These 7 Mixers Make Meal Prep Easier (and Save Your Arms)

The Cuisinart Precision Master 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer is a kitchen workhorse. It features 12 speeds and 500 watts, which can truly deliver when it comes to rich, dense batters and doughs.

Food and nutrition writer Alex Ginos, RD, likes how this “powerful mixer can hold multiple batches of dough or cookies,” yet it’s “compact enough so you’ll actually want to leave it on the counter for regular use.” She raves about the “consistent results” alongside precision mixing. “It mixed everything I made perfectly,” she says.

Throughout her testing, Ginos made double batches of pizza dough and several large batches of cookies (Cuisinart claims this mixer can handle up to five dozen). “This mixer was up to the job and incorporated all the ingredients with little extra effort from me — always a win!” she says. Ginos appreciated the wide-ranging 12 speeds that tackled a variety of mixing tasks. “[The] speed settings are well-marked, which takes out the guesswork,” she says.

The tilt-head mixer features a 5.5-quart polished stainless steel bowl and includes a flat mixing paddle, a chef’s whisk, a dough hook, and a splash guard. If you want to build your accessory collection, Cuisinart offers additional add-ons, such as a pasta extruder, spiralizer, meat grinder, and ice cream maker.

Ginos found the Cuisinart mixer easy to set up and simple to swap out attachments. The roomy handle on the mixing bowl makes it easy to grab and lock the bowl into the base, and the thoughtfully designed splash guard works like a charm. The wide pour spout reduces mess, letting you add flour while mixing without worrying about a flour storm ballooning onto your countertops. To lift the tilt head, you must release a button that’s located at the back of the appliance, which took some getting used to, adds Ginos. Otherwise, operation is straightforward. It’s also simple to clean thanks to the attachments and bowl, which are dishwasher-safe.

While 20 pounds (lb) may seem hefty, this Cuisinart is lighter than some competitors and a bit more compact, so you can certainly leave it on your counter. Choose from charming shades like Periwinkle Blue, Ruby Red, and Pinot Noir to add a splash of color to your kitchen palette.

With its striking 500-watt performance, the Cuisinart Precision Master 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer is one of the most powerful on our list, making it an excellent choice for heavy dough loads.

When we think of classic mixers, we often gravitate toward a KitchenAid, and personally, I think it’s warranted. I’ve owned my KitchenAid Artisan 5 Quart Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer for more than 10 years, and it operates just as well as it did a decade ago. From birthday cakes to sourdough pizza crust to buckwheat breads, my KitchenAid tackles dense dough loads easily and reliably.

This tilt-head mixer features 10 speeds and 325 watts. It includes a 5-quart stainless steel bowl, a coated flat beater, a coated dough hook, a wire whip, and a pouring shield. KitchenAid also offers unique add-ons, including its 7-Blade Spiralizer Plus With Peel, Core, and Slice; 3-in-1 Pasta Attachment; Food Grinder Attachment; Sifter + Scale Attachment; Shave Ice Attachment; and the All-Metal Grain Mill.

There are plenty of user-friendly design elements, such as the wide handle on the side of the bowl that allows for easy maneuvering and locking the bowl into place. It’s effortless to control the speed lever, and a handy switch locks the tilt head in place, which I recommend when you’re working with those heavier loads.

The KitchenAid is quite hefty, though, so it may have to live on your counter. Fortunately, you also have a plethora of color options. We are partial to the fiery Passion Red, the retro Pistachio green or a more neutral vibe in Black Matte or Medallion Silver.

For a long-lasting, classic stand mixer, you can’t go wrong with the KitchenAid Artisan 5 Quart Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. The custom engraving options make for a touching housewarming, wedding, anniversary, or “just because” gift. 

At about 10 lb, the Hamilton Beach 7 Speed Stand Mixer is the lightest-weight stand mixer on our list, and at around $150, it’s also budget-friendly. While the 300-watt, 7-speed build may feel modest compared with the others in this guide, this mixer still tackles heavier loads with surprising power and sturdiness.

Health writer Raki Swanson was impressed with the mixer’s size, weight, and performance, especially compared with her older, bulkier model. “This is the closest thing you can get to a very powerful mixer without spending a small fortune,” she says, noting that it handles heavy-duty tasks like cookie dough, minus the heft. It was also “nearly effortless” to move from cabinet to counter thanks to its lightweight design and convenient carrying handle.

During testing, Swanson appreciated the wider gap between the bowl edge and the mixer head, which made it easier to add ingredients while mixing. The printed mixing guide and speed knob made it easy to switch between speeds. Her only complaint was the location of the tilt head release button, which is awkwardly placed at the neck of the machine.

The included attachments (a dough hook, beater, whisk, and splatter shield) were easy to swap out and clean. The splatter shield did a great job keeping ingredients in the bowl where they belonged. Swanson also liked the range of color options, from bold colors like Red and Aqua to classics like Pearly White and Silver.

“This mixer is so wonderful; it is lighter, it works just as hard, and is half the cost of the other [mixer] I had,” she says. 

When you don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a mixer, the Beautiful (by Drew Barrymore) 5.3QT Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is a solid option at around $100. It touts 12 speeds, 300 watts, and weighs under 10 lb.

Personally, I think this mixer would be great for beginner bakers or young adults. Setup is straightforward, especially with the accompanying illustrated user guide, and swapping out attachments is simple. The mixer includes a coated metal flat beater, a dough hook, a stainless steel wire balloon whisk, and a splash shield, so you have your standard accessories covered.

