If you’re getting ready to bake, it’s important to have the right appliances on hand, like one of the best stand mixers. Whether you are mixing batter or kneading dough, a stand mixer saves time while blending your ingredients seamlessly.
I mean who doesn’t love freshly baked cookies? Before you whip up a batch, consider adding some quinoa to the mix. Researchers from Washington State University found that two types of quinoa, bred specifically to grow locally, has great potential as a high-fiber, high-protein additive in flour for cookies — while maintaining the treat’s popular texture. But how does it taste? Preliminary results show that people preferred sugar cookies with 10 percent quinoa flour over all-wheat flour cookies.
Whether you add quinoa or not, many of us consider cookie baking a skill worth bragging about. In fact, a recent survey of 2,000 Americans finds 82 percent enjoy baking their own cookies. As far as cookie confidence goes, 64 percent say they could bake the “perfect” cookie. However, it takes the average respondent five baking tries before they can call it top-notch. The survey also finds chocolate chip cookies are the favorite– specifically a fresh-baked soft, chewy cookie made with brown sugar.
Before you bake your next dessert, let’s make sure you’ve got a reliable stand mixer at the ready. StudyFinds compiled a list of the top five brands from ten expert websites, to find the best stand mixers for your kitchen. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The List: Best Stand Mixers, According to Experts
1. KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer
KitchenAid is known for making quality stand mixers. So, it’s no surprise reviewers love the brand’s Artisan Series. Homes & Gardens gives the five-quart mixer ‘Best Overall’ accolades, noting “with 10 speed settings, it powered through cake batter, bread dough, and whipped cream with perfect results.”
USA Today highlights, “attachments like the wire whisk and wire whip are easy to put on, remove and clean; the tilt lever lock works well; the bowl has a handle and installs smoothly; and the splash guard fits the bowl and can be slid on when needed without taking apart the mixer.” These mixers are available in several colors too.
If you don’t have space for the five-quart mixer, KitchenAid also offers the Artisan in a mini 3.5-quart version. “The mini mixer managed to whip cream in half the time that it took the larger 5-quart Artisan model, and efficiently beat together a boxed cookie dough in less than a minute. It was also able to get a single loaf of bread dough ingredients mixed together thoroughly before turning the dough out to finish kneading it by hand,” according to The Spruce Eats.
Keep in mind, KitchenAid mixers cost more than some other brands, but are considered to be worth the investment.
2. Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer
If you don’t want to bust your budget, check out these options from Hamilton Beach. CNET spotlights the brand’s six-speed stand mixer, adding “for less than $100 you still get significant power, six speed options, three different mixing styles, and a 3.5-quart bowl that can handle most basic recipes.”
Tom’s Guide spotlights the Hamilton Beach seven-speed model, noting it “turns out clouds of whipped cream, tender lemon chiffon cake and two tall loaves of whole wheat bread. The Hamilton Beach may take a little longer to mix than a KitchenAid does, but hey, you’re not mixing the batter by hand.”
Another affordable option is the Hamilton Beach All-Metal Stand Mixer. It features twelve speeds and a 4.5 quart stainless steel bowl. However, “the tilt head on this machine is a little clumsier than the KitchenAid and you’ll probably need to lift the beaters to scrape down the bowl, which requires very firmly pushing the rear button with one hand while raising the head with the other. All things considered, this machine would perform everyday baking tasks well,” according to Food Network.
3. Wolf Gourmet High Performance Stand Mixer
This mixer is expensive but delivers professional quality results. Consider it a high-end splurge purchase. Reviewers tout the mixer’s 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,” suggests Homes & Gardens.
It features a professional-grade seven-quart stainless-steel bowl and adjustable speed control. “The mixer handles whipped cream and cookies, but it struggles slightly with whole-wheat bread,” notes Food & Wine.
“With its solid construction, brushed stainless steel finish and large red knob, the Wolf Gourmet Stand Mixer has the appeal of a commercial appliance designed for a serious cook,” according to USA Today. Just note, this is a heavy mixer meant to sit on your counter prominently.
4. Smeg Retro Style Stand Mixer
If you crave the nostalgia of grandma’s kitchen, consider adding this stand mixer to your countertop. “This is a well-constructed machine, and the 600-watt motor easily handled all of our mixing, kneading, and whipping tests,” notes Epicurious.
Tech Gear Lab adds, “we can confidently say the Smeg Retro is no slouch when it comes to mixing. It blends well and is very powerful.” It features a die-cast aluminum body, and a five-quart stainless steel bowl.
The Spruce Eats points out, it “whipped cream in under a minute, and then brought a boxed cookie dough together in about a third of the time that it took the comparable KitchenAid model to perform the same task.” Plus, mid-century modern design fans will like the color choices available to compliment your kitchen aesthetic.
5. Ankarsrum Original Stand Mixer
Taking the last spot on our list, is a stand mixer that’s great for dough making. “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,” according to Homes & Gardens.
What sets this stand mixer apart from its competitors? The 7.4-quart stainless steel bowl rotates to churn the ingredients. “The machine specializes in baking applications, particularly kneading dough, which explains the powerful roller arm, scraper, and bowl covering. It also performs well when whipping as it has a ‘triplicate’ action wherein the two beaters rotate independently while collectively spinning around a central drive shaft,” adds Tech Gear Lab.
“With an extra-large capacity, this super-stable stand mixer kneaded dough exceptionally well (it also was surprisingly fast at aerating whipped cream),” suggests Serious Eats. However, this is a pricey appliance that comes with a bit of a learning curve. So, patience is key.
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Sources:
- Homes & Gardens
- USA Today
- The Spruce Eats
- CNET
- Tom’s Guide
- Food Network
- Epicurious
- Food & Wine
- Tech Gear Lab
- Serious Eats
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.