
With a substantial 5 quart capacity that’s perfect for creating everyday meals for the family. It also features a tilt-head design allowing easier access to the bowl to add ingredients. What is amazing about this mixer is the 59 planetary mixing actions with 59 touch points around the bowl to ensure that all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. So no need for manual intervention, stopping and starting etc.
Overall Verdict: This is a quality, premium mixer. Manufactured to a high quality with stainless steel and zinc. You will not be left wanting, all there is left to say is buy one!
- Quality build and materials
- Stainless Steel and Zinc
- Compatible with lots of attachments
- Planetary mixing action
- Tiltable head
- Includes accessories, additional accessories can be purchased
- Not lightweight
- Expensive compare to other models
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3. KitchenAid 5-Qt. Artisan Design Series with Glass Bowl
Unlike conventional stand mixers, this one from KitchenAid features a glass bowl that will allow you to closely observe your mixture. An excellent choice the home baker, looking for a quality mixer, yet not too expensive. The Artisan Design KitchenAid is certainly a good choice. Equipped with a 325 watt motor, which is more than powerful enough for home baking and mixing, this would be the best KitchenAid mixer for home use.
Whether you want to use the unit for stirring or making whipped cream using ice-cream or butter, you will find the right speed setting among its 10 convenient adjustable speeds.
You can tilt the head for adding ingredients and attaching other accessories with ease. The mixer comes with a metal flat beater, wire whip, and metal dough hook.
The unit mostly has a metal construction which makes this mixer durable.
This KitchenAid mixes, kneads and whips ingredients together brilliantly and with ease. For even more versatility, the power hub fits optional attachments from food grinders to pasta makers and more.
- Durable metal construction
- Powerful motor
- See through glass bowl
- Efficient beating
- Compatible with 12 attachments
- Attachments aren’t dishwasher safe
- Head wobbles a bit
- Glass bowl needs to be used with care
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4. KitchenAid 6 Quart Professional 600 Series Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
For professional and commercial use, a stand mixer should have the necessary power to handle a huge load of mixing tasks as well as a considerably larger bowl. If these are the areas that you need to focus on, the KitchenAid’s 600 series is a worthwhile consideration.
To handle huge professional baking or mixing loads, the unit is powered by a 575 watts motor. You won’t feel the mixer is under-powered no matter how hard you push it. It feels like a great workhorse to rely on to deal with thicker, heavier, denser quantity mixtures.
Its 6-quart stainless steel bowl is large enough to hold higher capacity dough for large batch production. Also, the bowl is dishwasher safe. This is the largest KitchenAid mixer size in this review article.
If you ever face the necessity of turning the mixer into a culinary center, there are 12 optional attachments that will make it a more versatile tool in your kitchen area.
Inside the package, you will get a burnished flat beater, power-knead spiral dough hook, and wire whip to get the most out of the mixer right out of the box.
This is a study mixer, large enough to cope with all your baking requirements, especially useful around special occasions and holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. This KitchenAid takes the strain for you. So if your already an experience baker looking to upgrade your to a larger, more powerful and quality mixer. Look no further than the KitchenAid 600 series. Verdict: This Mixer is perfect for the professional or experience baker that requires size, reliability and efficiency. Perfect buy.
- Powerful motor for professional use
- Large bowl capacity
- Fairly lightweight
- Well-constructed
- 10 speed settings for versatility
- Comes with quite a few mixing accessories
- Bowl can be difficult to place
- Loud motor
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5. KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS, Onyx Black
This classic model has all the excellent features we come to expect from a KitchenAid stand mixer including 10 speeds, 59 point planetary mixing action and stainless steel bowl and tiltable head.
Its perfect for your standard home baking but still manufactured with the excellent premium quality. The Classic KitchenAid will surely stand the test of time. This model is a popular choice made from quality materials and all the necessary attachments for standard baking. However, additional attachments can be purchased separately, as with other KitchenAid models which allow you to make pasta, burgers, ice cream and much more.
The Classic Series is sturdy and well built. Verdict: Look no further for standard baking without the fuss.
- Motor efficient performance
- 10 speed settings for versatile recipes
- Compatible with 14 attachments
- Ease of operation
- Comes with quite a few useful accessories
- Maybe too heavy for some users
6. KitchenAid Artisan Mini Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
Compared to other stand mixers on the list, this product is a bit smaller and has a compact form factor. The bowl on this unit is a 3.5 quart one. It will be able to manage to hold mixtures for up to 5 dozen cookies and an entire loaf of bread easily. For small to medium household needs, you won’t need a larger bowl than this.
Powered by a 250 watts motor, it has a sufficient enough power to handle small workloads well. This is a great option for those on a tight budget, whilst at the same time providing the same features as a the more expensive models.
Although it’s a compact and slightly under-powered unit, it still offers 10 adjustable speeds to handle all mixing tasks, be it stirring or whipping.
