The Best Stand Mixer to Fulfill Your Great British Bake Off Fantasy

In a unique lifetime, I labored for a high-end bakery that specialised in European-style muffins and pastries. Daily, I gazed longingly at our business Hobart mixer. It had a 10-gallon capability bowl that, when filled with cookie dough, took two folks to maneuver. I had related emotions about our dough sheeter, however that’s a unique article totally. Now, after all I didn’t want a commercial-grade stand mixer. I used to be simply in love with the thought of proudly owning a stand mixer. Any stand mixer!

I don’t work at that bakery anymore, however I lastly have my very own stand mixer. I take advantage of it for all the pieces, together with vacation baking, just-because baking, whipping egg whites for meringues and buttercream frosting, and kneading loaf after loaf of bread. In the course of the fall and winter months, I take advantage of my stand mixer a minimum of a number of occasions per week, notably across the holidays.

Should you’re right here studying this, I’ve to imagine you’re available in the market for a brand new stand mixer, or perhaps your first one, which could be very thrilling! It can be just a little overwhelming to evaluate all of the manufacturers and fashions on the market. I’m right here to assist. Over the previous couple of weeks, I chosen seven completely different stand mixers and ran every one by way of a sequence of checks to find out which of them are the perfect in the marketplace.

I used every mixer to make a very stiff batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, a loaf of enriched white bread with a 20-minute mixing and kneading time, a batch of meringue, and a batch of whipped cream. Why these checks, particularly? They’re all pretty frequent duties that bakers use their stand mixers for, and so they check key options (which I get into under). Right here’s how these stand mixers measured up to one another.

Our Prime Picks

Greatest General: KitchenAid Artisan 5-qt. Stand Mixer

Quantity of Bowl: 5 quarts | Materials: Chrome steel  Wattage: 325 | Variety of Speeds: 10 | Merchandise Weight: 27 poundsIncluded Attachments: coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip, pouring protect

Why we selected it: An iconic American model that lasts era and holds as much as heavy use. 

It was completely no shock to me that this was the highest performing stand mixer throughout the board. KitchenAid is a persistently top-rated stalwart within the business, beloved by house cooks and execs alike. My mother acquired this mannequin 18 years in the past, and it’s nonetheless going sturdy with out want of repairs or alternative, regardless of common to heavy use (particularly at any time when I’m going go to and bake her favorites as a result of I’m the perfect son).

The recent new check mannequin carried out nicely throughout all 4 checks. It by no means struggled in opposition to the dough and barely shuffled throughout the counter after I left it kneading on excessive for 10 minutes, although it did get just a bit heat to the contact by the tip of the kneading time, however not sufficient to be a priority. It additionally made fast work of heavy cream and egg whites with out making an enormous mess. It’s an outstanding machine, by way of and thru, particularly for the value.

It is a tilt-head fashion mixer, which implies the motor casing is on a hinge that you could lock in place throughout mixing and unlock when it’s time to take away the attachment. For me, personally, the bowl is a bit small for my traditional batch of cookie dough, however that’s solely as a result of I make sufficient to freeze and bake for our family to final a number of months. If, like me, you want just a little extra room for larger tasks, there are some nice choices in the KitchenAid family, or you’ll be able to go for my Greatest Improve choose under. KitchenAid additionally provides the biggest collection of colours of any model, so you’ll be able to match your new workhorse to your kitchen’s aesthetic.

Greatest Worth: Hamilton Beach Professional 5-qt. Stand Mixer

Quantity of Bowl: 5 quarts | Materials: Chrome steel, plastic  Wattage: 450 | Variety of Speeds: 12 | Merchandise Weight: 15.9 kilos  Included Attachments: whisk, flat beater, spiral dough hook

Why we selected it: A lighter, highly effective stand mixer for about half the value of a Kitchenaid. 

This mixer had one among my favourite options: A sequence of suction cups on the bottom to maintain it steady and secured to the counter. Because it was the one mixer with this function, I did some extra checks to see what else it might keep on with. It adhered superbly to laminate counter tops, marble and granite surfaces, and my outsized maple butcher block. It stayed safe by way of each check, solely shaking itself free after I ran it at full energy in the course of the bread kneading check. After some trial and error, I discovered that it might keep safe and nonetheless do a very good job of kneading within the allotted time when set to seven, which was best. Just like the successful KitchenAid mannequin, this can be a tilt-head fashion mixer. The housing for the motor is plastic, which is okay, although not as good because the stable steel building of the KitchenAid, and I discovered for many duties I had to make use of increased energy settings than recipes beneficial. At nearly half the value of my Greatest General choose, although, that is an impressive worth.

