Top 3 Stand Mixers (with Attachments)

Not all stand mixers are created equal. Some are simple and merely have a normal whisk, but others contain a plethora of replaceable attachments for a variety of tasks. You’ve come to the correct spot if you’re seeking for the latter.

Stand mixers with attachments are among the more expensive kitchen items that most of us do not take lightly. A stand mixer may be an essential, even critical, baking tool, as any experienced baker knows.

Even the most skilled baker would struggle to make icing that can rival with the frothy, light, and airy texture that a decent stand mixer can produce. At the same time, a faulty mixer might cost us a lot of money while still not performing enough for our baking requirements.

I’ve discovered that the attachments a mixer has, and how well they function, are often an essential aspect and indicative of quality. So I’ve chosen to present you to three of my favorite stand mixers, paying special attention to their attachments as well as their other features.

Not everyone need or desires the largest, sturdiest, or most costly mixer. My aim is that I will be able to assist you in determining which mixer best suits your specific requirements and expectations.

1 – KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Series KSM150 Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (Top Pick)

This KitchenAid stand mixer is a device worth carefully considering for home bakers looking for a genuinely amazing stand mixer. Overall, it is really well-made and operates well.

Product Features

Pros

• There are over 40 different colors to select from, so you’re sure to find something to fit your kitchen decor or personal style.
• Includes three handy attachments: a flat beater, a dough hook, and a wire whip (more on them in the attachment section below).
• Strong, well-made mixer that should endure for years.
• It’s substantial enough that even at top speed, it won’t tilt or jiggle about.
• Attachments may be added and removed with ease.
• It has a huge 5-quart basin with a handy side handle. The 5-quart capacity allows you to produce dough for up to four loaves of bread at once, making it an excellent option for individuals who want to meal prep or do a lot of baking at once.
• There are ten speed levels, so you have plenty of possibilities. This is especially handy for batters that tend to spray out and make a mess at first; you can start gently and increase speed after the ingredients are well incorporated.
• The head tilts rearward for easier access without having to remove and replace the bowl.

Cons

• This is fairly heavy, which is one of the reasons it is so solid and enduring, and this may be an issue for folks who have problems moving big items. things has largely been an issue for me when attempting to keep things in high cabinets. If you have lots of counter space in your kitchen, one option is to just keep item in the same location.
• This is not one of the most affordable mixers available, so it will need a little investment. Fortunately, it should survive for years and outlast many cheaper items.

Attachments:

This comes with the following attachments:

Coated flat beater: This powerful beater works well for swiftly and efficiently whipping up batters. The enamel on this beater is prone to flaking off over time, which I’ve found to be a typical problem with coated beaters in general.

This has little effect on functioning until a significant amount of the coating has been chipped away, but no one wants chunks of enamel in their batter. However, they are rather cheap to repair; you just need to locate a replacement that suits your mixer’s unique model. Dishwasher safe (but only on the top rack).

Dough hook: This attachment is ideal for preparing yeast breads. When it comes to breadmaking capability, this KitchenAid mixer truly shines. With this hook, you can quickly and effortlessly combine and knead your dough.

Those who have tried with kneading dough in various stand mixers may be familiar with some of the frequent difficulties.uneven mixing, dough clinging to the corners of the bowl, and even the mixer itself becoming unsteady during kneading will be pleasantly pleased by how successfully this mixer avoids such issues.

The dough hook performs an excellent job of uniformly mixing the dough; the dough seems to have been kneaded by hand. This one is dishwasher safe on the top shelf as well.

Wire whip: Use this attachment to make handmade whipped cream, icings, and lighter frostings, as well as delicacies that call for whipped egg whites. It beats up to a light and fluffy texture with just the appropriate amount of airiness.

It’s not dishwasher-safe, so you’ll have to hand-wash it, but the absence of a coating ensures there won’t be any chipping or peeling. For thicker frostings, you may want to experiment with both this attachment and the flat beater, since frosting may sometimes become caught within this wire whip.

However, after a few attempts, you should know what works best for you.

Optional Attachments:

Although this comes with three attachments, there are more than 15 other attachments available for purchase separately that will be handy for various situations.