Like the most other stand mixers on the list, you can also turn this into a culinary center with up to 10 attachments. Be it making spiraled zucchini, pasta, or other similar items. Verdict: This compact model is ideal for those that love baking but do not have lots of space or perhaps your a beginner looking for a introduction model to gain more experience.
- Compact size
- Smaller bowl size for small quantity
- Effective wire whip
- Comes with a few accessories
- 10 speed settings
- Weak motor for heavy-duty mixing
- Materials seem a bit flimsy compared to other stand mixers
7.Kitchen in the box Stand Mixer,3.2Qt Small Electric Food Mixer,6 Speeds
Kitchen in a Box have a reputation for bringing us cost effective alternatives in the food preparation market. Focusing on small appliances for the smaller kitchen or family. This brands Stand Mixer have earned themselves a place in our top ten for good reason. This 3.2 Quart Stand Mixer is compact and easy to use for everyday tasks such as pancakes buttermilk , or smaller mixes of your favourite breads and cakes. Although it is budget friendly, Kitchen in a Box have not skimped on functionality, quality or power. It comes with a 300 watt motor to boot.
This mixer has 6 different speed options, which are suitable for mixing bread dough, thick batters, meringues, and whipping cream, whilst the lower speeds for stirring and finessing your more delicate mixtures.
Attachments include aluminium dough hook and flat beater and stainless steel whisk. Additionally a gasket at the top joint prevents food residue from splashing and makes cleaning more convenient.
Some of the Mini Mixers best features include a 3.2Qt removable stainless steel bowl, Planetary rotations for complete mixing. Transparent anti-splash lid and Tilt-up head allows easy removing of bowl
Verdict: Don’t let the size fool you! this mixer makes perfect sense for a small family (2-3) and those with a small kitchen. It features all the best functionality for a low price, you wont regret it
- Compact
- 6 speed settings
- planetary motion ensures consistency
- powerful motor
- various color options
- Speed setting can be overpowering
- not suitable for heavy duty baking
- not a quality build
8. Cuisinart Stand Mixer, Precision Master 5.5 Quart Mixing Bowl SM-50BC
Cuisinart are a well known brand in the quality kitchen accessory market. The SM-50BC is a beauty of a stand mixer in more ways than one!
First of all, its a stunning looking piece of kit, which will no doubt compliment any kitchen. The premium build and robust stance will definitely provide many years of blissful mixing and preparing due to it fabulous features. Made from die-cast metal and with Stainless Steel blades, 12 speeds and Capacity of 5.5 Quarts, this is a mixer for a professional baker and enthusiast. Its powerful (500 watt motor) yet quiet and sturdy, no moving or jumping dangerously across your worktops.
Accessories wise it come with tilt-back head for easy access, splash guard to prevents mess, chef’s whisk, dough hook, and flat mixing paddle, you can purchase additional accessories for making pasta, a meat grinder and spiraliser. All accessories are dishwasher safe, and the stand mixer is available in ruby red, white linen, onyx, periwinkle blue, robin’s egg, and silver lining.
Verdict: Cuisinart Stand Mixer are by far KitchenAid’s biggest competitor. For value for money, functionality and style we say go for the Cuisinart Precision Master SM-50BC.
- Sleek with a large capacity
- 12 speed settings
- easy to clean
- powerful motor
- various color options
- quiet
- Really needs planetary motion for consistency
9. CUSIMAX Dough Mixer
The Cusimax brand states it is dedicated to providing customers with more convenience whilst cooking in the kitchen. The Cusimax dough maker certainly does that. The stand mixer market is a competitive one and Cusimax are certainly competing. This Stand mixer will be an attractive addition to any kitchen.
Cusimax 5 quart Electric Stand Mixer, designed for hands-free mixing, featuring a powerful motor, non-slip suction feet and heat dissipation design for safe use. Speed up and down through min to max for whisking cream, mixing potatoes or knead dough for bread and mixtures for cakes etc in precise speed. Some its best features also include the large 5 quart stainless steel bowl making it dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. 3 multi-function attachments can be used for a range of beating, kneading. As well as splatter shield guard and heat dissipation. We love how Cusimart focus on high quality and reliability with there Stand Mixers.
This is definately a cost efficient mixer, more than capable of competing with the better know brands in the market and this is simply due to the great features, robust build and sleek and quality design. We loved the compact unit and its stabilizing suction feet. Just beware you will need to monitor your mixing and whisking to ensure consistent mixing. This is where the difference in functionality and quality of premium brands really shine through. Having said that the Cusimax is a great machine for the avid baking enthusiast.
Verdict: This is a lovely stand mixer with great functionality and reliability. Will it last forever, no, but it does what it says on the tin. It’s not cheap but is a great alternative to the more expensive brand.
