Best stand mixers for star bakers, featuring KitchenAid, Kenwood and Morphy Richards

When it comes to shopping for kitchen appliances, there are some products that are more fun to purchase than others. Enter, the stand mixer. A product that can instantly add a professional touch to an average home kitchen. And it's a worktop workhouse too, taking the stress and strain out of whipping, kneading and whisking - a huge help if you cook and bake on a regular basis.

There's a LOT of love on the Mumsnet forums for KitchenAid, the OG of stand mixers and star appliance in the Bake Off tent. And while it's a pricey buy, Mumsnetters tend to agree that if you're active in the kitchen, it's a wise investment that will last for years. Alternatively, if you dabble in a bit of breadmaking and make the odd birthday cake, you might not want to splurge on a high-end product but you could still benefit from a helping hand in the kitchen. Luckily, you can pick up a good quality mixer for less than £100.

We've gathered guidance from the forums to highlight stand mixer recommendations from home bakers that have put a range of products through their paces.

If you're looking to kit out your kitchen with more top kitchen appliances that have been tried, tested and recommended by busy parents, we've got guides to the best microwaves, the best toasters, the best kettles, the best juicers, the best blenders, the best food steamers and the best soup makers, all featuring reviews by Mumsnet users.

Best stand mixers at a glance

• Best overall: KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer | Buy now, £349

• Best budget: Morphy Richards Stand mixer | Buy now, £60

• Best for cakes: Kenwood kMix Stand mixer | Buy now, £245

• Best for attachments: Bosch CreationLine Stand Mixer | Buy now, £250

• Best durable stand mixer: Kenwood KVC3100S Chef | Buy now, £429

• Best for sauces: Magimix 18115 Le Micro Mini Chopper | Buy now, £65

• Best for dough: Kenwood Prospero Plus KHC29.A0SI | Buy now, £107

1. Best overall stand mixer: KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

Price on writing: £349 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Power: 300W | Capacity: 4.8l | Speed settings: 10| Attachments: Stainless steel bowl, wire whisk, flat beater, dough hook | Warranty: Five years

What we like

• Iconic design

• 10 speed settings

• Premium performance

What we don't like

• Large price tag

What Mumsnet users say

"I have a KitchenAid and use it every other day or sometimes daily to make bread, and cakes. It's 9 years old and I love it. It's a joy to use. I'm lusting after extra bowls and the matching toaster and kettle" - Recommended brand by Mumsnet user SistemaAddict

Our verdict

This is the classic, the red Ferrari, the Rolex, the Burberry raincoat, the Gibson Les Paul, the Mont Blanc fountain pen (insert other timeless marvels here) of stand mixers and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. According to Mumsnetters, the KitchenAid stand mixer is the best in the business and one of the most lusted-after appliances on our forums thanks to its striking good looks, quiet motor and quality build. With 10 speed settings and a range of attachments, the KitchenAid Artisan or Classic can whip up everything from pasta dough to ice cream, sausage filling to salsa and much much more.

The beater rotates in one direction while whisking and turning in the other, pushing ingredients towards the centre of the bowl. Mixing is fast, thorough and precise. The large 4.8l stainless steel bowl lets you process small to large batches of food. Attachments include a flat beater, dough hook and wire whisk for all your baking needs, but other accessories can simply be plugged into the multi-purpose hub which will allow you to mince meat, slice vegetables, roll and cut pasta, squeeze, chop and process.

2. Best budget stand mixer: Morphy Richards Stand Mixer

Price on writing: £60 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs:

Power: 800w | Capacity: 4 litres | Speed settings: 6 | Attachments: Stainless steel bowl, dough hook, beater, whisk | Warranty: One year

What we like

• Pocket-friendly price

• Good capacity

What we don’t like

• If you are a serious chef or frequent baker, you would probably be better off with a more sturdy bit of kit

Our verdict

If you want an easier kitchen life, but are reluctant to shell out for an expensive stand mixer, then this reasonably priced model might be for you. With its 800w motor, it’s ideal for cake mixes, bread and pastry dough, as well as whisking. It has six speeds and a pulse setting, as well as a 4 litre stainless steel mixing bowl, dust cover and splashguard to ensure all your ingredients remain in the bowl. At this price, you might think it would only stand up to occasional use, but Mumsnet users say they use it frequently with excellent results.

