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Best rated mixer


Best stand mixer 2022 – explore our expert reviews

(Image credit: KitchenAid )

Whether you're stepping up your home baking or a pro pastry chef in training, the best stand mixers whip up mixes in minutes, saving time and effort. 

I tested classic stand mixers from KitchenAid, Smeg, Cuisinart and more to discover which came out on top for effectiveness, quality, durability, ease of cleaning and price. I've also taken weight into consideration, in case you have the space to be able to tuck your stand mixer away when not in use.

The best stand mixer is the iconic KitchenAid Artisan, which has a five-quart mixing bowl that can accommodate enough cake batter to make at least two tiers at once. It impressed on test with its brilliant, colorful finishes and its wide range of tools to perfectly whisk eggs, fold in flour and knead bread dough. 

Alongside functionality, I considered the stand mixers' looks – since, unlike our selection of the best hand mixers, yours will likely be out on the countertop full time. Below you can find more details on the best buy and my other highly rated models. 

Where to buy stand mixers:

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Best stand mixer holiday deals

KitchenAid Artisan 5 Qt. Stand Mixer KSM150PS | was $449.95, now $349.99 at Macy's
Rated our best stand mixer, don't miss out on a great saving on this excellent model. The KitchenAid Artisan is a favorite of mine, and is the perfect size for making multi-layer cakes. I also loved how it can store neatly on the kitchen counter, ideal for kitchens of all shapes and sizes.

KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series 5 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer - KV25G0XSL - Silver |was $449.99 now $249.99 at Best Buy
Save on the KitchenAid Pro 5 Plus stand mixer with this Cyber Monday saving. It's available in Red, Silver, Black, and a Best Buy exclusive Ink Blue.

Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer, 500W, Black, SM50BU | was $315.00, now $246.99 at Amazon
Another one of our top rated stand mixers is available at a discounted price. The Cuisinart is great value for money (even better when there is a deal). I loved how the study design could complete heavy-duty tasks, such as kneading bread, with ease, and how the controls were easy to use.

Best stand mixers 2022, according to our experts

(Image credit: KitchenAid )

1. KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer overall

Specifications

Dimensions: 14.3" x 9.3" x 14"

Capacity: 5 qt.

Power: 325W

Colors: countless

Attachments: dough hook, flat beater, wire whisk

RRP: $449.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Comes in an huge range of colors

+

Excels at all of many kitchen tasks

+

Buy more attachments to expand its capabilities

Reasons to avoid

-

Not the largest capacity

Why I love it
This iconic, American-made stand mixer is a statement piece in any kitchen, but don't let looks deceive you - it's a real workhorse. With 10 speed settings, it powered through cake batter, bread dough, and whipped cream with perfect results. The handy tilt-head makes it a joy to use, and it was easy for me to add ingredients and switch out attachments.

These attachments include a wire whisk for beating eggs, a flat beater for integrating cake batter, and a hook to work your bread dough. I was particularly impressed by the flat beater, which creamed sugar and butter with minimal intervention before adding in eggs and flour to make easy loaf cakes. The dough hook needed a little supervision for larger loaves, but it's perfectly suitable for brioche or sourdough. 

Good to know
In my full KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer review I found that the 5-quart capacity is a little lacking if you're catering for a crowd. I turned out two chocolate sponge cakes in one go, but only one loaf of bread at a time. However, KitchenAid makes several bowl sizes if you need more capacity.

(Image credit: Cuisinart)

2.

Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer for value

Specifications

Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.2 x 15.9 inches

Power: 500W

Capacity: 5.5qt.

Colors: 6

Attachments: Dough hook, whisk, flat beater

RRP: $249.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Value for money

+

Larger-than-average capacity

+

12 speeds for added precision

Reasons to avoid

-

Fewer color options than the KitchenAid

Why I love it 
The KitchenAid vs Cuisinart debate is still a hot topic, but if value for money is your number one consideration then the Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer is a great option.

I found that it excelled at heavy-duty tasks like kneading bread thanks to sturdy design and high-quality attachments. Controlled by a simple side dial, it packs 500 watts of power. This dial makes it easy to adjust the speed mid-mix, and it also has with 12 speed settings, which is more than the KitchenAid. Despite this power, it's great for delicate work - I loved the slow-start design that saves you from messy clouds of icing sugar or flour as you bake. 

If you're catering for a crowd, the bowl is also larger than the KitchenAid Artisan by half a quart. Though it can't match the KitchenAid for colors, the six options - periwinkle blue, white, silver, red, black, and robin's egg green - suit almost every kitchen.

