Canstar Blue’s 2019 mixers review has seen Kenwood, KitchenAid, Sunbeam, Breville, Kambrook, Kmart and ALDI Ambiano compared on value for money, performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, additional functions, design and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
In Canstar Blue’s inaugural mixers review, Kenwood has stirred up the competition, achieving five stars in all rated variables including performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, additional functions, design, value for money and overall satisfaction.
Mixers are a handy addition to any kitchen, especially if you enjoy making oven-baked goodies and treats. While mixing was often the bane of many cooks and weekend creators, with the old-school mixers often leaving you with hand cramps – in addition to taking a good chunk of time – brands nowadays offer a wide variety of mixers that do the work for you.
With plenty of options available, narrowing them down can be tricky, especially if you haven’t had much experience before. So, to offer some guidance, we’ve surveyed more than 500 Aussies and asked them to review the mixer they’ve most recently purchased on a number of factors including value for money, performance and design.
While seven different brands received the minimum sample size to be included in our inaugural mixer review, only one came out on top – Kenwood. It won consumers over with its range of mixers, receiving five stars for performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, additional functions, design, value for money and overall satisfaction.
The seven brands in our inaugural mixers review were rated in the following order for overall customer satisfaction:
KitchenAid, Sunbeam and Breville had to settle for four stars on overall satisfaction, with Kambrook, Kmart and ALDI Ambiano rated three stars apiece. Alongside this year’s winner, KitchenAid also secured top marks for performance, ease of cleaning, additional functions and design. In addition, Kmart scored five stars for value for money as did Kenwood.
Now let’s get an overview of what’s available from each brand, including the prices you can expect.
Kenwood may be a worthwhile option for those who aren’t sure about which model to choose, with plenty of units available regardless of your preference or budget. Kenwood has an extensive range of attachments and extras, including pasta cutters and rollers, food grinder and a range of beaters and whisks.
The bulk of Kenwood’s range is dedicated to the stand models, with a number available regardless of how handy you are in the kitchen. Kenwood’s introductory model, known as the kMix, is available in a range of colours to compliment your kitchen’s aesthetic, and comes with a dishwasher-safe 5L glass bowl and a range of beaters and whisks. Powered by a 1000W motor, the kMix has six speeds to suit whatever your mixing, along with a splash guard to prevent the mix from escaping from the bowl.
Kenwood also offer its Chef series, with the basic model retailing for around $500. With a 4.6L bowl and variable speed settings, the introductory Chef model will be able to tackle plenty of recipes, although Kenwood also offers models with larger capacities for when you’re baking in bulk.
The XL model bumps up the power to 1200W and uses a 6.7L bowl to make light work of cake mixes and dough. If you’re looking to become the next cooking sensation, you may like to go for the top of the line Cooking Chef mixer but be prepared to fork over some serious cash. Retailing for close to $2,000, the Cooking Chef isn’t for the faint-hearted, but may help make your cake the talk of the town. With 20 pre-set cooking programs to help with tricky recipes, the Cooking Chef is powered by a 1500W motor and has over twenty additional attachments including a food processor, meat grinder and pasta maker to help you prepare dinner regardless of what you’re craving. Including an LCD display and timer function, the Cooking Chef mixer also utilises induction technology to help slow cook the mix for a shorter cooking time in the oven.
Kenwood’s hand mixer range may seem lacking in comparison to its stand range, but there’s still enough to get excited about, particularly if you’re looking for a ‘cheaper’ alternative. With a three speed motor along with a pulse function, Kenwood’s HM520 model also comes with machine washable beaters that can also be stored on the bottom of the mixer. Weighing just over 1kg, the HM520 comes with a cable grip for comfort and easy use around the kitchen.
Kenwood was a clear winner in this year’s review, receiving five stars for performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, additional functions, design, value for money and overall satisfaction.
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Another well-known brand when it comes to kitchen appliances, KitchenAid offers a large range of hand mixers and stand mixers with enough variety to satisfy your inner chef. KitchenAid mixers also come in a variety of colours, allowing you to find one to suit your kitchen’s look. Its Hand Mixer (KHM926) comes in four different colours and features nine different spin speeds. It comes with two beaters, two dough hooks and a whisk.
KitchenAid also offers a miniature stand model for those either pressed for counter space or those who may not need to feed an army. With a variable ten-speed motor and a 3.3L bowl, the miniature model may not seem so tiny for some, with the full die cast metal model capable of mixing up to 680g of food with no problems. Additionally, the model comes with a flat beater, wire whisk and dough hook for easy use.
For large workloads, KitchenAid offers the 4.8L Artisan series, capable of mixing more than a kilo of dough. Similarly to the miniature model, the Artisan mixers also contain a ten-speed motor with variable speeds, while featuring a head tilt function for an even mix. One of the most versatile models on offer, the Artisan mixer comes with a variety of attachments, allowing it to transform into a juicer, food processor, pasta roller, strainer and peeler, making it a one-stop-shop when it comes to cooking.
KitchenAid’s top of the line model, the Bowl-Lift series, will be able to tackle all but the biggest cooking loads, with a ten-speed motor capable of mixing up to 2.2kg in the model’s 6.9L stainless steel bowl. Similar to other KitchenAid products, the Bowl-Lift mixer also comes with a variety of attachments and extras, making your time in the kitchen easier.
In 2019, KitchenAid got five stars for performance, ease of cleaning, additional functions and design but just four stars for overall satisfaction and ease of use, plus three stars for value for money.
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A giant within the kitchen appliance market, Sunbeam offers a variety of both stand and hand mixers, allowing households to find a model regardless of how often they cook. Coming in a variety of colours and finishes, Sunbeam will help you find a mixer to suit your kitchen. All models come with a 12 month warranty, with stand mixers available with a five year motor warranty.
