Best Stand Mixers

• What You Need to Know
• Kneading, mixing, grating – the all-purpose stand mixer performs a number of daily tasks in the kitchen.
• Basically, a distinction is made between classic mixers, universal appliances and stand mixers with a cooking function.
• Depending on the manufacturer and model, the range of functions includes only whisks and dough hooks or also special attachments such as a meat grinder, grain mill and juicer, which turn the stand mixer into a true multi-talent.
• In addition to the capacity, the power and the mixer also play an important role in choosing the right appliance.

Stand mixers – the all-rounders for cooking and baking

After work, hardly anyone feels like cooking an elaborate dish – be it a healthy salad, fresh bread or a delicious cake. Even if cooking and baking are fun in themselves, the individual steps on the way to the goal are tedious. Kneading dough requires muscle power, cutting peppers, carrots and the like demands time and nerves. Stand mixers provide a remedy: they automate work that would otherwise be laborious to do by hand. Their functions range from stirring and mixing to chopping, mincing and juicing. The motor inside drives the tools, such as the whisk or the blender, so that the ingredients in the container are processed accordingly.

Slicing, grating, kneading, stirring – by combining a wide range of functions in one appliance, all-in-one appliances take up less space in the kitchen than many individual appliances. Over time, various appliances accumulate in a kitchen: from a mixer to a blender to a hand blender. Especially in smaller kitchens, space quickly becomes tight. With a compact, multifunctional stand mixer, there is more space and order in the kitchen.

A stand mixer is therefore a practical all-rounder. With it, the individual steps are not only easier, but also faster. While the machine is working, users can prepare other ingredients or take a short break. The latest models also have an integrated cooking function. In special steamers, dishes with vegetables or meat can be prepared. Their wide range of functions makes them the perfect appliances for anyone who wants to get a lot of work done as quickly as possible and does not want to buy a new appliance for every step. However, to avoid a large number of accessories gathering dust in the cupboard, prospective buyers should consider in advance which tasks the stand mixer should be able to perform.

Large manufacturers for every price range

Entry-level models are available from 100 to 200 euros. High-quality models with a motor power of over 500 watts, on the other hand, cost at least 500 euros. For stand mixers with a cooking function, consumers pay between 600 and 1,300 euros. Prices vary greatly depending on workmanship, performance, range of functions and manufacturer. Among the well-known manufacturers are the following:

• Bosch: The stand mixers from the Bosch MUM series are among the most popular models.
• Braun: Braun appliances work on the principle of a movement pulse from below.
• Kenwood: Kenwood is not only known for its classy Cooking Chef series, but Kenwood is also one of the pioneers in machines with a cooking function.
• Philips: Philips machines are in the lower to medium price segment.
• KitchenAid: KitchenAid appliances in classic, nostalgic design play in the upper league.

Stand mixer: Models and functions

Unlike blenders, hand mixers and food processors, the multi-talented stand mixers are suitable for a variety of purposes. They are practical quick-change artists that, depending on the attachment, replace another individual appliance and save the user a lot of effort. Their central element is the mixing bowl, in which the motor-driven mixing tool processes the ingredients. Depending on the manufacturer and model, whisks, dough hooks and the like are already included in the scope of delivery. With integrated scales and a cooking function that guides the user step by step through the preparation process, cooking becomes child’s play.

Classic, multifunctional, ready to cook: The basic models

Stand mixers can basically be divided into three different categories. Depending on the area of application, a different variant is suitable.