Need to know 
Bear in mind that some ingredients stuck to the side of the bowl, so I had to scrape the sides down to fully incorporate the ingredients.

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

3. KitchenAid Pro Line Series Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer for serious or professional bakers

Specifications

Dimensions: 14.6" x 13.3" x 16.4"

Power: 969W

Capacity: 7 qt.

Colors: Red, black, silver

Attachments: Dough hook, whisk, splash guard, flat beater

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Capable of mixing large volumes

+

Powerful kneading

+

Dishwasher-safe attachments

+

Sturdy to use

Reasons to avoid

-

The bowl can be tricky to reach into

Why I love it
From one baking obsessive to another: if you're taking on multi-tiered cakes, or a whopping 14 dozen cookies, or simply chasing the perfect loaf, the KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer is an investment worth making. This is the best stand mixer for serious bakers.

It created the best bread of any I've tested, kneading smooth, elastic dough. Unlike other stand mixers on the list, there was no juddering or moving on the countertop, which is great for safety, especially if you're cooking with kids. This is thanks to a bowl-lift design, which means you twist a lever to bring the bowl up to your attachment, guaranteeing stability. 

It also had far less trouble with ingredients sticking to the side of the bowl than other stand mixers in our lineup, thanks to a broad wire whisk and efficient planetary motion. While it's designed to take on heavy ingredients in large capacities, I found that it mixed well even with small quantities of ingredients as in a buttercream. 

Need to know
In my KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer review, I concluded that the same bowl-lift design which keeps this stand mixer sturdy makes switching out the attachments a little tricky. That said, all these attachments are dishwasher-safe, so it's easy to clean.  

(Image credit: Smeg)

4. Smeg Retro Stand Mixer

Best looking stand mixer

Specifications

Dimensions: 8.86 x 15.94 x 14.88 inches

Power: 600W

Capacity: 5qt.

Colors: 7

Attachments: whisk, flat beater, dough hook, pouring shield

RRP: $539.95

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Compact

+

Sleek look

+

Has an express setting

+

Matching appliances available 

Reasons to avoid

-

Only neutral colors available 

-

A noisy mixer

Why I love it

This Mid-Century Modern mixer might look old-school, but there's much more going on than meets the eye. 

A 21st century homage to the atomic-age, I think this mixer is the most stylish alternative to the KitchenAid Artisan. It's got plenty of attachments, and I particularly loved the pouring shield that stops spills and messes as you bake. At 600W, it's remarkably powerful, whipping up a perfect chocolate frosting. The intuitive controls are not only simple to use, but mean that you can place this stand mixer almost anywhere on a countertop, as it suits both right-and left-handers. 

It comes in seven bright colors in two different color ranges - one with a pop of color on the tilt-head, and one set in which the entire mixer is one color.

Need to know
In my Smeg 1950s Retro Stand Mixer review, I found that it has a big countertop footprint, so it may not suit smaller spaces. It's also noisy, which is fine for quick mixes but a nuisance for thorough tasks like kneading bread dough. 

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

5. KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer

Best compact stand mixer

Specifications

Dimensions: h22. 3 x W7.8 x D12.3 inches

Power: 250W

Capacity: 3.5qt.

Colors: 10

Attachments: flat beater, wire whisk, dough hook

RRP: $379.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

25% smaller than the original Artisan

+

Works with other KitchenAid attachments

+

Perfectly designed for smaller spaces

+

Excelled in our tests 

Reasons to avoid

-

Limited motor strength

-

No bowl handle

-

Similar RRP to full-sized model

Why I love it 
This miniature marvel is much smaller and lighter than other KitchenAid models, but it still has the power to work through cake batter, bread dough, and more. 

You get the same high-quality wire whisk, flat beater, and dough hook as you'd expect with a regular KitchenAid, but they work with a 3. 5-quart bowl. While this is smaller than the other stand mixers on test, our reviewer Molly Cleary said the capacity was still impressive. It's great for smaller families and smaller portions.

This mixer maxes out at 250 watts, which is less than half the size of some more high-end stand mixers, but if you need a smaller size it's a sacrifice worth making. Molly found that the smaller motor kept up with the bigger appliances on test. What's more, because it's smaller, it has the added bonus of being quieter, and smaller capacities meant that it was mixer was stable on the countertop. 

Any attachments purchased separately will also still be compatible with this petite model, so you still get the full benefits of the brand - excellent quality, great results, and a beautiful, statement appliance.

Need to know
In her KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer review, Molly noted that this smaller model is only $20 cheaper than the full-sized alternative, so it's not the best value. However, if you're working with limited countertop storage this mixer will free up a lot of space, and look fabulous too.

