by Melinda on November 9, 2011
I used to think my KitchenAid was the best mixer, until I saw this mixer getting all the raves from reviewers. After much deliberation, I decided to give it a try. And what a surprise I got. This Cuisinart SM-55 shall now be my favorite stand mixer, and quite affordable too:)
Cuisinart SM-55 - Best Mixer
Great features of the Cuisinart SM-55
This powerful 800W mixer can handle heavy baking projects like none other. On the first impression it does look a bit flimsy and light-weighted, but it’s so stable that it doesn’t jitter at all when kneading dough, and on the plus side, it really is lightweight so you can move it around easily.
The included attachments: whisk, dough hook and paddle are dishwasher safe, and I just love the splash guard, even though it doesn’t splash much due to its clever slow-starting design. All the attachments and the bowl are easy to remove and clean.
Oh, and I really must mention the timer. This is a rather well-thought feature as I can leave the Cuisinart SM-55 working on timer while I do other stuff, but I do note that the buttons are too easy to push and a few others have also commented that they tend to mistakenly set the timer too long.
Versatile Mixer
Cuisinart SM-55 is also versatile in the way that you can buy attachments of other functions to connect to the mixer’s power outlets. These are blender, food processor, citrus juicer, meat grinder and pasta maker attachments, which can all be bought separately as you wish.
And last but not least, Cuisinart SM-55 has a commendable 5-year warranty on its motor. This is so comforting that I can live with the fact that it looks like a sewing machine on my countertop (this was pointed out by a reviewer and the image has stuck in my mind ever since, haha…).
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by Melinda on September 28, 2011
The KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer comes bundled with a whooping 575 watt motor, which means it can handle most heavy mixing duties (that are still practical of course).
I can get pizza dough, various brad dough, pasta dough to be thoroughly mixed without having to worry much about the KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer not being able to handle such tough dough, and ending up overtaxing the motor.
The KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer boasts of having an all metal construction, meaning that this mixer is made to last, unlike the mixture of plastic and metal construct of most other mixers in the market. In their own words, “Durable all-steel gears provide reliable service”. The KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer even has a 10 speed control where I can pick between a very fast whip, or just a slow stir.
And for those who are visual-conscious about how their mixer should look, shouldn’t fret. The KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer comes with a dazzling choice of 12 colors such as Cinnamon, Empire Red (as pictured above, left) and many others.
This Heavy Duty Mixer’s Drawback
The KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer however, is not spared from suffering drawbacks.
Firstly, the most notable drawback is that the KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer isn’t light. Weighing at 25 pounds, this mixer is clearly meant to be left on the counter and not be lugged up and down into storage, thus making mobility for this mixer to be rather limited.
With the weight addressed, naturally, the size is a problem too. Not only is the KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer heavy, it is also rather bulky. It would not be very ideal for someone who has a confined kitchen to have this monster hogging a large space on the counter.
Summary
As the KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer has a more powerful motor built in, noise is definitely a factor. The whining and whirring of the motor as it mixes can rather be noticeable, though not to the extent of being unbearable. The KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer is also to be noted that it isn’t suitable for smaller scale tasks as it seems to be constructed with heavy users in mind.
And finally, I would say, the biggest drawback of the KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer would be it’s heafty price tag, which costs about $350. Not a petty sum to be splurged on a mixer.
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by Melinda on August 29, 2011
KitchenAid KHM9PWH 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer is the best hand mixer that is designed especially for home bakers. Equipped with 9 digital speeds, you are provided with precise control. This allows you to mix any mixture from heavy to light powerfully. Thanks to the smooth surfaces, there is no worry about any trapped ingredients and cleaning (just wipe!) is a breeze!
KitchenAid KHM9PWH 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer
Great Features
More than just a normal hand mixer, this model is as close as you can get to a professional equipment. It can handle heavy duty mixing easily (such as mixing the stickiest cookie dough) without losing steam. You can also make cakes, cookies, fillings, pastries and baked goods with this mixer.
Moreover, KitchenAid KHM9PWH 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer is lightweight, silent and makes cleaning a painless effort. Since everything around the mixer is covered except for the eject button, cleaning is made easy. Furthermore, the smooth cord which wipes off easily makes the after effect of mixing a safer task! For any first time users, fear not for the instruction book is not only short but easy to comprehend with complete illustration and many recipes to generate more ideas!
However, one user have complained that the whisk attachment is not particularly perfect in mixing whipping cream or meringue but performs better in breaking up clumps in sauces. Yet, it is a point to note that there are many more compliments compared to dissatisfaction given for this particular mixer.
KitchenAid KHM9PWH 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer is slightly more expensive than other products in the category, but cheaper than its sibling the KitchenAid KHM7T as I write this review, and I think it is worth it for it performs exactly as promised!
