Need help finding what you are looking for? Just use the Amazon Search Bar!
Have you been bitten by the baking bug? If so, you'll appreciate a kitchen mixer. The experienced baker knows how valuable a kitchen mixer is when baking. Whether it's a quick dessert for company or dozens of cookies, a great deal of time and effort can be saved. Today's mixers are a new generation of kitchen appliances that are more powerful, quieter and better built. We offer a comprehensive line of stand mixers and hand mixers and information on both to help you choose the best model for you.
Did you know? In 1908, Herbert Johnson invented an 80 quart mixer, designed to save on labor for mixing bread and dough. This mixer was later used by professional bakers, creating more sanitary and safer work enviroments. This was the beginning of Hobart Manufacturing and it's subsidiary's Troy Metal Products Company launch into kitchen appliances. Looking to attract the modern woman of the 1920's, focus was put on marketing the standing mixer. The wives of the executives of Troy Metal Products brainstormed to come up with a new name for the mixer. It happened when one of the executive wives stated "I don't care what you call it. but I know it's the best kitchen aid I have ever had." That is how KitchenAid got it's name. Today KitchenAid customers enjoy a wide range of products from mixers, blenders, food processors, coffeemakers, microwaves, ovens, refrigerators and more.
KitchenAid mixers are most often chosen as the best stand mixer in reviews, but not all KitchenAid stand mixers perform equally. Choosing one carefully based on the features you really need can easily mean a difference of $100 or more in price. All KitchenAid stand mixers share the same basic motor-head design, but they vary by power, capacity, features and accessories. Most KitchenAid models come with a tilting head that allows access to the beater and bowl. Speed control ranges from a very fast whip to a very slow stir. The "C" hook kneads yeast dough. KitchenAid mixers have all-metal construction, and all models come with a flat beater and wire whip. None of the KitchenAid stand mixers are very mobile appliances - all of them weigh between 23 and 26 pounds. Most KitchenAid stand mixers can accept optional attachments such as can openers, meat grinders, sausage stuffers and pasta presses giving them potential to double as other appliances.
Reviews are split on the performance of the 4.5-quart KitchenAid Classic (*est. $200) , KitchenAid's entry-level kitchen mixer. One professional reviewer says it excels at everything from whipping meringue to kneading double batches of bread dough. However, the KitchenAid Classic labored on bread dough in tests at Cook's Illustrated. The whole machine shook and "seemed more like a toy" compared to better mixers, according to editors who prefer the KitchenAid Artisan and Professional mixers.
Some owners posting comments to Amazon.com and Epinions also point to a few usability issues. Some complain that the top of the bowl is too narrow and that it can be difficult to add ingredients without turning off the mixer which slows down the whole process. While the easy majority of owners report excellent performance and durability, those who regularly knead dough should consider the KitchenAid Professional 600 stand mixer.
The KitchenAid Artisan (*est. $250) , a staple on bridal registries, is well liked by consumers for its variety of more than 20 colors, including citron, cinnamon and a limited-edition pink model that benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (KitchenAid donates $50 from each purchase). Those with plain white machines who don't wish to upgrade to a contemporary color can now add decals (a flame costs about $20). In addition to style points, the Artisan also offers a larger (5 quart) stainless steel bowl than the Classic model and comes with a handle on the bowl. Along with a flat beater, a dough hook and a wire whisk, this stand mixer comes with a splatter shield and pouring chute for adding ingredients while the mixer is still turned on. Although testers at Cook's Illustrated say the KitchenAid Artisan labored while kneading bread dough, it's a better choice than the KitchenAid Classic mixer for this purpose. Still, users at Cooking.com sometimes complain about the noise and size of this machine.
It's important to point out that unless you frequently need to mix ingredients for stiff batters or bread dough, a powerful hand mixer like those detailed further into this article might be enough to meet your needs, save you money and storage space.
If you do want to mix bread dough and stiff batters, the KitchenAid Professional 600 (*est. $400) works a bit differently than the Classic or Artisan stand mixers. The Professional does not have a tilting head. Rather, the bowl cinches up into position with the aid of a lever. The Professional 600 has a higher wattage motor, so it will withstand more difficult tasks such as kneading bread dough. The bowl has a 6-quart capacity with a handle, and it comes with the same attachments as the Artisan: dough hook, whip, flat beater, splatter guard and pouring chute.