Classic mixers

Universal appliances

Stand mixers with cooking function

Knead, grate, mix: The right tool for every task

Although the preparation of dishes takes place in only one appliance, which replaces many individual appliances, various attachments are necessary. With the right accessories, the stand mixer becomes a real all-rounder. Some manufacturers equip their appliances with a wide range of attachments as standard, while others only provide whisks and dough hooks. It is possible to purchase additional accessories as required. The following table gives an overview of the most common dough, cutting and special tools:

Whisk	The whisk, also called a beater or beater stick, is one of the basic functions and is used for mixing light cake batter and whipping egg whites or cream. Air is transported into the mixture through the wires, making it particularly airy.
Dough hook	A rotating dough hook mixes the ingredients and helps to prepare light (cakes) to heavy doughs (pizza). For particularly heavy doughs such as bread, a powerful motor with at least 1,000 watts is needed to fight through the tough mixture.
Mixing bowl	It makes sense to buy an additional mixing bowl to be able to use the machine all the time – especially if elaborate dishes are cooked frequently. This not only eliminates the need for tedious decanting or interim storage, but also for rinsing during cooking and baking. In addition to the material (glass, ceramic or stainless steel), it is also important that the bowl is heavy and not susceptible to scratches.
Beater	The whisk or beater is basically a mixture of the classic whisk and the dough hook. It is usually used to work with lighter doughs or to mix in ingredients that are barely chopped.
Continuous chopper	The separate attachment is attached to the accessory hub of the motor and is used to cut up or chop food. Usually, the tool comes with various metal discs designed for grating, shredding and cutting vegetables, chocolate or nuts. The metal discs are usually available in different sizes. For example, users can use them to cut cucumbers into thin slices or grate carrots. A tamper, also known as a feed nozzle, helps to press vegetables and co. onto the discs while they rotate.
Chopper	The attachment is reminiscent of a blender, but slightly smaller. With a chopper, it is possible to finely chop herbs and nuts. In this way, pesto, for example, can be prepared in no time at all.
Blender	A blender attachment is usually placed above the mixing elements and is suitable for preparing creamy soups, milk shakes or smoothies. To prevent the liquid from sticking, the container should have grooves. The user selects the speed and operating time according to the desired consistency.
Meat grinder	A meat grinder is a metal screw with perforated discs. The already minced pieces are simply placed in the feed opening, the funnel. With a mincer attachment, however, it is not only possible to make minced meat or sausage meat; vegetables, fish or even biscuits can also be shaped into the desired form.
Grain mill	A grinder makes it possible to process coffee, spices, grain, pulses such as maize or buckwheat and oily seeds such as linseed or sesame into flour. Users can choose between “fine” and “coarse” grinds. The attachment is placed on the accessory hub.
Citrus juicer	A citrus juicer or juice extractor can be used to make various fruit and vegetable juices. The carafe is simply mounted on the stand mixer. Users then place the halved fruit on the cone and press it firmly while the cone rotates. The juice finally flows through the opening into a container.
Emulsifying disc	Emulsifying discs consist of corrugated plastic discs that rotate around a central axis and swirl the ingredients rather than mixing them. In this way, two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, are mixed together, for example to make mayonnaise. Depending on the speed, a different degree of emulsion is achieved.
Pasta attachment	Those who love pasta dishes should not do without a pasta attachment. This is used to make different types of pasta, be it tagliatelle, spaghetti or fusilli. The device is usually supplied with different templates. Beforehand, the dough is rolled thin and cut into strips.
Ice maker	Ice fans benefit from an ice maker attachment. With a thermo-cooling container and stirring tool as well as a splash guard lid including a filling opening, nothing stands in the way of delicious ice creations in your own four walls.

Buying criteria for maximum cooking and baking pleasure

In addition to their range of functions, the technical features of stand mixers also play an important role. When buying a stand mixer, it is not only the size or the look that counts, but also the performance or the mixer, the handling and the additional functions.

The right size for occasional users, hobby bakers and large families

Many consumers have reservations about buying a stand mixer because they are considered heavy and bulky. However, the appliances come in different sizes. Before buying, it is therefore important to consider how much space is available in the kitchen. If the machine is moved around frequently, it should not be too heavy. Large stand mixers weighing ten kilograms are not as easy to move around the worktop or store in the kitchen cupboard as smaller models. However, heavy appliances offer a decisive advantage: they are more stable when mixing heavy doughs than lighter models, which often end up on the shelf. Suction cups or rubber feet can help here, however, by fixing the machine to the surface.

