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Tired of getting an arm cramp from whisking by hand? A stand mixer can transform your kitchen experience from tedious manual labor to effortless and endless creativity.
We've tested the best 20 stand mixers, putting them through countless batches of bread and dough, frostings, cake batter, and whipped creams. We spent hundreds of collective hours making everything from savory focaccia dough to chunky cowboy cookies. Beyond just measuring performance metrics, we used these mixers just as you would at home, noting every frustration and moment of delight.
A popular name in the game, the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer stood out as a simple yet powerful machine that smoothly handled any mix of ingredients we poured into the bowl. Or if you're looking for a basic mixer that goes easy on the wallet, we were pleasantly surprised with how well the Aucma performed in our kneading and beating tests.
If you're building out your kitchen arsenal, you might also want to check out our comprehensive guide to food processors, which can complement your stand mixer for tasks like chopping and shredding. Our hand mixer review is worth considering for quick tasks or small batches, and if you're serious about bread baking, our bread machine review can help you explore another way to perfect your loaves.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on April 15th, 2025, with an entirely new lineup of stand mixers and a refined testing process.
The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer demonstrated exceptional performance in our rigorous testing, particularly excelling in whipping and kneading tasks, with nearly flawless bowl coverage and a strong motor. It particularly impressed us with its ability to knead thick dough to the perfect consistency to make delicious homemade bread. As our lead baker noted while mixing bread dough, "I never had to scrape the bowl and the dough came together in a ball under a minute. It made a truly beautiful loaf!"
SPECIFICATIONS
Attachments
Flat Beater
C Shaped Dough Hook
6 Wire Whisk
Bowl Capactiy
5 QT
Number of Speeds
10
Attachment Port
Yes
Timer
No
The 325W motor powers a highly effective planetary mixing motion that ensures thorough ingredient incorporation when mixing together our chunky cowboy cookies and the generous 5-quart bowl capacity provides ample space for family-sized recipes. Those with space constraints or who make smaller batches might prefer the more compact KitchenAid Classic model.
The KitchenAid Artisan quickly whips up a delectable Italian meringue.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The Artisan also stands out for its user-friendly design and ability to easily adjust speeds, swap attachments, and clean up after use. “The attachments get very close to the bottom and sides of the bowl, so I don't need to push or scrape at the edges nearly as much,” said bakers.
The KitchenAid Artisan produced silky smooth, stiff peaks using a cup of heavy whipping cream in just under two minutes.
The Artisan whipped our cream up to stiff peaks in just 1 minute and 50 seconds.
It isn't the largest machine we've tested, but it's not small either. The Artisan's relatively hefty 21.3-pound weight makes it best suited for users who plan to give it a permanent spot on their counter rather than frequently moving it in and out of storage. It's also quite an investment, but one we think is worth making. However, budget-conscious bakers who don't need the extensive color options or larger capacity might find the Aucma 6.5qt mixer offers similar core functionality at a more accessible price point.
The KitchenAid Artisan is an easy-to-use mixer that performed well across all of our tests and did an exceptional job when kneading whole wheat and focaccia dough.
The Aucma 6.5qt mixed together a mouthwatering cookie dough, effectively distributing challenging mix-ins like nuts, coconut, and oats throughout our dense cookie mix. It also offers substantial capacity and essential functionality at a price point significantly below premium competitors.
The Aucma did a good job of incorporating mix-ins in our cowboy cookie mix.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Our testing revealed several noteworthy strengths, including the generous 6.5-quart bowl with dual handles that easily accommodates family-sized batches—matching the capacity of models twice its price like the KitchenAid Classic. We particularly appreciated the strong suction cup feet that kept the unit firmly planted during operation and the straightforward control system that beginners can easily master. The comprehensive accessory package provides excellent value, including a flat beater, dough hook, and whisk.
