Stand mixers come in a range of sizes. From small and compact models for those short on space, to bigger, professional-looking bits of kits ideal for large families or those who like to bake in bulk. Not forgetting the medium-sized models that bridge the gap and are best for people who bake regularly. Given the range of sizes on offer, there’s no doubt you’ll be able to find a stand mixer to suit your needs.
We put a range of stand mixers to the test, from models from big name brands such as KitchenAid and Kenwood, to household names including Bosch, Cuisinart and Russell Hobbs. We looked at the build quality, efficiency and accessories, and put each model to the test using thoroughly-tested BBC Good Food recipes.
The touchscreen display shows your chosen metric for weighing. It also offers presets for controlling the warming functions, which prove dough and whisk egg whites among other things. Once set, you can walk away and periodically snoop on your dough through the transparent bowl cover whilst it gradually doubles in size – the Chelsea buns produced were wonderfully soft. It’s features like this that afford you the best possible chance of achieving the same dough prove and rise every time.
In addition to the sophistication, you get all the basics you’d expect from a functional stand mixer like a beater, whisk and dough hook, except this model offers the capacity to make more, better and with great scope for personalisation. It’s an investment buy backed by a 10-year guarantee.
Finding a stand mixer/food processor hybrid is hard to do. But the Bosch CreationLine machine also throws integrated scales into the mix and the result is a versatile multitasker that’s a pleasure to use as well as practical. Design-wise, the gadget sits landscape on the counter-top so has a relatively unobtrusive footprint for a stand mixer. The two-in-one nature means it’s also a space-saver when it comes to cupboard space.
More like this
A 1000W motor provides the oomph. All attachments arrive inside a two-pocket pouch, which is game-changing for storage. The patisserie set is tucked in one side (featuring a stirring whisk with silicone edge; height-adjustable beating whisk; and kneading hook with gear protector) and four food processor discs for slicing, grating and shredding in the other. All are dishwasher-safe. Combined with automatic retractile cord storage, this stand mixer is an expensive but versatile multitasker with modern frills that’s fun to use.
Kenwood are one of the key brands in the world of stand mixers. Decades of innovation have made them the go-to brand for keen bakers and professional chefs alike. This model includes a powerful motor and high-quality attachments, built to last. While it’s less technologically advanced than the Kenwood Chef Patissier XL above, it does include some of the features we loved. It comes with two bowls (seven- and five-litres) and in-built scales.
We couldn’t fault this model’s performance; each bake, from our lemon and orange cake to Chelsea buns and meringue, was perfect.
This model is sophisticated but remains humble and unfussy in design, with intuitive controls. A must have if you like to bake in bulk.
This is KitchenAid’s most iconic stand mixer. It’s a medium sized model owing to the 4.8 litre bowl, and is available in a wide range of colours including KitchenAid’s annual Colour of the Year.
Like all KitchenAid mixers, this model is equipped with 10 speed settings on a sliding scale. This model comes with a beater, dough hook and balloon whisk – check out the full review to see what comes with the 175 and 185 models.
This model did a fantastic job on all of our beating, kneading and whisking tests and produced consistently high quality results. Our only gripe was that some of the cake mix was left unmixed at the bottom of the bowl, though this was nothing a flexible spatula couldn’t fix.
If appearance is just as important as performance, this model is a great choice.
Storage caddy allows you to store attachments inside the bowl
Easy accessible height and lid design
Non-slip suckers for securing to the counter top
Cons:
‘New product’ smell
Missing the iconic stand mixer design
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 650W
If space is at a premium in your kitchen, this innovative stand mixer by Morphy Richards is a compact alternative. It offers all the traditional functions from within a small footprint about the size and width of a large mixing bowl.
Dishwasher-friendly attachments for whisking, kneading and beating are stored within a caddy that slots comfortably into the bowl. It arrives fully assembled so you immediately know where and how everything slots together. Then it’s simply a case of loading your chosen attachment, donning its lid and peering over to watch it work. This is a great one to use with kids.
Tricky to remove splash guard when beater is in place
Shiny casing shows up finger marks
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 1000W
Kenwood’s kMix is available in a range of colours and metallic finishes, but we think it really suits this special edition chrome casing. Thankfully, it’s easy to wipe clean as with this sort of bling, fingermarks and splashes really show up.