3. Best stand mixer for cakes: Kenwood kMix Stand Mixer

Price on writing: £245 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Power: 1000w | Capacity: 5 litres | Speed settings: 6 | Attachments: Beater, whisk, dough hook, glass bowl | Warranty: Five years

What we like

• Powerful motor

• Sturdy glass bowl allows you to easily see if any ingredients are stuck to the side

What we don’t like

• Some users have had an issue with the bowl sticking in the base

• Bowl is on the heavy side

• If you want one of the many extra tools, you need to buy these separately

What Mumsnet users say

“I bought the kMix, even though I love the look of the Kitchenaid. It has a much better motor, and the functionality is more important than the looks” - Recommended product by Mumsnet user LadyofMisrule

Our verdict

Plenty of Mumsnet users enthuse about the kMix stand mixer and it's notable that this new model looks more elegant than its predecessors. The accompanying bowl tools, beater, whisk and dough hook will help you create flavoured breads, cakes and pavlovas, while the fold function is handy if you’re preparing soufflés, mousses or meringues. The electronic speed control reduces the risk of spillage and the glass bowl, which has a splash guard, has a generous five litre capacity with graduations up the side to assist with measuring ingredients.

4. Best stand mixer for attachments: Bosch MUM59340GB CreationLine Stand Mixer

Price on writing: £250 | Buy now from John Lewis

Key specs

Power: 1000w | Capacity: 3.9 litres | Speed settings: 7 | Attachments: Whisk attachment, dough hook, beaters, flexible beater tool, food processing attachment, fine grating disc, citrus press, continuous shredder, meat mincer, stainless steel mixing bowl, 1.25 litre liquidiser attachment | Warranty: Two years

What we like

• The huge range of attachments

• Powerful motor

What we don’t like

• On the pricey side

What Mumsnet users say

“Bosch Mum. Manages bread dough as well as fine stuff. Lots of useful attachments'' - Recommended brand by Mumsnet user greenacrylicpaint

Our verdict

Whether your passion is in pastries, pancakes or pies, the Bosch MUM59340GB CreationLine Stand Mixer comes with a vast array of attachments to keep even the fussiest of chefs satisfied.

The powerful 1,000 watt motor effortlessly deals with heavy dough and quick food processing. A full professional patisserie set and a large mixing bowl offers great versatility and there are seven speed settings to help you achieve the perfect bake.

The accessories are all dishwasher-safe, which is another big plus for the Bosch.

5. Best durable stand mixer: Kenwood KVC3100S Chef Premier Stand Mixer

Price on writing: £429 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Power: 1000w | Capacity: 4.6 litres | Speed settings: Variable | Attachments: Flat K beater, whisk, dough hook | Warranty: Two years

What we like

• Strong and built to last

• Powerful

What we don’t like

• It’s not the prettiest mixer to look at

What Mumsnet users say

“We have a Kenwood chef. Bought it 14 years ago out of vouchers we received when we got married, and it has been absolutely amazing. I don’t have experience of other stand mixers but I really love ours. I make so many things in it, it’s going a few times every week” - Recommended brand by Mumsnet user WellTidy

“I love my Kenwood Chef. It ain’t pretty but it’s a proper workhorse. Had it 10 years so far and my mum had hers for 30 before she decided to replace it!” - Recommended brand by Mumsnet user FlatStanletta

Our verdict

If you find cooking too time-consuming but still enjoy it, this stand mixer, with its generous capacity of 4.6l and 1000w motor, will be a welcome helping hand, no matter what you're making. Thanks to the variable speed and pulse option, it lets you choose exactly how fast you'd like it to perform, allowing you to achieve perfect results. For added flexibility, the Chef Premier comes with Kenwood's K-Beater, whisk and dough hook so you can create a range of different dishes with confidence. There are over 20 additional attachments available.

6. Best stand mixer for sauces: Magimix 18115 Le Micro Mini Chopper

Price on writing: £65 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Power: 290w | Capacity: 1 litres | Speed settings: 1 | Attachments: Sabatier Stainless Steel blades, blending tool, bowl with lid, emulsifying attachment | Warranty: Three years

What we like

• Great for mixing and chopping small quantities of food

• Compact for easy storage

• Easy to use

What we don’t like

• Can’t be used for mixing dough

• Small capacity, so not ideal if you are batch cooking or cooking for a crowd

Our verdict

Although the Magimix 18115 Le Micro Mini Chopper isn’t strictly a stand mixer, its blending tool can whip up sauces, dips and salad dressing along with the best of them.