(Image credit: Wolf Gourmet Stand Mixer)

6. Wolf Gourmet Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer to splurge on

Specifications

Dimensions: 14.3 x 9.3 x 14 inches

Power: 500W

Capacity: 6.8qt

Colors: brushed stainless steel

Attachments: dough hook, flat beater, wire whisk

RRP: $999.95

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Unique twist-up bowl

+

Pro-level blending quality

+

Smooth operation, and never splattered

+

Didn't overheat or shake

+

Additional attachment hub

Reasons to avoid

-

No enticing color range

-

Tall, so may not fit under cabinets

-

Very expensive

Why I love it
Going purely on performance, the crème de la crème of stand mixers is not a KitchenAid. All things considered, the KitchenAid is the definitely the best, but when it comes to sheer baking output, the Wolf Gourmet can't be beaten. Our reviewer Jaclyn Turner says that it created the best cookies she's ever made - incredibly high praise from someone who reviews homeware for a living. 

This is thanks to a unique bowl design. Where the usual title-head design of other stand mixers can lead to instability, the Wolf Gourmet Stand Mixer has a special twist-up bowl design. Simply put this bowl in the base and then twist it to lower or raise it to the mixer attachments. It's undeniably stable, and quiet, and the motor
is cool after many minutes' use thanks to a fan.

The bowl is 6.8 quarts, which is more than capable of taking on very large bakes. There is also a splash guard attachment that slots onto the side of the bowl and prevents any spills and clouds of flour, and a two-way planetary motions helps the beater scrape up every scrap of mix. You can also buy a meat grinder attachment.  

Good to know
Jaclyn's review of the Wolf Gourmet mixer found a few reasons why this mixer was bested by KitchenAid. The hefty price tag on the Wolf Gourmet is enough to make you wince. Aesthetically, it's more utilitarian than the other stand mixers we've featured, with no choice of colors except on the knobs. It's also tall, so it may not fit your kitchen if you've got low cabinets or shelves over your countertop. 

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

7. KitchenAid Pro 5 Plus Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer for stability

Specifications

Dimensions: 11.3 x 14.9 x 16.5 inches

Power: 525W

Capacity: 5 qt.

Colors: 4

Attachments: Flat beater, wire whip, powerknead spiral dough hook

RRP: $449.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Bowl-lift design adds more stability

+

Powerful design

+

Comes in plenty of colors

+

For the experienced home chef

Reasons to avoid

-

Expensive

Why I love it
It's big, it's powerful and it's got the muscle to work through numerous batches of bread and cookies in one go. The 5-quart bowl can make 9 batches of cookies in one go and you can make the most of 10 speeds to work on high-intensity or more gentle tasks. 

The mixer comes with a power knead dough spiral, but you can pair it with everything from pasta rollers to food processor attachments to make the most of this versatile option. I'm quite taken by the Ink Blue color, which is exclusive to Best Buy, but it's also available in red, black and silver. 

Good to know
With professional quality comes a professional price, so only invest if you know you'll need something with a large capacity and immense power. 

This stand mixer is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Ankarsrum)

8. Ankarsrum Assistent Original Mixer

Best stand mixer for making dough

Specifications

Dimensions: 20" x 15" x 20"

Power: 1500W

Capacity: 7 liters

Colors: 12

Attachments: 7 liter stainless steel mixing bowl, dough roller, dough knife, dough scraper, dough hook, dust cover lid, a 3. 5 liter BPA/BPS free Tritan plastic mixing bowl, multi-wire balloon and single-wire cookie whip

RRP: $749.50

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Very powerful

+

Large capacity

+

Scraper attachment to keep the bowl clean

+

Timer dial

+

Very adjustable speed

+

Easy to clean

Reasons to avoid

-

Expensive

-

Some of the recipes were hit-and-miss

Why I love it
This Swedish icon puts bread-making front and center, but still shines at everyday stand mixer tasks like whisking, creaming, and even making ice cream. It made kneading bread dough literally effortless. There was no straining on the motor and no instability as it worked - you could almost leave this machine unattended and come back to find a perfect dough. When it's done, I simply placed the plastic cover over the top and left the dough to proof, making a easy job even simpler. 

It comes with a wide range of accessories and attachments including a 7-liter (7.3 quart) stainless steel mixing bowl and a 3.5-liter (3.7 quart) plastic mixing bowl, so you can vary your portion sizes. It also features a dough roller, dough knife, dough scraper, dough hook, dust cover lid, multi-wire balloon, and single-wire cookie whip.

