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These top-tested stand mixers can do it all from doughs, cakes, cookies and more. Vacuum Emulsifying Mixer
There are dozens of reasons why you might want to incorporate a stand mixer into your kitchen, even if you’re not a seasoned baker or expert chef. While they're bigger and heavier than a hand mixer, their stronger motors can make it much easier to knead homemade pizza dough, whip cream and mix fluffy frosting that's velvety smooth.
To put together this list of our top stand mixer recommendations, we spent more than 80 hours testing 13 models. Our picks include the top performers in our most recent Lab tests.
Electric stand mixers can be used for more than prepping your favorite cake — like shredding chicken or mashing avocados — and can save your arms from aching from all the whisking and kneading. They mix your ingredients thoroughly and evenly, so you won’t wind up with cookies with large lumps of flour or sugar. Stand mixers also free you up to do other tasks while they do the work for you. Some models even include handy stand mixer attachments you can buy separately that let you grind meat, roll pasta and spiralize vegetables.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab reviews kitchen products of all kinds, from blenders to microwaves, and has been testing and researching stand mixers for decades. When testing each stand mixer, our pros evaluate how well it can mix cake batter and cookie dough, knead bread dough and whip cream and egg whites. We also look at ease of use, checking the thoroughness of the owner's manual, how you assemble the beaters and mixing bowl, whether the controls are simple and, of course, how easy each mixer is to clean.
Head to the end of this guide to read more about how we tested stand mixers, what types to consider and how to choose the right one for you. Looking for some other baking essentials? Check our our top baking pans, measuring cups and favorite gifts for bakers.
When you think of stand mixers, you might picture a KitchenAid model — the company has been around since 1919. This 5-quart option comes in multiple colors from red to silver and includes great basic tools like a paddle, whisk and dough hook. But you can purchase a variety of unique compatible accessories like a pasta maker, spiralizer or juicer to spice up your cooking, which the KitchenAid mixers' powerful motor has no trouble running.
This model scored well in all of our tests — we even thought the manual was helpful — but it particularly aced our cookie dough and whipped cream tests, easily tackling dense oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies and turning out fluffy, stable whipped cream. It's also a great mixer for bread bakers, since it received a perfect score for kneading in our tests. When it comes to all-around mixer power, this pick is a top performer.
Score a powerful mixer on a tight budget with this Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer. It was among the most affordable models we tested and earned a high score in nearly every one of our evaluations. Our Kitchen Appliance pros were impressed with its ability to both whip delicate egg whites into stiff peaks and to quickly (and evenly) knead bread dough.
It's designed with a handle on top to make lifting the head easy, plus it suctions to your countertop so it'll stay in place when you're mixing. All attachments are dishwasher safe, and with seven different speeds, you'll have enough control to avoid under-mixing and over-mixing batters, doughs and frosting. That said, we did note some splattering in our tests.
For Cuisinart fans, this retro-color, versatile pick will be a great addition to your kitchen. It features 12 speed settings that are easy to select with the turn of a dial. The lowest setting is very gentle so flour won't spew everywhere, while the highest setting is good for putting the final touches on whipped cream. The bowl attaches to the base easily, and the attachments are easy to add and remove. In our tests, the whisk whipped excellent fluffy egg whites and cream that didn’t seep. It also handled a monster cookie recipe very well. It tackled a multigrain bread dough, but we did note that the head can move when kneading stiff doughs.
Several attachments for this stand mixer can be purchased separately, including a pasta roller and cutter, spiralizer and ice cream maker. (We especially like using ice cream attachments on stand mixers because you can increase the speed to make a fluffier ice cream.) Plus, this mixer comes in so many different cool colors, you'll be sure to find the right one for your kitchen.
Professional (and amateur!) bakers will appreciate this stand mixer that lets you make some hefty batches in one go. While it's bigger and heavier than most of the other options on this list, it does deliver on capacity and power. Its 7-quart bowl lets you tackle large quantities, and its powerful 500-watt motor is perfect for bread bakers.
In our tests, it created smooth and elastic bread dough in about 10 minutes and handled stiff oatmeal cookie dough with ease. It also turned out fluffy, sturdy meringue and whipped cream. Because the bowl lowers (rather than the head lifting), our tester did find that the attachments could be a little hard to remove when ingredients were in the mixer, but the overall performance made this a solid pick for big-batch bakers.
If you're looking for a smaller stand mixer, this KitchenAid Artisan Mini might be the choice for you. It's a compact model that packs just as much of a punch as many full-size mixers at a lower price tag. It's 25% lighter and takes up 20% less counter space than the brand's classic model, so you don't need to sacrifice counter space and you won't compromise on performance.
From whipping egg whites into stiff peaks to plowing through heavy oatmeal cookie dough, it aced our Lab's mixing tests. The Mini comes with a beater, whisk and dough hook attachment (and can still accommodate fun attachments). It features a 3.5-quart bowl, which is great for small batches but less ideal for larger recipes.
The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab can’t wait to test this new smart mixer by GE. It caught our eye thanks to a built-in scale to weigh ingredients, a voice command setting for hands-free operation and auto-sense technology that works with included recipes to keep an eye on how well ingredients are mixing.
Its 7-quart capacity means you can whip up those larger batches. It features 10 different speeds, including a slow start function, and can connect to your phone via the GE SmartHQ app so you can control it remotely to monitor and change the speed, set a timer or receive a notification once each step in the recipe is completed.
