Complete Stand Mixer Buying Guide 2024(Popular Brands+Review)

Stand Mixer vs. Hand Mixer

Hand mixers are lightweight, portable devices that let you easily move your mixing operation to any spot in the kitchen. They also allow for mixing in any of the larger bowls you may own. They're great for quick tasks and easily stow in a cabinet or large drawer. The drawback is that the motor isn't as powerful, so hand mixers are really only good for thinner, softer doughs and batters, as well as whipping cream or beating egg whites.

Stand mixers are more powerful than a hand mixer. A stand mixer can do everything a hand mixer does, but is more capable at mixing cookie batter and bread dough. 

Some stand mixers also have accessories available for purchase that allow you to use the machine for everything from making ice cream to making sausage.  Undoubtedly，Stand Mixer is more expensive than Hand Mixer. 

For the dedicated baker,  there’s really no reason you should have to choose between the two.  Hand mixers are affordable enough that,  even if you’ve decided to invest in a stand mixer,  you can easily grab a hand mixer as well. That way,  you can turn to the smaller tool for your more minor mixing needs rather than having to pull out and clean the stand mixer for every recipe.

The Types of Stand Mixers

Mini Tilt-Head Stand Mixers

Mini stand mixers offer an efficient and compact motor that can handle small batches for just a few people. Perfect for small apartments.

Tilt-Head Stand Mixers

Most stand mixers have a tilt-head design,  where the bowl remains stationary,  locked into a base, and the head is on a hinge so it can tip up to lift the beaters out of the bowl.  This style of stand mixer offers a medium profile and a bowl large enough for standard kitchens and large families.

Bowl-Lift Stand Mixers

Bowl-lift stand mixers are powerful and offer firm stability for large batches. Instead of tilting back, these mixers utilize a smooth lever that lifts the bowl into position beneath the beater accessory.

The advantage with the bowl-lift design is that the mixer can fit underneath a cabinet and does not have to be moved forward in order to use it (with the tilt-head mixers,  there wouldn't be room under a cabinet to lift up the head).  So what kind of designs you choose depending on your kitchen space and needs. 

7 Factors to Consider When Buying a Stand Mixer

Size & Capacity

Mixers come with a range of bowl sizes, it's important to choose a size that will be most useful to you. The standard size bowl is between 4.5 and 5.5 quarts,  which is perfect for most cakes and homemade frostings. 

If you often prepare large batches and have the space, go for a larger bowl capacity.  Some have multiple bowls with different capacities.  If you’ll mostly be cooking for your own small family,  you can probably make do with a small-to-medium sized model with 3.5-4.5 quarts.

Bowl Material

Most mixing bowls are made up of stainless steel,  which tends to be dishwasher safe for added convenience. However,  there are other options on the market,  such as glass and ceramic.  You’ll be able to see the mix in glass bowl but you might see some more obvious wear-and-tear.

Attachments

Most stand mixers come with the three most standard attachments:

• Dough Hook: C-shaped or spiral,  this attachment is used for bread and doughs that require kneading.

• Whiscks: Also called a balloon whisk or wire whip, these attachments are useful for making whipped cream, frosting, and meringues.

• Flat Beater/Paddle: The flat beater will be the most commonly used attachment for most bakers, as it’s the go-to choice for cake batter, cookie dough, and mashed potatoes.

For more ambitious chefs, you can find a wide array of additional attachments, including pasta roller, ravioli maker, slicer/shredder, juicer and sauce attachment, Ice cream maker, food grinder etc. 

Price

Most stand mixer models will cost you somewhere from $200-$700. Some commercial models even get over $1,000. For most home chefs, a $200-$300 model will do the trick. 

But if you want to make lots of recipes that involve a lot of heavy duty mixing; need a big enough mixing bowl to make especially large quantities at once, or lots of different settings options for precision in making different types of food, the higher end mixers could be a good choice for you.

Power

The higher the wattage, the more powerful the motor, which means you can safely mix sturdier dough. A general guideline is to pick up the most powerful mixer in your budget range. It is recommended to buy a cook machine with a power of 1200w-1500w.

Speed

Some stand mixers offer up to 16 speeds. Different types of foods will call for different speeds of mixing. 

