Best Mixers for Baking in 2024

Baking can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but it is important to have the right tools in order to achieve success. One of the most essential pieces of equipment for baking is a mixer.

A good quality mixer will help you mix your ingredients quickly and efficiently, while also helping you achieve consistent results each time. With so many different makes and models available on the market today, it can be difficult to choose which one is best suited for your needs.

To make this decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best stand mixers for baking that are currently available.

Best Mixers for Baking: Reviews

1. Kitchenaid Artisan Mini Plus Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Here we have a super convenient and versatile stand mixer designed with spatial awareness in mind. It’s small and compact, yet still powerful and can perform many different jobs.

Review

Something that you might like about this particular stand mixer is the fact that it is fairly small and compact. It weighs well under 15 pounds and really doesn’t take up much space at all. It is therefore a good option for people who have limited countertop and covered space for storage.

Complete with a 3.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl, this is not very large but it is ideal for small batches of dough. It can also be used for mixing small quantities of other ingredients. Just beware that it is not an ideal mixer for large families or big projects. This mixing bowl is dishwasher friendly, something that will help make your life just a little bit easier.

It might not be the largest unit out there, but it is still fairly powerful. It features a motor that is more than powerful enough to work its way through anything that you will put in its path. The motor here is 250 watts, and that should be more than enough.

It also comes complete with the so-called flex edge beater, a wire whip, and a coated dough hook, so it does come with all of the attachments you need for a variety of purposes.

You might appreciate the tilt head feature here because it allows you to easily tilt the head of this stand mixer up and down, which allows you to easily add ingredients into the bowl. Keep in mind that this mixer comes complete with 10 different speeds that you can manually adjust using the adjustment lever.

What’s also pretty cool is that there are over 10 different attachments that you can use with this unit, including everything from a food processor to a pasta maker.

Something worth noting is that the unit as a whole is built out of stainless steel, so it should last for quite some time, especially in terms of rust and corrosion resistance. We do also like the spiffy red paint job, although there are about a dozen colors to choose from.

Pros

• Durable design
• Space friendly
• 10 speeds
• Tilt head for ease of use
• Dishwasher safe mixing bowl
• 67 touch points for efficient mixing

Cons

• Very small bowl only

2. Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer

Here we have a slightly larger stand mixer than the previous one we just looked at. It comes in at a reasonable price and comes complete with all of the features you need to mix dough, sauces, dry ingredients, and more.

Review

Something that stands out about this stand mixer is that it comes complete with a 300-watt motor, which is quite powerful. This means that it should be able to power its way through any food items you put in that bowl. It comes complete with seven different speeds to choose from, which is not the most out of all mixers but will still be enough for most applications.

Speaking of the bowl, what you get here is a 4-quart stainless steel bowl that comes complete with handles for easy manipulation. 4 quarts isn’t huge, but it should be more than enough for basic applications.

The bowl is also dishwasher friendly. To make sure that all ingredients are properly mixed, it comes complete with what is known as planetary mixing action.

Although the bowl itself is not massive, it also means that the stand mixer as a whole also isn’t huge. We do like that it is fairly compact, small, and lightweight, as it can easily fit on your counter or in any kitchen cabinet. It’s definitely a good option to go with if you don’t have too much space to spare.

Going back to the bowl, we like how it comes complete with a splash guard so ingredients don’t splash back up at you as they are being mixed, yet still makes it easy to add ingredients through the integrated hole. Keep in mind that you also get a dough hook, a flat, and a whisk included with your purchase.

We really like the overall build of this mixer, as it is made with stainless steel, so should be more than durable enough to withstand whatever you can throw its way. It’s scratch, dent, and impact resistant, not to mention that stainless steel shouldn’t corrode or rust either.

The fact that it comes complete with a tilt head design is also convenient because it makes it easy to add ingredients and to clean the unit.

Pros

• Powerful motor
• Durable exterior
• Easy to clean
• User friendly design
• Dishwasher friendly bowl
• Efficient mixing action

Cons

• Super loud
• Only seven speeds

3. Cuisinart SM-50TQ 5.5 Quart Stand Mixer

Here we have a really nice stand mixer to consider, one that is larger, more powerful, and more expensive than anything else we have looked at so far today.

Review

The large stand mixer comes complete with a large 5.5-quart bowl. As you can probably tell, this bowl is larger than with any of the other stand mixers that we have looked at today. This allows for a good deal of room, so it should be ideal for preparing fairly large batches of dough and other food.