SPECIFICATIONS
Attachments
Flat beater
Sprial dough Hook
Wire Whisk
Bowl Capactiy
6.5 QT
Number of Speeds
6
Attachment Port
No
Timer
No
However, the Aucma couldn't match the whipping performance of the KitchenAid Artisan, which achieved perfect stiff peaks in half the time. But if you're okay with waiting a few minutes for whipped cream, this is a non-issue. When kneading, the Aucma handled high-hydration focaccia dough surprisingly well, but its motor showed strain during extended kneading of sandwich bread. “I noticed the motor stuttering throughout the kneading cycle,” our lead baker noted.
Whipping takes a little longer than we'd prefer.
It takes slightly longer to whip cream into stiff peaks — we timed a total of 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
For budget-conscious bakers, the Aucma presents a compelling value proposition despite its limitations. Its lightweight design and compact footprint make it more storable than others. We found the lever-operated tilt-head mechanism reliable and the bowl's pot-style handles comfortable for one-handed pouring, though the attachment changeover system lacks the refined ease of KitchenAid's quick-release design. While serious bakers who frequently make meringues or artisan bread will benefit from investing in a KitchenAid, occasional bakers and novices will find the Aucma 6.5qt provides the essential capabilities needed to successfully create a wide range of recipes without straining their budget.
The KitchenAid Classic impressed us with its reliable performance across most of our rigorous testing categories. We found its whipping capabilities particularly noteworthy, achieving stiff peaks in cream quickly. As our baker noted, “I found the Classic to be super efficient; it made beautiful, thick frostings and whipped cream in no time.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Attachments
Flat Beater
C Shaped Dough Hook
6 Wire Whisk
Bowl Capactiy
4.5 QT
Number of Speeds
10
Attachment Port
Yes
Timer
No
During our kneading tests, it handled sandwich bread dough capably. The Classic's beating performance was excellent for standard cookie and cake batters, with the planetary mixing action ensuring thorough incorporation of ingredients, though we occasionally needed to scrape down the sides for perfect results. “The Classic created light, fluffy cake and delectable cookies that I was psyched to try,” said our bakers.
We appreciated the Classic's straightforward design and intuitive controls that make it accessible for beginners while still offering enough power and precision for more advanced recipes. The tilt-head mechanism operates smoothly, locking securely in both positions, and the 4.5-quart stainless steel bowl provides adequate capacity for most home baking needs. That said, the bowl lacks a handle, which was difficult for transferring heavy mixes. For those who need a little more bowl capacity that comes with a handle, the KitchenAid Artisan is a good, but more costly alternative.
Attachment changes are simple with the quick-release mechanism, and the included flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip cover the essentials for most recipes. Cleaning proved effortless, with dishwasher-safe attachments and a bowl that's easy to wipe down after use.
The Classic easily handled both whipped cream and meringue.
The Classic impressed with its ability to whip low and high volumes of cream in 2 minutes and make meringue without any strain on the motor.
For novice bakers looking to invest in their first quality stand mixer without breaking the bank, the KitchenAid Classic offers an excellent balance of effective mixing performance, durability, and value. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the pricier Artisan series (such as a more powerful motor, pouring shield, and expanded color options), it delivers very similar reliable KitchenAid engineering and access to the vast ecosystem of available attachments. Overall, the Classic provides a solid entry point into quality stand mixers that should serve most home bakers well for years to come.
Our lead tester noted that the KitchenAid Classic offers an excellent balance of performance, durability, and value.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
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We baked an array of sweet and savory treats in our test kitchen using each stand mixer.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How We Tested
Before jumping into testing, we investigated dozens of promising stand mixers. After gaining a firm grasp on the market, we purchased 10 of the best stand mixers representing various styles, sizes, and price points. To find out which model is the creme de la creme, we devised a challenging set of tests to evaluate their performance side-by-side. Our testing rendered dozens of loaves of sandwich bread, pans of focaccia, over 200 cookies, a whole lotta whipped cream, and delicious cakes. For the benefit of each machine –- and our own stomachs –- we tasted every baked good to complete our understanding of how these stand mixers perform in the kitchen.