- Sleek and compact
- easy to increase/decrease speed
- easy to clean
- powerful motor
- various color options
- Really needs planetary motion for consistency
- Customer Service is poor
10. Facelle 660W 6 Speed, 3-in-1 Stand Mixer
This Facelle 3-in-1 Stand Mixer was a lovely surprise for us, in terms of its features. Facelle is a lesser well known brand that definitely makes up for it in functionality and style. Some its top features include tilt head, with over-heating and overload protection, 660 watt pure copper motor electric mixer, ABS and stainless steel housing. Plus rotary 6 speeds and pulse function dough mixer. and 6.5 quart mixing bowl, which is a nice addition for those looking to mix larger quantities.
In terms of quality the Facelle is not a premium build mixer, which is reflected in the price. However it works very well and additional features certainly do give it an edge over similar brands. This is not a mixer for you if you bake regularly or are a professional in any shape or form. It is great for the every day baker or beginners looking to practice skills, this is a perfect mixer for you. Verdict: Its budget friendly and has some very nice features, wont last forever and is suited to beginners or those on a tight budget. Still works very very well.
- Tilt head and security lock
- Add ingredients while in motion
- Pulse function
- Leakage protection
- Overheating protection
- Needs planetary motion for consistency
- Attachments are not good quality
Types of Stand Mixers
Stand mixers are of differing types and styles. The KitchenAid brand alone have quite a few types of mixers in their product line-up. Each one of these are designed for specific mixing purposes. Before you finalize the purchase, be familiar with all of the types so that you can invest in the right one.
According to Power and Size
KitchenAid mixers can be categorized into three types based on power and capacity.
i. Classic Stand Mixers
A relatively less powerful motor powers these tools to handle small mixing needs well. If you will mostly make whipped cream, different types of cake, this is the type you need to get. For heavier dough and batter, classic mixers aren’t the right option to go with.
ii. Artisan Stand Mixers
Compared to classic mixers, Artisan models are more powerful. Thus, you can manage to knead heavy dough and beat stiff batter without a struggle. With the capacity of holding up to 9-dozen cookies, you will find any Artisan model to be an ideal and reliable tool.
You also have the option to choose from steel and glass made bowls.
iii. Professional Stand Mixers
This product line is pretty much self-explanatory. If you need to deal with dense dough and batter in large quantities at a time, get a model from the professional line-up to ensure efficiency.
Instead of the tilt-head design, these models come with a bowl-lift design. The bowl is taller, wider, and overall bigger in size for large batches of production. Also, these are heavier as well.
However, if you attempt to make small quantities of cookies, the bowl will struggle to incorporate small mixes.
According to Design
All brands of stand mixers have varying designs and styles. Our Best Stand Mixer Reviews looks at what we believe are the top 10 in the market today for varying reasons and you need to consider your own personal needs before purchasing. Considering design and shape, these machines are of two types.
i. Tilt-Head Stand Mixers
In these models, you can lift the mixing mechanism from the bowl to be able to add ingredients and attach necessary attachments conveniently. Although these bowls can hold small to medium quantities of dough and batter, when it comes to convenience of using, the design easily beats its counterpart.
ii. Bowl-Lift Stand Mixers
As the name goes, the bowl is lifted by a lever all the way up to the mixing tool. This design is friendly for larger bowls. The overall capacity and power are much higher than the tilt-head models.
If you bake a lot of cookies and cakes at a time, then one of these models will be an efficient investment for your needs.
Read our: Best Rice Cooker Reviews
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)
Which Stand Mixer is right for you?
Once you have determined to shop for a stand mixer. There is a variety of stand mixers available out there.
If you bake every now and then and feature a small circle of relatives, then the Tilt-Head KitchenAid mixer is a great choice for you. You can mix from 3.4 as much as 5 quarts. It has a tilt head and the bowl is mounted with a base.
For a big family, a Bowl-lift KitchenAid mixer is a great feature. With capability between 5.5 to 8 quarts. The head of the mixer is mounted but the bowel is removable.
If you are short-hand for area you then must go for the Artisan Mini. Low weight and a shorter body will make it easier to make use of. Though it’s small in measurement it has a similar robustness with a strong motor.
While buying a Stand mixer, many people ask “How long will the mixer last?” Most Stand Mixers come with a standard warranty of 1-2 years, depending on the manufacturer. My personal experience is a KitchenAid mixers last between 10-30 years, depending on use and care.
3. What do I do if my Stands Mixer breaks?
Always refer to the manufacturer warranty and seek advice before attempting to resolve any issues yourself.
Final Words
It’s hard to specify a single unit as the best Stand Mixer, as mentioned this will depend heavily on your own personal needs, requirements and purpose. For larger quantities, be sure to spend your money on a mixer that has a motor of 600-700 watts, a 6-7 quart bowl, and is compatible with lots of attachments and accessories.
For small baking needs a lower cost unit is favorable . A low-powered motor with a 3-4 quart capacity bowl should suffice.
Following purchase, aim to become familiar with the appliance. Some machines can be quiet complex with varying functions and features to get used to. You will need to understand the do’s and don’ts, which will increase the longevity of the product.
Happy Baking!