Cook's Illustrated rates the KitchenAid Professional at the top of its list of kitchen mixers. They say the wide bowl spews flour more readily than tall-bowl mixers, but that it makes a smoother job of scraping and adding ingredients. In addition, the KitchenAid Professional 600 combines dough faster and more easily than other models tested. If you want to make bread dough in your mixer, reviews say the KitchenAid Professional 600 should be your first choice. We did read some sporadic complaints about durability, but most owner reviews are positive. The latest user reviews continue to praise this machine for its last-a-lifetime quality and performance, although some say it's noticeably louder than smaller KitchenAid mixers. A few remark that if you don't plan to mix bread and heavy dough, the Artisan is a much better value.
We did find some good reviews for stand mixers other than those manufactured by KitchenAid. Reviewers say the DeLonghi DSM5 (*est. $295) , which is known in other countries as the Kenwood Chef Classic, is on par with the KitchenAid Professional 600. One review in a New Zealand-based Consumer magazine gives it top billing for overall performance, noting that the pouring shield is a perfect fit. Cook's Illustrated says, "Watching this compact mixer expertly cream butter and sugar into a uniform consistency was a thing of beauty." Like the wide-width bowl of the KitchenAid Professional 600, the DeLonghi's bowl helps keep ingredients "low in the bowl" which cuts down on the need to scrape, say editors. The KitchenAid Professional scores a notch higher because the DeLonghi shimmied and made loud noises while mixing heavy ingredients. Customer reviews at Amazon.com are mixed. A few reviews say the DeLonghi mixer is better than a KitchenAid, but others complained that the machine is simply average in overall quality. The DeLonghi DSM5 does have a streamlined modern appearance, in contrast to the more traditional-looking KitchenAid machines. The 5-quart DeLonghi mixer has dishwasher-safe parts, a splash guard, dough hook, whisk and beater. Optional accessories include a juicer, potato peeler, slicer, grain mill and pasta maker.
Bosch mixers were included in tests at Cook's Illustrated. Unfortunately, however, they were not included in the review at Consumer Reports. The Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine (*est. $400) is a hybrid mixer. It is one part food processor and one part stand mixer. When it came to Cook's Illustrated's standardized tests, the Bosch mixer did a good job with dough, but its design -- which features a bottom-mounted center spindle -- had difficulty incorporating ingredients and an especially hard time reaching the sides of the bowl. Owners at Amazon.com and Target.com give the Bosch mixer raves for performance and versatility, while others complain that the transmission on the machine gave out after several years of use or that the paddles or other attachments did not perform as expected.
Although reviews routinely identify KitchenAid stand mixers as the best, there are a few reasons you might choose a different brand or even a hand mixer instead of a stand mixer. If your mixing needs amount to lighter-duty tasks such as everyday whipping and mixing, or if you prefer a lighter, more portable appliance, you might consider the Hamilton Beach 63221 mixer (*est. $170) . Hamilton Beach has clearly taken a cue from KitchenAid, since this mixer has a single center beater and comes in seven colors.
In tests, the Hamilton Beach stand mixer performs well with most tasks. As with KitchenAid, the Hamilton Beach uses a double mixing action -- as the mixing head rotates around the bowl, the beater rotates in the opposite direction. This kitchen mixer comes with a pouring shield, beater, dough hook and wire whisk. The motor head tilts, and there are 12 speeds, offering up to 400 watts of power. It weighs only 17 pounds, in contrast to the KitchenAid models (22 to 26 pounds).
Professional testers say the Hamilton Beach mixer is a good light-duty kitchen mixer, helpful for mixing cake batter, whipping cream and mashing potatoes. Kneading dough is not its strength, however. Of the few owner reviews we read on Epinions and Amazon.com, a number of users report negative experiences with the Hamilton Beach mixer. While some say the mixer can handle heavy loads without overheating, others say the exact opposite. Some indicate that the unit "walks" across the counter on speeds of four and higher. Others bemoan the need to constantly scrape ingredients that spread up the sides of the bowl. In professional testing, however, the Hamilton Beach did a good job on the basics.