Our overall score breaks down into four key metrics:
Whipping (20% weighting)
Kneading (20% weighting)
Beating (20% weighting)
Ease of Use (40% of overall score weighting)
To find the very best stand mixers, our test team conducts comprehensive side-by-side testing across four key performance metrics. Kneading ability (20% of total score) is evaluated using two types of dough. We make high-hydration focaccia to assess mixing efficiency and hook design, and sandwich bread to test motor performance, overheating, and stability during extended kneading. For whipping performance (20%), we time how long it takes to achieve stiff peaks with both 1-cup and low-volume whipped cream tests. We know that a lot of home bakers often whip with a smaller quantity and this can be a big oversight of many mixers.
We tested stand mixers across four metrics: whipping, kneading, beating, and ease of use.
Credit: Mallory Paige
Beating capability accounts for 20% of our scoring. For this test, we made dozens of the always delicious cowboy cookies. During this test, we evaluate the machine's ability to cream a butter/sugar mixture and incorporate ingredients. We pay particular attention to the overall bowl coverage and scraping needs. The largest portion of our testing focuses on ease of use (40%) because a good mixer is supposed to make your life easier, not more annoying. We break this test into several metrics, including the design/interface, bowl functionality, and ease of cleaning. We assess everything from tilt-head smoothness and control accessibility to bowl handling and dishwasher compatibility. We also consider longevity factors like warranty coverage and parts availability. See our full How We Test article for more.
Why You Should Trust Us
Lesley Robinson, our super-taster, food expert, and lead baker holds a B.S. in Food Science from California Polytechnic Institute. With a critical eye and sensitive palate, she expertly evaluates kitchen gadgets and food quality. Over her 10-year career, she has helped numerous food brands improve their products, including chocolate, protein bars, and supplements.
Writer Mallory Paige has a Bachelor of Food Science degree from Colorado State University and has worked as a professional baker and cake decorator. Paige is passionate about her culinary creations. And, with over a decade of reviewing experience, she knows how to analyze kitchen appliances with a critical eye.
The Artisan is our go-to mixer for sweet creations.
Our in-house bakers put these machines through their paces and kept the office filled with delicious treats.
Senior Review Analyst Michelle Powell applies more than a decade of professional culinary experience to her analysis of kitchen devices and appliances. Michelle's management of an artisanal bakery makes her well-positioned to test mixers.
Review Editor Jason Wanlass has been part of the GearLab team for more than six years. He recently combined his love for all things gear with his passion for cooking and is excited to offer his insight into kitchen goods. Jason has an eye for detail and likes to find the little things that make a product particularly great.
I thoroughly enjoy using this mixer and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with a passion for baking.
We put each mixer to the ultimate test baking countless cookies, loaves of bread, cinnamon rolls, bundt cakes, frosting, and more.
Analysis and Test Results
A good stand mixer can make life in the kitchen far easier and quicker, especially for anyone who bakes a lot. From simple things like beating a box of cake mix to airy perfection, to more complex tasks like kneading bread dough or whipping a meringue to stiff peaks, once you experience the pleasure of a stand mixer you'll never go back.
What's the Best Value?
We define value as a product's quality and price ratio compared to other mixers of similar quality or price. The KitchenAid Artisan retails at a price slightly above the class average yet delivers a superior level of mixing performance and is built to last for many years. Other products, like the Aucma 6.5qt, cost significantly less than the average but have to work harder and less efficiently to whip together frostings and whipped creams. All things considered, stand mixers like these present an excellent value relative to the rest of our lineup.
The Aucma is simple to use and we appreciated the easy clean up.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Ease of Use
Here we assess the smoothness of moving parts like tilt-heads and bowl lifts, the accessibility and responsiveness of controls, and how securely attachments connect to the machine. The bowl design plays a crucial role in our evaluation, where we examine convenient features, stability, and dishwasher-safe components. We also consider long-term ownership factors, including warranty coverage and the availability of replacement parts, because we know a stand mixer is a significant investment that should serve your kitchen for years to come. Finally, we meticulously evaluate how easy each mixer is to clean, paying special attention to whether components are dishwasher safe and how effectively food residue can be removed from all surfaces.
