No Matter Your Needs or Budget, These Are the Best Stand Mixers on the Market
Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to find some new at-home hobbies. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been watching a ton of baking and cooking shows during 2020’s era of stay-at-home guidelines — and after weekend-long marathons of The Great British Baking Show and Nailed It!, it’s only natural to want to scratch that baking itch yourself. I mean, we all remember the banana bread phase of quarantine, right?
Well, whether you’re a longtime baker looking to spruce up your gadgets ahead of the holidays or a first-timer looking to whip up some pies, cookies, cobblers and cakes, a quality stand mixer is a must-have item in any baker’s arsenal. For the uninitiated, it’s important to note that these mixers are viewed as investments. While you can find a quality handheld mixer at a budget price, if you’re looking for a stand model with a particular aesthetic or size — or a model with all the bells and whistles — then you want to invest in one you can rely on for years to come. We’ve rounded up the best of the best, and all you have to do is nab one before it’s time to bake this year’s batch of Christmas cookies.
Best Budget Mixer
With nearly 4,000 five-star reviews, the Dash Stand Mixer is a real crowd-pleaser. This versatile machine is perfect for making frosting, creamy dressing, doughs and much, much more. And the best part about the Dash? It can do everything a pricier model is capable of doing — but for a fraction of the cost.
The rather compact appliance fits in most kitchen cabinets, making it perfect for folks living in apartments or baking in small kitchens with limited countertop space and storage. But despite its smaller stature, the Dash packs a real punch, beating, kneading and mixing your ingredients at six different speeds. The fully tilting motor head makes removing the mixing bowl and removing the beaters a piece of cake, meaning this budget-friendly Dash won’t make a mess of your counters — or your wallet.
Best High-End Mixer
Who doesn’t love a few bells and whistles, especially when it comes to kitchen gadgets? There are some pretty cool reasons top-notch stand mixers cost a pretty penny, which is all the more reason you shouldn’t just jump into this kind of big investment. Our recommendation? The tried and true KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, which customers applaud for its ability to knead bread dough, shred chicken and beat perfect mixtures every time.
Available in more than 20 colors, this appliance is sure to not only fit right in with your kitchen’s decor but also become a real countertop statement piece. With more than 10 attachments, 10 unique speeds, a five-quart stainless steel bowl and a tilt-head design that makes adding ingredients and cleaning the appliance easy, this KitchenAid stand mixer is unrivaled in the kitchen. After all, with a trustworthy brand name like KitchenAid, you know it’s bound to last a lifetime.
Best Mixer for Large Batches
If you’re looking for a solution to large-scale cooking projects, but you aren’t quite ready to invest in a KitchenAid or Cuisinart mixer, the Aucma Stand Mixer offers the perfect solution. Amazon rates it as the best stand mixer for large batches — and customers agree, with more than 3,000 reviewers awarding the appliance five stars. So, what makes the Aucma mixer stand out?
The appliance is equipped with a powerful motor and variable speed control, allowing you to choose from six speeds. Just like higher-end stand mixers, the Aucma also features a tilt-head design and multiples mixing attachments. Sure, these features are great to have, but when it comes to large-batch projects, it’s all about the mixing bowl. Well, this product’s large capacity, 6.5 quart stainless steel bowl is perfect for the most ambitious bakers with a ton of time on their hands.
Best Compact Mixer
Although it functions much like a KitchenAid, the Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer is half the price — and more compact. When it comes to finding a stand mixer that takes up less space, it can be difficult to balance size and quality. A lot of ultra-compact mixers simply aren’t quite built to last. Sure, you can likely find an even smaller stand mixer on the market, but this Hamilton Beach model gives you the best of all worlds.
You can mix thick batters and bread doughs effortlessly, thanks to the appliance’s 300-watt motor, seven variable speeds and top-notch planetary mixing design, which helps the beaters get at every inch of the four-quart bowl. By far, one of the mixer’s best features is its splash guard, which prevents wayward batter from getting on you or your countertops. As far as compact size goes, this Hamilton Beach model weighs about half of what a standard KitchenAid model weighs, and it comes with a convenient handle, making toting and stashing all the more simple.
Best Mixer with a Retro Design
Maybe it’s our collective obsession with things like Mad Men, Palm Springs and ’50s diners — or maybe it’s simply that the mid-century modern aesthetic has come back in style after a few decades. Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that Smeg, a brand perhaps best known for its retro fridges, makes some lovely, eye-catching products. With its distinctive design and appealing pastel colors, the Smeg Retro Style Stand Mixer is no exception.
But the Smeg promises to do more than just look pretty on your kitchen countertop. In addition to its five-quart stainless-steel bowl, the mixer comes with several extras, including a pouring shield, dough hook, wire whisk and flat beater. It has 10 speeds to choose from and anti-slip feet for added stability. Best of all, you can complete that 1950s look by decking out your whole kitchen in Smeg products. It’s not just one investment; it’s a whole new aesthetic. For cookie and cake bakers, we recommend adding this charming Smeg Retro Style Drip Coffee Machine to your arsenal while you’re at it.
Best Overall Stand Mixer
There’s a reason Cuisinart is so synonymous with kitchen appliances. The brand is known for making high-quality products that last a lifetime. But first-time bakers and chefs shouldn’t be intimidated, because despite its top-notch features, the Cuisinart Stand Mixer is also incredibly user-friendly, making it a great product for beginners and seasoned bakers alike.
Engineered with enough power to mix, knead and whip virtually anything, this heavy-duty, 12-speed mixer allows for both precision and top-quality results. As a bonus, the Cuisinart model comes with a few handy tools — like a chef’s whisk, a mixing paddle and a dough hook — and a 5.5-quart stainless-steel bowl that accommodates large-batch projects. In addition to its versatility, power, precision and ease of use, the Cuisinart mixer earns high praise for its affordability, especially when compared to similar high-end competitors.
