Best Stand Mixers For Dough
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Fluffy cookie dough, well-aerated artisanal bread, and pizza with the best bite around, whether deep dish or thin base, are all possible within minutes without the effort of kneading by hand when you’ve got a good stand mixer at your side. We’ve got a wrap-up of the best stand mixers for dough coming up that has you covered with an effective mixer for every budget. Each processes medium to large batches of the densest, heaviest mixes boasting stellar performance when handling everything from batter and dough.
- The very best stand mixer money can buy is the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer. There’s nothing quite like it for a home kitchen or a commercial kitchen starting out. Once again, it’s strictly a bread-only mixer to reap the best value. For bulk lots of everything else mixed up just as frequently as dough, we’d suggest considering the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series.
- Professional bakers and anyone demanding the best will have to weigh their options personally and carefully, as there are quite a number of very good artisanal stand mixers out there. For a first mixer or as an affordable upgrade to whatever may be on hand, we can’t recommend the Cuisinart SM-50 Stand Mixer more. It handles medium batches of heavy dough with ease and is cheap enough not to break the bank despite carrying far higher build quality than one may at first think.
Key Takeaways
Anyone who bakes frequently simply needs a stand mixer. Whether you’re baking super thick chocolate-chip cookies, well-risen bread, deep dish pizza or easy homemade sweet buns like our must-try recipe, it’s a must-have. Here are the best stand mixers for dough for a busy home kitchen.
Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer
| Dough | 6.7 Pounds Flour | 11.5 Pounds Dough | 7 x 8-Inch Loaves |
| Cookies Per Batch | 120 |
| Capacity | 7.4 Quart |
| Speeds | 8 |
| Motor | 600 Watt |
| Included Accessories | 7.4 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl, Dough Roller, Dough Knife, Dough Scraper, Dough Hook, Dust Cover Lid, 3.6 Quart Plastic Mixing bowl, Multi-Wire Balloon, Single-Wire Cookie Whip |
| Optional Attachments | Vegetable Cutters, Flake Mill, Juicer, Grain Mill, Grater, Mincer, Ice Cream Maker, Pasta Cutters, Pasta Roller, Strainer |
| Warranty | 7 Year Warranty |
Features:
- 12 Colors Available
- 45 – 130 RPM Self-Adjusting Speed
- Attachments Couldn’t Be Easier To Fit
- Outstanding Dough-Making Performance
- Stainless Steel Construction
- Planetary Mixing Action
- Adjustable Timer
- Scraper Keeps Bowl Clean
- Extended Warranty
- Ample Attachments
Drawbacks:
- Unsuited To Large Batches Of Batter
- Very High Cost
- Very Heavy
- Functionality: 4.5/5
- Design: 5/5
- Affordability: 2.5/5
The price tag may deter some, but if you’re looking for the best or bake bread often, the practical value of the Ankarsrum Stainless Steel Original Stand Mixer is unbeatable. It’s top in class for just about everything from motor strength to supremely well-designed engineering and aesthetics. Just keep in mind this is a mixer made for bread, not cookies. Large batches of batters and thin, light dough are known to clog, but medium to small sizes are fine. Other than this, the Swedish manufacturer’s mixer will leave anyone astounded, and it’s a pure pleasure to use. From running near-silently to the ability to pivot the mixer head completely to its side to accommodate more attachments, it’s every baker’s dream unit.
Ankarsrum’s stand mixer processes 21 cups of flour with ease, while the open bowl design couldn’t be better, allowing for unhindered pouring and addition of ingredients on the fly thanks to the adjustable position of the mixing arm. Even though other 600-watt mixers compare in stated functionality, there’s something different about this hefty machine from Ankarssrum. At equal specs, it outshines other brands in most ways. After all, Ankarsrum is a manufacturer that only makes stand mixers, and it sure shows.
KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
| Dough | 5.5 Pounds Flour | 9.5 Pounds Dough | 5 x 8-Inch Loaves |
| Cookies Per Batch | 84 |
| Capacity | 6 Quart |
| Speeds | 10 |
| Motor | 575 Watt |
| Included Accessories | Powerknead Spiral Dough Hook, Flat Beater, Wire Whip |
| Optional Attachments | Food Grinders, Food Processors, Slicer/Shredder, Ice Cream Maker, Flex Edge Beater, Cup-Based Chopper, Dicing Kit, Juicer, Juicer Strainer, Vegetable Sheet Cutter, Milk Frother, Ice Shaver, Coffee And Spice Grinder, Ice Crusher |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited Warranty |
Features:
- 18 Colors Available
- Commercial-Quality Mixer
- Brilliant All-Around Performance
- Lifting Bowl Design
- Stainless Steel Construction
- 67 Point Planetary Mixing Action
- Near-Silent Operation
- Good All-Around Performance
- C-Shaped Dough Hook For Superior Kneading
- Wide Range Of Optional Attachments (15+)
Drawbacks:
- Extremely Heavy Unit
- Coated Beaters Will Need Need Replacement Before Unit Does
- Functionality: 5/5
- Design: 4.5/5
- Affordability: 4/5
There’s no denying the sleek contemporary appeal of a KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Stand Mixer. It’s a stunning unit that’s sure to come in a color suited to your kitchen with massive capacity and brilliant functionality. Even though trumped by the Ankarsrum, the mixing action is no slouch. Kneading dough produces fantastic results thanks to the 67-point contact offered by the Powerknead spiral dough hook. The kneading action handles fourteen cups of flour with ease, making airy dough within no time if needed.