During our ease-of-use test, we carefully analyzed each mixer for overall user-friendliness, component functionality, and ease of cleaning.
Credit: Mallory Paige
The KitchenAid Artisan was an absolute star during this portion of our test. It is very intuitive to use and requires no learning curve straight out of the box. We found the right-sided head-tilt release lever easy to access. And we appreciate that the distance between the bowl and the beater is adjustable on all KitchenAid mixer models.
Durability is good on all KitchenAid models, and we appreciate that everything aside from the whisk is dishwasher safe. The Artisan bowl is among our favorite designs, with a comfortable handle and shape that encourages even mixing. The Classic lacks a handle completely, which we find a bit annoying. And the Bowl Lift is not quite as tapered, which leads to less optimal coverage.
Many of the components of the KitchenAid Classic are dishwasher-safe and those that aren't are easy to clean by hand.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The Cuisinart Precision Master also performed admirably in our ease of use tests, though with a few minor drawbacks. While its tilt-head release feels slightly less refined than the KitchenAid's, it still provides good access for adding ingredients and changing attachments. The 12-speed settings offer even more granular control, though we found the dial requires more force to turn. The bowl-locking mechanism is straightforward but occasionally needs an extra wiggle to seat properly. One standout feature is the splash guard with a wide feed chute, which effectively prevents ingredients from escaping during mixing.
The Hamilton Beach 7-Speed comes with many dishwasher-safe parts, including the bowl, splatter shield, dough hook, whisk, and beater.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
The Hamilton Beach 7-Speed demonstrated that a lower price point doesn't have to mean poor usability, though some compromises are evident. The mixer's lighter weight makes it easy to move around the kitchen but also means it's less stable during intense mixing tasks. The speed control dial felt imprecise, with fewer distinct stops between settings compared to higher-end models. Bowl attachment is straightforward but lacks the solid, locked-in feel of premium mixers. However, we were impressed by how easy the attachments are to swap out, with a simple push-and-click mechanism that works reliably. The included splash guard, while basic, does its job effectively at containing flour gusts and preventing splatter.
The Aucma has a bowl-locking mechanism that often required multiple attempts to secure properly and attachments that were frustratingly difficult to swap out. The speed control dial felt off with loose transitions between settings, though we did appreciate the splash guard's generous feed chute that made adding ingredients relatively straightforward.
We love the added convenience of the Aucma's built-in feeding chute that comes with the splash guard.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The GE Profile Smart offered excellent ease of use with an intuitive digital interface that clearly displays speed settings, mixing time, and even the weight of your ingredients, acting as a built-in kitchen scale. We found its attachments particularly easy to insert and remove with a satisfying click-lock mechanism. However, the “smart” features, like Auto Sense (which detects the viscosity of your mixture and shuts off when it reaches the optimal consistency), required extra steps to access basic functions through the digital controls.
The GE comes with a handy kitchen scale that displays the weight on a small screen at the top of the mixer.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Overall Ease of Use
Our ease of use score evaluates how intuitive each stand mixer is during operation, including the smoothness of moving parts, accessibility of controls, and secure attachment connections. We thoroughly assess bowl design features, cleaning, and product warranties. You can find the total ease of use scores below.
Whipping
If you've ever used a whisk to hand-whip cream, you know how painstaking is. In fact, that's probably why you're here. For this reason, the ability of each model to whip ingredients competently is a key part of our testing process.
Whipping Time
Product
1 Cup
1/2 Cup
Aucma 6.5 Qt
3.50
7.00
Instant Pro Series
2.58
5.00
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl Lift
2.67
3.50
GE Profile Smart with Auto Sense
2.50
3.00
Cuisinart Precision Master
2.67
2.75
Hamilton Beach Professional
2.17
3.25
Hamilton Beach 7-Speed
2.17
3.00
Kitchen in the Box
2.17
2.75
KitchenAid Classic Series
2.08
2.00
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
1.83
1.75
We put each machine through two whipping tests to analyze how it does with a large and small capacity of cream. During our years in the kitchen, we've found that many home cooks only need to whip a small quantity at any given time, which many robust machines can struggle with depending on the bowl coverage.
