Stand Mixers

Overview

A 5-quart tilt-head mixer with a 325-watt motor, 10 speeds and a pouring shield, taking the full range of KitchenAid attachments for grinding, pasta and ice cream.

Buying Recommendation

Best Overall

Best For

Home bakers who want the mixer every attachment and recipe is written around

Web Consensus Insights

The benchmark tilt-head mixer and Amazon's best-selling stand mixer. Head-to-head testing notes it is heavier and less powerful than the Cuisinart, but that its build, attachment ecosystem and consistency are the reasons it remains the default recommendation.

Top Pros

• 10 speeds with the widest attachment ecosystem going
• 5-quart stainless bowl handles dough for several loaves
• Pouring shield included

Top Cons

• Heaviest of the group at about 23 lb
• 325 watts is modest next to the Cuisinart

Key Specs

Bowl Capacity

5 qt

Motor Power

325 W

Speeds

10

Head Style

Tilt-head

Included Attachments

Flat beater, dough hook, wire whip, pouring shield

Weight

About 23 lb

Overview

A 5.5-quart tilt-head mixer with a 500-watt motor, 12 speeds and a splash guard with pour spout, sold in a wide range of colors.

Buying Recommendation

Top Premium

Best For

Bakers who want more power and a bigger bowl for less than the KitchenAid

Web Consensus Insights

In a direct test against the Artisan, the Cuisinart came out ahead on power at 500 watts against 325, and on weight at about 15 lb against 23, with 12 speeds against 10. The trade-off reviewers name is that the beater height can need adjusting on arrival.

Top Pros

• 500 watts and 12 speeds for the price
• About 35 percent lighter than the Artisan
• 5.5-quart stainless bowl

Top Cons

• The beater can need height adjustment out of the box
• Fewer attachments available than KitchenAid

Key Specs

Bowl Capacity

5.5 qt

Motor Power

500 W

Speeds

12

Head Style

Tilt-head

Included Attachments

Chef's whisk, mixing paddle, dough hook, splash guard

Weight

About 15 lb

Overview

A 6.5-quart stand mixer with a 500-watt bottom-drive motor, wire whips and dough hook, designed for heavy doughs and large batches.

Buying Recommendation

Customer Favorite

Best For

Bread bakers working through large batches of stiff dough

Web Consensus Insights

Long the favourite of bread bakers, the Universal Plus runs a bottom-drive motor under a 6.5-quart bowl. Review coverage praises its dough capacity and the plastic bowl with lid that comes in the box, with a stainless bowl sold separately.

Top Pros

• 6.5-quart bowl takes big dough batches
• Bottom-drive motor keeps the head clear for adding ingredients
• Wire whips and dough hook included

Top Cons

• The bowl that ships in the box is plastic
• Bottom-drive design takes getting used to after a tilt-head

Key Specs

Bowl Capacity

6.5 qt

Motor Power

500 W

Speeds

Not published

Head Style

Bottom-drive

Included Attachments

Wire whips, dough hook, plastic bowl with lid

Weight

Not published

Overview

A 6.5-quart tilt-head mixer with a 660-watt motor, six speeds, dough hook, wire whip and beater, aimed at everyday mixing and small-batch dough.

Buying Recommendation

Best Value

Best For

First-time buyers who want a big bowl on a small budget

Web Consensus Insights

A fixture on Amazon's stand mixer best-seller list, with a spec sheet of 6.5 quarts, 660 watts and six speeds that undercuts the major brands on paper. Coverage describes it as a lot of capacity for the money.

Top Pros

• 6.5-quart bowl at a budget price
• 660-watt motor on paper
• Dough hook, wire whip and beater included

Top Cons

• Build quality is a step down from the majors
• Six speeds offers less control for delicate work

Key Specs

Bowl Capacity

6.5 qt

Motor Power

660 W

Speeds

6

Head Style

Tilt-head

Included Attachments

Dough hook, wire whip, flat beater

Weight

Not published