In principle, the capacity refers to the size of the mixing bowl. To ensure that the machine functions optimally, the user should observe the minimum filling quantity. Small quantities are very difficult to process in large bowls. The suitable capacity, often referred to as the filling capacity, depends primarily on the size of the household or the quantity that the user wants to process:

• Singles and couples: two to three litres
• Families with children: three to four litres
• Very large households: at least five litres

Retro, simple or functional: designs for every taste

The main materials used are metal (stainless steel or aluminium), plastic and glass. A metal bowl is extremely robust, easy to clean and durable, but it is very heavy compared to a model made of plastic. Plastic bowls have the advantage that they make less noise when stirring; on the other hand, they are susceptible to scratches and discolouration. Stainless steel and other metals look more attractive, which is especially important when the stand mixer is permanently placed on the work surface.

So each material has its advantages and disadvantages. A combination of a plastic housing and a stainless steel bowl is often available. Some manufacturers offer a glass bowl. Which design the user chooses ultimately depends on his or her own taste. A retro model from KitchenAid, for example, is better suited to a country kitchen, while a simple model is ideal for a minimalist interior.

Loud, louder, stand mixer

The noise level of a stand mixer ranges from 74 to 89 decibels. The loudest models even drown out washing machines during the spin cycle. For comparison: a hoover produces a volume of about 75 decibels, a lawn mower is 85 decibels loud.

More watts is not necessarily better: The power

he power of the motor is given in watts. The following applies here: The more watts the motor has, the more powerful it is. Usually, the power of stand mixers is between 300 and 1,800 watts. However, the value does not necessarily say anything about how much of the power ultimately reaches the tool. For example, a model with good power utilisation and a low wattage can be more powerful than a machine with a high value but a differently designed gear.

Depending on the application, a different wattage is suitable. For example, if you frequently make bread dough, crush ice, juice, grind grain or cut up meat, you should go for a machine with at least 1,000 watts, as these jobs require a more powerful motor. For stirring cake batter, cutting chips or grating cheese, on the other hand, a lower power of 300 watts or more is quite sufficient. Stand mixers with a large capacity should also be equipped with a more powerful motor to be able to process the larger quantities. In addition, it matters how often the appliance is used. If it is used almost daily, higher power is important. However, if you only bake a cake once in a while, a lower wattage is a good choice. In this case, it is important to bear in mind that the higher the power, the higher the noise level and the higher the price.

The right mixer makes cooking child’s play

In addition to the motor power, the mixer also plays a role in the quality of the cake or pizza dough. A whisk that only rotates in the middle of a bowl will cause the dough to be flung to the edge of the bowl and not processed further. Comparable to the movement of the moon, the whisk with a single axis of rotation thus does not rotate around itself but around the centre of the bowl. A dough scraper, with which users transfer the leftovers from the edge to the centre of the bowl, is therefore essential here.

More practical is the so-called planetary stirring system, in which the stirring tools relate to each other like the earth to the sun. The movement of the stirring tool does not coincide with the centre axis, i.e. the stirring bowl, but is placed slightly beside it, but still parallel to the centre axis. The stirring tool thus rotates around the centre axis and around itself at the same time, whereby the movements are always in opposite directions. So while the stirring tool rotates around itself, its axis rotates clockwise around the central axis of the bowl. Thanks to this combination of movements, every area of the bowl is reached evenly.

In the so-called 3D system, the stirring tool even performs its movements around two axes of rotation, namely the centre axis of the bowl, around which the tool rotates as a whole, and the tool itself, which is attached to the motor hub and rotates around itself at the same time. The two axes are at an angle to each other and have a three-dimensional effect, which makes it easier to reach the dough and enrich it with air. Machines with planetary or 3D systems are generally more expensive than those that only rotate in the centre of the bowl.

Turn, push, stepless: The speed controls

In order to be able to process food individually, the stand mixer should be equipped with several operating levels. If more accessories are used, more speeds are needed. As a rule, there are two to ten operating levels. The more levels the stand mixer has, the finer the settings can be. With some appliances, the setting is made with a rotary knob, with others with a slider. In some cases, you can also regulate the operation by selecting a preset programme or steplessly.