On that note, this unit is large enough to prepare food for many people, yet still compact enough so that it doesn’t take up too much kitchen space. No, it’s certainly not the smallest unit out there, but it still should still be manageable in terms of the storage and counter space.

Now, something that we do really like about this particular stand mixer is the fact that it is made out of die cast metal. This means that it is extremely durable, likely much more durable than anything else we’ve looked at so far today.

Sure, it is also heavy, but this unit isn’t necessarily designed for portability. This stand mixer is a product that is going to last for many years and is going to be able to withstand a whole lot of punishment. Thanks to the high-quality design, as well as high-quality materials, this is certainly a very tough customer.

You might also like how the stand mixer comes with 12 different speeds, which is more than any of the other stand mixers on our list today.

It also comes with a 500-watt motor, which is far more powerful than anything else we’ve looked at. Thanks to this great power and variety of speed settings, this has to be one of the most versatile stand mixers available.

It’s also a very convenient stand mixer, and the main reason for this is because it comes with a tilt head design. This means that you can simply tilt the head back to easily add ingredients.

To help keep you clean, you also get a splash guard and a pour spout included, as well as a flat mixing paddle, chef’s whisk, and a dough hook. On a side note, this unit also comes complete with a limited three-year warranty, just in case anything goes wrong with it.

Pros

• Very powerful
• Many attachments
• Large capacity
• Superior durability
• Many speed settings
• User-friendly design

Cons

• A bit large and heavy

4. Cuisimax Stand Mixer

If you are looking for a good combination of affordability, durability, power, and size, then this is definitely a good option to look into.

Review

Here we have a fairly spacious stand mixer that comes complete with a 5-quart stainless steel bowl. 5 quarts should be enough for most purposes, especially when it comes to making bread or cookie dough.

It can also be used for muffins, waffles, mashed potatoes, and so much more. We do like how this is a stainless steel bowl, as it is durable, won’t rust, and is also very easy to clean. It could even be put in the dishwasher.

Although the bowl itself is fairly large, this stand mixer isn’t overly large or heavy. One part of the reason for this is because it is made mostly out of plastic. Now, it is very high-quality plastic, so you shouldn’t have too many problems in terms of durability, but it is plastic, not metal, which is why it is quite lightweight.

At the same time, the stand mixer itself isn’t overly big, so it should be alright in terms of spatial friendliness. It shouldn’t take up too much counter or cupboard space.

This unit comes complete with a 400-watt motor, which should be more than powerful enough to power its way through any food you put in its path. With that being said, it only features three speed settings, which is decidedly on the low end of things, although, you might really like that this stand mixer comes complete with a tilt back design, which makes it very easy to add ingredients.

Another cool feature is the anti-slip base that stops it from moving across your counter as it is in use. Included with your purchase, you also get a beater, a whisk, and a dough hook. The planetary operation makes sure that the beaters rotate in such a way so that no area of the bowl is left untouched.

For the fairly reasonable price that it comes in at, we think that it is a good investment. It’s not the number one best stand mixer in the world, but it also won’t break your budget.

Pros

• Lightweight design
• Large enough for families
• Small enough for storage
• Powerful motor
• Good price
• Easy to use
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Could do with more speed settings
• Somewhat limited durability

5. Dash Stand Mixer

Here we have what is by far the most affordable stand mixer on the list today, as it comes in at just over $50. It’s nothing overly special, but it is convenient and it gets the job done.

Review

This is a stand mixer that comes complete with a 3-quart stainless steel bowl. Now, 3 quarts is of course not very large, but it should be enough to make small batches of bread dough, cake batter, or cookie dough. It’s just not something that you would use for large scale applications.

However, the big upside here is of course that this stand mixer is very space friendly. It doesn’t take up very much space at all, which is good for your counters and your cupboards, not to mention that it’s also fairly lightweight, so moving it from one area to another isn’t overly difficult either.

On a side note, we do like how this stainless steel bowl is dishwasher friendly, which will make life a little bit easier.

Moreover, something else that helps make life a bit easier is that this unit features a tilt head design, so you can tilt the head back, therefore allowing you to easily add ingredients into the bowl. Keep in mind that you do also get two dough hooks and two mixer beaters included with your purchase here, as well as a recipe book.

Next, this stand mixer comes complete with a 250-watt motor, which should be powerful enough for such a small stand mixer, although there are certainly more powerful units out there. At the same time, it also comes complete with six different speed settings, which should be good enough for most purposes.