The Pasta Roller & Cutter, which will make creating pasta from scratch much simpler, a food grinder that can be used to grind meats, cheese, and vegetables, among other things, and even an ice cream maker attachment are among the highlights.

Who Is This For?

This high-end mixer is ideal for individuals who know they will use their mixer regularly. It is a touch pricey, so it is excellent for people who are willing to spend a little more for a fantastic mixer that will last for years and withstand regular usage.

It is also the heaviest of my suggested stand mixers, so it may be preferable for individuals who have ample kitchen room to keep it on the counter rather than moving it about constantly.

What to Consider Before Buying

A high-quality stand mixer like this is unquestionably an investment. Before making a purchase, be sure you really need an excellent mixer.

Those who will benefit the most from spending a little more for a mixer like this are regular bakers who require something solid and lasting, as well as possibly less frequent bakers who need a mixer that is actually better at getting the job done.

If you only make cakes on occasion, but you want your frosting to be perfectly whipped, youll appreciate having a mixer that performs a wonderful job with minimal work on your side.

Similarly, before purchasing, ensure that you have enough space in your kitchen or even a closet someplace conveniently accessible to store this item. It is huge and takes up some room.

Final Thoughts

As someone who has a lot of experience with stand mixers, I can confidently suggest this one. The KitchenAid KSM150 is not the cheapest mixer on the market, and it does have a few minor flaws, but it certainly stands out from the crowd.

2 – KitchenAid KSM75WH Classic Plus Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

This KitchenAid stand mixer has many of the same advantages and disadvantages as the previously described KitchenAid Artisan Mixer. However, there are a few key variances that may make one model a better fit for certain requirements and applications.

While the Artisan mixer is better suited to many individuals, this one may be a better alternative for certain bakers. So, although both are likely to delight the majority of baking aficionados, I will concentrate on the unique merits and drawbacks of this model so that you can make an educated decision.

Product Features

Pros

• Although less costly than the KitchenAid Artisan model, it is still an investment.
• This is strong and lasting due to its heavy-duty build.
• It has ten speeds and is as configurable in terms of speed settings as more costly ones.
• This model is around 10 pounds lighter than the Artisan model, making it an excellent alternative if you don’t always have place on your kitchen counter for a mixer. This type is considerably simpler to maneuver.

Cons

• Because the bowl lacks a handle, it is significantly less handy than other mixers. If you want, a bowl with a handle that suits this model may be bought separately (find out where).
• Because it does not come in a large range of colors, it cannot be matched to specific kitchen décor; yet, with its clean white appearance, it is still an appealing machine that fits in well and should look fantastic on any countertop.

Attachments

This mixer, like the Artisan Stand Mixer, has a coated flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip attachments. All of them function well with this model as well, and much of the same criticisms apply.

However, the dough hook seems to perform a little better on the Artisan model than it does on this one. Kneading dough puts some strain on the machine, and the heavier, sturdier type outperforms this one somewhat.

To get the dough entirely and correctly kneaded, you may need to knead it longer or stop and rearrange the positioning of the dough in this machine.

Optional Attachments

The fact that most Kitchen Aid extra accessories operate on all models is a huge plus. This model, like the Artisan mixer, can utilize over 15 alternative attachments, and if you decide to buy to a more costly Kitchen Aid mixer, youll most likely be able to maintain the same accessories.

Who Is This For?

This is an excellent mixer for regular bakers who want something lower in weight, less expensive, and simpler to manage than some of the other KitchenAid mixers.

It is ideal for individuals who do not have enough counter space to retain a mixer as a permanent countertop fixture and must move it around often for storage. It’s also ideal for individuals who usually use mixers for icings, cookies, and other things that don’t need the hard kneading required for yeast breads.

What to Consider Before Buying

Even if it is less expensive, this is still an investment. Consider how frequently you will use the mixer before buying. This isn’t the ideal option for yeast breads, but it’s fantastic for so many other things.

It’s also a good idea to consider where you’ll store your mixer and if having a designer model that fits your particular kitchen decor is important to you.

Final Thoughts

Kitchen Aid produces a wide range of high-quality stand mixers. This model is an excellent alternative for individuals looking for something less in weight and less priced while yet providing excellent performance.