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by Melinda on June 27, 2011
For the budget conscious, the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer is definitely for you, as I can, without any hesitation, rate it as the best mixer in terms of budget stand mixer. With a price of only about $155, the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer comes with a 400 watt motor, meaning, it can work at decent quantities of dough without significantly overheating.
What I Like About Hamilton Beach 63221
I could whip up batches of my home made bread dough without worrying my mixer would suddenly catch fire and break down from overwork. As it comes with a rather powerful motor, the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer is suited for a wide array of mixing tasks which can make preparing food a breeze. Those who are however, have large quantity mixing in mind should perhaps consider the heavy duty KitchenAid Professional 600 Mixer instead.
Work Best For
The Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer I would say, is suitable for me as living in house with a small kitchen, I don’t need to actually make much space to store the mixer unlike other bulkier mixer. And my kids love the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer as it is quiet while in operation (in fact, it is one of the most quiet mixers in the market), thus it doesn’t disturb them enjoying their rock music.
If you are tired of boring white mixers, or looking for a mixer that would blend well with your kitchen scheme, the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer comes in 6 eye-catching colors that would make a natural addition to your kitchen!
Some Drawbacks
However, the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer does come with a few drawbacks. For one, the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer works in ‘planetary motion’, meaning that it would be better at reaching the bowl sides than the bottom. There is a significant gap between the beater (such as the dough hook) and the bowl. As such, with certain frequency, I would have to stop the mixer, and scrape the bottom up and resume mixing to ensure an even and consistent mix to my dough.
Another grouse I would have is that the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer dances. Amusing as it sounds, it isn’t a good sight to see the mixer “walking” across the counter when I’m mixing thick dough, which means I’ve to keep an eye on the mixer in case the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer decides to take a plunge off my counter top!
Best Budget Mixer
However, the Hamilton Beach 63221 Mixer is definitely the Best Budget stand mixer. It has the lowest priced stand mixer, yet it packs a decently powerful motor that can handle most mixing work.
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by Melinda on April 10, 2011
Okay, now you’ve decided you want to buy a hand mixer, here are the things that determine what is the best hand mixer for you:
What tasks can it handle?
When you’re buying a hand mixer, I think it’s clear that you aren’t baking all that often and you’re not trying to mix heavy stuff like bread dough. A good hand mixer will be able to do things like whisking eggs (thin liquid), beating cream, mixing cake batter (thick liquid), and maybe even mixing cookie dough (light solids) if it is powerful enough. Check the power of the hand mixer, 175-watt to 220-watt is decent.
How much control do I have over the mixing?
You really don’t want a hand mixer that has only three speed settings – low, medium, high. Although that seems pretty straightforward and easy to use, sometimes you need that slight change in speed that will make mixing so much smoother. A good hand mixer should have at least 5 or 6 speeds, while a better hand mixer will have 7 to 9 speeds. You don’t want a hand mixer with 16 speeds either, because it is rare that you’ll get to use all of them.
6-speed hand mixer: Hamilton Beach 62695N
9-speed hand mixer: KitchenAid KHM9PWH
Is it comfortable?
Now this might sound like a strange question but if you’ve held a hand mixer for extended periods like I did, you know you need to ask this. Find a hand mixer that is light in weight but doesn’t compromise in quality of its motor and parts. The handle should provide a stable and firm grip for your hand. Ergonomic designs like a slanted handle for wrist-comfort or an open-end handle for bigger hands are nice advantages. If you’re left-handed, check whether the cord comes out on the right side of the mixer, because that will get in the way and become rather annoying.
Ergonomic handle designs: KitchenAid KHM9PWH and KitchenAid KHM7T
Best hand mixer for left handers: Cuisinart HM-70
Is it easy to clean and assemble?
Basically you only need to clean the beaters and give the body a wipe, but find a hand mixer that detaches the beaters with an easy push of a button so that you don’t have to struggle with it every time. Beaters that don’t have a rod in the middle are a lot easier to clean than those that do. The body of the hand mixer should also be as streamlined as possible to wipe off easily.
That’s about it for a good hand mixer. The best hand mixers may also have a reasonable period of warranty and helpful customer service just in case. Choose wisely! Find out what are my top picks for hand mixers here: Best Hand Mixer
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by Melinda on April 7, 2011
Have you been searching online sources or stores for the best mixer available? A mixer that can do everything you need and even more? A mixer, that would last as almost as long as you would? Or maybe just enough till you are unable to bake anymore?
Well I would boldly say that this mixer is definitely within your reach, and I assure you that every other veteran baker or Patisserie would swear to this mixer. This mixer is none other than the KitchenAid Artisan. An Iconic mixer which has lasted the test of time and constant baking, it is no surprise to find these mixers in the kitchens of professionals.
