A stand mixer takes over the jobs that make baking harder: creaming butter into sugar, whipping egg whites past the point your arm gives up and kneading bread dough for ten minutes without touching it. Choosing one comes down to three things:
- The frequency you will be using the machine at
- The quantity of batter, dough or mix you tend to make at one time
- Any additional functions the machine can perform which you'll use, such as mincing or blending.
Which bowl size do you need?
Bowl capacity is the decision that shapes everything else, and the honest way to judge it is by the largest thing you bake rather than the average one.
Every bowl in the range is stainless steel and every model arrives with a flat beater, whisk and dough hook. Current prices, colours and stock for every model can be found here.
How much power do you actually need?
Batters, icings and whipped mixtures are light work for any motor in the range, so if that is most of what you bake, the 1000W model is a great starter option. Dough is where the difference shows. Kneading is sustained, heavy load and a stronger motor handles it without labouring. If bread, pizza dough or enriched doughs are a regular part of your week, the 1200W and 1800W models are best for this.
Do you want a mixer that does more than mix?
Two models in the range go further than mixing. The 6.2L includes mincing attachments and a 1.5L blending jug, and the 8L adds a glass blender jug, a meat mincer with three attachments and a sausage nozzle. That turns one machine into the tool for burgers, homemade sausages, soups, smoothies and sauces as well as baking.
It is worth being realistic about whether you will use it. If mincing your own meat appeals in principle, but you know it will stay in the cupboard, the straightforward 7L will serve you better for the same worktop footprint. If it genuinely replaces a blender you were going to buy anyway, the multi-function models are the better value.
Frequently asked questions
What size stand mixer do I need for bread?
For a single loaf at a time, the 4.5L is enough. If you regularly make two loaves, batch your dough or bake enriched doughs that need longer kneading, the 7L or the 8L will handle it more comfortably and the stronger motor will not labour through a long knead.
Is a stand mixer better than a hand mixer?
For anything that takes more than a couple of minutes, yes, mostly because you are not holding it. The bigger difference is dough: a hand mixer cannot knead bread, while every stand mixer in our range comes with a dough hook that can. For a quick bowl of whipped cream or a small batch of batter, a hand mixer is still the quicker thing to reach for.
What attachments come with a Cooks Professional stand mixer?
Every model includes a flat beater, a whisk and a dough hook, along with a splash or splatter guard. The 6.2L and 8L multi-function models add mincing attachments and a blending jug on top of that.
Can you get spare parts for a stand mixer?
Yes. Replacement bowls, attachments and parts are available for the models in the range, so a single broken component does not mean replacing the whole machine. You can find them in our spares and accessories section.
Find your stand mixer
Compare every size and finish in the full stand mixer range, and read our guide to what every attachment actually does if you want to know what you will be using them for.