What's unique about the Ankarsrum is that the stainless steel bowl rotates to mix as opposed to an overhead mechanism, like in your traditional stand mixers, and mimics the motion of kneading. The clear bowl, which is best for creaming frostings and beating eggs, stays stationary while the whisks are driven from below. 

Good to know
Though I still had great results with cake and cinnamon buns, the mixer is really designed for bread. You have to use the multi-wire balloon for cake mixes rather than a dedicated beater, so while the results are still good, they could be better. It's above the market average for a stand mixer, and my review of the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Mixer found that the included recipe book - while a nice feature - isn't always successful. 

Where to buy the best stand mixers

The best places to buy a stand mixer are: 

What is the best stand mixer? 

(Image credit: Future/Molly Cleary)

We have tested or are currently testing every single stand mixer in this guide, meaning we have an informed opinion when it comes to which model is truly the best. We've gone deep comparing KitchenAids against each other, KitchenAid to Cuisinart and KitchenAid to Smeg. With that in mind, we have decided that the best stand mixer is the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer. It comes in over 42 colors and has a huge range of bowls to switch out your design and achieve your desired look, but it's also very capable of cooking up a storm in the kitchen.  The 5-qt. is a good happy medium size, though there are other KitchenAid models you can look to if you need a bigger size. Meanwhile, Cuisinart Precision stand mixer offers greater value, but fewer size and color options; its mixing bowl could be too great for smaller servings. Smeg Stand Mixers also offer the singular bowl size options and become a stylistic preference, but they do pack a powerful motor.

For professional-level results, we're incredibly impressed with the sheer power and stability of the Wolf Gourmet Stand Mixer and the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Mixer , but it's hard to overlook their hefty price unless you'll be using your mixer multiple times a week. Though it's something we'd expect to last for years, and it will. 

How we test and review stand mixers

(Image credit: Future/Molly Cleary)

At Homes & Gardens, we believe that the only way we can truly inform you of which appliance is the best is if we have hands-on experience with them ourselves, which is why we've formulated a plan as to how we test different products. We went to lengths to test each of these mixers, some of them simultaneously, so we can establish which performed the best. We also used our testing facility in order to gauge the size, features, and maneuverability of these mixers.

When it comes to the tests themselves, we tried these mixers out on three different tasks in order to see the performance of different attachments, as well as the power of the mixers. The tests were made as quantifiable as possible, with recordings of time taken to adequately mix as well as decibel readings. We also gauged how easy it was to clean the stand mixers as part of this process.

Reviews Editor

Millie Fender is the Reviews Editor on the Homes and Gardens Ecommerce team. She specializes in cooking appliances, such as the best kettles, and also reviews outdoor grills and pizza ovens. Millie loves to bake, so she's always keen to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. 

Jaclyn is H&G's eCommerce editor and oversees all things shopping. She regularly scouts out the best of the best for buying guides to help you fill your home with quality products and appliances.

Molly is the Ecommerce Writer for Homes & Gardens and spends her time searching the internet for the next best thing for your home. While she tests all sorts of appliances, stand mixers are her favorite appliance to write about.

How much does the best stand mixer cost? 

There's no denying that the very top-stand mixers can be expensive. The most expensive one in our guide can cost as much as $1,000, but it is possible to get a powerful stand mixer for $100 if you are willing to compromise on looks or bowl capacity. 

Most stand mixers cost around $300, and if your heart is set on a KitchenAid mixer, the Classic Plus is the cheapest KitchenAid stand mixer you can buy and still features the dough hook for kneading bread, the flat beater for making cookies, and the whisk for cake and buttercream icing. 

If you are on a budget and looking to upgrade from your wooden spoon, it may be a good time to consider stand mixers versus hand mixers. The best hand mixer costs a lot less but can still power through icing and cake mix with ease. 

Why are stand mixers so expensive?

Some of you will be in total shock at the price of these mixers. How can a machine that simply spins around cost upwards of $300?

The first reason is the motor. A good stand mixer needs a powerful motor to handle strong, repetitive movement through resistant doughs and mixes. You might be able to get away with a cheaper stand mixer for a couple of years, but one day the motor will give out on a stiff dough and you'll have to buy another one, costing you more money in the long run. Top-line stand mixers from KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Smeg, and other iconic brands are reliable kitchen companions that last for decades, if not generations. 

The other reason is functions. KitchenAids and other stand mixers aren't just for baking. With the right attachment, you can grate, spiralise, grind meat, mill, make pasta and much more. You're not only buying simpler, faster baking but quick homemade cooking.  

