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Whip up your favorite recipes hands-free with these stand mixers our editors love.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
We tested 22 different stand mixers in our lab to find the best options for your kitchen.
In addition to Geisel, we also consulted professional chef and food writerCynthia Christensenfor additional insight.
For more information on how we tested stand mixers, check outour testing processbelow.
Credit: Breville
The bowl and whisk are hand-wash only.
The Breville Bakery Chef Stand Mixer was the most powerful and versatile mixer we tested.
It was one of the only mixers we tested that could effectively knead bread dough without overheating the motor.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
During testing, we noticed that the mixer was very quiet even at the highest speed.
The mixer also features a sturdy base that ensures it doesnt shake or move around while mixing.
We appreciated the size of the mixing bowls, which could easily fit a double batch of cookie dough.
Credit: Amazon
During testing, it mixed in cookie dough ingredients without heating up or taxing the motor at all.
The motor was still ice cold after beating cookie dough at a high speed.
It isnt as effective with heavy-duty mixing like kneading bread dough.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
It took less than a minute for the mixer to beat cookie dough during testing.
The mixer also worked well when we used it to make whipped cream in the lab.
The bowl and accessories have to be hand-washed, but we thought it was easy to clean.
Credit: Amazon
The mixer struggled to properly knead bread dough during testing.
The mixer is somewhat loud at high speeds.
During testing, the mixer combined the cookie dough ingredients in less than 50 seconds without taxing the motor.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
It never shook or moved around while beating the dough, either.
In addition to easily blending cookie dough, the mixer was very effective at making whipped cream.
It easily formed soft peaks in about 40 seconds and reached stiff peaks in under a minute.
Credit: Amazon
The motor was somewhat warm, but it didnt seem taxed after kneading the bread dough.
The bowl and attachments must be hand-washed, but we appreciated that the design was easy to clean.
The motor was loud and became warm when we tried to knead bread dough.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
The mixer features 12 speed prefs for different mixing tasks like making whipped cream or pizza dough.
The included splatter guard also prevents food from jumping outside of the bowl.
We didnt find any splatters or flour under the mixer housing after testing.
Credit: amazon
We found that the mixer could mix both small and large quantities with ease.
During our cookie dough test, the mixer fully incorporated the ingredients with us having to scrape the bowl.
We thought it mixed the dough well without heating up or taxing the motor.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
The mixer also easily blended powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream to make whipped cream.
It doesnt include a splatter guard.
The compact size is also ideal for small kitchens with limited storage space.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
With a sleek design and seven different color options, you could also display it on your counter.
However, we had no issues with splattering during any of our three tests.
Since the mixer is miniature, youll want to be careful not to overfill it to avoid splatters.
Credit:Better Homes and Gardens
During testing, the mixer incorporated cookie dough ingredients and beat the dough even faster than the classic model.
With a 3.5-quart bowl, the mixer was able to fit enough dough for a single loaf of bread.
The motor didnt even seem taxed after 14 minutes of kneading the dough.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
We were impressed by the mixers versatility and performance on a variety of dough types.
Then, we used these insights to create our list of recommendations.
Before investing in a stand mixer, measure your space,Christensensays.
These mixers are heavy and not ideal for frequent lifting.
Ensure there’s room to plug it in and store it conveniently.
Compact mixers like theKitchenaid Artisan Mini Plusare ideal for kitchens with limited storage space.
Wattage
The wattage of a stand mixer indicates the strength of its motor.
A 250-watt mixer is sufficient for small batches of cookies, cake batter, or light bread dough.
A typical bowl size for stand mixers is between 4 to 6 quarts.
The stand mixers on our list range in bowl size from 3.5 to 6.5 quarts.
A 4.55-quart bowl suits standard cakes or three dozen cookies.
For larger batches, big cakes, or heavy doughs, a 6.57-quart bowl is better, says Christensen.
The most common stand mixer attachments include a dough hook, a whisk, and flat beaters.
Attachments are where stand mixers truly shine, Geisel says.
While there are many attachments available, Christensen suggests you only purchase attachments that you will use regularly.
If you rarely make pasta, a pricey roller isnt worth it, she says.
Christensen also recommends only purchasing attachments from the same brand as your mixer to ensure they fit.
However, like many of the mixers we tested, it didnt perform as well when kneading bread dough.
It kneaded dough more effectively at lower speeds, but mixing at high speeds left the dough sticky.
With an 8.5-quart bowl, we could even fit larger batches of cookie dough in the mixer comfortably.
Your Questions, Answered
How much can I expect to spend on a stand mixer?
What is the lifespan of a stand mixer?
Stand mixers can last for decades with proper use and care.
The Breville mixer was the highest-quality mixer we tested, and we think it is well worth the investment.
Who We Are
Molly Blancois a senior writer for Better Homes & Gardens.
For this article, she referenced testing insights from our experts who evaluated stand mixers in our testing lab.
She also consulted chefsCynthia ChristensenandBecky Geiselabout what to look for when shopping for a stand mixer.
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
