Best Top 5 Stand Mixers

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Shopping guide for BEST TOP 5 STAND MIXERS

Many kitchen gadgets end up gathering dust at the back of a cupboard, but a stand mixer is a cook’s best friend. If you’ve already decided that a stand mixer belongs in your kitchen, it can be challenging to choose just one model.

Consider one of our recommendations when you are ready to make your purchase. Continue reading for our full stand mixer guide.

KitchenAid® KSM150PS Artisan 5-qt. Stand Mixer

Wayfair


Macys


Pros: Offers a choice of 10 speeds. Able to mix and cream heavier loads of food with ease. Coated attachments for added durability. Tilt head design lets you add ingreients easily without removing the bowl. Available in different colors to match kitchen decor.

CONS: It's expensive, but owners don't seem to regret the purchase at all.
 

DASH Mixers 6 Speed 2.5 Qt. Stand Mixer

Wayfair


 PROS: Set comes with a 3-qt mixing bowl, two dough hooks, and two beaters. Offers 6 presets for maxium mixing versatility. The tilt head design makes it easy to retrieve the bowl or add ingredients. Constitution is pretty solid considering the price.

CONS: Not ideal for high volume baking or heavy duty use.

Hamilton Beach 7 Speed 4 Qt. Stand Mixer

Wayfair


Pros: Equipped with a powerful 300-watt motor that can handle quite a few heavy-duty tasks. Designed with non-slip feet to prevent walking during operation. Convenient splatter shield keeps mess under control, especially during high speed mixing.

CONS: Attachments don't always scrape the bottom of the bowl, leaving some material unmixed. Small bowl size may be frustrating for some.

Cuisinart SM-50 5.5 - Quart Stand Mixer, White

PROS: Quiet, powerful 500 watt model that comes with lots of attachments, including the ever popular dough hook and whip. Impressive constuction with die cast metal. Extremely capable and versatile with 12 speeds. Easy to operate, even for beginners.

CONS: Some users wish the head would lift further up for ease of adding ingredients.

Artisan® Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

WayFair


PROS: Has 10 speeds and comes with 4 attachments. Hub opens the door to 10 optional attachments, including pasta makers. Available in many colors. Many consumers appreciated the deeper bowl as opposed to wider ones seen in other models.

CONS: Occasional reports of quality issues, such as broken attachments or peeling stickers.

CAN YOU DO ANYTHING WITH A STAND MIXER?

You will probably want to decide how much you will use a stand mixer before you purchase one. A lot of people aren’t aware of all the things you can do with a stand mixer at first. Then, they realize how many things they can do with it.

These are just a few of the things a stand mixer can do.

  • Obviously, stand mixers can mix ingredients, such as batter for cakes and pancakes.
  • Egg whites and heavy cream can be whipped in stand mixers using the whisk attachment.
  • Mash potatoes perfectly with a stand mixer.
  • If you are making bread or pizza from scratch, most stand mixers include a dough hook for kneading.
  • The dough for pie crusts, shortbread, and other doughs that can be tough if handled too much or heated too much can be made with stand mixers.
  • If you’re making guacamole in large quantities, a stand mixer will save you time and effort.
  • The stand mixer can be equipped with additional attachments for a variety of tasks, such as making pasta, grinding meat, milling grains, and making ice cream.

STAND MIXER SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS

Attachments such as beakers and whisks for Stand Mixers

In the absence of beaters, whisks, and other attachments, a stand mixer is nothing more than a glorified mixing bowl. It’s important to pay attention to which attachments come with your mixer and which, if any, you can purchase separately.

Attachments generally come standard with:

  • For general mixing, a flat beater is used
  • Flexi-beaters are great for mixing wetter items or scraping down the sides of bowls, etc.
  • For whipping, a balloon whisk
  • Kneading dough with a dough hook

Several stand mixers come with additional attachments, allowing them to perform the functions of a variety of other kitchen appliances.