Can stand mixer parts go in the dishwasher?

It depends on the stand mixer, so dishwasher-safe parts are a great feature to look out for. It's usually the case that attachments are dishwasher safe, but the bowl has to be washed in the sink. Some food processors are entirely dishwasher safe, so keep an eye out for those if you dread washing up.  

Features to look for in the best stand mixer

(Image credit: Future/Molly Cleary)

Size matters
How much space do you have to dedicate to a new stand mixer? Some stand mixers come with large mixing bowls and tilt-head designs that won't lift if placed under a cabinet. Others come with a more compact design, perfect for lifting into shelving units when not in use or leaving in a corner without losing a whole counter in your kitchen.

Looks aren't everything, but they do matter
A stand mixer is a style statement in any kitchen, which is why you'll find one displayed in just about any carefully composed kitchen. Smeg and KitchenAid certainly have the edge on style, but you may end up paying a premium for something that looks the part when it's got just as much power as a less expensive option. 

Price can vary
If you want a top-of-the-range stand mixer, prepare to spend as much as $700 to get it. Some stand mixers cost less than $100, but they are hardly the kitchen workhorses you'll want for serious baking on a regular basis. A good middle ground between power and price is the Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer, which lacks color options or classic style, but is a favorite with many home bakers and looks lovely too. 

The best stand mixer for you and your baking needs really depends on your budget and how often you’ll use this machine. Some mixers come with handy add-ons such as pasta makers and meat grinders to ensure they’re used regularly, but others have detachable mix heads and emphasize their primary function as stand mixers, with compact storage options. 

Built to last
One thing’s for sure - you’ll want a stand mixer that lasts the test of time. Some mixers come in durable plastic, but the best stand mixers have durable stainless steel finishes to make them last a lifetime. 

Round up of today's best deals

KitchenAid Artisan® Series 5 Quart

£555.50

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Reduced Price

Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer

£315

£249

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Smeg Retro Stand Mixer

£399

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Reduced Price

KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3. 5 Quart

£349

£312.87

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Reduced Price

Kitchenaid Professional 5™ Plus Series

£1,103.99

£599.99

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Millie Fender is Head of Reviews on the Homes and Gardens Ecommerce team. She specializes in cooking appliances, such as the best kettles, and also reviews outdoor grills and pizza ovens. Millie loves to bake, so she will take any excuse to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. When she's not putting products through their paces in our dedicated testing kitchen, Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own day-to-day life.  

With contributions from

The best stand mixers in 2022

Content is created by CNN Underscored’s team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Reviews

What's in this guide

Sam Fuller

There are many workhorses when it comes to the kitchen. And while cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens and cutting boards are all impressive in their own right, there is perhaps no appliance more sought after than a stand mixer. Since KitchenAid pioneered the concept in 1919, stand mixers have helped mix countless batches of cookies, knead bread dough and whip frosting — and that’s before you consider the other tasks possible with attachments that can do everything from spiralizing vegetables to rolling out pasta.

With a wide range of stand mixers on the market, we decided to test nine different popular and highly rated mixers. As we put them through the paces, we discovered the ability to evenly mix ingredients while also handling wet, sticky dough is a key differentiator, ultimately leading us to recommend a pair of appliances that stood out above the mix.

Cyber Monday Deal

KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer overall

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, 5-Qt.

Williams Sonoma

The KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer delivered the best performance of the mixers we tested. With more than 20 available colors and a classic profile, you’ll want to keep this tilt-head mixer on display in your kitchen.

$450 $350 at Kitchenaid $450 $350 at Williams Sonoma

Cyber Monday Deal

KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer for large batches

Williams-Sonoma

If you prefer a bowl-lift mixer because it feels sturdier, the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series is a solid upgrade option from the Artisan series. It has a bigger stainless steel bowl and a more powerful motor that can handle bigger batches and recipes.

$550 $430 at Amazon $550 $430 at KitchenAid $550 $430 at Williams Sonoma

Cuisinart SM-50

Best affordable stand mixer

Cuisinart SM-50 5.5 - Quart Stand Mixer

Amazon

The Cuisinart SM-50 outperformed all of the cheaper mixers we tested, so if you’re looking to upgrade your baking or cooking tools without stretching your budget too much, it’s a great choice.

From $188 at Amazon

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer

Jonathan Bender/CNN Underscored

The KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer bested the competition in each of our three recipe tests, mixing, kneading and whipping more effectively than the other mixers we examined — no surprise from the latest iteration of a design that’s been around for a century.