During testing, I appreciated the numerous speed settings that let me fine-tune mixing speeds. The whisk attachment easily whipped heavy cream and thick mascarpone into a light, airy cream, and the flat beater attachment handled almond butter protein balls with no issues.

I found the mixer performed best at lower to medium speeds with heavier dough loads; at higher speeds, it did shake a bit. Fortunately, the strong suction cup grips at the base keep the mixer in place. In fact, the grips almost work too well, as it took a bit of wiggling the mixer base from side to side to reposition the mixer.

Maintenance is straightforward; I used soap and water to clean the bowl, and the BPA-free attachments are dishwasher-safe. I also liked this mixer’s unique matte finish (I tested the Black Sesame) along with the range of color options and brass accents, which give it a more elevated look than you’d expect at this price.

For beginner bakers, the Beautiful 5.3QT Tilt-Head Stand Mixer gives you plenty of style and performance, without the hefty price tag.

We realize the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer is by far the priciest on our list, but for serious bakers, its spot is well earned. Think of this mixer as an heirloom investment: This model has been hand-assembled in Sweden since 1940 and is built to handle years of heavy use.

Unlike many of the tilt-head mixers on this list, the Ankarsrum has a rotating bowl with a stationary base and open design, so it’s easy to add ingredients as you mix. It has a powerful 600-watt motor that automatically adjusts speed and torque based on the dough.

Tester Sarah Garone, a licensed nutritionist, was especially impressed by how well the Ankarsrum handled heavy-duty tasks. “I was honestly amazed at how thoroughly and consistently it mixed — far better than I could do with a hand appliance,” she says. It tackled large and heavy doughs, like sourdoughs, and ran quietly, even under a heavy load. Its design also helped minimize splatter, and Garone found it drastically reduced how often she had to scrape down the bowl.

The mixer comes with an impressive assortment of attachments, like a Dough Kit, Full Whisk Set, lid, and recipe book. The Dough Kit includes a 7.4-quart mixing bowl, dough hook, knife, scraper, and roller, and the Full Whisk Set includes a 3.7-quart whisking bowl, balloon whisk, and cookie beaters. If you want to expand your accessory collection, Ankarsrum offers plenty of other attachments, such as the Citrus Press, Vegetable Cutter, and Ice Cream Maker.

While the setup may seem a little intimidating at first, Garone notes that operation is fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it, especially if you watch an instructional video before you start.

The Ankarsrum mixer is not lightweight by any means. It weighs more than 30 lb, which means it will most likely live on your countertop. But there are over 10 shades to choose from, such as Royal Blue, Forest Green, and cheerful Sunbeam Yellow, so you can find the perfect match for your kitchen.

For frequent bread bakers or anyone who wants a powerful, long-lasting mixer, this one is worth the investment. “It’s truly a beautiful countertop machine that adds a touch of class to a kitchen,” Garone says. 

From pancake batter to stiff-peaked egg whites, a hand mixer comes in handy (no pun intended) when you need a quick mix without fuss.

If you’re looking for a convenient, compact hand mixer with extra attachments, the KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer is an excellent choice. This 100-watt hand mixer comes with a pair of Stainless Steel Turbo Beater II Accessories, a Pro Whisk, dough hooks, and a blending rod, allowing you to mix, knead, whip, stir, and blend with ease. It also comes with a storage bag to keep everything organized.

It’s simple to use, with an on-and-off switch, nine speeds controlled by an up-and-down button, and a quick-release button for swapping attachments. The soft-grip handle makes it comfortable to hold. When you need a break, the hand mixer rests upright on its back base, so you won’t have dirty attachments resting on your clean countertops. The lockable swivel cord works for left- or right-handed folks. It weighs just 2.3 lb, so it’s ultra lightweight and easy to maneuver.

The KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer comes in five colors, from bold Candy Apple Red (my favorite) to classic Contour Silver or White. I have an older KitchenAid hand mixer model and use it frequently. From celebration cakes to homemade creamy butter, I love the simplicity, speed, and reliability of this hand mixer.

Another excellent hand mixer is the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9 Speed Hand Mixer with Storage Case. It’s ideal for those who tend to lose track of their accessories, and thanks to the snap-on case, storage is a breeze.

At 220 watts, it’s a bit more powerful than the KitchenAid hand mixer, but, like its counterpart on this list, it has 9 speeds. While it weighs 4.2 lb — double that of the KitchenAid — it’s still manageable enough for everyday use.

Health writer Amy Marschall had zero complaints, noting consistent results, strong performance, and multiple speed options to handle a variety of recipes. We’re particularly fond of the “SmoothStart” function, which helps prevent unnecessary splatters by gradually increasing the speed of the mixer. We also appreciated the clear and visible bright red digital speed setting displayed on an LED digital screen, which makes it easy to read your mixing speeds.

The KitchenAid hand mixer comes with a pair of beaters, a chef’s whisk, dough hooks, a spatula, and a recipe book. The clever snap-on case is perfect for storing the various attachments and power cord, with the mixer locking securely on top for easy storage. The accessories are dishwasher-safe. The mixer is available in neutrals like classic White and Brushed Chrome.

For a compact hand mixer that’s easy to store and use, the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9 Speed Hand Mixer with Storage Case may just earn a spot in your kitchen.