1. The slowest speed is essential for adding dry ingredients without creating a dust storm or splattering. 

2. The fast speed is setting for making a meringue.

Many bakers will be able to make do as long as they have at least three speed options, but if you’re especially ambitious and want to bake with absolute precision, going for a model with more speed settings could pay off.

Ease of Cleaning

With stand mixers, you end up with a lot of different pieces you have to clean. Some attachments are dishwasher safe. You can get a sense from the reviews of which mixers will give you more trouble when you’re cleaning than others. 

Popular Brands of Stand Mixers

KitchenAid

As an American home appliance brand, KitchenAid is the major brand in the mixers market owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The company was started in 1919 by The Hobart Manufacturing Company to produce stand mixers. 

The stand mixers are versatile with various attachments and come in a wide array of colors. 

Cuisinart

Cuisinart is also an American home appliance brand owned by Conair Corporation. The company was started in 1971 by Carl Sontheimer to bring an electric food processor to the US market. 

Now Cuisinart is becoming one of the biggest players in the mixer market. They have a number of hand mixers in different price ranges and with different speed options. 

Hamilton Beach

Hamilton Beach a popular brand in the mixer category offers both hand and stand mixers. They come in various colors and are sold at most kitchen-appliance retailers. Hamilton Beach is widely regarded as the best budget choice for those unwilling to spend as much as the top brands cost, and willing to trade out a little functionality and durability in exchange. 

There are other brands on the market including Black & Decker, Bosch, Sunbeam, Breville, Kenmore, and Oster etc.  

Where to buy stand mixers the cheapest?

KitchenAid.com (4% cachback)

Hamilton Beach.com (up to 9.5% cashback)

Bed Bath and Beyond (up to 3% cachback)

Sur La Table (up to 1.6% cachback)

Home Depot (up to 6% cachback)

Best Buy (up to 0.4% cashback)

Kohls (2% cashback)

Macy's (up to 2.5% cachback)

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The 5 Best Stand Mixers of 2024

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

($299.99 + 4% cashback at KitchenAid.com)

It's the Best Stand Mixer and also the KitchenAid’s most popular model. With Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, you can Make up to 9 dozen cookies in a single batch, Feature 10 speeds to thoroughly mix, knead and whip ingredients quickly and easily. For even more versatility, use the power hub to turn your stand mixer into a culinary center with over 10 optional hub powered attachments, from food grinders to pasta makers and more.

KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer

($349.99 + up to 3% cashback at Bed Bath and Beyond)

The KitchenAid Pro 600 Series 6-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer is a great choice for people who make a lot of bread or dense cookie dough or who like to bake in large batches. Compared with the Artisan, it has a bigger bowl, stronger motor, and added heft. Powerful and large, great for avid bakers.

KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

($269.99 + up to 1.6% cashback at Sur La Table)

Mini Mixer. Powerful Performance. The Artisan Mini tilt-head stand mixer makes up to 5 dozen cookies in a single batch, with the same power as the full size KitchenAid tilt-head Stand Mixers while being 20% smaller, 25% lighter. KitchenAid® Artisan® Mini compared to the full size KitchenAid® tilt head Stand Mixers.

Cuisinart SM-50 5.5 - Quart Stand Mixer

($199.95@Cuisinart)

Delivering power, precision and performance, our newest stand mixer features a 500-watt motor, die-cast metal construction, and 12 speeds that allow for nuance and excellence in performing a variety of preparation tasks. The unit's tilt-back head allows for easy access to its 5.5-quart mixing bowl, while the included splash guard prevents messy countertops. Also included are a chef's whisk, dough hook, and flat mixing paddle. The mixing bowl and all accessories are dishwasher safe.

Hamilton Beach 7-Speed Stand Mixer

($89.99 + up to 6% cashback at Home Depot )

For a powerful stand mixer at a fraction of the price, opt for Hamilton Beach’s machine. It features a 300-watt motor and the same planetary mixing rotation as a KitchenAid to thoroughly incorporate ingredients into batter and dough. Choose between seven different speeds, including a gentle folding setting; the gadget’s non-slip feet keep the mixer from rocking as it works. 

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