KitchenAid Artisan
KitchenAid’s standing mixers remain the benchmark—“beloved” as wedding gifts and highly rated in consumer testing. The Artisan series features a head that tilts side to side.
$350, kitchenaid.com
Source: The Boston Globe
Breville Scraper Mixer
We liked this Breville even better than the KitchenAid. Its “primo mixing performance” is enhanced by a beater whose flexible edge scrapes the bowl clean as the beater turns.
$300, macys.com
Source: ShopSmart
Bodum Bistro Electric Stand Mixer
This good-looking mixer offers useful extras: a feeding chute, a splash guard, and suction cups on the base. We just wish the paddle reached the sides of the bowl.
$400, bodum.com
Source: FoodRepublic.com
KitchenAid 9 Speed Architect Series
The best hand mixer around is pricier than many alternatives, but it “powered through dense cookie dough and whipped cream in a jiffy.”
$90, kitchenaid.com
Source: ShopSmart
Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus
We prefer this “very user-friendly” Cuisinart, for both its price and its power. It also has a handy case for storing all attachments together.
$80, cuisinart.com
Source: GoodHousekeeping.com