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It can be a challenge to pick a good mixer. Whether you're looking to make the most delicate meringue or whip up a big batch of Snickerdoodles for your cookie monsters, we can help you find the perfect machine. We took some of the best models on the market and tested them, noting their strengths and weaknesses to determine their best use. From the top-rated stand mixers to the best hand mixers, our team of culinary experts has covered all the bases.
Our culinary team has tested a slew of other baking products. We have measured, mixed it up, and baked with the best rolling pins, best mixing bowls, and top-ranked cake pans to give you the best full baking experience. You can also check out the assortment of kitchen and home appliances we've put to the test to help streamline your kitchen.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on February 7, 2024, to incorporate the latest products in our comparison and awards.
The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer is a powerful tilt-head machine. It is strong enough to knead the dough efficiently and evenly. The Artisan has a great user interface and high mixing quality. The design of the attachment and bowl system keeps ingredients from gathering in a ring around the bowl. This means there is no need to help incorporate proper mixing with a rubber spatula. The simplistic design makes the Artisan easy to use one-handed, and best of all, this machine stands still even at its highest speed setting.
The KitchenAid Artisan did have some minor speed regulation issues at high settings, like those needed to whip cream and eggs. We also encountered some splatter while actively adding in ingredients during mixing. This is not uncommon for a machine designed with a motor above the bowl. Despite these little nuances, the strong motor stability and capability of this machine make the Artisan a great all-around stand mixer. If you want less chance of splashing, the Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine has a helpful splash guard and can even be completely sealed off.
The highly affordable Aucma 6.5qt is a tough appliance packed with tons of power. It did an acceptable job at whipping, mixing, and kneading in each one of our tests. It was especially quick at whipping together cake batter. Lastly, its suction cup feet secure it nicely to the counter so that it won't escape you while mixing on its highest speed setting.
While the Aucma is a great budget-friendly option that does almost everything a premium mixer can do, it is hard to move around and store due to its size and weight. It wasn't as fast or efficient as the top-scoring models, but it did well enough to make it worth the price. The Aucma is a great option for someone on a tight budget who wants all the perks of a stand mixer. That said, if you don't have a ton of kitchen or counter space, the KitchenAid Artisan Mini is a great, compact alternative.
The open-top Ankarsrum Original is a very unique mixer. Instead of mixing with a hook or paddle, the Ankarsrum spins the bowl. Specialized for kneading dough, this robust machine boasts a powerful roller arm, scraper, and covering. In mixing mode, the Ankarsrum's independent rotating beaters spin around a central drive shaft, giving it a great whipping performance. The large design and powerful motor mean this model is strong enough for large quantities of dough.
We didn't love that the Ankarsrum has separate attachments and components needed to perform different functions. The extra parts and pieces are a bit of a hassle, taking up more space in the kitchen. The attachments are also plastic, which could be an issue with such an impressive motor. We also found the Ankarsrum tricky to learn to use. The interface is not intuitive, even for those who have used many a stand mixer in the past. Still, the Ankarsrum is a great option for high-volume recipes, especially bread, tortillas, and cookies.
The KitchenAid Artisan Mini may be a smaller machine, but it still packs a powerful punch. With impressive craftsmanship and performance, this mini marvel is great for baking for a smaller crowd (or yourself). The Artisan Mini is a space saver, great for small apartments or other small kitchen spaces. The Mini comes with a 3.5-quart bowl and a 250-watt motor, making it perfect for a small batch of cookies or a loaf of banana bread. Small but mighty, this little powerhouse impressively holds its own against thick doughs and complex mixtures.
While the Artisan Mini holds its own, it does have its drawbacks. There is a manual lock to hold the head up or down. It's easy to forget to lock it, making it too easy to accidentally knock the head down from the upright position into your mixture. We also found that when creaming butter and sugar, the Artisan Mini needed significant help with a rubber spatula. Despite these downsides, the Artisan Mini's performance was very impressive for a mini stand mixer. This would be a great alternative option for a low-volume chef or baker looking for a space saver that still packs a punch.
The Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9 Speed is a great machine for regular use. It's strong enough to tackle beating tough ingredients and whipping up cream and eggs to make an impressive meringue. The Power Advantage has a quick mixing time and a slow start setting. This means throwing flour and other ingredients around upon starting is a thing of the past. The Cuisinart's easy-to-use interface, comfortable grip, and simple lever to release attachments make it a breeze to use, and the convenient plastic storage case holds all attachments and the cord.
All great machines do have their weaknesses. One drawback of the Cuisinart Power Advantage is that it won't stand up independently with attachments clicked in. When sat on its end to rest, this machine will fall over, risking a terrible mess on your counter. Even on the slower settings, the motor is loud. Also, this model is not the easiest to clean with its many ridges and a chrome finish that shows every fingerprint. Still, the Cuisinart is a powerful hand mixer that gets the job done. This machine is affordable and great for the average baker.
With a simple interface, the Breville Handy Mix Scraper is very pleasant to use. This model has buttons and dial control speeds that are easy to adjust with your thumb, allowing you to change speeds with ease as you mix. A handy pause button holds your current speed, so when you resume mixing, you won't have to start from speed one. The Breville Hand Mix Scraper also boasts a built-in timer and light to shine into the bowl, two handy little features that set it apart from most. We also love the clip-on storage container to hold all the attachments. The Breville easily mixes thick dough and is great at whipping meringue cookie batter into perfect stiff peaks. The Breville's silicone-coated scraper attachment keeps all ingredients incorporated into your mixture, leaving nothing on the side of the bowl.
The Breville is powerful, but a bit bulky for a hand model. Prolonged use might be tiring, and its high price tag may be a bit overkill for the standard consumer. Still, the Breville Handy Mix Scraper is a very impressive hand mixer and a great option for the serious chef. If you're looking for a lighter option, the Black+Decker Lightweight 5 Speed weighs in at only 1 pound and 9 ounces.
The Breville does a great job keeping your mixture from building up on the sides of the bowl. This ensures that your ingredients are well incorporated.
The Hamilton Beach 6-Speed is quick to whip, beat, and mix and is both powerful and affordable. It whipped stiff peaks for meringue cookies quicker than most hand-machine options we've tested and gave us a great texture. We love the pushdown dial to release attachments that can only be activated when the machine is off, so there is no accidentally dropping your attachments in while mixing. We also love that the Hamilton Beach has small grooves toward the back end of the machine that allows it to rest on the edge of the bowl, keeping you from having to set your messy mixer down on the counter when you add ingredients.
While Hamilton Beach's snap-on storage case is a great thought, we found the attachments and cords hardly fit into the case and are difficult to get out again once they've been muscled in. We also had to use some extra scrubbing to get the Hamilton Beach clean, but this budget-friendly option does a pretty good job.
The KitchenAid 9 Speed KHM926ER is an easy-to-use option, and it has some of the most diverse attachments. With large up and down buttons to toggle your speeds, the KitchenAid 9-Speed also has a light bar to indicate the settings. We love this mixer's impressive attachments, from the standard whisk and beaters to dough hooks and an immersion blender rod. All these attachments allow versatility in preparing anything from cookies and frosting to soups and smoothies. The KitchenAid 9-Speed's rubberized handle with ergonomic indentations is easy and comfortable to hold, making longer jobs that much easier on your hands. The KitchenAid 9-Speed is also simple to clean and didn't make much of a mess when in use.
While the KitchenAid 9-Speed did a fair job incorporating ingredients evenly, it struggled a bit to mix coarser doughs. We also didn't love that it was quite noisy, especially on higher settings. While the KitchenAid 9-Speed struggled with some of the more dense projects, the plethora of attachments allows for versatile use for the explorative chef.