To give better access to the bowl, the bowl-lift mechanism lifts and drops by means of a lever. A nifty pour shield device assists in adding ingredients easily to the bowl. The sheer number of attachments is another area where the KitchenAid Professional 600 shines. A notable downside for some is the way that none of the components are dishwasher safe. Yes, that’s right. Hand wash only. Other than this minor caveat, the functionality is great. It runs quiet and has a vastly improved slow start feature over the Artisan series. Big, heavy, and ready to work the densest dough, you can’t go wrong with the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Stand Mixer.
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Stand Mixer
| Dough | 4.5 Pounds Flour | 7.7 Pounds Dough | 4 x 8-Inch Loaves |
| Cookies Per Batch | 60 |
| Capacity | 5 Quart |
| Speeds | 10 |
| Motor | 325 Watt |
| Included Accessories | Flat Beater, Wire Whip, Dough Hook, Removable Pour Shield, Accessory Bag |
| Optional Attachments | Food Grinders, Food Processors, Slicer/Shredder, Ice Cream Maker, Flex Edge Beater, Cup-Based Chopper, Dicing Kit, Juicer, Juicer Strainer, Vegetable Sheet Cutter, Milk Frother, Ice Shaver, Coffee And Spice Grinder, Ice Crusher |
| Warranty | 5 Year Limited Warranty |
Features:
- 20 Colors Available
- Tilt-Head Design
- Stainless Steel Construction
- 59 Point Planetary Mixing Action
- Near-Silent Operation
- Good All-Around Performance
- C-Shaped Dough Hook For Superior Kneading
- Wide Range Of Optional Attachments (15+)
Drawbacks:
- Fairly Heavy Unit
- Coated Beaters Are Likely To Need Replacement
- Relatively Low-Powered Motor Limits Batch Size
- Functionality: 3.5/5
- Design: 4/5
- Affordability: 4/5
The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Stand Mixer is nearly identical in looks to its bigger brother, the Profession 600 but retails at roughly $200 cheaper. For this, one compromises the superbly steady slow start of the 600 series. In terms of performance, the lowered price also translates to a 250-watt difference which is about as much mixing power as a stand-alone hand-mixer. That’s quite a trade-off. Owners will be processing medium-sized batches with ease, but anything dense and very heavy will lag. Still, when compared to equal-wattage mixers, there’s not much to complain about.
The bowl-lift mechanism is also lacking on the Artisan series. Instead, it tilts. Also, you get a 5-quart bowl instead of a 6-quart. KitchenAid’s quality of manufacturing is so high that this is a mixer that could last you many, many years. It’s heavy, easy to use, and compact enough to take up no larger of a footprint in your kitchen than any other mixer. If you work dough or batter often but don’t have to process anything more than medium batches, this is, without a doubt, your mixer if it’s in your price range.
Instant Pot Instant Stand Mixer Pro
| Dough | 6.7 Pounds Flour | 11.5 Pounds Dough | 7 x 8-Inch Loaves |
| Cookies Per Batch | 120 |
| Capacity | 7.4 Quart |
| Speeds | 10 |
| Motor | 600 |
| Included Accessories | Whisk, Mixing Paddle, Dough Hook, Removable Pour Shield |
| Optional Attachments | None (Accessories Upcoming) |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited Warranty |
Features:
- Sliding Controls
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Stainless Steel Dough Hook
- Tilt-head Design
- Planetary Mixing Action
- Digital Timer
- Lightweight Design (19% Lighter Than Average Stand Mixer)
Drawbacks:
- One Look/Color Scheme Only
- Die-Cast Metal Housing Instead Of Stainless Steel
- Functionality: 5/5
- Design: 5/5
- Affordability: 4.5/5
The world fell in love overnight with Instant Pot, and it’s been leading the way for years as a forerunning favorite ever since. The Instant Pot Stand Mixer Pro carries equal quality to the brand’s famous slow cooker. Shoppers receive an affordable mixer packing considerable power and a huge 7.4-quart bowl. The ultra-powerful motor is almost as strong as Ankarstrum’s market-leading mixer. This means it has ample power to fold, stretch, press, and aerate the largest batches of the densest dough. Across all tasks, Instant Pot’s stand mixer excels, and the finishing touches, like the digital timer, are great.