KitchenAid Artisan
Powerful and Convenient for Your Daily Baking
The KitchenAid Artisan is a stand mixer, and as you all know a stand mixer is capable of having a large and powerful motor, and this is no exception to this best stand mixer as it houses a 325 watt motor that is capable of mixing through the hardest and most dense batter material out there, I even used it to fold my cookie dough.
This large stand mixer also comes with a large 5 quart bowl is more than enough space for making cake batter. This mixer also has a 2 piece pouring shield which is situated at the top of the bowl; you can insert and remove the mixer head from the bowl without having to remove this pouring shield. This incredibly well made measure keeps my kitchen and the mixer clean; there is hardly any cleanup to do on the body of the mixer, except for a little dusting and wiping.
Professional Mixing Action
Now let’s put the obvious aside and look into more detail, the details which make the Artisan the best mixer there is, for example the unique mixing action which it has. This mixer does not only spin the attachments on it, but the base itself has a rotating plate which spins the bowl. The beater will spin clockwise as the plate where the bowl is situated upon will rotate the opposite direction; this will allow the beater to reach all over the bowl not missing a single spot. I personally like this, as I can just leave the mixer on, all I have to do is watch for the batter to be complete and stop the mixer, it’s as easy as that.
The multiple speed functions on the mixer add to the control I can have over it, the first level is stir, this one I usually use for really soft things like syrup, while the last level which is level 10 I will use for mixing in cashews and nuts, and believe me when I say that this mixer has no problem dealing with that.
The accessories which come with the mixer are very versatile, as a basic you will get a flat beater which I use for tough dough’s like pie crusts and cookies, the dough hook which is really great for kneading bread, and the regular wire whip which you can use for soft batters and liquids. There are also optional attachments made by kitchen aid for this mixer, from the regular like a chopper attachment to something which I was entirely new to, the sausage stuffer, this goes to show that the artisan was made to be a solo machinist in the kitchen.
All in a Box
Now let me summarize the quality of this mixer for you, just in case you were too lazy to read through the entire review, basically the KitchenAid Artisan Mixer is really powerful, really useful and the expensive price tag is really worth your money, just remember to buy it from a trustworthy supplier to avoid getting a lemon. Another thing which I would like to add is the number of colors this mixer has, it has almost as many colors as you can think of, so choosing would definitely be a hard process since you are going to be stuck with this mixer for a long, long time.
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by Melinda on August 19, 2010
The Cuisinart HM-70 is a decent hand mixer to get at an affordable price.
Cuisinart HM-70 Power Advantage 7-Speed Hand Mixer
Slow Start Feature
This hand mixer starts slow – at speed 1 – when you turn it on, so it doesn’t splatter mixture and puff up the flour. This is an advantage over most powerful hand mixers!
Good Power for Hand Mixer
For a hand mixer, 220-watt is just right. I wouldn’t think of using this for any heavy job like kneading bread doughs, so I would respectfully object to another reviewer’s opinion that this mixer deserves less stars because it didn’t include dough hooks.
Hand mixers are not for doughs! Save that for the powerful stand mixers like KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus or KitchenAid Professional 600. Besides, won’t you feel tired holding a mixer all the time while it struggles with heavy dough? It’s like walking a wild hound, really.
The Cuisinart HM-70 is good enough for some light whipping tasks like cream, cookie batter, mash potatoes or whipping egg whites into stiff peaks.
Not Quite for Big Hands
The beater release trigger is not the usual button on top but a lever for the index finger. A reviewer claim that this is not a good position for big hands such as your husband’s because he might accidentally eject the beaters while helping you to mix dough!
Noise
Having 7 speeds to choose from, this hand mixer certainly becomes loud when you turn it to high speed. The cooling fan sounds like a vacuum cleaner.
Well, the Cuisinart HM-70 Power Advantage 7-Speed Hand Mixer is a nice hand mixer for right or left-handers with its swivel cord, the beaters are dishwasher safe, and it includes a spatula and 3-year warranty as well. If you don’t mind the noise, go ahead and get it.
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by Melinda on August 14, 2010
Anyone who wants a good-looking metal mixer that does the job as well should look into this one. The Hamilton Beach 63220 Eclectrics All-Metal 12-Speed Stand Mixer is rather cheaper than KitchenAid mixers too.
Hamilton Beach 63220 Eclectrics All-Metal 12-Speed Stand Mixer
Looks Lovely in the Kitchen
The die cast metal with a smooth finish makes this stand mixer look great in just any kitchen. In fact it looks like what a professional baker would have.