The KitchenAid Cordless 7 Speed KHMB732 has a 12 Volt battery and seven speeds with a slow start, so you won't throw ingredients when you turn the machine on. The simple slider dial adjusts the settings, and the Cordless 7-Speed has an easy-to-clean smooth surface. This cordless model is easy to hold and not too bulky, making it easier to use than some of the heavier options.
Cordless machines do have their limits. The Cordless 7-Speed's battery lasted for each individual recipe but needed regular charging in between projects. Thankfully, charging the KitchenAid Cordless is quick, taking only about 10 minutes. This mixer had trouble with thicker doughs and shut itself off when it strained. The Cordless is a great option for kitchens with minimal plugins or for the adventurous chef who enjoys cooking on the go or in various places.
Cordless if convenient, especially for a kitchen with minimal outlets.
Credit: Alex Glades
Why You Should Trust Us
No two mixers are exactly the same. That's why we dug through the most popular brands we could find and purchased the best to put through our tireless testing. Our experts then put each machine through their paces, taking note of strengths and weaknesses and noting key features using a combination of the following 4 metrics:
Fully incorporate ingredients while beating or mixing
Aeration and time to make stiff peaks while whipping
Stand mixer dough quality after kneading
Quirks and features that affect ease of use
With over a decade of culinary experience, Senior Research Analyst Michelle Powell lent her expertise to our mixer testing. With her experience managing an artisanal bakery, she knows what a great mixer should be capable of. Senior Review Editor Nick Miley contributed with his scientific research background and his 15 years of experience honing his baking skills to feed friends and family.
Review Editor Jason Wanlass has been part of the GearLab team for more than six years. He has written several tech gear reviews and has now channeled his passion for cooking into aiding in the search for great kitchen goods. Leading our hand mixer tests, Alex Glades works as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. His scientific background and impressive attention to detail aid him in his testing. Combined with his passion for cooking and perfecting recipes, he is a great asset to GearLab testing.
The information and testing results in this review were compiled by Kendra Ridenour. As a lifelong writer, Kendra uses her experiences weaving the written word into enthralling tales to translate testing results into a comprehensible format. With a family of five to feed, she knows the standard of excellence a kitchen appliance should be held to.
A hand mixer is a great option for occasional baking. It can save space in your kitchen and still make the job easier.
It's important to note not only how well ingredients are mixed, but also if the mixer broke up larger ingredients like nuts and chocolate chips
Being able to add ingredients during mixing is not always a given with every mixer.
A good mixer should put the perfection in confection.
Choosing A Mixer
A mixer is a great tool to have in any chef or baker's arsenal. Mixing by hand can be exhausting at the best of times, particularly when incorporating thick, coarse dough, whipping eggs, or kneading bread. A good machine can make this process faster, easier, and painless.
Mixing up a thick batch of cookie dough is much faster and easier when you have a machine to do the work for you.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Some of the most important things to consider when deciding on a mixer are your available space, how often you would use it, and how many you frequently feed. Someone who enjoys cooking and entertaining on the regular for the masses and has the extra space to spare may benefit more from a stand option, while a hand option is better geared towards the more casual baker, who may occasionally enjoy a batch of cookies. Another thing to consider is what type of cooking you do. If you are the chef who makes a lot of breads, heavier cookies, or simply needs to bake in bulk, a stand mixer might be a better fit for you. Simple cookies or occasional cakes might be adequately handled with a hand mixer, especially if you don't have the space or are unable to make the investment in a stand option.
A stand mixer might be a great powerhouse, but if your kitchen is lacking in space, a hand mixer is key.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
A great feature to look for is a slow start. It is easy when using a mixer to run into the issue of throwing dry ingredients around when you first start mixing, leading to an unbelievable mess. A slow start feature keeps this from happening, allowing you to ease into the mixing process. A great feature for a hand version is a bowl rest. As you pause to add ingredients, it's nice to be able to rest the machine on the bowl, or even set it on end, keeping the messy attachments off your counter. For a stand option, stability is important.