3 – Hamilton Beach 64650 6-Speed Classic Stand Mixer, Stainless Steel (Budget Pick)

No one would call this a top-of-the-line stand mixer, but it is a great budget-friendly option, especially for those who do not bake frequently and prefer a mixer for icings and lighter cake batters rather than heavy-duty yeast breads or denser cookie doughs.

Product Features

Pros

• This is a very cheap mixer with very surprising features, particularly for such a low price.
• The 4-quart mixing basin is big enough to handle considerable volumes of batter or dough.
• The top detaches and works as a hand mixer, which is a useful tool when you need to rapidly combine or whisk something and don’t want to transfer it.
• There are six attachments included, which will be described more below.
• Lightweight and doesnt take up too much space
• This mixer has six settings, which allows for some personalization, although it may struggle to function at faster rates.
• Easy to take apart and clean

Cons

• To obtain equal mixing, you’ll probably need to pause every now and then and use a spatula to rearrange the ingredients in the bowl, scraping the sides and bottom.
• It does not function well with thicker doughs or batters. In such instances, it will often jam and briefly cease operating; the motor just isn’t powerful enough.
• As a less durable, less costly mixer, it is unlikely to endure as long as many of the more expensive versions.
• Can be loud while in use
• This may be a little weighty and tough to manage for more than a minute or two when used as a hand mixer.

Attachments

This set includes two beaters, two dough hooks, and a whisk. Because none of them are coated, there is no risk of peeling enamel.

One disadvantage of all of these attachments is that they do not reach the bottom of the bowl. When used as a stand mixer, this makes even mixing difficult.

The solution is to occasionally pause and stir by hand, then continue the mixing process.

Beaters: These are great for cookie dough and cake batter. They are simple to clean and quite sturdy, however they struggle with richer recipes like peanut butter cookie dough.

However, these beater attachments have a propensity to veer to the side, and it is frequently required to tilt the bowl many times to obtain uniform mixing.

Whisk: This features a conventional whisk that works well for icings, beating egg whites, and whipping cream. The whisk is simple to clean and performs well in both stand and hand mixer modes. If whisking is your primary requirement for a mixer, you can be certain that this mixer excels in this area.

The one disadvantage of the whisk attachment is that it takes take a minute to correctly insert it; the fit isn’t ideal for simplicity of usage.

Dough hooks: Dough hook attachments can knead enough dough to make one loaf of bread at a time. This is in stark contrast to many other stand mixers on the market, which, like the two Kitchen Aid machines mentioned above, can knead enough dough for three or four loaves at a time.

Similarly, even when kneading only one loaf, this mixer struggles. You’ll probably need to stop the mixer and stir occasionally, and with thicker doughs, you may need to knead by hand, since this machine isn’t designed for many dense doughs.

It should be emphasized, however, that this isn’t simply a problem with the dough hook attachment, but also with the mixer’s engine being underpowered.

Optional Attachments

This mixer has a few of optional accessories, but they aren’t widely accessible. In general, you should only use this with the accessories that come with it.

Those interested in utilizing a stand mixer to make handmade pasta or ice cream, for example, should check at other mixers, such as those covered before by KitchenAid.

Who is This For?

This is an excellent option for the frugal baker who does not usually use a mixer. It’s great for those who only use stand mixers for mild tasks like creating frosting or whipping egg whites.

What to Consider Before Buying

A person’s budget is a significant consideration. If you bake often and can afford a higher-quality mixer, the Kitchen Aid models mentioned above are worth considering.

However, if cost is an issue and you are ready to purchase a mixer that will most likely need to be replaced in the future, this is a great alternative. It may assist to simplify the baking process and save time and labor while also producing the light, fluffy consistency that is difficult to create by hand in meals such as icings and whipped cream.

Final Thoughts

Is this on par with most high-end stand mixers? No, it doesn’t. Is this a good, practical alternative for a large number of people? Absolutely. As a low-cost device, this stand mixer performs well and opens up the opportunity of owning a stand mixer to a larger number of individuals.

Not everyone bakes often enough to necessitate the use of a big, heavy-duty mixer. This Hamilton Beach model is affordable, lightweight, and takes up little counter space. It also works surprisingly effectively for such a low-cost item.

Have you used any of these mixers before? If so, which is your favorite, and which attachments are your favorites? Please let us know in the comments section below.