All the attachments are hardwearing steel, so no danger they’ll chip in the future. They’re also fine to go straight in the dishwasher, which is a bonus when you’re baking – no one wants a sink full of doughy water.
At 1000W, the motor on this stand mixer packs enough punch to ensure that even tough doughs like wholemeal bread are no problem. Airy meringue is easy to make – turn the dial control straight from min to max and the machine accelerates gradually to avoid splashing.
This KitchenAid Artisan bowl-lift model has only been around since 2012, but it looks like a classic already. It screams ‘serious baker’.
If you’re working in an open plan space or like to hear the radio over the sound of your kitchen appliances, this is going to please you. The motor works surprisingly quietly, no matter how tough the mix.
The handled, stainless steel bowl has a whopping 6.9-litre capacity, which is big enough to whisk almost 2 litres of cream to airy perfection in minutes.
Set aside a rainy afternoon for a bulk baking session and this will be your trusty sidekick, powering its way through pastry, bread and batters. We also loved how it blended perfect mash for a freezer stock-up, tackling a bag’s worth of steamed spuds with ease.
As usual with KitchenAid, this model comes in a range of classic colours and looks good in every one. But whichever you choose, you’ll soon come to wonder how you ever cooked without it.
Bounces around a little when mixing at high speeds
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 1000W
Cost to run for five minutes on high: 34p
This Breville stand mixer is one of the most unique models on the list. On the surface, it looks like any other stand mixer, but hidden on the underside of the tilt-head is a heater. This heater can be used to soften or melt butter or chocolate, for those last-minute bakes.
But even without the use of the HeatSoft function, we found this stand mixer impressive. It sports a good selection of sturdy attachments, smooth acceleration and a generously sized 5.2L mixing bowl.
Each of our test recipes came out as we hoped: soft buns, moist cake and stiff-peaked meringue.
Notably though, the Breville rocked around a little when kneading dough and when mixing at higher speeds. We also had to go in and scrape down the bowl when mixing cake batter, despite using the flex-edge beater.
We used the HeatSoft function for our lemon drizzle cake, which worked quickly but gently to turn our fridge-cold butter soft in just a matter of seconds.
Available from:
Cuisinart Precision stand mixer
Best large-capacity stand mixer for affordability
Pros:
5.2L stainless steel bowl with practical handle
Transparent splash guard
3-year guarantee
Cons:
No integrated scales
Chef’s whisk is not dishwasher-safe
Star rating: 4/5
Wattage: 500W
The die-case metal body with high-gloss finish gives this relatively affordable and large-capacity stand mixer the robust, quality feel of those twice its price. Features like its 5.2-litre stainless steel mixing bowl with practical handle contribute to the sense that what you get is great value for money. It performs the basics well. The flat paddle mixer, dough hook and large whisk have good size and heft, sitting low in the bowl so as to pick up all ingredients. Its motor is 500W, which was less powerful than most tested but kneaded away without looking or sounding strained. Covered by a three-year guarantee, this is a great one to consider if you want basic kitchen tasks done well, without a hefty price tag.
This built-to-last KitchenAid stand mixer is a mini masterpiece. It may not be the right choice if you have a large family or want to impress a bake sale with your battenbergs – the 3.3-litre bowl can only handle enough mix for around eight cupcakes at a time.
It’s gorgeous to look at, with all the design features you’d expect from this classic brand. The slide speed control is smooth and the top hinge opens effortlessly with the press of a button to lift the beater out of the bowl.
Although there’s no splash guard with this model, the half-speed control means you can start every mix gently and work up without ingredients flying everywhere.
Digital controls difficult to use if you have sticky fingers
No handle on the bowl makes it hard to remove when locked in
Star rating: 3.5/5
Wattage: 1800W
Cost to run for five minutes on high: 47p
If you’re after a tech-savvy stand mixer with a digital design, this offering from Lakeland is a good option. Rather than having lever controls, like the majority of other models we’ve tested, this mixer has a digital control panel where you can choose from ten speed settings.
It also has a timer that is easy to set and means the mixer automatically stops when the timer is finished – a feature we found really useful especially for recipes like doughs that have a longer mixing time. Although we did find that if you had anything on your hands (which we always seem to when we’re baking) the control panel was far less responsive.