A wire whisk attachment can make quick work of whipping.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Stand Mixers
A stand mixer is a great choice for the serious or frequent baker. They can come in a variety of styles with a variety of features. A tilt-head design, as the name suggests, has a head that shifts up to pull your beater out of the bowl and down to put it in for mixing. A bowl lift design has a stationary head, usually with a lever to raise your bowl up to meet the beater. An open-top version has a drive shaft in the center where your attachments are fixed.
Not all stand mixers are made the same. Here is an example of different types and their various parts.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Most stand mixers come with a variety of attachments, commonly a dough hook, wire whip, and flat beater, but attachments can differ from one model to the next. They typically utilize either planetary mixing, where the attachment spins in one direction while revolving around the bowl in the opposite direction, triple whip, where a central drive shaft is fixed with twin wire whips that spin around the bowl, or a beater mixing method, utilizing twin four wire beaters that spin in opposite directions. Planetary mixing is one of the most effective, while triple whip is better for more specific applications, and beater mixing method is simply the stand mixer's version of the hand mixer's mixing design.
It's nice when a mixer doesn't need help from a rubber spatula to keep ingredients from making a ring around the bowl
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
There are many reasons a stand option might be the best choice. For starters, they allow for a more hands-off baking process than their hand counterparts. The machine can mix, knead, or whip while the chef is free to tackle other minor tasks in the vicinity. They are also great for large batches and feeding the masses and can save on muscle aches and fatigue as they require no physical strain to use.
However, these machines do have their downsides. A stand mixer can be a significant financial investment. They also tend to take up quite a substantial amount of space in your kitchen, be that on your countertop, shelf, or in a cabinet.
The Aucma's splash guard is a nice touch, keeping the mess from spreading to your surfaces when you need to add ingredients while mixing.
Credit: Laura Casner
For more detailed information on hand mixers, you can check out our Best Stand Mixers review.
Hand Mixers
Hand mixers typically follow the same general design. The motors are fixed with a handle. Typically, there are a variety of attachments that can be removed for easy cleaning and replacement. They usually feature twisted wire beaters, which are good for fast mixing and are not as prone to clogging. There are also straight wire beaters, which are good for heavy use in denser thick dough, or flat beaters, which are similar in shape to straight wire beaters but have a thick center post which can make them difficult to clean. They come with a variety of speed settings and different weights and designs. They are fairly portable, though you will be confined to the length of your cord.
A cordless hand mixer can be very useful, though if you're in for a long day of mixing, frequent charging might be inconvenient.
Credit: Alex Glades
For less limitation on where you do your cooking, cordless models are an option. They allow more freedom of availability to mix where you may not have an outlet available and keep you from getting tangled. However, it is important to consider how much mixing you will do at one time when looking at a cordless model. A heavy-duty baker or chef may have mixing demands that would require frequent charging of a cordless model. Also, as the battery drains, overall power may be compromised.
The Breville Handy Mix Scraper made quick work of whipping our mixture into stiff peaks
Credit: Alex Glades
Handheld machines are great for the casual baker or somebody who may not bake on the daily. They are easy to move around and can make mixing, whipping, and kneading during baking or cooking much easier than doing so by hand. However, hand mixers aren't always adequate for large-scale cooking. While they are smaller in size and tend to be easier to store, most hand mixers are better suited for small-scale cooking, as holding them up for long periods can quickly get old and tiring. If you are mixing a large amount or a thicker dough, you may experience muscle fatigue, especially if your machine is on the heavier side.
More information on the hand mixers we've tested can be found in our Best Hand Mixers review.
Having a good mixer in your kitchen arsenal takes the cake.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
Whether you are an occasional cook or a full-scale chef, a mixer can seriously broaden your horizon of possibilities and make cooking and baking much easier. Whether you're searching for a powerful machine to knead a thick bread dough to feed hoards or a light and easy handheld version to whip up the perfect batch of frosting, there is a mixer out there to suit your kitchen and budget.
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Michelle Powell, Jason Wanlass, Alex Glades, and Kendra Ridenour
