Bosch MUM4405 Compact Stand Mixer Review

The plastic frame and mixer bowl make the Bosch MUM4405 Compact Stand Mixer unique among of field of metal mixers. This 4-quart model is impressively powerful for its size, turning out results similar to many of the larger, heavier mixers we tested. Its power-to-weight ratio is impressive, and it even outperformed some full-size mixers in a few of our tests. However, its weight is also its greatest weakness when it comes to mixing or kneading heavier, thicker ingredients. But when all the baking is finished, it is easy for just about any chef to lift the lightweight MUM4405 up to the top shelf.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

Thoughtful, customer-centered features pave the way for the MUM4405's above-average ease of use score. This mixer's basic functions are intuitive and well integrated into it's simple design. The bowl locks into place without any twisting or hard-to-link connections. Likewise, if mixing suddenly turns messy, you can easily slide the MUM4405's effective splash shield into place while the mixer is running. However, once it is locked into place, it can only be removed after turning off the mixer and lifting the mixing head.

A large portion of mixers on the market employ spring-loaded heads, which require a push-and-twist motion to lock attachments into place. But attaching and removing accessories on the MUM4405 is as simple as pushing or pulling the device into or out of the mixing head. This made switching out mixing accessories easy and direct. In our experience, the push-and-lock method is stronger and more secure, especially during heavier mixing. That said, we did not experience any issues — like beaters flying out of the bowl — while using this Bosch mixer.

The MUM4405 is very unassuming in terms of ability and overall power. Weighing just a little more than 8-pounds, this model is one of the lightest we've tested. We are very impressed that this compact design can house a 400-watt motor. The MUM4405 can easily plow through light to moderately dense ingredients, while the mixer's four aggressive, suction-cupped feet hold it steady during most operations. Another stand-out feature is this mixer's complete lack of a mixing gap. While mixing, the MUM4405's very wide planetary motion places any one of its three mixing attachments directly against the bowl during the entire rotation.

On the downside, our decibel meters showed that the MUM4405 was a little louder than many of the products we tested. It also struggles to mix heavier mixtures, and its plastic frame vibrates when kneading items like thick, heavy pizza dough. However, the MUM4405 can easily handle any moderate mixture. And the best part is, when it's time to clean up the kitchen, it can easily be picked up and transported to any shelf or cupboard.

A smooth, plastic casing makes it easy to clean the MUM4405. There are very few nooks or crannies that might collect flour, eggs, or other ingredients. Our favorite part of the MUM4405's all-plastic design is that it is dishwasher-safe. This makes deep cleaning a breeze if you're short on time.

Mixing

On a broad scale, the MUM4405 excels at mixing. As we mentioned before, this mixer has an impressive planetary rotor that allows whisks, paddles, and hooks to continuously press firmly against the mixing bowl. The result is very little spatula work during or after mixing. In particular, the MUM4405's ability to blend frosting is near perfection. Our buttercream frosting was smooth, light, creamy, and spatula-free. Likewise, during the first stage of our cookie recipe, the MUM4405 was nearly flawless in its ability to blend butter, sugar, and eggs.

When light or moderate mixing is needed, the MUM4405's performance level is on par with any of the larger luxury models we've tested. That said, we deliberately chose recipes that were bulky and heavy. As our cowboy cookie mix became denser and saturated with ingredients, we watched the MUM4405 lose its edge, requiring us to finish the mixing by hand. Likewise, as our pizza dough became heavier and drier, the MUM4405 started to struggle and wobble.

Whipping

The MUM4405 makes excellent whipped cream but doesn't do it very quickly. On average, it required 3-minutes for this mixer to whip a half cup of cream. Additionally, it struggled to whip eggs and sugar into stiff peaks during our lemon chiffon cake mix.

We also aimed our whipping tests at how well the MUM4405 could whip egg whites — either for meringues or to be used as a leavening agent in sponge cakes. The MUM4405's limited number of speed settings affects its ability to whip at a higher velocity. Despite waiting for several minutes, we were unable to whip our egg-white mixture into robust, stiff peaks completely. This, in turn, affected the overall rise of our lemon chiffon cake.

Once the cakes were baked and cooled, we cut them into halves and measured the rise of each cake from its middle and its ends. We hoped to find spongy, evenly weighted results with no sags or dips. We also wanted to find a substantial, uniform rise. Unfortunately, the cake batter produced by the MUM4405 resulted in uneven cakes that sagged at both edges, creating a dome shape. Each cake measured an impressive 1 3/8 inches in the center, but only pushed out a meager 1-inch rise on either edge.

In the end, the MUM4405 performed adequately during our whipping tests. The biggest setback for this mixer is that it is limited to only four mixing speeds. As a result, it simply doesn't match the whipping power of larger, more powerful models on our list.

Kneading

During the initial stages of our kneading tests, the MUM4405 was able to blend our pizza dough ingredients with the precision of a master mixer. However, as the last cup of flour was added, the mixer became increasingly unstable. We were impressed by how it stayed riveted to the counter, thanks to four suction-cupped feet. We weren't, however, as impressed with the MUM4405's gyrating dance moves as it finished kneading our pizza dough.

Although the MUM4405 has enough power to tackle our very dry pizza dough recipe, it lacks the brawn to get the job done. Its plastic design simply isn't heavy enough to counterbalance the weight of the dough. The end result is an unsteady mixer that increasingly vibrates as its payload becomes heavier and denser.

Should You Buy the Bosch MUM4405 Compact Stand Mixer?

The answer is yes, if you bake on an occasional basis for smaller groups of people. Additionally, this is a great choice if you want the convenience of a stand mixer but don't feel like shelling out for a high-end model. The Bosch MUM4405 Compact Stand Mixer is an excellent product for moderate to light mixing, whipping, and kneading. It doesn't perform as well when mixtures become dense and heavy, but with patience, it will still get the job done. Its compact size and light weight make it an asset for bakers working in smaller kitchens since it is easily stored in a cabinet.

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