The KitchenAid stood out as the best in class when it came to mixing and kneading dough. The paddle easily creamed butter and sugar, then gently folded in chips and dried fruit. Slack dough came together quickly, and the bread loaf had a crackly crust surrounding a soft interior. While it wasn’t the quietest machine we tested, the noise didn’t stop a conversation at normal volume, and the motor didn’t sound like it was laboring.

The stainless steel bowl locked in and out of place quickly, and the handle was easy to grip. The 10-speed gear shifter slid with a smooth motion, and the clearly differentiated speeds all proved useful. It could gently mix at low speeds and whip at high speeds.

The KitchenAid comes with a full set of accessories that will get you started baking or mixing right out of the box; we were impressed with the simplicity of attaching and removing these during our time with the mixer, and with the versatility the wide range of available tools gives the mixer.

The powder-coated aluminum dough hook and paddle are sturdy and dishwasher-safe, while the whip (which, as is the case with nearly every other mixer whip attachment, has to be hand-washed) produced light, fluffy frosting that was smooth and evenly mixed. The included pouring shield had a wide mouth for adding flour while the mixer was running, and it kept splatter in the bowl during our tests.

A strength of the KitchenAid mixer lineup is that it’s easy to extend it to do a huge range of kitchen tasks. Dozens of attachments are available, ranging from alternative beaters and paddles that you can use in the bowl to full-fledged appliance replacements that attach to the mixer’s front-mounted “power hub” port. A flex edge beater (with a built-in scraper that moves along the sides of the bowl while mixing) is a good first addition, and from there you can purchase devices that do everything from shredding and spiralizing vegetables to rolling out pasta, grinding flour or meat, or making ice cream

The KitchenAid is on the heavier side at 26 pounds, but the weight gives it stability that is worth the extra effort in moving it around the kitchen. The mixer has the heft to handle up to 9 cups of flour without sliding around the counter.

It’s available in more than 20 colors ranging from mineral water blue to feather pink and a variety of bowl materials and designs from glass to ceramic with a floral motif. With a mix of colors and top-notch performance, the KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer lets you have a showpiece and workhorse in the same machine.

KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer

Jonathan Bender/CNN Underscored

If you bake more than twice a week, find yourself regularly hosting large family gatherings or needing to make big batches of cookies (anything above four dozen), the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series is worth stretching your budget. One important note: The Professional 600 Series mixer is 17 inches tall, so you might want to measure the space between your countertop and upper cabinets before purchasing.

The 6-quart bowl can work through enough dough to make 13 dozen cookies or mash up to 8 pounds of potatoes, so you can tackle everyday tasks in between big holiday gatherings. The bowl has a solid U-shaped handle. It snaps securely into place and can then be raised or lowered with the bowl lift handle.

The dough hook sat slightly too far above the base of the bowl when it came out of the box, but that was easy to remedy by using a flathead screwdriver to adjust the set screw that sits behind the bowl in the stem of the mixer.

The bowl mixer worked well when there were a lot of ingredients in the bowl. The cookie dough was even without being dense. There were chips and fruit in each bite of cookie, a trick that other mixers couldn’t manage. In short, this machine is built to get through big batches of dough.

A quick wipe with a damp cloth got the mixer clean. The wire whip needs to be hand-washed, and while the other accessories (dough hook and paddle) could be cleaned in the dishwasher, it was just as easy to rinse them in the sink, as dough didn’t stick to the powder coating.

Cuisinart SM-50 Stand Mixer

Jonathan Bender/CNN Underscored

The Cuisinart SM-50 mixed significantly better than any of the ultra-budget mixers we tested. Although it didn’t do as well as the top performers, for those looking to spend a bit less it can likely do everything you need. The more we worked with it, the more we liked it.

The 12-speed motor provided a surprising amount of power without being noisy, working quickly through thick cookie dough and slack bread dough. The whisk, however, didn’t live up to the other accessories. The size was a bit too big for the 5.5-quart bowl — adding powdered sugar was messy — and we had to stop whipping several times to scrape down the bowl. Once the butter was incorporated, the Cuisinart produced light and fluffy frosting with a great texture.

At slightly over 18 pounds, it was easy to lift on and off the counter yet still sturdy enough to remain in place when mixing a bowl full of ingredients.

The Cuisinart SM-50 has a three-year limited warranty, comes in 11 color options, has appealing styling (the chrome bubble on the head reminded us of a character from the Among Us viral video game) and there are five additional attachments available if you want to extend its usefulness. It may not be cheap at $250, but nothing cheaper was as satisfying to use. If you’re looking to get into baking and don’t want to stretch your budget too much, the SM-50 makes sense.

