Britain loves baking! According to YouGov, a whopping 74% of us bake occasionally and over a third of us bake at least once a month. With all those potential soggy bottoms, there's one burning question – is our baking tech up to it?
Whether you’re making sourdough starters or TikTok’s hottest recipes, reliable kitchen appliances make all the difference. And a good food mixer is top of the list. It does all the heavy lifting and makes your bakes even tastier. Now, modern food mixers are better than ever.
Stronger motors, adjustable speed controls, versatile attachments and smart features turn a baking mixer into an all-round kitchen helper.
So if you're on the hunt for a mixer, here's everything you need to know.
Is a food processor the same as a mixer?
Food processors and food mixers might look similar, but they’re designed for different jobs.
Food processors cut down prep time by doing all the chopping and blending. These are best if you spend more time prepping ingredients than baking.
Food mixers are built specifically for baking. They can whip eggs, fold in flour, knead dough and cream butter. You’ll need one of these for fresh bread and sweet treats.
What’s the difference between a stand mixer and a hand mixer?
Hand mixers are lightweight appliances that you hold while mixing ingredients. They’re compact and easy to store, so ideal for occasional baking and smaller kitchens.
Stand mixers sit on your worktop and mix ingredients automatically. It’s hands-free and generally more powerful than a hand mixer, so is better suited for regular baking with heavier mixtures.
What do I need in a food mixer?
When shopping for food mixers, here’s what you should be looking for.
Motor power
Motor power refers to how much power a food mixer can generate – the higher the watts, the larger batches it can handle.
300W to 500W is ideal for cakes and lighter baking.
500W to 800W handles frequent baking and occasional bread making.
1000W and above is best for regular batch baking.
Bowl capacity
How many people are you baking for? Pick the bowl size that fits.
3.5L to 4L suits couples and smaller households.
4.5L to 5L works well for most families.
5L+ is ideal for bigger batches and catering for events.
Speed levels and soft-start technology
Multiple speed settings are important to prevent splattering or over-mixing. Different bakes need different speeds. It’s best to go slow when tipping in flour, whereas higher speeds help whip egg whites into stiff peaks.
A soft-start function automatically starts your mixer at a slow speed which gradually increases. This prevents dry ingredients from flying out of the bowl and helps everything combine nicely.
Attachments and expandability
Many premium mixers come with attachments, including dough hooks, food processor attachments, pasta makers, meat grinders and more. These extras can be really useful and mean you won’t need lots of separate appliances in your kitchen.
How much should I spend on a food mixer in 2026?
Here’s what you can expect for your budget…
Under £50 – You’ll find affordable hand mixers which are best for light baking and occasional use.
£150 to £300 – More suited for regular baking and kneading dough. This range includes stand mixers with more power and larger bowls.
£400+ – Perfect for frequent baking and making celebration cakes. You’ll get more powerful motors with smart features and loads of useful attachments.
The best hand mixers
Hand mixers take up a lot less space than traditional stand mixers and are usually much cheaper. So they’re especially useful for smaller kitchens or student homes.
While most hand mixers can handle cake recipes easily, they might struggle with denser mixtures or lots of ingredients. If bread baking is a regular hobby, you’d be better off with a stand mixer. But for smaller baking projects, hand mixers are as handy as it gets.
