We compared the sleek 5 quart KitchenAid Stand Mixer to see if it’s really worth $500 more than the easy-to-use 4 quart Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer which is only $99. Read on for our top pick. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
KitchenAid $599 Stand Mixer versus Hamilton Beach $99 Stand Mixer
Price: $599 The benefits:
It’s a classic for a reason. Like a fine sports car, this KitchenAid Stand Mixer (part of the Artisan line) is built for use and built to impress. And while there isn’t actually a vroom vroom factor, there is a powerful engine underneath the hood with 325 watts of power.The decor factor. With 29 shades ranging available (or at least there was the last time I checked, check color availability) there is a mixer to match every counter. And with shades like Ocean Drive (my favorite), Grape or Almond Cream, your mixer becomes display-worthy as well.All the attachments. They’re not kidding when they say that the KitchenAid Stand Mixer can become a culinary center! There are 15 attachments available so you can do everything from making pasta to spiralize veggies depending on which you choose.
The details: Believe it or not, one of the things I like best about this mixer is being able to make multiple batches of cookie dough at the same time. If you prefer baking in bulk, it’s surprisingly easy to mix and freeze instead of lugging out the mixer every time. It’s also a powerhouse of a mixer. With 10 speed settings, you don’t have to jet between low and high when you cream butter (more on that below) or whip up egg whites. I never quite realized the subtleties of whipping cream until I had the ability to cycle between the exact speed setting I need. It’s also a balanced machine, so the tilt-head is balanced perfectly so that if you lift the mixer head the entire mixer won’t go careening across your counter. With more kitchen devices adding more functionality, you can add on attachments including those that help you shred cheese if that’s your thing. And if breadmaking is something that matters to you, a great stand mixer elevates the quality of your dough (even when it costs a lot of dough!) The takeaways: The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a serious baking machine and definitely not for beginner bakers. It’s also big and on the heavy side, so it’s not going to be easy to schlep it in or out of your cabinets, so expect that this might live on your countertop and choose a color to match your decor and not your mood.
The benefits: The details: What’s not to love? For just under $100, you can have a great-looking little mixer that makes creating cake batter a breeze. There are also suction cups underneath the mixer which means that even if you’re mixing up something extra thick, your mixer won’t budge, but it will shimmy. This thing jumps around a lot while I was using it. I love the carrying handle so that you can easily move your mixer from your storage area to your counter as needed. There’s also some sort of mixing alchemy in place so that you don’t theoretically have to scrape the bowl since the mixing head and beater work in opposite directions to keep the bowl scraped. Incidentally, the dough hook was extremely impressive and able to tackle an extra thick whole-wheat flour dough I made. You should know that the Hamilton Beach stand mixer is made of plastic, so it probably won’t be as sturdy as a heavy-duty metal model. Also worth noting, the shield guard has an opening to add ingredients as you mix, but it’s on the small side, so you might end up spattering flour or eggs everywhere. The verdict: This was a really tough one. I’d have to say that before deciding, you should be extremely honest with yourself about your baking habits. Do you bake every week or more than once a week, or are you a sometimes baker who churns out cookies for the holidays? Also, what are your needs? Do you make a single batch of cookies or are you a serious bread baker who wants the perfect dough for your baguettes? And how much room do you have in your kitchen? If counter space is limited, you should take that into account as well. I’ll be brutally honest. I bake every single Friday and I’m still not sure that I’d splurge on the KitchenAid Stand Mixer because I just don’t have enough room in my kitchen. That said, the Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer is a nifty mixer for both its price, weight, and portability factor. I can’t give you a definitive pick for these. If you can afford it, are a serious baker, and have space, the KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a must. If however you’re limited on space and budget, the Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer is an excellent alternative, though it only comes in a handful of colors. One more thing: While testing out the mixers, I also tried out several different butter substitutes. Despite usually baking with sunflower, safflower or olive oil, I wanted to experiment with buttery texture without the dairy. I highly recommend trying FOR A:Butter, a plant-based butter substitute that gave the cookies I was baking a gorgeous hue and perfect crispy texture. You can buy it in bulk (along with other vegan pantry essentials) on VEDGEco for $9.99 for 1 lb. Next up, how does the Wolf Gourmet $595 Pro-Performance Blender stack up to NutriBullet’s $92 blender?