One of the only downsides with this stand mixer is the fact that it is made out of fairly low-quality plastic. That said, for just $50, you really can’t expect more. It is certainly not the most durable stand mixer in the world, although if you treat it right and take good care of it, it should still last for quite some time.

Pros

• Great price
• Ideal for small applications
• User friendly tilt design
• Decent motor for a small unit
• Compact and lightweight

Cons

• Not for larger applications
• Not overly durable
• Not many speed settings

Buyers Guide

Let’s provide you with some tips on how to choose the best stand mixer.

1. Types of Stand Mixers

There are two main types of stand mixers out there: tilt-head stand mixers and bowl lift stand mixers. Bowl lift stand mixers feature a fixed design with a lever that allows you to lower or raise the bowl, whereas tilt head stand mixers feature a hinged top that swings the head up and down, instead of having to move the bowl. Generally speaking, the hinged design is preferred as it is a little more user-friendly and convenient.

2. Capacity

We do also want to pay attention to the capacity of the mixing bowl. As you can see, some of the units that we reviewed today are as small as 3 quarts, whereas others are nearly 6 quarts, but some models out there being even larger.

You do need to consider what you will be using the stand mixer for and how many people you plan on cooking baking for. If you have a larger family, somewhere around 5 quarts is definitely called for.

3. Wattage

You then also want to consider how powerful the motor of the stand mixer is. As you can tell from some of the mixers we’ve looked at today, these may be as weak as 200 or 250 watts, with others ranging up to 500 watts or more.

Of course, the larger the bowl is, the more powerful the motor needs to be to keep up. At the same time, you also want to look for something fairly powerful, or else the motor may stall out if you are trying to mix something thick and heavy, such as bread dough.

A more powerful motor always comes in handy, although it will of course also cost you more.

4. Material

Something else worth paying attention to here is the material that the stand mixer in question is made out of. Generally speaking, something made out of stainless steel or die-cast metal is best, especially in terms of durability.

Something made out of metal should be able to withstand any kind of punishment you throw its way. That said, these interiors can be heavy and expensive, and case aluminum is your next best option, followed by durable ABS plastic. Just keep in mind that while plastic is lightweight and relatively affordable, it’s also going to feature limited durability.

5. Size and Weight

This is somewhat related to the previous point, at least in terms of the weight. Now, we personally prefer a slightly heavier stand mixer because this prevents it from moving around and vibrating during use.

In terms of the size, this is really going to depend on the size of the mixing bowl you get. Yes, you want something large enough to be useful, yet also small enough to fit on your counter and in your kitchen cupboards.

6. Attachments and Accessories

The other thing to look for here is all of the different attachments and accessories that the collection may come with. At the very least, you want a beater, hook, and a paddle, and a splash guard is pretty nice as well.

FAQs

1. Can stand mixer parts go in the dishwasher?

Unless specifically stated otherwise, yes, stand mixer parts should be able to go in the dishwasher, especially all of the attachments and the stainless steel bowl. Of course, the actual stand mixer itself cannot go in the dishwasher.

2. Is tilt-head or bowl-lift better?

Personally, we recommend going with a tilt head stand mixer, as they tend to be easier to use, easier to clean, and more durable. They’re all around just considered to be better than bowl lift stand mixers.

3. Should I get a hand mixer or a stand mixer?

If you plan on using the mixer a lot, and you are going to be doing plenty of baking, especially with different kinds of doughs and batters that require different mixing speeds and accessories, we would definitely go with a stand mixer.

Stand mixers are just much more versatile in this sense, plus you can let them run to do other things while the mixing happens, unlike a hand mixer that you always need to hold.

4. How do you grease the bowl of a stand mixer?

To grease the bowl of a stand mixer, all you have to do is rub some butter in it.

5. Can a stand mixer replace a food processor?

There are some stand mixers that come with special attachments or accessories that allow them to be used like food processors, although these are fairly rare. For the most part, you will want to get a dedicated food processor.

But if you do get a stand mixer that features a food processor attachment, it probably won’t work quite as well as a real food processor.

Final Thoughts

If it is a large, powerful, and durable stand mixer that you are looking for, it is the Cuisinart SM-50TQ 5.5 Quart Stand Mixer that you want to go with. Yes, it is the most expensive unit on the list, but is also the best in every way imaginable.