Hand mixers
The most up to date mixer reviews center around handheld mixers. While hand mixers lack the power of larger, heavier stand mixers, the best among them perform most of the same tasks at a fraction of the cost and countertop space. New innovations continue to capitalize on their space-saving qualities. The Hamilton Beach Performance Plus 62675 (est. $50) comes with a plastic case that snaps onto the underside of the mixer, which also has space for cord storage. Cool features aside, there aren't many critiques of this machine, although an earlier model (the 6-Speed Hamilton Beach 62695) was panned by editors at Cook's Illustrated for splattering and high vibration. User reviews are hard to come by at this point, but Good Housekeeping lists the Performance Plus as a top pick among the eight hand mixers it tested. The magazine also recommends The Sunbeam Mixmaster Heritage 2547 (*est. $50) , which has a similar storage compartment.
Several hand mixers perform well in tests at Consumer Reports, Cook's Illustrated and Good Housekeeping magazines, including the Cuisinart PowerSelect CMH7 (*est. $50) . Good Housekeeping calls it "one tough cookie" for beating its way through thick oatmeal batter. Testers praise its automatic sensor, which adjusts the machine's power according to the weight of the ingredients. However, some users find the digital display annoying. In its updated report on hand mixers, Cook's Illustrated says that the Cuisinart hand mixer struggles a bit with thick dough, but that it breezes through other tasks. Editors praise the ergonomic design, including a swivel cord that makes it friendly for left-handed cooks. The Cuisinart PowerSelect is one of the three hand mixers highly recommend by Cooks Illustrated. The two other top picks are the KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus 7 KHM7T (*est. $70) and the Braun MultiMix (*est. $50) .
The KitchenAid KHM7T has seven speeds and comes in a rainbow of colors, including "cook for the cure" pink. Experts say that this is one of the few hand mixers that can handle stiff peanut-butter cookie dough without slowing down. Most owners at Amazon.com give this hand mixer good scores for power and ease of use, but others complain that the beater-locks wear out quickly and that it's hard to find replacement parts. Cook's Illustrated describes its mixing action as "neat and smooth" compared to other models. The KitchenAid hand mixer, however, costs quite a bit more than the Cuisinart PowerSelect, which also performs well in reviews.
The Braun MultiMix 4-in-1 M 880 (*est. $50) , performs nearly on par with the Cuisinart PowerSelect and KitchenAid 7 Speed KHM7T hand mixers in testing, most notably for its handling of stiff cookie dough. The Braun has some unique features, including the ability to morph from a hand blender into a small chopper by switching attachments, a feature that impresses some consumers and bothers others who would never chop with a mixer. The Braun hand mixer comes with standard beaters plus dough hooks, along with an attachment that turns the Braun into a stick blender for pureeing soups and sauces. For small chopping jobs, the power unit attaches to another container with its own blades. The catch here is that the Braun has limited availability. Although Braun still says it's a current model, it's only at a couple of stores online.
Important Features: Kitchen mixers
Following is what reviewers had to say about choosing a kitchen mixer:
Stand mixers and hand mixers both work well for basic tasks, but stand mixers are best for mixing stiffer foods, such as bread dough and thick cookie dough. Those who like to make bread should look for a bowl capacity of at least six cups.
Wattage and number of speeds are not important when it comes to performance. Three to five speeds are usually sufficient. A low, slow speed is necessary to prevent splattering. More important is the overall design, shape of the bowl and movement of attachments all contributing to a mixer's performance. In tests, wattage proves to be totally inconsequential to overall performance.
For hand mixers, a slow start prevents splatters.
Heavier stand mixers are sturdy and won't walk across the counter, but they are more difficult to move for storage. If you plan to leave your stand mixer in one place, that's not such a problem. But if you want to stash your mixer in a pantry or cabinet, you may prefer a lighter model.
Consider the height of a stand mixer if you will be using it under a cabinet. The KitchenAid Classic, for example, is only 14 inches tall, but it needs clearance to raise the tilting head. You may also want to measure your available countertop space and then measure the space required for the mixer. Stand mixers have a larger footprint than you might expect.
For hand mixers, consider bowls that make your job easier. A bowl that's deep will help keep ingredients under control. Also, keep in mind that some bowls are made with anti-slip materials on the outside, so they won't slide as you mix inside them.
Check this out! 