There are two common types of stand mixers: tilt-head and bowl-lift stand mixers. A tilt-head stand mixer has a hinged top so you can swing the head up to place a bowl in the base or add ingredients. A bowl-lift mixer has a fixed head and a lever that lets you raise or lower the bowl.

With a tilt-head mixer, you’ll have more space to swap out accessories or scrape down the sides of the bowl while the mixer is off. But if you’ll be fine-tuning your recipes or need to add ingredients while a mixer is running, you may find a bowl-lift mixer to be a better option because there is more space between the bowl and the bottom of the mixer head. A bowl-lift mixer may also provide more stability when a mixer is churning through heavier dough, whereas a tilt-head mixer may vibrate or move up and down slightly as the motor has to work harder.

A pair of heavy-duty mixers that we tested — the Bosch Universal and Ankarsrum Original — have a motor in the base and a bowl that slides on top; this design leaves the top open for adding ingredients.

You’ll also want to think about whether your mixer will stay on the counter or be tucked away in a pantry or cabinet. The stand mixers we tested ranged in height from 10.3 inches to 19 inches tall. While they all fit underneath a standard set of cabinets, the weight proved to be a more significant factor.

The Dash, at just under 3 pounds, was easily portable. The KitchenAid Professional 600 Series at 29 pounds took some arm muscle to lift on and off the counter. The heavier mixers were better at handling bigger batches of ingredients because the weight helped them stay in place on the counter once the motor was on. If your mixer is going to live on the counter, it might be a nice accent piece or colorful addition to your kitchen. Mixers have expanded past chrome, white or black and now come in a wide range of pastel or bright hues.

Stand mixers can become trusty kitchen partners and help save you time and sore forearms with mixing and kneading. If you regularly make cookies or bread, consider a stand mixer with a stronger motor (325 watts or above) and a bit more weight for stability.

Most of the machines we looked at ship with three accessories: a paddle for mixing, a dough hook for kneading and a whisk attachment for whipping. Check to see what’s included before purchasing and what’s available as an add-on.

The major brands offer bowls in different materials (glass, ceramic or stainless steel) as well as attachments that allow your stand mixer to function as a grinder or pasta roller, or even replace other appliances, such as an ice cream maker, blender or food processor.

KitchenAid in particular has a very large range of attachments, both for the bowl and the front-mounted “power hub” motor port common to its mixers. Bosch and Ankarsrum accessories take advantage of the base-mounted motor design and offer blender, food processor and juicer attachments that work much like their stand-alone counterparts.

You can clean the base and the head of your mixer with a wet dish towel. Keep in mind that tilt-head mixers might have more open spaces where dry ingredients can get caught.

While you will have to hand-wash your whisks (soak them in warm water and dish soap first to break down frosting or whipped cream), it’s fairly standard for a mixer to otherwise have attachments and a bowl that are dishwasher-safe.

If you’re looking for peace of mind on what can be a big investment, every mixer we tested had a replacement warranty of at least one year, with the Ankarsrum Original offering a seven-year warranty on its motor.

After looking at well-reviewed and best-selling models, we treated nine stand mixers as if it were the holidays and a lot of family were coming over for dinner. Over the course of a month, we tested the same recipes for buttercream frosting, a crusty loaf of bread and dried apricot and white chocolate chip cookies on each machine.

The mixers ranged in price from $50 to $700, and their performance was as varied as you might expect. We looked at different design styles and various configurations, including tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers, and were delighted that the mixers came in as many colors as the food dye we used for the frosting.

We also considered how easy it was to get a mixer up and running, how well it operated once we started adding ingredients to the bowl and how hard it was to clean up everything when we were done. Here are the criteria we used in testing each model:

This mixer scored on the lower end in performance. The tilt head released with a nifty lever but an ominous clank. Unlike the KitchenAid, the Aucma struggled to evenly mix ingredients. It was loud when whipping frosting, and we had to stop repeatedly to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Thick cookie dough had the small tilt mixer rocking slightly, although the compact mixer was able to knead bread dough together after initially struggling to pull the wet dough off the sides of the bowl.

If you’re looking for a mixer to complete the look of your kitchen, the Aucma is adorable, with a glowing LED speed knob and colors fit for Hello Kitty’s kitchen. And if you don’t want to leave it out, the tilt-head mixer is also lightweight at less than 12 pounds and has a large 6.5 quart bowl with two handles.