It is oh-so-simple to use, with one ‘pulse’ button allowing you to control the action, so there is no risk of over-mixing. Despite its small size, it’s a robust and surprisingly heavy machine. The vicious-looking Sabatier stainless steel blades slices through meats, cheese, nuts and more with ease, which means the Magimix Micro Mini Chopper is also a great choice if you are weaning.

7. Best stand mixer for bread dough: Kenwood Prospero Plus KHC29.A0SI Stand Mixer

Price on writing: £107 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Power: 1000w | Capacity: 4.3 litres | Speed settings: 5 | Attachments: K beater, whisk, dough hook, brushed steel bowl | Warranty: One year

What we like

• Good value for a quality brand

• Powerful

• Compact, so it doesn’t take up much counter space

What we don’t like

• Some reviewers say the Prospero ‘bobs’ when tackling tougher dough

What Mumsnet users say

“I love my Prospero. I use it several times a week. [...] What I really love about having a stand mixer is that while it’s busy mixing I can get on with the clearing up so I don’t end up with a lot to do at the end. It makes everything seem easier for that reason” - Recommended brand by Mumsnet user TheCountessofFitzdotterel

Our verdict

The Prospero has a massive following on Mumsnet who love the fact that it's (reasonably) affordable, easy to use and, crucially if your kitchen's on the smaller side, compact. It will help you with any food mixing task, from kneading dough to whipping up a batch of icing. It comes with three bowl tools featuring Kenwood’s planetary mixing action to perform different tasks: a dough hook, K beater and whisk. With dimensions of 31.3 × 24.3 × 29.2 cm, it won't take over your kitchen space, but it could transform how you spend your time in the kitchen.

How to choose the best stand mixer

It has to be KitchenAid, doesn't it?

The KitchenAid is the queen of mixers – that much seems irrefutable after reading what lots of Mumsnetters have to say on the topic. 'Love' is a common term bandied about by Mumsnet users – for their power, efficiency and even what one MNer called 'strokeability'. They come in a range of models, with the Artisan and Classic among the most popular. They also come with top-notch accessories – bowls, shields (to prevent mess), whisks and beaters. Best of all perhaps, they look great, coming in an array of colours for you to choose from.

How much is a good stand mixer?

There are decent alternatives to KitchenAid, with Kenwood inspiring devotion from plenty of Mumsnet users who swear by their Prosperos and kMixs. There are also a few budget options on the market, with big brands offering models at a lower price point (even Lidl got in on the act a while back with a £50 model that won over one Great British Bake Off contestant). When it comes to the more expensive mixers, expect heavier and more solid models, which helps with stability. They also have quieter motors, bigger capacities and more specialised mixing attachments, as well as better quality bowls and other accoutrements.

What can you do with a stand mixer?

What's on your menu? Cake? Bread? Something outré? The reason we ask is that, while the best mixers should be able to do everything, the rest have strengths and weaknesses (don't we all). For example, one machine might be great at kneading but not so great at whisking or beating. Decide on your priorities – what do you like making/eating? Do you just want a machine that will make life easier for you or do you want one that will give you the chance to expand your repertoire? What about your other family members – do they enjoy baking and what will they want from this machine?

How much space do you need?

If you go for a KitchenAid then you'll probably want to keep it out on the worktop so that you can gaze at it lovingly, and your friends can admire it when they come over. But not everyone has the space for that, so if you're going to have to put your mixer away in a cupboard, make sure you measure the space and always note the dimensions of a product before buying. Sounds obvious but, honestly, who hasn't occasionally got swept up in the excitement of buying a new piece of kit and only really realised afterwards they didn't have room for it?

How we chose our recommendations

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users

First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on the best stand mixers, as well as the stand mixers that they rate, recommend and have used in their own homes.

We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, difficult to clean or simply struggled to tackle tougher mixing tasks.

Expert opinions

Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those recommended by food experts, chefs and consumer champions such as Which?.

Authentic consumer reviews

Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best stand mixers on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos, Currys and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.

About the author

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on product reviews, homeware roundups and family travel.

She’s written buyer’s guides for publications including Expert Reviews, Coach and Den of Geek as well as reviews and features for the Guardian, TripSavvy and Visit London.

As a mum of two, she’s always on the lookout for products that make life easier at home and loves putting gadgets and appliances to the test to highlight best buys for families.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.

Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.