These are some of the attachments you may be able to buy separately:

  • A Pasta maker
  • A Slicing and shredding attachment
  • A Grain mill
  • A Ice cream maker
  • A Meat mincer
  • A Jug blender
  • A Juicer
  • A Spiral slicer

The Wattage for Stand Mixers

Basically, the higher the wattage of a stand mixer, the more powerful it is. However, this doesn’t always equate to better performance.

A high-end mixer with a 300-watt motor will most likely perform better than a basic mixer with a 600-watt motor.

When taken into account alongside other factors, wattage can be an indication of a stand mixer will meet your needs (heavy-duty tasks require higher power).

You may like “Best 3 KitchenAid Mixers

The Capacity for Stand Mixers

Consider the size of the mixing bowl and whether it will be able to handle the amount of food you plan to prepare.

Generally, if you only cook for one or two, a 4 or 4.5-quart bowl will work. However, if you routinely cook for a large family, a model with a 6-quart capacity will be more suitable.

The Speed settings for Stand Mixers

A stand mixer should offer a variety of speed settings since some ingredients require a slower speed than others, and some mix-ins can be started on a low speed and gradually increased as needed.

Some high-end models may have 10 or 12 speeds, but most users find that 5 or 6 speeds are adequate.

The Splashguard

Most stand mixers come with splash guards as standard. When the mixer is running at high speed, or the bowl is full, they sit over the top to keep the mixture from escaping.

If you don’t want or need the splash guard, it should be removable for easy cleaning.

The STAND MIXER TIPS

You can maximize your stand mixer’s performance by following these tips:

  • Dry ingredients, like flour and powdered sugar, tend to get thrown out of the bowl if you mix on high right away. Start at the lowest speed setting until the ingredients are combined, then increase the speed.
  • When your stand mixer isn’t in use, store all the basic attachments in the bowl. It will save space, and you won’t have to wonder where the whisk went.
  • To make the fluffiest whipped cream and buttercream, chill the bowl and beater before you begin.
  • To properly whip or mix ingredients, you must not allow the beater to get too close to the bottom of the bowl of your stand mixer.
  • If the motor feels very hot, turn it off and let it cool before restarting it.
  • Most people find they use their stand mixer more often if they keep it on the counter. Make sure the model you’re considering fits on your worktop by checking the product specifications.

The STAND MIXER PRICES

Stand mixers are an investment, but there are also some budget-friendly options, which are fine for occasional use.

The Basic stand mixers

They cost between $30 and $70. The bowls are smaller and the wattage is lower. Attachments that aren’t standard, such as ice cream makers and juicers, aren’t usually compatible with them.

The Mid-range stand mixers

They cost between $80 and $200. For regular, but not heavy-duty, use, these are good, durable models. On the top end of the price range, some are compatible with non-standard attachments, but most are not.

The High-end stand mixers

Prices range from $200 to $500 for these. They are top-notch machines that can stand up to daily, heavy use. Most are compatible with non-standard attachments, but you have to purchase them separately.

The FAQ

Q. Can stand mixer bowls and attachments be washed in the dishwasher?

A. It varies from make to make and model to model. You should check the manufacturer’s specifications to see if the stand mixer you’re considering has dishwasher-safe bowls and attachments.

Q. If the beater or whisk is sitting too high in the bowl and the ingredients are not being properly mixed, what should I do?

It’s a common problem, but there’s a simple solution. The beater height is adjustable, so you can lower it to reach all the ingredients at the bottom of the bowl. Check the instruction manual to learn how to adjust the beater height, since this varies between different stand mixers.

Q. Is it possible to buy replacement bowls and attachments for my stand mixer?

You can buy replacement bowls and attachments for most stand mixers. If one of yours breaks or breaks, you can replace it. Many people who bake a lot like to have an extra bowl and beaters so they don’t have to clean up between batches.

Jannette

I am a freelance writer recovering from a massive stroke and three seizures. Any help is greatly appreciated, as now I have major medical bills that need to be paid and doctors will not release me for work! So blogging is my source of income now and it's a major drop in income.

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