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Stand mixers are great, aren’t they? You can make anything from bread, cake, homemade guacamole, and even fresh pasta with the right attachments. It all starts with picking the best stand mixer. Today we’re taking the titans of the market and comparing them. It’s KitchenAid vs Hamilton Beach vs Cuisinart mixers. Each has their pros and cons and we’re taking a detailed look at all three brands. Read on to see who wins this battle.
KitchenAid Pros and Cons
KitchenAid Pros
KitchenAid stand mixers are considered top of the line now and it’s easy to see why. They have strong motors that are fantastic for mixing cookies and cakes, the planetary mixing action ensures even ingredient distribution, and they are highly versatile (check out our article on 15 Creative Stand Mixer Uses to see how much you can do!). On average, KitchenAid has more speeds, features, and attachments than either Hamilton Beach or Cuisinart.
Most KitchenAid mixers have a tilt-head that makes it easy to load and remove the mixing bowl. These mixers are also good for small or large mixing batches. Some units are only good for one or the other, but KitchenAid is all about versatility. One of the best things is that KitchenAid has a power hub where you can add various attachments to grind meat, make pasta, and much more. KitchenAid is also consistently rated as one of the best on Amazon (we compared the best vs worst stand mixer if you’re curious).
In terms of KitchenAid vs Hamilton Beach, these mixers are stronger, more versatile, have more accessories, and they look better. When comparing KitchenAid vs Cuisinart, many Cuisinart mixers have stronger motors but lighter bodies, which can create uneven performance. KitchenAid is more balanced.
KitchenAid Cons
While KitchenAid stand mixers have good power, especially with the Professional and Artisan line, many people complain that the weaker models aren’t good for bread. This makes sense because bread dough is much tougher than cake or cookie dough, so choose your bread stand mixer carefully. We suggest choosing one of the stronger mixers if you’re looking for homemade bread (especially if it’s a hearty rustic loaf).
KitchenAid also tends to be more expensive than the other brands. As stated before, this delivers very even performance and is highly versatile. The bodies are strong, the motors are powerful, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. However, both of the other models here are more affordable and might be better for your wallet.
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Affordable: KitchenAid Classic Plus
This affordable stand mixer comes with all the best KitchenAid features. You get 10 different speeds, loads of attachments, the power hub, and the tilt-head design that makes it simple to load and remove your mixing bowl. At 275 watts it can easily power through softer doughs to make great cakes and cookies and it’s 4.5-quart mixing bowl is large enough for 6 dozen cookies.
Best Value: KitchenAid Artisan Design
The Artisan Design is a powerhouse, plus it’s very versatile with the KitchenAid hub and its numerous attachments. The motor is a strong 325 watts, which is enough for stiffer doughs. You get a bread hook, wire whisk, paddle attachment, and more. The glass 5-quart mixing bowl is large enough for 9 dozen cookies and there are five different mixer colors to choose from. This is a premium mixer at a bargain. We compared this to the other KitchenAid Artisan mixers and it was one of the best.
Premium: KitchenAid Professional 600
As the name suggests, this is a professional mixer best for those who bake for a living or are serious about their breads, cakes, and cookies. The motor is a powerful 575 watts, ensuring it can make its way through any dough. You get all the standard KitchenAid attachments along with a massive 6-quart mixing bowl, which is large enough for 13 dozen cookies. It comes in 10 different colors. If you want raw power, then you need the Professional 600.
Cuisinart Pros and Cons
Cuisinart Pros
Cuisinart is considered the runner up brand against KitchenAid. Cuisinart stand mixers are better in some areas that are worth noting. First off, they have very strong motors. When going toe to toe on price, Cuisinart will usually have the strongest motor of the bunch. Please read the cons before thinking they’re the strongest though, as there is something to be aware of.
These mixers are also significantly lighter than the others. If you intend on moving your stand mixer a lot (like from cabinet to counter), then this could be perfect for you. Cuisinart stand mixers are also quite versatile. They usually come with many speed settings and a good number of attachments and accessories.
When it comes to Cuisinart vs KitchenAid mixers, you’ll find that Cuisinart is more reasonably priced and delivers similar performance. They are also much easier to move and carry around. In terms of Cuisinart vs Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart stand mixers are much stronger but also somewhat more expensive.
Cuisinart Cons
Cuisinart is a little unbalanced, both literally and figuratively. They have strong motors but light bodies. This means the unit struggles to keep up with the motor, which can sometimes result in uneven mixing. However, if you’re patient and watch the mixer, it should deliver middle of the road results. It’s not as even as KitchenAid, but it should mix the dough just fine.
The lighter body might cause the mixer to shake at higher speeds, so be careful of this.