Greatest Improve: Wolf Gourmet High-Performance 7-qt. Stand Mixer

Quantity of Bowl: 7 quarts | Materials: Chrome steel  Wattage: 500 W | Variety of Speeds: 10 | Merchandise Weight: 29.8 poundsIncluded Attachments: whisk, dough hook, flat beater, protect

Why we selected it: A critical piece of apparatus for a critical house cook dinner, Wolf’s industrial-strength high quality interprets completely right into a countertop stand mixer.

What an absolute beast of a machine. The 7-qt capability is a dream for these monumental batches of cookies I make, but additionally nice for doing double-batches of bread. The whisk attachment had probably the most wires out of any of the fashions, which appeared to assist with the egg white and heavy cream checks. The bottom is tremendous extensive and flat, so the machine stayed fully steady on each check, and the motor was the quietest of all fashions examined regardless of being probably the most highly effective. The outer casing is brushed chrome steel, which supplies the machine a sublime, skilled look that’s nonetheless simple to wash. I used to be stunned to see that this mannequin doesn’t have a tilt-head prime, or a bowl-lifting leather-based, however really makes use of a spiral monitor constructed into the bottom so you’ll be able to spin the bowl in a single route to decrease it, and the other way to lift it. Whereas different fashions use a small steel flap to cowl the accent port, which tends to rattle at increased energy settings, Wolf makes use of a considerate magnetic locking cowl. You may also change out the facility knob—a darkish crimson knob comes already connected, however Wolf sends a black knob and metallic silver knob within the field so you’ll be able to swap it out. At $1,000 on the time of publication, that is the most costly mannequin I examined, but it surely seems to be and feels value the associated fee, particularly given how nicely it carried out in the entire checks.

Greatest Aesthetic: SMEG 5-qt. Stand Mixer

Quantity of Bowl: 5 quarts | Materials: Alloy metal  Wattage: 600 W | Variety of Speeds: 10 | Merchandise Weight: 19.42 poundsIncluded Attachments: Flat beater, flat beater with versatile edge, dough hook, whisk, pouring protect

Why we selected it: Not solely is it beneficial for it’s smooth retro design that’s accessible in lots of colours, it’s a powerhouse within the kitchen. 

I’ve an enormous tender spot for SMEG’s dedication to their retro aesthetic, however that’s not the one purpose their stand mixer made it to the highest. This gorgeous face really carried out very well, even in comparison with the Greatest General choose. Its all-metal building provides it sufficient weight and stability to maintain it from shifting an excessive amount of, even in the course of the extra disturbing bread and cookie checks. It is available in a number of colours throughout two types, stable and two-tone, with the latter that includes a silver base and quite a lot of colours for the motor head casing. This mixer comes with two paddle attachments, one customary, and one with versatile edges, which is useful for wetter mixes, like cake and brownie batter. This machine additionally had the longest chute on the splash guard, which made it a lot simpler to pour elements into the bowl. I nearly by no means use these splash guards on something I make as a result of I simply discover them inconvenient and in the best way, however the SMEG mannequin nearly transformed me. It’s not that rather more costly than the KitchenAid Artisan 5-qt, so if that is your aesthetic, it’s nicely definitely worth the funding.

Runners Up

KitchenAid Professional 600 6-qt. Stand Mixer

That is the KitchenAid I’ve in my house kitchen, and I completely adore it. It has a extra highly effective motor than the Greatest General choose, so it often makes shorter work of most tasks, together with whipping cream and egg whites. It is a bowl-lift fashion mixer, which means the motor casing is stationary and you utilize a stage to maneuver the bowl up and down, which I personally desire. My solely actual complaints about this machine after years of proudly owning it are that it doesn’t all the time do the perfect job of whipping actually small quantities of egg whites or heavy cream as a result of the bowl is so large. After 4 years of constant, heavy use, I did have to exchange two of the gears within the motor as a result of we have been out of guarantee, and I didn’t need to should pay to have it repaired, however the course of was easy sufficient, and it performs in addition to it ever did earlier than.

KitchenAid Professional 6500 Design Series 6-qt. Stand Mixer

The following mannequin up from the one I personal, with a barely extra highly effective motor and a glass mixing bowl. It performs about in addition to the 600, although I do actually just like the aesthetic of the glass bowl over the usual steel bowls. Just like the SMEG mixer, this one comes with a further paddle attachment with versatile edges, which is a pleasant bonus.

