6 best stand mixers that do all the hard work for you

KitchenAid Artisan® Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

With 20 color options, five quart capacity, 10 different attachments, and nearly 30,000 reviews raving about this mixer, what’s not to love? Not to mention this beast has a tilt-head design and 10 speeds so you can always customize its workload for the exact creation you’re whipping up.

Vonshef black hand and stand mixer

This sturdy black machine is our top recommendation for anyone with extremely basic needs on a tight budget. It’s perfect for students, for example. It doubles up as a hand mixer and includes plenty of accessories including two beaters, two dough hooks, a whisk and 3.5L mixing bowl. It’s nice and light, so is easy to store away, and although it’s slow compared to other machines, it offers decent enough results, particularly when it comes to whisking. The non slip feet work a treat and it’s nice and light for easy storage.

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Judge stand mixer

This is a two in one machine which means you can detach the mixer from the stand to use as a hand mixer. It has five speeds and is super easy to clean. While this one isn’t the most attractive looking in our roundup, and the splash guard isn’t quite as effective as other models we tried, we found it mixed things quickly and required little scraping down the sides of the bowl. If you’re watching your pennies, have limited storage space and/or only need your stand mixer for the basics, you could do a lot worse.

Cuisinart SM50U precision 5.2L stand mixer

Surprisingly, this is Cuisinart’s first ever stand mixer but boy, was it worth the wait. Available in black or white, it feels sturdy and well-engineered, is a breeze to set up, use and clean and – joy of joys – it doesn’t make a horrid din when in use. Best of all, it whips, whisks and kneads to perfection, with a whopping 12 speed settings for precision control. Despite the hefty price tag, we think it’s as good as some we tested that were nearly double the price. But – as with so many stand mixers – you may have to scrape down the sides if cake ingredients start to stick. Altogether, though, a fabulous all-rounder.

KUPPET Stand Mixer, 8-Speed Electric Mixer, Tilt-Head Food Mixer with Dough Hook, Wire Whip & Beater, 4.7QT Stainless Steel Bowl, Macaron Green

The tilt-head design of this mixer makes it a snap to change out attachments for a variety of uses, and eight speed options will complement each use perfectly. What we really love here (other than the amazing reviews and under $100 price tag) is the irresistible teal color! It's both retro and fresh at the same time, and no worries if it doesn't fit your scheme–several other more neutral options abound. There's also a two-year warranty included with purchase just in case you don't love it as much as you think you should.

Hamilton Beach® 4 qt. Stand Mixer

We always like to include a Hamilton Beach option in kitchenware spotlights, as the brand is a longstanding budget option with generally good reviews. This under-$100 (especially when you tack on the BB&B coupon) is no exception.

This model has a four-quart capacity, seven mixing speeds, and three attachments (flat beater, dough hook, and whisk), all of which are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. You’ll also receive a splatter guard to prevent excessive messes, plus a one year warranty in case any of the parts break down. It’s a perfect setup for the beginner baking enthusiast.