The KitchenAid Artisan made the beautiful, fluffy whipped cream with the perfect consistency.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The KitchenAid Artisan created velvety smooth and stiff peaks with both low and high volumes of heavy whipping cream that we couldn't wait to taste. It helps that the whisk is height adjustable, with the widest gap being .25 inches, which leaves no bit of cream unwhipped.
We timed each mixer during two separate whipping tests and the Hamilton Beach 7-Speed completed the task in 2 minutes and 10 seconds, which was above average.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
The KitchenAid Classic also created beautiful, pillowy whipped cream, but it was a bit slower than the Artisan. The Hamilton Beach Professional and 7-Speed were a bit slower than the KitchenAid's, but the whipped cream itself was fluffy and evenly whipped.
The KitchenAid Classic made a gorgeous, glossy meringue.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
We were pleasantly surprised that the Hamilton Beach Professional and Hamilton Beach 7-Speed both whipped a full cup of cream into fluffy peaks in just 2 minutes and 10 seconds, while a half cup of cream took around 3 minutes for each. The final product was pillowy and delectable.
The Hamilton Beach Professional quickly whipped our cup of cream into a thick consistency.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Sadly, the Aucma struggled here. There is a very large gap between the bowl and the whisk and it took a full 3 minutes and 30 seconds to reach stiff peack, which is nearly a minute longer than any other machine we tested. During the low-volume test it took a whopping 7 minutes to achieve stiff peaks.
The Aucma took more than three minutes to make whipped cream.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Whipping Score
The overall whipping score takes into account how well the mixer performed in two distinct whipping tests — high volume (1 cup of heavy whipping cream) and low volume (1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream). Our biggest takeaway from these tests is that bowl coverage and motor strength greatly affect whipping performance and long-term durability.
Kneading
Professional bread bakers will tell you that a properly kneaded dough is key to achieving the heralded light and airy bread. Doing this task by hand takes time and practice. Luckily, kneading is a great task to hand off to your stand mixer.
Kneading helps develop and orient the gluten by connecting protein strands and activating the yeast to initiate fermentation, which makes for fluffy bread.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
To test kneading capability, we made two kinds of bread. First, we tested each unit with a high-hydration Focaccia Bread. This dough was a good test because it is rather sticky and requires a mixer that can thoroughly knead ingredients without overworking. During this test, we evaluated the time it took to incorporate the ingredients while also analyzing if the sides of the bowl needed to be scraped down and how effective it was at developing the gluten.
The Instant Pro Series quickly and easily makes delicious, savory focaccia.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Foccaccia
The KitchenAid Artisan and Instant Pro Series both easily incorporated ingredients and quickly made a smooth and silky dough that turned into a gorgeous focaccia bread that achieved the perfect, pillowy rise with a soft, mouthwatering interior.
Being able to properly knead a wet dough like focaccia without overworking it is an important part of our test. The Instant Pro Series did beautiful work making a spongey, savory focaccia and worked in the ingredients quite well.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The KitchenAid Classic Series had very gentle movement using a C-shaped hook. This helped to incorporate everything without overworking the dough. That said, this may have resulted in slightly under-working the dough, as the finished loaf didn't achieve a great rise (it was only about 1.5 inches compared to 1.75" - 2" for most others). The bread texture was a bit more dense and chewy compared to the Artisan.
The KitchenAid Artisan created a gorgeous, airy foccacia bread.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Sandwich Bread
Next up, we kneaded a low-hydration Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread, because every bread baker out there knows that a dense, high-gluten dough is the ultimate test for a stand mixer. We also timed how long it took for each dough to be fully mixed to see which unit was the most efficient. You can see our results in the chart below.