All aspects of design are well thought out. From the mixers reaching all the way to the bottom of the bowl to the handy dough guard that prevents your mix from climbing up the walls of the bowl, the Instant Pot Stand Mixer Pro is a pleasure to use. Prospective owners should keep in mind that while lower in price than the leading mixers, this is mainly due to the aluminum construction instead of stainless steel. Fortunately, this makes each unit far more lightweight and manageable for compact kitchens or areas where appliances get moved around a lot.
Hamilton Beach All-Metal 12-Speed Electric Stand Mixer
| Dough | 4 Pounds Flour | 6.8 Pounds Dough | 4 x 8-Inch Loaves |
| Cookies Per Batch | 42 |
| Capacity | 4.5 Quart |
| Speeds | 12 |
| Motor | 400 |
| Included Accessories | Flat Beater, Dough Hook, Whisk, Removable Pouring Shield |
| Optional Attachments | None |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited Warranty |
Features:
- 4 Colors Available
- Tilting Head Design
- Good All-Around Performance
- Stainless Steel Whisk
- Dishwasher Safe Attachments
Drawbacks:
- Die-Cast Metal Housing Instead Of Stainless Steel
- No Optional Attachments Available
- Functionality: 3.5/5
- Design: 4/5
- Affordability: 4/5
Boasting stainless steel construction and a decent enough capacity to handle fairly large batches, the Hamilton Beach All-Metal Electric Stand Mixer is a good entry-level option. Built to last, Hamilton Beach’s mixer comes with a fixed bowl and planetary mixing action, just like the other units reviewed. It’s surprisingly quiet, and even the counter-suction works better than expected. Overall, it’s an astounding good stand mixer with one major drawback to consider.
The 400 watts of power and twelve speeds take their toll on the lightweight body. The Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer is too light to consistently push out large batches of dough all day despite carrying a very good three-year warranty. This means that it is ideal for frequent home use, but there’s no chance of commercial baking, even on a small scale, or your unit simply won’t last.
Cuisinart SM-50 Stand Mixer
| Dough | 5 Pounds Flour | 8.58 Pounds Dough | 5 x 8-Inch Loaves |
| Cookies Per Patch | 66 |
| Capacity | 5.5 Quart |
| Speeds | 12 |
| Motor | 500 |
| Included Accessories | Chef’s Whisk, Dough Hook, Flat Mixing Paddle, Splash Guard With Pour Spout |
| Optional Attachments | Pasta Extruder, Pasta Roller, Cutters, Ice Cream Maker, Meat Grinder, Spiralizer |
| Warranty | 3 Year Limited Warranty |
Features:
- 6 Colors Available
- Tilt-Back Head Design
- Fantastic Affordability
- Ample Attachments To Choose From
- Dishwashing Safe Attachments
Drawbacks:
- Lightweight Design Limits Dough Batch Size & Weight
- Functionality: 4.5/5
- Design: 3/5
- Affordability: 5/5
The Cuisinart SM-50 Stand Mixer is a unit that draws you in with its ultra-low price and then leaves your jaw on the floor with its specifications, performance, and warranty. First, remember that this mixer is made from die-cast metal, not aluminum or stainless steel. This brings the price down immensely but also affects longevity. A couple of years down the line, it’s likely your mixer will need replacing. With this being said, 600 watts of power across twelve speeds is among the most powerful of all mixers reviewed.
A tilt-back head with tilt-locking makes the bowl just as accessible as any of its higher-end alternatives. Only the whisk needs handwashing, but it’s still a pain for some. Despite not lasting as long as the mixers selling for three times as much, the Cuisinart SM-50 is more powerful. It’ll turn almost anything to cream in no time and works through the densest cookie and bread dough quicker and more effectively than almost all the competition. If you want a cheap but mind-blowingly effective mixer, perhaps to be your first, this is the machine for you.
Best Stand Mixers For Dough – Frequently Asked Questions
Have you been left with anything unclear? We’re going to be answering all your stand mixer and dough-related questions, from kneading times to attachments.
The first two factors to weigh up are the wattage of the motor and the capacity of the stand mixer. You’re looking for a stand mixer that’s powered by 325 watts at a bare minimum if you plan to use it for kneading dough. For bread, pizza, and other heavy doughs like cookie dough, the more watts, the better. The more powerful the mixer and the better the design of its dough hooks, the more effectively dense doughs will be worked.
Basic bread dough calls for around 8 to 10 minutes of kneading on a medium speed of around six to seven on a ten-speed stand mixer. Pizza dough takes roughly the same or a minute or two longer. Complex, dense doughs like sourdough need 15 – 20 minutes at a lower speed of around four to five on a ten-speed scale.
No matter which dough you’re making, always start on a low speed and work your way up so that the ingredients incorporate slowly and smoothly without splattering around everywhere. Other than serving as a means to prevent mess, starting slowly and steadily increasing the speed also blends everything smoothly while creating extra elasticity and aeration within the mix. Mix slowly at a very low speed until all graininess is gone and then ramp up the pace afterward when making any type of dough.
