Most mixers come with few accessories, beyond the basics, in the box, but the AEG UltraMix KM5540-U is different, as it comes with everything you could possibly need including two bowls (large and small), beaters, dough hook and whisk. There are two beaters in the box, one for harder mixtures and a SoftEdge one for creamier mixtures. In short, the majority of your food prep is covered by this one machine, and there’s even a storage bag for the tools. Wow. Bosch MUM59340GB Kitchen Machine Stand Mixer – Design and features

Bosch Serie 4 MUM59340GB 3.9 Litre 1000W Stand Mixer Bosch Serie 4 MUM59340GB 3.9 Litre 1000W Stand Mixer

There’s quite a bit of kit with the Kitchen Machine, so figuring out where everything goes can be overwhelming at first. However, I was soon up and running, and started by making a sweet dough for cinnamon buns. In the box, you get beaters and dough hooks, but no whisk. You can use the beaters for whisking egg whites and cream, although this takes longer than using a regular whisk. Mixing dough and cake mixture was easier, although you may need to scrape the side of the bowl down to combine everything.

Weighing 1.04kg, the hand mixer is a little on the heavy side but it’s sturdy and powerful. Besides, as you can clip the hand part onto the stand and use the mixer over the 3-litre bowl, you’ll probably find that you mostly use this product in stand mode. All of the controls are located in the hand mixer’s handle, giving you five speeds plus a pulse. An ideal first appliance, wedding present or solution for a small space, the Kitchen Machine is a hard worker. As well as multiple functions and storage for its blades and tools, its price point makes it great value when you consider everything it can do compared with other stand mixers. If you already have a good set of small appliances there is little point doubling up, but otherwise there’s a lot to like about this versatile, powerful mixer. Verdict How big does your stand mixer need to be? Size is important as you need to find somewhere to store your new mixer, and the largest models can be huge, requiring a lot of cupboard space. Base your decision not only on your kitchen size but on how often you use your mixer, and how many you’re baking for. Traditional stand mixers will have a bowl around 5-litres in size, which lets you make big cakes and cope with larger dishes. This size is great for regular users. If you’re cooking smaller amounts or for fewer people, you can probably get buy with a smaller mixer, with a bowl around 3-litres in size. Building on the success of the company’s first mixer, the SMF01, the Smeg SMF02 is a refined version. As we’ve come to expect from Smeg, the SMF02 is gorgeous with its 50s design and choice of colours, and it blends in seamlessly with other products in the range. Dare we say it, but the SMF02 is even more attractive than the KitchenAid Artisan. Mixer type: Stand mixer | Size: 350 x 220 x 390, 11.17kg | Controls: 10 speeds | Motor power: 300W | Accessories included: 4.8-litre bowl, whisk, flat beater, dough hook The Pros:

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This is a particularly mess-conscious machine, with a slow-start function to each of its 10 speed settings that ensures you don’t end up looking like a floury snowman the minute you switch it on.Think of a stand mixer, and the KitchenAid Artisan 4.8L Stand Mixer will probably be the model that pops into your head. There’s a good reason for this: as well as being gorgeous and available in a huge range of colours, this mixer is also one of the best. Although other mixers may have higher-power motors, the 300W motor here is excellent for speed and efficiency, whisking, whipping and kneading stealthily and silently.