Few home appliances are as iconic as the stand mixer. In fact, since their introduction into home kitchens in the 1900’s, stand mixers have built a sort of cult status and have become an aspirational appliance for any kitchen. To be honest, you can’t go wrong with really any stand (or hand-held) mixer on the market, but one does get to a point in their home-baking career when a bowl and whisk just to cut it. What’s great about most stand mixers is the variety of add-ons and accessories you can pick up (or request for Christmas), to cater to your own culinary needs. But, a good place to start when deciding your budget for purchasing a stand mixer, is to think of the mixer’s longevity, size, power, and frequency of use. With that being said, here are our three best stand mixers across three price brackets:
Save: Russell Hobbs 600W MIX-ART STAND BOWL MIXER, R1,949
If you are looking for a stand mixer to start off with, then ideally you don’t want to spend too much money. A great mixer when you are dipping your toes in the waters of stand mixers should everything you need to bake anything at home: A steel bowl, whisk attachment, dough hook, and creaming spatula. Essentially, your only reason for buying a stand mixer is to knead, mix, cream and whip with ease. That’s why the small, but mighty Russell Hobbs Mix-Art Stand Bowl Mixer is great for someone who wants to try out new recipes.
Available through www.russellhobbs.co.za
Spend: Smeg stand mixer smf03, R 8,499
While searching the internet for the best stand mixers, you may notice they all follow a similar aesthetic thread that references the original stand mixers introduced back in the 1900’s. They have a bowl that slots into a base with a spine connected to an overhead mixer with a switch. If you’re looking for a mixer with more horsepower and finesse than a starter appliance, then you’ll want to widen your budget a bit. With that being said, this retro nostalgia through design is Smeg’s bread and butter, which can be seen in their stand mixer.
Available through www.bash.com
Splurge: KitchenAid Limited Edition - Artisan 4.7L Tilt-Head Stand Mixer - Light & Shadow, R17,990
When you think of the stand mixer appliance, your mind likely goes straight to the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer, which comes in a plethora of colours and sizes, plus every kind of bit and bob you can think of. If anything, this stand mixer deserves an icon award for its design that has not changed since its inception in the 20th century. The thing about a KitchenAid stand mixer is, if you’re going to splurge, you might as well go big. Actually, we say go big and go home so you can use your beautiful stand mixer. Yes, you can buy a KitchenAid stand mixer in almost any colour, but why not grab something especially show-stopping like this limited edition stand mixer in ‘Light & Shadow?’ This Artisan model is the beefier version of the Classic or Mini KitchenAid mixers, but has a few extras like a larger bowl, taller tilt-head, and the choice of a glass bowl with measurements.
Available through www.kitchenaidafrica.com