Hamilton Beach 7-Speed 4-qt. Stand Mixer

A wonderfully tremendous little machine, although it’s, certainly little. That might not be a deal-breaker for some house cooks. Heck, it would even be best if you happen to’re not making very large batches of something and simply need one thing just a little smaller that takes up much less counter house. It additionally comes with a cute deal with on the highest so you’ll be able to lug it round with ease as an alternative of getting to awkwardly cradle it each time you progress it. This machine does battle with more durable duties, particularly within the bread dough check, and it does have a form of low cost really feel to it, particularly in comparison with among the higher-end machines. It doesn’t really feel constructed to final, but it surely’s additionally the least costly mannequin I examined by a substantial quantity at simply $110 on the time of publication.

Dimension

Many stand mixers have a 5-quart capability bowl, which ought to get the job accomplished for many house cooks. Should you’re baking for a crowd, we’ve acquired some improve choices that price just a little extra however supply better flexibility for these large tasks. Be aware that almost all stand mixers may be calibrated to regulate the peak of the blending attachment—remember to learn your mixer’s directions totally earlier than utilizing for greatest efficiency.

Weight

Given the sizable motors and heavy metal building of those highly effective mixers, weight must be a consideration. Our picks vary from round 16-30 kilos, a hefty vary. Take into consideration the place the mixer will stay in your kitchen, and the way usually you’ll be utilizing it. In case your solely storage possibility is the highest shelf of a closet, a 30 pound KitchenAid might not be your buddy; nevertheless, if will probably be saved on the counter for frequent use and gained’t be moved usually, a heavy mixer must be tremendous.

Design

We’re not simply speaking aesthetics right here, although that may be an element for some people. A well-designed stand mixer must be sturdy and steady, whether or not mixing up a stiff batch of cookie dough, whipping egg whites or heavy cream, or kneading bread dough for so long as 20 minutes. If a stand mixer will get too sizzling to the touch, or practically rocks itself off the counter when performing robust duties, that’s an issue!

Energy and Velocity

Tied to design, I seemed for stand mixers that have been highly effective sufficient to make big batches of stiff cookie dough and knead bread doughs with out the lamentable sound of grinding gears and a struggling motor, but additionally quick sufficient to shortly convey egg whites and heavy cream to stiff peaks with out making a large number. The highest performing stand mixers did all of these duties persistently nicely and with out these worrying audio cues.

Attachments and Extras

Mixers sometimes include a beginning set of flat beater, whisk, and dough hook; many additionally embody a pouring protect for including in moist and dry elements with out worry of splashing over the perimeters of the bowl. Along with these attachments, some manufacturers—like KitchenAid, Hamilton Seaside, and Wolf—additionally match attachments like pasta rollers and cutters, meals grinders, ice cream makers, juicers, and extra. These attachments screw into the machine’s drivetrain and provides energy to an array of different devices, doubling the equipment’s talents. 

Ask the Consultants

Q: What stand mixer do skilled cooks use?

As I discussed above, I’ve the KitchenAid Skilled 600 in my house kitchen. So far as I’ve seen from fellow execs, KitchenAid appears to be the popular model throughout the board, although I’ve additionally seen Wolf stand mixers in check kitchens.

Q: Which model has probably the most equipment?

KitchenAid, by an enormous margin. I can’t communicate to the standard of each accent they make, however I’ve used the meat grinder and ice cream bowl attachments. The meat grinder is fairly nice.

Q: Ought to I get a hand mixer or a stand mixer?

Hand mixers are small, much less highly effective, and depend on the consumer to constantly maintain the mixer within the bowl of elements as they’re combined. A stand mixer is a heavy-duty equipment that may tackle beating egg whites for a lot of minutes and  totally mixing dense bread dough, simply as simply as it could actually combine a field of cake combine. Nonetheless, a hand mixer is inherently simpler to retailer and extra handy for a lot of small duties. So, which must you select? As avid cooks, we are likely to say “each,” as a result of every one has its personal advantages. However, if you happen to can solely select one, a stand mixer will deal with each mixing want, from the smallest batch of cupcakes to a hefty batch of pasta dough.   

Q: How do I clear my stand mixer?

Most stand mixer bowls are chrome steel, and due to this fact dishwasher-safe on the highest rack. Whereas many attachments—flat beater, whisk, dough hook—are dishwasher-safe as nicely, be certain that to doublecheck producer directions earlier than sending them by way of the wash. As for the stands themselves, merely wipe clear with a humid fabric after use to eliminate any leftover flour, batter, or stickiness.

Our Take

KitchenAid has been producing high quality stand mixers for over a century, so it’s onerous to argue in opposition to their high quality. Two weeks of testing apart, I can even communicate to the longevity of a KitchenAid mixer. My mother has owned hers for 18 years, and I’ve had mine for about seven. Each are nonetheless going sturdy, and I do know people with KitchenAids which are even older.

By the best way, the unique producer of these first KitchenAid mixers in 1919?

Hobart.

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