Kneading Stiff Dough
Product
Time
Cuisinart Precision Master SM-50
13
Kitchen in the Box 6 Speed
11
Hamilton Beach 7-Speed
10
Instant Pro Series
10
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl Lift
10
GE Profile Smart with Auto Sense
9
Hamilton Beach Professional All-Metal 63240
9
KitchenAid Classic Series K45SS
9
Aucma 6.5 Qt
7
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
7
A properly kneaded dough should be able to stretch apart without immediately ripping.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
For sandwich bread, we relied on the windowpane test. Bakers use this to evaluate if a dough has been sufficiently kneaded and the gluten properly developed. To conduct this test, we took a small piece of dough about the size of a ping pong ball and flattened it. After letting it rest for a couple minutes, we flattened it more and then gently pulled the dough in opposite directions. A dough that is properly kneaded will stretch thin enough that you can see light through it (like a windowpane) and won't rip apart prematurely.
The dough hook on the KitchenAid mixers has good bowl coverage and does well with stiff and wet doughs.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The KitchenAid Artisan again is our favorite mixer for kneading bread dough, kneading together the dense dough in just 7 minutes. We appreciated that the dough came together on its own without any scraping needed and stretched well without breaking apart too quickly. The end result was soft and delicious sandwich bread with a light and airy interior and a beautiful rise.
Each stand mixer produced a slightly different loaf of bread, with the KitchenAid Artisan creating a particularly airy and light loaf.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The KitchenAid Bowl Lift and Classic both created smooth balls of dough within 10 and 9 minutes, respectively. We were pleasantly surprised to see that the Aucma held its own in this test and completed kneading in just 7 minutes, both creating delicious loaves of bread with the perfect rise. The motor did stutter a few times, so we have concerns about its long-term ability to knead a lot of bread. But if you're looking for an affordable mixer and enjoy baking the occasional loaf of bread when the mood strikes, this is a great choice.
The Aucma created a beautiful, soft, and delicious whole wheat loaf.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Overall Kneading Score
The kneading score combines results from both the low and high-hydration bread dough tests. If you plan to do a lot of baking, you'll want a mixer that can handle both. The key is to mix a high-hydration dough without overworking, while also having a motor powerful enough to handle dense doughs. The machines that scored the highest here were strong contenders on both accounts.
Beating
This metric is a test of the motor, componentry, and the resulting action of the machine. We use Cowboy Cookie dough for this test because it allows us to analyze each mixer's ability to cream butter and sugar, which is a standard of many dessert recipes. The cowboy cookie also has a lot of inclusions, including oats, chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut. These not only make a delicious cookie but accurately test how well a mixer can evenly incorporate ingredients and handle heavy loads.
Cowboy Cookies are the perfect recipe for this test because they have a thick dough and many mix-ins that can be difficult for mixer motors to handle.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
During this test, we looked for signs of machine struggle or even failure, which can look like inconsistent movements of the mixing attachment, changes in volume or pitch of the motor noise, or acrid smells emitting from the motor.
The KitchenAid Bowl Lift does an excellent job of effectively incorporating ingredients in the center of the bowl, and we didn't need to scrape the sides.
The KitchenAid7 Quart Bowl Lift had its moment to shine during the butter and sugar creaming test. We particularly liked the flex edge beater that comes with this model. Its silicone spatula design added to the standard beater and greatly decreased the need to scrape down the bowl.
We like that the paddle beater on the KitchenAid Classic is adjustable, which means better bowl coverage and less scraping.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
The KitchenAid Artisan beat the ingredients until they were very evenly dispersed, and the motor did not struggle at all. We were thoroughly impressed with its ability to handle a large quantity of mix-ins, resulting in scrumptious cookies that incorporated everything in one bite. We were also happy to see that KitchenAid has updated its pour shield design. We liked the large funnel on the Artisan and ranked it among the top pour shields we've tested.
The pour shield on the Aucma is admittedly small, but the mixing capability was pretty good considering the size and price.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
The Aucma held its own during this test. We did have to scrape the bottom of the bowl while creaming, but the sides of the bowl stayed quite clean without any aid. The pour shield is attached to the head of the mixer, which is not our favorite design. With the small funnel opening, we had to stop the mixer and lift the head to add bulkier ingredients. This isn't necessarily a deal breaker, but if you're looking for ultimate efficiency while baking it is an annoyance.