The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab test a wide variety of kitchen products, including stand mixers. For our most recent test of 13 stand mixers, our experts considered how simple it was to set up each machine and to switch tools. They evaluated the handiness of the user's manual, the noise level of the motor and how easy the parts were to clean. They put each product to the test with a roster of classic baking tasks:
Stand mixers come in a few varieties, and understanding the difference will help you find the style that's right for you.
✔️ Tilt-head stand mixers: A tilt-head mixer has a hinged neck so that the head can tilt back, giving you better access to the bowl and letting you insert and remove the accessories more easily. When lowered over the bowl, the head generally locks into place so that it won't bounce on the hinge when in use. Tilt-head mixers usually have small- to medium-capacity bowls and are good for most baking and mixing tasks. ✔️ Bowl-lift stand mixers: A bowl-lift mixer has a fixed head, but the bowl sits either on two arms or a rotating platform that can be raised to meet the mixing attachment. These mixers often have a larger base and can support a large-capacity bowl and, therefore, are ideal for larger batches and heavier tasks, like making bread dough. ✔️ Planetary mixing stand mixers: This is the most common type of stand mixer for household use. With planetary mixers, the bowl locks into place and the mixing attachment — such as paddle, whisk or hook — rotates on its axis while also rotating around the bowl (just like our solar system's planets, hence the name). They do require scraping the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated, but they are reasonably good at working ingredients into the mixture. ✔️ Stationary mixing stand mixers: Usually these involve two beaters that spin in place while the bowl rotates below. These are less commonly found models for home cooks. They can require frequent scraping to incorporate ingredients that are not below the beaters.
Finding the best stand mixer for your needs comes down to these main factors:
✔️ Capacity: This refers to the size of the work bowl. We like a 5-quart bowl as a baseline, but a larger bowl can give you more flexibility for batch size if you find that you’re always doubling your recipes to cook for a crowd. That said, if you bake for just one or two people or need the ability to whip just a few egg whites or a small portion of heavy cream, a smaller bowl is a better choice. ✔️ Wattage: This indicates the maximum power of the motor. The higher the watts listed for the motor, the greater the power. Think about what you like to bake most. Will you be using the stand mixer for sourdoughs and pizza crusts? If so, you'll want motor that can tackle stiff or sticky doughs. Looser items, like cake batter, can turn out nicely even with a lower wattage. ✔️ Price: Clearly you must consider what you can afford. Some high-end mixers can cost more than $500, while others are closer to $50. Sometimes a budget-friendly model is a steal, but other times you might find that the motor can’t handle heavy-duty tasks or just won’t last as many years. A larger upfront investment in a high-quality mixer may save you money over time. ✔️ Material: Higher-quality machines are usually constructed of metal, which provides both durability for a long life and heft to help keep the machine in place during use. Metal is often easier to clean because it's usually smoothly polished with fewer crevices. Lower-priced models are often made of plastic, which can be a boon for lifting and storing (and price!), but the lightweight design may mean it shifts around during use or shows wear-and-tear more quickly. ✔️ Size and weight: Do you plan to store your stand mixer on the counter? If so, you need to consider the width of your available space and the height of your cabinets when choosing your model. If you plan to store your stand mixer in a cabinet or pantry, the weight will be an important factor, as you'll need to be able to lift and move the unit with each usage. ✔️ Attachment and accessories: Most stand mixers will come with a paddle attachment (for cookie doughs and brownie and cake batters), a whisk attachment (for meringues, marshmallows and whipped cream) and a dough hook (for bread doughs). Some might also provide a paddle attachment with a fin that helps you scrape the side of the bowl as you mix. The most versatile machines include the option to buy additional attachments that let you use the stand mixer’s motor for completely different tasks, like rolling pasta, juicing fruits and veggies, grinding meats or peeling produce.
To ensure that your mixer can stand the test of time, practice good cleanup and maintenance. Always follow the instruction manual for care, and contact the manufacturer for larger issues. But for day-to-day cleaning, these tips from Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou will help:
✔️ For stray flour or dry goods, wipe the mixer with a dry cloth or use a dry pastry brush to sweep the mess from any crevices; this will prevent clumps and buildup (since introducing water can create a paste that will harden if not removed). ✔️ For wet messes like batter or liquid, wipe with a damp sponge or cloth right away to prevent sticking and staining. Then dry the mixer with a dry cloth. ✔️ Hand wash attachments and accessories and dry — or allow to air dry — thoroughly. While many stand mixer tools are dishwasher safe, hand washing will help prevent potential nicks, chips and rusting, and it will help preserve the nonstick finish where applicable. ✔️ Store the attachments in the bowl of the mixer, preferably in a tea towel to help prevent scratching.
The Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and advice on everything you could ever hope to stock your kitchen with, including stand mixers.
Sarah Wharton is a deputy editor with the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has tested some of the stand mixers on this list and has tested and written about products like immersion blenders.
Nicole Papantoniou runs the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, where she oversees all content and testing related to cooking products. She started testing and developing cooking tools, gadgets, gear and appliances in 2014 though she started using them all when she started cooking at 12 years old. She is trained in classic culinary arts and is a professional recipe developer.
Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor for the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).
Betty Gold is an experienced food writer and editor who worked at Good Housekeeping from 2013 to 2019. As the former Senior Editor & Product Analyst in the Kitchen Appliances Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, she tested and wrote about pretty much every type of cooking tool and food-related item on the market.
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