The Smeg stand mixer looks like a high-performance race car with sleek lines and chrome accents. It was portable and easy to operate out of the box, but it didn’t quite perform at the same level as our top mixers despite a similar price tag.

Smeg’s “Smooth Start” feature means the motor gradually accelerates to the speed you set on the dial (up to 10). While this felt choppy at first and ingredients didn’t combine as quickly, the mixer was effective once it got up to speed.

The bread hook and whisk attachments had heft and were up to the task of kneading bread dough and whipping frosting. The paddle left a bit more cookie dough at the bottom of the bowl than we’d like, and didn’t evenly distribute the chips and dried fruit as well as our top picks.

The glossy exterior, while beautiful (and the Smeg is available in a bunch of attractive finishes), tended to show smudges after cleaning. Smeg offers a range of accessories (including pasta makers, a grinder, a slicer and a grater), though not quite as extensive as that available for the more established KitchenAid, Bosch or Ankarsrum machines.

The handle — reminiscent of a giant hand mixer — makes it easier to carry. But even with suction cup feet, the Hamilton Beach doesn’t have the weight to mix ingredients well. It bucked up and chipped the plastic splash guard while trying to plow through a big mound of cookie dough. The frosting was slightly grainy, and the bread was too dense. The bowl’s base, with grooves for locking in place, took extra time to clean.

The Bosch Universal Plus consistently ranked near the top of the models we tested in terms of performance, but the plastic bowl, the need to hand-wash attachments and the fact that neither cookie paddles nor the heavy-duty mount for them were included at a price point equivalent to the KitchenAid Artisan kept it from topping the charts.

The Universal Plus (which Bosch has made since 1952) uses a very different design from KitchenAid-style machines, with the motor in the base and the bowl mounted from the top; the accessories mount on a central column that attaches at the center of the bowl. This makes for a squatter machine that is deeper than it is tall, unlike the KitchenAid.

The shorter profile holds a robust 500-watt motor with four distinct speeds and a pulse option. On the plus side, the wide 6.5-quart plastic bowl offers plenty of room to add ingredients around the attachments that snap onto a central column. The attachments, though, are all hand-wash, which made for a bit more work than the other models we tested.

The Bosch is a great performer, and just like the KitchenAid it shone with bread dough, quickly kneading it into shape with good elasticity. The Bosch produced light and airy frosting, although some powdered sugar got stuck to the central column just out of the double whisks’ reach. It handled cookie dough well with an even distribution of the chips and fruit. At 17 pounds, the mixer stayed in place (it has suction cup feet for extra grip) but could still be moved without too much effort.

A three-year warranty on the motor, along with more than 20 available accessories (the  bottom drive means there are attachments that convert the device to a full-fledged blender and food processor) means the Bosch could happily live in your kitchen for quite a while. If the design appeals to you but you prefer a stainless steel bowl, a version is available for $60 more, though with the same limited accessories as the less expensive version.

This 3-pound micro mixer has some nice touches — a base that slides to allow you to negotiate around big lumps — and a dishwasher-safe bowl and attachments, but it performs like an undersized hand mixer. The instructions warn you not to add too many ingredients or use it for longer than three minutes at a time. Based on the noise of the motor, this seems like sage advice. Large batches of frosting didn’t whip, and our bread dough didn’t come together evenly. If you were making only single servings, the Dash might make sense, but you’re likely better off finding a new hand mixer or used stand mixer in an online marketplace.

With a variable speed motor and an 8-quart bowl, the Ankarsrum Original Kitchen Machine feels like a commercial kitchen’s mixer that accidentally got shipped to your house. The Swedish mixer, which debuted in 1940, arrives with a hardcover recipe guide, two bowls and a recommendation (take the recommendation) that you watch a YouTube video before using it.

While the bevy of attachments and options seem daunting, the learning curve isn’t steep. A scraper slots in underneath the arm that holds the dough hook and dough roller, which worked together effectively to knead and mix dough in the 8-quart stainless steel bowl. The single-wire beaters quickly creamed butter and sugar for the frosting, but it was difficult to add dry ingredients without getting them on top of the central mixing widget above the included 6.5-quart plastic bowl.

The most expensive mixer we tested, the Ankarsrum Original was quiet and amply powered at 600 watts. The mixer comes with a seven-year warranty for the motor and can take on a wide range of kitchen tasks. You can purchase an extensive range of attachments that let you use it as a juicer, pasta roller, grain mill, blender and more. It’s a fit for bakers making large batches of bread or baked goods several times a week, but it’s probably more machine than you need on your counter.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

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Best mixers, top 9 rating of kitchen mixers