We had to do the same machine-stopping method with the Kitchen in the Box 6 Speed, but overall it did a decent job mixing cookie dough. We did half the recipe to fit the small bowl size and had to scrape a couple of times, but the overall dough was well-mixed.
Overall Beating Score
The mixing score looks at how well each unit can handle the common task of creaming butter and sugar, plus the ability to handle large volumes of dense ingredients. During this test we also paid particular attention to any unwanted motor strain, the necessity of scraping down the bowl, and overall even distribution of ingredients. The highest-scoring mixers were able to handle both creaming and thoroughly mixing with ease and efficiency.
How to Choose a Stand Mixer
After testing dozens of stand mixers in our test kitchen, putting them through rigorous side-by-side tests from whipping meringues to kneading bread doughs, we've developed a comprehensive understanding of what makes a great stand mixer. Here's our expert guide to help you choose the perfect model for your needs, focusing on the four most critical factors to consider.
Size and Capacity
Bowl capacity is one of the most crucial decisions you'll make when choosing a stand mixer. Through our testing, we've found that size impacts not just how much you can mix but how well the mixer performs with different quantities. Standard capacities range from 3.5 to 8 quarts, with 5-quart bowls hitting the sweet spot for most home bakers.
In our testing, 5-quart models consistently handled everything from a single batch of cookie dough to a standard bread recipe with ease. However, if you regularly double recipes or bake for large groups, consider a 6-quart or larger model. We found that larger bowls excel at bigger batches but can struggle with smaller quantities — some 6-quart models couldn't properly whip a single egg white or half a cup of cream because the whisk couldn't reach the ingredients effectively.
The GE Profile was noticeably taller than the other mixers we tested.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Don't forget about physical size. Stand mixers are substantial appliances, and our measurements show significant variations between models. Some professional-grade units we tested measured over 17 inches tall - too tall for standard upper cabinets. If you plan to store your mixer on the counter, carefully check both the overall height and the clearance needed when tilting the head back.
Mixer Type
In our bread kneading tests, we found that mixers with planetary mixing action (where the attachment orbits while spinning) generally outperformed those with simpler spinning motions. The best models developed proper gluten structure in about 8 minutes, while the lesser performers took over 12 minutes to achieve similar results, regardless of their stated power ratings.
The motor power can greatly affect the ability to knead and therefore change the outcome of the bread.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Through extensive testing, we've learned that wattage numbers can be misleading. While motor power is important, especially for tough tasks like kneading whole wheat bread dough, the efficiency of power delivery matters more than raw wattage. Some of our highest-performing models achieved better results with 325 watts than others did with 500, thanks to more efficient gear systems and better mixing actions.
Speed Control
More speeds don't necessarily mean better control. In our testing, we've found that mixers with 6-10 well-calibrated speeds typically performed better than those with more speeds but less distinct power differences between them. What matters most is having truly useful speed variations that match different mixing tasks.
The most critical speed control feature we identified is a very slow starting speed. In our flour incorporation tests, mixers with a gentle “stir” speed prevented the dreaded flour cloud that can result from starting too fast. We also valued mixers with smooth transitions between speeds and enough high-end power to whip egg whites quickly.
Attachments
Many mixers offer additional attachment ports for accessories like pasta makers, meat grinders, or even ice cream makers. Through our testing, we've found that these ports can significantly expand a mixer's versatility — but only if you'll actually use them. The quality and availability of these optional attachments vary widely between brands, so consider both current and potential future needs when making your choice.
The KitchenAid is compatible with a large range of attachments from a meat grinder to a pasta roller.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Conclusion
We hope that the depth of information provided in our review on stand mixers not only assists you in making a purchase decision but also gives you a better understanding of the different functions and features of the various models on the market. Here's to new recipes, quality baking, and lively dinner-table banter. Bon Appetit!
—Lesley Robinson, Mallory Paige, Michelle Powell, and Jason Wanlass
