Buyer’s guide We give you the cream

8 OF THE BEST: Stand mixers

We find high-quality mixers that offer the best value for baking lovers

Now that we are back at home so much, it’s time to brush off the recipe books and refresh our sourdough and banana bread baking skills! If you are a keen cook, then perhaps it’s the perfect time to invest in a stand mixer, or upgrade the one you already have. It will make life in the kitchen much easier. These mixers often come with multiple attachments, including a whisk for cream, a beater for eggs and a dough hook for bread. A stand mixer is more powerful than a hand-held version, and can cope with a larger quantity of ingredients. Generally, they also create less mess than a hand-held blender too, as they come with large stainless-steel bowls that should keep all of the ingredients contained during mixing.

Before buying a stand mixer, Marketing Manager at KitchenAid, Simon Langley, recommends that you ask yourself these questions: ‘How many people am I preparing food for? What kind of cooking do I want to do? How much countertop space do I have? How important is the design and colour to me?’ If you’re a keen cook who loves a spot of batch baking, you’ll need a mixer with a large bowl capacity and a powerful mechanism to stir more ingredients. If versatility is important to you, then look for a mixer with plenty of different attachments – there are lots of clever gadgets to choose from, but usually only two or three will comes as standard with the mixer, so you’ll likely have to purchase them separately. Such add-on attachments often include accessories such as a meat grinder, an ice cream maker, a pasta roller and shaper, a vegetable slicer, a juicer, a spiralizer and a food processor, among others.

With regards to counter space, Simon advises, ‘If worktop space is a bit tight in the kitchen, then a mixer with a smaller bowl is the way to go as this will be easier to store away, too. KitchenAid’s 3.3L stand mixer is a good example of this as it’s just as versatile as a larger option but it’s both smaller and lighter than many models and it also features a compact stainless steel bowl.’

Simon also points out, ‘Both durability and value for money are incredibly important when choosing the right model for you’. So, don’t be tempted to splash out on a high-end model with an abundance of tech-savvy gadgets if you know you’re not going to use them – consider what you want to use the mixer for and make your decision based on that.

Jargon, busted

Feeling baffled by all the terminology of stand mixers? Allow us to enlighten you…

Tilt-head This type of mixer has a head that raises so you can easily change the attachments, remove the bowl or add ingredients before locking it back into place.

Bowl-lift These mixers tend to be taller and the head is fixed. The bowl has clamps on each side that allow it to be raised and lowered by turning the notch on the side so you can add ingredients to the bowl with ease.

Pouring shield This fits onto your mixing bowl so you can add ingredients without any spills. It also prevents messier ingredients such as flour dust and icing sugar from spreading over your kitchen.

Flat beater or paddle Essentially the

equivalent of a wooden spoon, this helps to fold the ingredients for gentle mixing.

Flex-edge beater or paddle This

tool combines a flat beater with a spatula and is great for creaming and beating ingredients.

Dough hook This hook-shaped attachment is best when a lot of force is needed to mix the ingredients, which is often the case when kneading bread dough. 4.8L ARTISAN STAND MIXER, £499, KITCHENAID

MISTERCHEF PROFESSIONAL ELECTRIC KITCHEN 1,400W FOOD STAND MIXER, £135.99, AMAZON

This mixer is certainly at the higher end of the budget, but if you’re a keen cook or baker then you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. The Artisan mixer has all of the components you need and then some with two mixing bowls, numerous attachments and a pouring shield. • 4.8-litre and 3-litre bowls • Pouring shield • Tilt-head design • Attachments include a six-wire whip, flat beater, flex-edge beater and a dough hook • A further 15 optional attachments

Take the hassle out of preparing your next meal with the MisterChef mixer. It has an incredibly quiet 800-watt motor, three useful attachments and it’s also dishwasher-friendly, which makes cleaning up afterwards a breeze. • 5.5-litre stainless steel bowl • Attachments include a beater, dough hook and whisk • Dishwasher safe • Transparent cover included to prevent splashes • Six speed settings

MIX TILT-HEAD 3.3L 5KSM3311X, £349, KITCHENAID

For anyone who has limited space in the kitchen, this mini mixer is your calling. Although it might be small, that doesn’t mean it compromises on the key features. The smooth, tilt-head model not only comes with all of the most frequently used attachments, but it also has a specially engineered beater that pushes the ingredients to the centre of the bowl so that whipping is mess-free and creates a consistent mixture. • Compact design • 3.3-litre stainless steel bowl • Planetary action: pushes the ingredients to the middle of the bowl • Available in nine different colourways • Includes a whisk, dough hook and beater

SUNCOO FOOD MIXER 1,400W HOME STAND MIXER, £109.99, AMAZON

This mixer will make baking your favourite sweet treats as easy as pie with its tilt-head stand. It also includes three attachments and a large bowl, making this model an absolute bargain. • Tilt-head design • 6.2-litre stainless steel bowl • Six speed settings • Splash guard • Includes whisk, dough hook and beater attachments SMEG SMF03RD STAND MIXER IN RED, £399.99, VERY

This stylish stand mixer includes three attachments, and its retro design will look stunning on your worktop. • Three metal attachments • 10 speed settings • 4.9-litre stainless steel bowl • Soft-start control • Comes with flex-edge beater, suitable for creaming ingredients

JLSM628 STAND FOOD MIXER IN SILVER, £175, JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS

This mixer has a generous six-litre bowl that comes with a handy splash guard to prevent spills. What’s more, this mixer includes a 1.5-litre blender, which you won’t find with many other models. • 6-litre stainless steel bowl • Splash guard • 9 speed settings • 1.5-litre blender • Three attachments including a beater, dough hook and whisk

KENWOOD BY MARY BERRY CHEFETTE STAND AND HAND MIXER, £84.99, ARGOS

For a mixer that gets the job done efficiently, choose the Kenwood. Its five speed settings and pulse function will ensure you blend ingredients with minimal mess. Plus, this model comes with the seal of approval from star baker Mary Berry. • Five speed settings • 3-litre bowl • Pulse control • 350-watt motor • Includes whisk, dough hook and beater attachments

PRECISION STAND MIXER IN BLACK, £275, CUISINART

If you’re mixing large quantities, this 5.2-litre bowl might fit the bill. The splash guard will prevent spillages, while the many speed settings will give you plenty of control. • 12 speed settings • 5.2-litre stainless steel bowl • Splash guard with a pour spout • Flat paddle for mixing included