The dough hook, balloon whisk and beater attachments all performed well when tested with multiple recipes. Particularly impressive was the dough hook, which quickly brought the mix together and made a smooth and bouncy enriched dough for our cinnamon pecan sticky buns.
We were impressed by the large capacity of the 6.5L bowl which could easily be used to make multiple cakes or loaves at once. If you regularly bake in bulk this is a really good feature, especially since large-capacity mixers usually come at a much heftier price tag.
Points-wise this stand mixer was let down by the excessive plastic packaging and a lack of information about additional attachments.
Available from:
Russell Hobbs Go Create stand mixer
Best mid-range stand mixer
Pros:
Great price
Good range of speed settings
Cons:
Can move when working hard
Hand-wash bowl recommended
Star rating: 3.5/5
Wattage: 1000W
Combining generous capacity and power, this budget stand mixer is a good choice if you want something functional and care less about wowing with a statement piece. In tests, we tried various recipes that put the dough hook, beater and balloon whisk to good use and found it coped with everything we threw at it, although we had to push dry ingredients down into the mix at times.
Tough doughs saw the machine move slightly, but that’s to be expected when it’s not in the heavyweight league.
We liked the straightforward controls and found the attachments easy to twist into place – the bowl, too, although it’s the only element that can’t go in the dishwasher. The beaters can, and we found the whole thing easy to wipe clean.
Stand mixers have a hinged main body with an output for various attachments, typically whisks, beaters and dough hooks, although you can often upgrade and buy a wide range of attachments. They are known to whisk egg whites, whip up a dough and cream butter with sugar incredibly quickly. They usually have simple speed settings and are easy to operate. They’re a medium-sized appliance, taking up around as much space as a slow cooker or blender.
But stand mixers are incredibly versatile, so make a note of their other uses to really make the most of your machine. If you’re a fan of dumplings, use the beater to fully mix your ingredients together, see our gyoza and pork momos recipes for inspiration. You can even make your own butter by beating cream until it begins to split. Then separate the liquid from the solids until butter is formed.
A hand mixer performs many of the same baking tasks as a stand mixer. A hand mixer (sometimes referred to as beaters) also operate using rotating attachments, but are far smaller than stand mixers, which in turn makes them more affordable. They can be easily packed away for storage and are straightforward to clean. If you want a gadget just to do the basics, the best hand mixer will probably be sufficient.
A stand mixer is more powerful, with a higher wattage and larger capacity. They’re potentially more versatile, with some offering a wide variety of attachments. One major advantage is that, in contrast to hand mixers, they’re entirely hands-free, allowing you to get on with other things while they work. The roomy bowls are designed to contain ingredients, minimising mess. They can also better handle heavier mixes such as pastry and pizza dough.
Ultimately, a stand mixer is an upgrade from a hand mixer, but it depends on your budget.
Weight: if you’re short on counter space and will be hauling the stand mixer in and out of storage, be aware that some of them can be very hefty. If you struggle with your back, this is a significant consideration.
Value for money: there’s no point splashing out on a gadget-y machine with various accessories if you’re only going to use it to occasionally make basic cakes.
Packaging: Like most high-value kitchen appliances, stand mixers often arrive with a lot of packaging. Those that had recyclable or biodegradable elements scored better.
Overall quality of materials: Well-made stand mixers with quality components should last. We looked for those that were robust.
Results of functions: A machine that efficiently mixed all the ingredients at the same time was a staple requirement. We looked for pavlova mixes that were glossy and well-whisked, cake mixes that were light with evenly distributed zest and finally, well-risen dough that was soft and light when baked.
Value for money: You can spend anything from £60 to £900 on a stand mixer. Whatever the performance and functionality, it must always match up with the price.
Processor versatility: Stand mixers should take on key kitchen tasks that make life a lot easier. Whisking, beating and kneading attachments are key to this and we awarded extra points to machines that offer more integrated features, like weighing scales, timers and extra attachments.
Ease of use and cleaning: Modern stand mixers can offer sophisticated features but being easy to use is incredibly important. Washing your stand mixer’s attachments by hand can also be a pain, so we looked for dishwasher-safe accessories to make cleaning less of a headache.
Sustainability: We assess the amount of packaging the stand mixer arrives with and the recyclability of the packaging. We ask how easy it is to access spare parts, look at the length of the warranty and much more.
