Best Mixer Buying Guide - Kunming Rainbow Colors Group Co.,Ltd

You don't have to be a contestant on a reality baking show to appreciate the capabilities of a sturdy stand mixer. With one, you can plow through thick cookie dough and whip heavy cream into a frothy confection. And even if your cooking tends toward the savory, you can use a stand mixer's attachments to make sausage or pasta, or to spiralize veggies. All you need is the counter space.

But if you’re lacking for space and only need a mixer from time to time for light tasks, such as whipping up frosting for a birthday cake or scrambling several eggs for a frittata, you can get by with a hand mixer, which is not as bulky to store yet is still efficient at whipping cream and other baking tasks.

And, heck, if you cook a lot or have a big family, you may want one of each. It's easier to whip up two egg whites with a hand mixer than to haul out the heavy equipment. Save that for bread dough or a batch of cookies.

We test mixers on a variety of tasks. To test mixing performance we make chocolate chip cookies because they have a thick dough that can really challenge a mixer. To test kneading, we add blue and yellow food coloring to bread dough and time how long it takes the mixer to turn the dough an even green. We top off our performance tests by timing how long it takes to whip a half-pint of heavy cream into airy peaks.

We also judge noise when the mixer is running at the highest speed. To score mixers on convenience, we assess how easy it is to connect and remove the beaters and bowl, and how easy it is to adjust the mixer speeds.

Another consideration when buying a mixer is how much you want to spend. The hand mixers in CR's tests range in price from $25 to $150, and you don't have to spend top dollar to get a good one.

The stand mixers we test range in price from $40 to $1,000, and most of the mixers in our review of the best stand mixers hit a sweet spot in the middle. Spend a little more and you can add attachments that transform your stand mixer into a meat grinder, spiralizer, fresh pasta maker, and more.

If you’re buying a hand mixer, look for one that comes with extra attachments. A separate whisk makes whipping easier. Wire beaters are easier to clean than traditional center-post beaters. And keep in mind that hand mixers with a slow-start option are less likely to cause spatters.

Considering a stand mixer? In addition to taking stock of your counter and storage space, make sure you have enough clearance between the top of the counter and the bottom of your cabinets (if that's where you’re going to use the mixer). Most models have a head that tilts up when you add or remove the beaters and bowl. So you want to make sure your overhead cabinets aren't too low to accommodate the extra height. Some stand mixers have a lever that raises and lowers the bowl—the head stays still—and may be a better fit.

No matter which type of mixer you choose, our mixer tests show considerable differences in how various models perform. And while manufacturers stress wattage and number of speeds, neither figure necessarily translates into better performance.

Which food-prep appliance best suits your lifestyle? Match the machine to the foods you most frequently prepare and how you like to prep. (And keep in mind that you might need more than one.) Hand mixers can handle most light chores, while powerful stand mixers are ideal for heavy doughs, batters, and more.

These are best for light-duty tasks such as whipping cream or egg whites, mixing cake batter, and mashing potatoes. But they are not as good as stand mixers at mixing dough.

Most of the top-performing hand mixers have wire beaters without the thick center post found on traditional-style beaters. Wire beaters perform well and are easier to clean. Some come with additional attachments; see the full view of our ratings and move the Ratings & Specs slider to find that information.

One definite plus is that hand mixers are easy to store and don't require any counter space.

A stand mixer can do everything a hand mixer does, and is more capable of mixing thick cookie batter and bread dough. But they’re heavier and take up counter space.

Some use two beaters, which spin against each other. Others use one beater, which spins in one direction and moves around the bowl the opposite way. Most of the mixers in our ratings have one beater. Light-duty models typically have stationary beaters and a bowl that sits on a revolving turntable.

For complete details, including the height and weight of each mixer, as well as which attachments are included, see the full view of our ratings and move the Ratings & Specs slider to find that information.

To make kitchen prep a snap, to keep it safe, and to have easier cleanup, here are a few features worth noting.

A hand mixer should be well-balanced and comfortable to hold. A stand mixer shouldn't be too heavy for you to lift into and out of a cabinet. (This might not be a concern for people with enough counter space to leave their mixer out all the time.)

Look for a mixer that has wire beaters without the thick center post found on traditional-style beaters. The wire beaters are easier to clean.

Some stand mixers have as many as 16 speeds, and some hand mixers have nine or so speed settings. We think three well-differentiated speeds are sufficient. The slower the lowest speed, the better, because slow speeds prevent spattering.

PHOTO: JASON WORRELL

You should be able to lock a mixer's power head in the up position, so it won't crash into the bowl when the beaters are weighed down with dough. You should also be able to lock it in the down position so that the beaters don't ride up in the bowl when tackling stiff dough.

PHOTO: JASON WORRELL

An indentation on the underside of the motor housing allows a hand mixer to perch on the edge of a bowl so that it doesn't tip over.

PHOTO: JASON WORRELL

Look for a mixer that has wire beaters without the thick center post found on traditional-style beaters. The wire beaters are easier to clean.

PHOTO: JASON WORRELL

An indentation on the underside of the motor housing allows a hand mixer to perch on the edge of a bowl so that it doesn't tip over.

PHOTO: JASON WORRELL

Black+Decker, Hamilton Beach, and Sunbeam are the dominant brands among hand mixers. KitchenAid owns about half the stand-mixer market; Hamilton Beach and Sunbeam are the next-best-selling brands. Use these profiles to compare mixers by brand.

Black+Decker makes an assortment of attractively priced small appliances, including hand mixers. They are widely available both online and at walk-in retailers.

Cuisinart is a perennial big player in the world of small appliances, though it is a relative newcomer to the mixer market. The company sells both hand and stand mixers. They are available in a variety of colors and are sold at department stores, specialty stores, and online retailers.

Hamilton Beach, a widely sold brand in the mixer category, offers both hand and stand mixers. They come in various colors and are sold at most kitchen appliance retailers. The company also sells a commercial line of mixers through specialty retailers, Amazon.com, and other websites.

This high-end brand is the major player in the mixers market. Its stand mixers are versatile, with various attachments, and come in a wide array of colors. KitchenAid hand and stand mixers are widely available at retailers nationwide.

Sunbeam's midpriced hand and stand mixers come in a variety of colors and are sold at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, JCPenney, and a number of online retailers.

Other brands on the market include Bosch, Breville, Kenmore, and Oster.

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