Some people have complained about the tilt head height. You may have to adjust it according to how full the mixing bowl is. This isn’t hard, but it can get annoying.
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Affordable: Cuisinart SM-35R Precision Master
This affordable mixer boasts a powerful 350-watt motor and a sizable 3.5-quart metal mixing bowl. Available with 12 speeds, a variety of attachments, and die-cast metal design, this is a surprisingly robust model for such a cheap price.
Best Value: Cuisinart SM-50
Cuisinart values power and it’s easy to see here. This mid-tier mixer has a strong 500-watt motor that can power through breads, cookies, and cakes with ease. The large 5.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl holds a sizable amount of dough, and the tilt-head design makes mixing a breeze. This has 12 different speeds and numerous attachments. This was actually our favorite pick in the best stand mixers under $200 category.
Premium: Cuisinart SM-55
By far the strongest stand mixer on this list, the Cuisinart SM-55 clocks in at 800 watts, which should make easy work of rustic bread doughs and anything else you can throw at it. Along with 12 speed settings, a die-cast metal body, and a large 5.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl, this also has a built-in timer and all the attachments you need for making the best homemade doughs.
Hamilton Beach Pros and Cons
Hamilton Beach Pros
Hamilton Beach is a surprisingly balanced stand mixer that is quite affordable. You can often get one of these stand mixers for under $100. Despite its weaker motor and lower price, Hamilton Beach stand mixers are usually good for small to medium batches and some users even claim you can make bread if you’re careful.
The bodies are often small for compact storage. Due to that, they are lighter but don’t have the same problems as Cuisinart. The dial makes it simple to adjust the speed and these are often very versatile mixers.
When it comes to Hamilton Beach vs KitchenAid mixers, Hamilton Beach is significantly more affordable but does lack some of the features and attachments. However, they are surprisingly durable and useful considering their low price. In terms of Hamilton Beach vs Cuisinart mixers, these are both light but the compact body allows Hamilton Beach to avoid the shaking issue associated with Cuisinart mixers. At the same time, Hamilton Beach motors are weaker and best for softer doughs.
Hamilton Beach Cons
While some users swear they can make bread with Hamilton Beach, it’s probably best to stay away from tough jobs like this. The motors can give out unless you know what you’re doing (and even then they still might). However, these mixers are great for cakes and cookies.
The compact body is good for storage, but not as good for sifting in ingredients while mixing. Depending on the model you’ll either have very little or no room to add ingredients. You’ll likely have to stop mixing, open the mixer, add your ingredients, and then turn it back on. This is the trade off of spending less, but you’ll quickly get used to it.
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Affordable: Hamilton Beach 6-Speed 3.5-Quart Bowl
This compact stand mixer will easily fit on your counter and it’s great for softer doughs. The speed dial on the side allows you to choose from six different speeds along with a fold setting to be extra gentle with the dough. The 3.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl hold a good amount of ingredients and this is great for couples or even small families.
Best Value: Hamilton Beach 7-Speed 4-Quart Bowl
This is just like the other Hamilton Beach mixer, but a little bigger, stronger, and with an extra speed setting. The strong 300-watt motor can get through nearly any dough and you get a large 4-quart stainless steel mixing bowl that you can fill with bread, cake, or cookie dough. With a tilt-head design and dial for setting speeds, this is both a versatile and intuitive mixer you’re sure to love.
Premium: Hamilton Beach Eclectrics 12-Speed Mixer
The Eclectrics mixer boasts the same mixing action as KitchenAid, plus it has 12 speed settings and a strong 400-watt motor. The all-metal body is highly durable and the large 4.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl is ideal for mixing multiple loaves and dozens of cookies. If you want a more affordable stand mixer with premium features and lots of power, then give the Hamilton Beach Eclectrics a try.
Final Thoughts
So, which is the best stand mixer with KitchenAid vs Cuisinart vs Hamilton Beach? It depends on your perspective. Our favorite here is KitchenAid. These mixers deliver fantastic power, even distribution, are strong enough for bread doughs, and have the most speeds, attachments, and accessories. They even come in 20+ colors depending on your model.
Cuisinart is our runner up and it’s a wonderful brand to own. These mixers prioritize power with the strongest motors here. It is marred somewhat by the lighter body since it can’t keep up with the motor, but they’re lower price mitigates that issue. Just keep a watchful eye on the mixer and you’ll be mixing any dough with ease.
Hamilton Beach is surprisingly versatile considering their low price. The compact body looks good in my opinion and they are very easy to use. You could consider these starter stand mixers. While they might struggle with tougher doughs and there is a small trade off with sifting in ingredients, these are still great stand mixers if you want a cheap stand mixer that’s also useful.