BUY THE BEST Stand mixers

They don’t just look the part, stand mixers also take the toil out of the toughest recipes, making baking quicker and easier

BEST FOR BAKING CAKES

KITCHENAID ARTISAN

POWER 300 watts SPEED SETTINGS 6 CAPACITY 4.8-litre bowl PRICE £399 We all recognise this classic – from The Great British Bake Off and Nigella’s home kitchen – so we put it to the test to see if it’s still the cream of the crop. The verdict? This mixer is stunning and sturdy, quiet and efficient, but we found the motor to be a little lacking. It can make up to two batches of bread at a time, so there’s a good balance between size and capacity; the bowl also screws on easily and has a useful handle. There’s an optional pouring shield to prevent splashes, and it comes with a wire whisk, flat beater and dough hook. The tilt-head design fits neatly under cabinets, and with many colour options (plus custom bowls and matching appliances), it looks great on the counter, too. This is one of the heaviest models, at a knee-bending 11kg with accessories. It made some delicious cake, and you can buy attachments to make pasta and ice cream, and stuff sausages if you wish. REASONS TO BUY Great looks; this mid-price option is a classic for a reason. REASON TO AVOID The motor is a little lacking compared with some others. RATING

IDEA TO STEAL

‘Choose a model in a colour that matches your kitchen for a co-ordinated scheme’

BEST FOR EASE OF USE KENWOOD KMIX

POWER 1,000 watts SPEED SETTINGS 6 CAPACITY 5-litre bowl PRICE £449.99 Whether you’re a beginner, a casual baker or more experienced, the kMix stand mixer offers something for everyone Not only is it incredibly easy to six speeds and a fold optio five-litre heatproof glass bo allows you to see exactly w going on inside – putting p pesky flour lumps. It also fe powerful motor designed to up to 1.35kg of difficult dou the downside, thanks to its metal body, it’s a hefty 10.9kg. During testing, this mixer was fuss-free to use, staying reassuringly steady on the worktop even at high speeds. It produced everything from light, fluffy doughnuts to crisp meringue and thick whipped cream for pavlova perfectly. Another plus is th sheer range of compatible e attachments, which include . control with n, but its owl also what’s aid to atures a o handle ugh. On as he a pasta cutter, grinding mill, dicer and spaghetti maker. It comes in four colours and all the parts are dishwasher-safe. REASON TO BUY Its fold function, which makes delicate mixes like brioche. REASON TO AVOID It weighs over 10kg, so it’s pretty heavy for a mixer. RATING

‘PLAN TO USE YOUR MIXER FOR MORE THAN MIXING? LOOK FOR MODELS THAT HAVE AN ARRAY OF ATTACHMENTS, LIKE PASTA MAKERS OR BLENDERS’

BEST FOR SMALLER KITCHENS

MORPHY RICHARDS MIXSTAR

POWER 650 watts SPEED SETTINGS 6 CAPACITY 4-litre bowl PRICE £169.99 We loved how easily this mixer kneaded bread, made cakes and whipped cream It’s a bit noisy and doesn’t have that classic stand mixer design, but if it’s not the look you’re after, this is an immensely capable choice. It has a built-in timer tha allows you to plan your baking perfectly and its six-point speed dial is variable, giving you complete control. The MixSta is powered through a central column th stems from its base; the whisk, dough hook and flat beater attach to this and rotate on a cog around the bowl. Unlike many mixers that have one overhead attachment, this machine has two, so it can power through tasks quickly. The attachments store in an insert that sits in the bowl, which makes this d . t y at

y, ar at incredibly easy to store and significantly less space-intensive than other options. REASONS TO BUY It’s a real space saver and a very capable machine. REASON TO AVOID It lacks that classic stand mixer style. RATING

BEFORE YOU BUY

Work out which model best suits your needs

Are you buying a mixer to keep long-term? Basic models can be picked up as cheaply as £50, but for one that will last, budget for at least £100. Beyond £150, you’ll mostly be paying for a greater choice of colours and styling, extra features or accessories. Pricier mixers tend to have a sturdier build. Stand mixers often feature more than one outlet – the main one rotates the tool in the bowl. Other ones are usually located at the front of the machine or on the top of the lever arm; these allow you to power the attachments. Standard mixer attachments include a blender jug for making smoothies and soups, or crushing ice, and sometimes a food processor for slicing, grating and chopping. Most manufacturers offer a range of attachments to buy. These include rollers for making pasta and specialised ravioli makers. There are also mincers or grinders for processing meat, slicers, pre-freeze ice cream bowls, millers, spiralisers and juicers. These can take up a fair amount of space in your kitchen. Look for models that can store accessories in the bowl or come with a storage box.

Most mixers include three tools as standard: a balloon whisk for whipping cream, eggs and light mixtures; a dough hook for kneading bread; and a beater for batters, biscuit dough and general mixing. This could also be a flexi or scraper beater – a tool that helps to scrape down the bowl as it mixes. Another useful accessory is a splashguard, which stops the contents of the bowl escaping during vigorous mixing.

There may be a ‘soft start’ to prevent fine ingredients, such as flour, puffing out before the speed ramps up. Another good feature is a pause function. This stops the mixing so you can add ingredients before returning to the same speed. Some mixers have preset programs for food types, such as cake, or gentle fold options.