With the pulse, torque or turbo setting, for example, the machine runs at maximum speed as long as the user keeps the switch pressed. When they release the switch, the machine stops. This function is suitable for short processing of food, such as chopping nuts or herbs. This causes the ingredients that have been spun to the edge to slip. Another common setting is the under-lift function, e.g. for folding in beaten egg whites or cream, in which the machine stops automatically after two and a half revolutions.

The additional functions

Other useful additional features that increase the comfort level when cooking and baking are the following:

• Splash guard: the matching lid can be used to close the bowl to keep the prepared food safe. Special lids also serve as splash protection during the processing of the ingredients. Here, additional ingredients can usually be added through a small filling opening. A transparent lid also allows observation during operation.
• Integrated scales: In stand mixers with integrated scales, hobby bakers do not have to weigh the individual ingredients before preparation, but can put them directly into the mixing bowl. Ideally, the scale has a tare or additional weighing function that allows the display to be reset to zero again and again so that the user does not have to calculate.
• Timer: If ingredients are stirred for a particularly long time, a timer is recommended. Users simply set the desired time on this timer so that they do not have to worry about stopping the operation themselves. When the time has elapsed, an acoustic signal usually sounds.
• Automatic cable rewind: An automatic cable rewind retracts the power cable so that the machines can be conveniently stored.
• Cable compartment: If the machine is not equipped with an automatic cable rewind, it should at least have a cable compartment in which the power cable can be quickly and easily stored when the machine is not in use.
• Wi-Fi connection: Some models can be connected to Wi-Fi so that users can view the current status of the cooking or baking process on their smartphone or tablet. They can also use the app to obtain suitable recipes for their machine.

It pays to be quick: Care and cleaning tips

A plus point goes to all stand mixers that are easy to clean. The easiest way to clean them is, of course, in the dishwasher. But not all parts are dishwasher-safe. Smaller, delicate components such as blades and knives, for example, should generally be washed by hand. Dough hooks, whisks and the like, on the other hand, are often suitable for the dishwasher.

To ensure that users enjoy their stand mixer for as long as possible, regular cleaning is obligatory. Ideally, users should clean or at least soak the machine immediately after use so that food residues cannot dry out in the first place. For all parts that do not go in the dishwasher, the following cleaning tips will help:

• Disconnect the appliance from the mains to prevent accidental start-up.
• Remove splashes on the housing with a damp cloth and consult a gentle cleaner for more stubborn dirt.
• Use a toothbrush or a toothpick for angled spots.
• Vinegar and lemon help remove stubborn oil and grease residues.
• Avoid sponges made of steel wool and aggressive cleaning agents that attack the material.
• To clean the bowl, simply fill it with hot water and washing-up liquid, close the lid and let the appliance run on the highest setting for 20 seconds to loosen any dirt inside.
• Meat grinders and slicing and grating discs require particularly thorough cleaning to prevent bacteria and mould.
• Since the dyes contained in food can cause discolouration on white plastic attachments, it is advisable to wipe off the stains with a cloth and a little cooking oil before cleaning.
• Store the appliance or the attachments in a place where no dust can settle to avoid such soiling.

This will prevent the stand mixer from becoming a safety hazard

Users should follow these tips:

• Pay attention to the specified minimum and maximum quantity: If this is not reached, the processing can sometimes be unclean. If they are exceeded, on the other hand, an imbalance can occur.
• Always adhere to the specified usage time, as overheating can occur if this is not adhered to.
• Never reach into the rotating parts during operation to avoid injury.
• At best, always cover the bowl with a lid, especially when preparing hot food such as soups.
• Always ensure that the stand mixer is securely positioned so that it does not move around on the worktop.

When using sharp knives, safe operation is paramount. That is why high-quality stand mixers have certain safety mechanisms that minimise the risk of injury:

• Stop function: With the help of the stop function, the machine can only be switched on when all components are firmly engaged. In addition, the mixer stops as soon as the lid is opened.
• Shut-off function: The shut-off function prevents the machine from overloading or overheating. The motor switches off automatically in an emergency.