Quiet and Powerful
If compared to the KitchenAid Artisan, the Hamilton Beach 63220 Eclectrics All-Metal 12-Speed Stand Mixer has a slightly smaller bowl (4.5 quart), but quieter, and has a little more power – 400-watt to Artisan’s 325-watt.
“I was amazed at how quiet the Hamilton Beach mixer was. It’s quieter than our Artisan mixer – you can barely hear it at all when it’s on lower speeds.” – Lana
The Hamilton Beach 63220 Eclectrics All-Metal 12-Speed Stand Mixer has two more speeds than the Artisan, but when the number of speeds go above 10, I think that’s trivial.
There are plenty of people who are skeptical about buying a mixer which is not a KitchenAid, because KitchenAid’s service is undoubtedly solid. But those who risked it and tried this mixer weren’t disappointed either.
What’s Not Good?
Maybe the weight and power of this mixer is not good enough for really heavy doughs. You shouldn’t go over the speed recommended by dough recipes either, or you’ll find the dough climbing up the hook. For the heavy duty stuff, I wouldn’t recommend the Artisan either. Go for KitchenAid Professional 600.
The Hamilton Beach 63220 Eclectrics All-Metal 12-Speed Stand Mixer comes with a 3-year warranty, and it’s only $215 right now at Amazon. I think it’s worth a try.
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by Melinda on August 10, 2010
The KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series is slightly different from the other KitchenAid mixers. It features a wider but not larger bowl than the Artisan, a better power, and a lift up mechanism that is hardly found with any other mixer.
KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series
Greater Power
Although the KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series is sort of like the odd kid in the neighborhood, what with the bowl lifted up and doesn’t rotate while the mixing is going on, it seems to mix well enough and the 450-watt power is good for any household baking projects.
The bowl is stable when it is lifted up to beater, and it has a handle to hold. The beater runs on a shaft that rotates one way while the beater itself rotates another way, so that the beater is beating around the bowl. You’d still have to scrape the sides like other mixers though.
The beater starts slow and pick up speed gradually, meaning that you don’t make a mess of floury mixtures. But to be on the safe side, it’s better not to put in a large amount of flour compared to the liquid/fat/cream at once.
The KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series is tall. It might not fit under just any cabinet, so decide first whether you have the room to leave it on the countertop, or put it away after each use. Given that it’s made with full-fledged quality, it’s not a lightweight mixer either.
What about dough?
It comes with a spiral shaped dough hook and works all right with normal dough. But if you’re making very heavy or stiff dough like whole wheat bread dough or a large amount of dough, it might be wiser to invest in an even more powerful mixer like the KitchenAid Professional 600 which has an amazing 575-watt motor.
If you’re not skeptical about “different designs” and don’t mind the height of this thing, the KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series is a solid and delightful mixer to have.
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by Melinda on August 5, 2010
Baking is fun when you’ve got a sturdy and reliable mixer to use. Sometimes I even do two baking projects at one time, for instance on that day when my sister held a party for her one-year-old’s birthday, I made her a large batch of cookies and a banana chiffon cake.
I prefer to use a stand mixer for the average job, but for quick and light mixing I go for hand mixers. Before I start talking about my best mixers and what they can do, here are some tips to share which you won’t find in the regular recipe.
Tip #1 Save time
Turn on the oven to warm it and get the pans ready ten minutes before you finish mixing everything. This you can do while the mixture is being beaten in your best stand mixer and you’ve got your hands free. After the mixing is done you can then immediately pour the mixture into the pans and pop them into the oven. The batter is as fresh as it can be and you save 15 to 30 minutes of time.
Tip #2 Ingredients
Preparation always take up the most time, I feel. Take out the butter, eggs and other ingredients from the fridge to sit in room temperature at least an hour before the time you plan to start.
If I need to cream the butter and sugar I’ll pop them into the mixer and run it first before I start measuring other ingredients, because creaming takes the longest.
Always make sure the flour gets sifted with a fine sieve together with the salt (if recipe requires it), so that you don’t get any lumps in the batter. Any other powdered ingredient such as baking powder or cocoa powder goes through the sieve before mixing as well.
Tip #3 Perfect taste and texture
Always cream the butter and sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved. And how do you know it has? When the color has gone lighter and the texture is creamy, use the spatula to dip into the depths of mixture and take it out, then use your forefinger and thumb to rub some of the substance together. If you can see or feel any remnants of sugar, it is not perfectly creamed.
Scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl from time to time so that you get an even mixture. The better you can cream the butter and sugar, the better the taste and texture of the end result.
All right, that’s all for now. I will be writing more mixing and baking tips when I have the time. If you’re looking for the best mixer, check out my mixer reviews. 
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