Here are some of our favourite hand mixers:
| Product | Best for | What you'll love |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Hobbs Desire 27151 Hand Mixer | Everyday baking & whisking | It has 5 speed levels and a pulse function to prevent over-mixing. |
| Salter Kuro EK5613BM Hand Mixer | Budget-friendly baking | It comes with 4 attachments which you can store in the base. |
| Kenwood QuickMix Lite HMP10.001 Hand Mixer | Occasional home baking | Includes a slow speed start function to keep dry ingredients in the bowl. |
| Kenwood HandMix Lite Hand Mixer | Small kitchens & quick bakes | Its lightweight and compact size makes it easy to store. |
| Kenwood QuickMix HMP50.000BK Hand Mixer | Thicker mixtures & dough | Has a quiet yet powerful 650W motor to tackle tougher recipes. |
| KitchenAid 5KHM9212BAC Hand Mixer | Premium hand-mixing experience | Features 7 additional accessories, including a storage bag. |
| KitchenAid 5KHMR700BM Cordless Hand Mixer | Flexible, clutter-free baking | Its cordless design means you can mix without a socket nearby. |
| Quest 35890 Hand Mixer | Entry-level baking | Features a turbo function to create stiff peaks in cream. |
| Dualit 89300 Hand Mixer | Design-led premium kitchens | Its flat base means you can rest it between mixing without dirtying your worktops. |
Check out our full range of hand mixers.
The best stand mixers
Stand mixers are ideal for big baking jobs. They usually come with different speed settings and functions. If your recipe calls for ‘slow mixing’ or ‘folding’, your stand mixer will do it perfectly. Many modern stand mixers also come with extra attachments for grating, slicing, blending ingredients and more. So you get multiple kitchen gadgets in one.
Stand mixers are hands-free, so you can prepare other parts of the recipe (or have a well-deserved rest) while ingredients are being mixed. They typically have large capacity mixing bowls, making them the go-to option for bigger batches.
However, as stand mixers are much bigger, it’s worth thinking about your kitchen storage before getting one. And though they cost more upfront, they're a reliable and durable kitchen appliance for regular bakers.
Here are some of our favourite stand mixers:
| Product | Best for | What you'll love |
|---|---|---|
| Kenwood kMix KMX760CH Kitchen Machine | Regular home baking & dough | The unique fold function gently layers ingredients, so it's perfect for mousses and soufflés. |
| KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175BPT Stand Mixer | Serious bakers & long-term use | It's backed by KitchenAid's 5-year guarantee so you can cook with confidence. |
| Kenwood Go KZM35.000RD Stand Mixer | Small kitchens & everyday baking | At 30cm tall it's easy to store away, yet still surprisingly powerful with an 800W motor. |
| KitchenAid Classic 5K45SSBOB Stand Mixer | Beginner to intermediate bakers | Planetary action pushes ingredients to the middle of the bowl, so everything gets mixed. |
| Bosch CreationLine 8-in-1 Stand Mixer MUM5XW40G | Baking + food prep | Includes integrated scales, so you can weigh ingredients directly in the bowl. |
| Bosch Series 6 MUMS6ZM00G Stand Mixer | Advanced baking tasks | Air cooling technology means it won't overheat during bigger bakes. |
| Progress EK5234P Stand Mixer | Entry-level baking | The splash guard helps prevent mess from spraying around your kitchen. |
| KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PSBIB Stand Mixer | Frequent and creative baking | Features 10 speed levels that range from gentle stirring to fast whipping. |
| Bosch 7-in-1 MUMS2VM40 Kitchen Machine | Baking + everyday cooking | Includes attachments for blending, shredding, mincing meat and juicing. |
Find out which one is best for you with our stand mixer buying guide.
FAQs
Is a stand mixer better than a hand mixer for baking?
For frequent baking, yes. Stand mixers can tackle larger mixtures and work hands-free. However, hand mixers are a great choice for occasional bakers and smaller kitchens.
How powerful should a food mixer be for bread dough?
For regular bread making, look for a mixer with at least 500W to 800W of power.
Are food mixer attachments worth it?
They can be. If you'll use attachments such as pasta rollers, food processors or meat grinders regularly, they can be really valuable and help reduce kitchen clutter.
How long should a good food mixer last?
A high-quality food mixer can last many years with proper care. Premium stand mixers are often designed to last for a decade or more of regular use.
Do food mixers take up a lot of space?
Hand mixers take up little storage space so can be tucked away easily. But stand mixers need a dedicated cupboard or countertop space, especially models with larger bowls.