Sunbeam’s introductory stand model, the Mixmaster Classic, is made of stainless die-cast metal, and contains twelve variable speeds to power the twin beaters for optimal mixing. Coming with two mixing bowls and a variety of whisks and beaters, the Mixmaster Classic may be worth looking into for those wanting to expand their culinary horizons.
If you’re after something with a bit more grunt to it, the Café Series contains a 1200W motor powering the twelve speed settings. Including a splash guard, LCD display and a balanced head lift, the Café models can make short work of whatever you need to mix, as well as ensuring you’re not left with a big mess at the end. The Café Series comes with a 4.5L stainless steel mixing bowl, along with a number of timer settings.
For those after something a bit more versatile, the Zumbo models may be more your speed, with a number of additional attachments available to help with all sorts of meals. With similar functions to the Café Series, the Zumbo stands out with additionally safety features, including automatic motor cut off and a hinge cover to keep your kitchen accident-free.
In addition to a number of stand mixers, Sunbeam has multiple hand mixers available for those not looking to spend big. Often retailing between $45 and $100, Sunbeam hand mixers are also available in a wide range of colours, helping to brighten your kitchen. The introductory model, the Beatermix, has five speeds with additional boost for those tough mixes, as well as 170cm cord to help you spread out in the kitchen.
The Mixmaster Hand Mixer is also readily available at a number of appliance retailers, with the model coming with six variable speeds and a quick release button to easy cleaning and increased safety. Powered by a 350W motor, the Mixmaster Hand Mixer has a 90cm cord length, and weighs slightly more in comparison to the Beatermix model.
Sunbeam received four stars for overall satisfaction and all other categories except for additional functions where it got three stars.
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Well-known in the kitchen appliance market, Breville has long been a family favourite when it comes to decking out the kitchen, offering consumers plenty to choose from. Whether you’re after a smaller hand mixer, or after a serious stand mixer, Breville might be worth checking out. It offers a five-year motor warranty on most models for peace of mind.
For those after a hand mixer, Breville offers a couple of options, all of which will set households back around $130, and come with a one year warranty. For those pressed for space, the Handy Mix Scraper includes a detachable storage compartment to house all the attachments and cord, to help save you from turning the kitchen upside-down looking for them. It includes nine speed settings, designed for kneading and whipping, with an additional boost setting for those tough mixes.
For households after a more traditional model, Breville offers the Wizz and Handy Mix models, with the Wizz able to take care of most of your baking and cooking needs, whereas the Handy Mix model bumps it up a notch. While the Wizz has five speed settings, the Handy Mix has sixteen, meaning you’ll be able to tackle whatever the recipe throws at you.
In addition to hand mixers, Breville also offers stand mixers, including the Scraper series and the Bakery Chef series. Breville’s Scraper Mixer Pro is claimed to replicate the same planetary mixing action with a counter-clockwise mixing head and anti-clockwise sweeping action of wide attachments for 360° action. It includes up to 12 speed settings and additional attachments.
For those looking for the top of the line, the Breville Bakery Chef mixer may be the one for you. It includes 12 speed settings along with an integrated timer, which automatically stops the mixer at the desired time to help you not over whip. It also includes an LCD display to control the timer, as well as a mixing light to help you keep an eye on what you’re preparing.
Breville got four stars for overall satisfaction and for all other rated variables, making it a solid competitor in this year’s review.
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Kambrook offers a concise range of mixers with one hand and one stand model available at the time of writing. While there might not be a variety of colours to choose from, if you’re a beginner baker who’s ready to take their budding passion into a reputation, then Kambrook might be for you. Both models have 12 month warranties.
Kambrook’s Power Mix Hand Mixer is designed with 250W of power and comes with chrome plated beaters. It’s said to feature a rapid beater release function for ease of use. There are five different speed settings to choose from with a Turbo boost mode also available if you need extra power.
For something with a little bit more power, you might like to consider Kambrook’s Powermix Bench Mixer. With planetary mixing action, this mixer is claimed to offer coverage to every inch of the 3.5L bowl. It’s also equipped with variable speed control and functional attachments to help you get the most out of your baking. Expect three attachments within the box including a whisk, a dough hook and a leaf beater, allowing you to mix, knead, and whip. You also have the choice of six different speed settings, plus a pulse function to provide a short burst of power when adding in new ingredients into the mixture. The included splash guard is said to help you avoid splattering all over the kitchen.
Kambrook was rated three stars for overall satisfaction, value for money and additional functions but got four stars in all other areas.
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Budget-orientated retail chain Kmart seems to do it all – from air fryers to microwaves and even mixers. It features all types of mixers with prices less than $70 at the time of writing. Similar to all appliances available at Kmart, these models are stated to have been tested to applicable Australian electrical safety standards are certified as compliant. Durability and performance testing have also been carried out prior to QA approval, according to Kmart.
Kmart has two hand mixers both with five different speed settings and a release button for ease of use. The $15 mixer features stainless steel beaters and hooks while the $10 unit has just chrome beaters. Additionally, on the $15 model you’ll find a turbo function with 300W of power for when you need an extra boost to mix your dough. Both come in a standard white finish.
For a stand mixer option, it has just one model for a low $69, allowing you blend a cake mixture or a range of ingredients on a budget. Kmart’s Bench Mixer comes with a large 5L stainless steel mixing bowl, along with seven different speed settings to choose from. It offers 600W of power and has a white finish. Accessories include a beater, whisk, dough hook and a splash guard, allowing you to use the highest speed without the worry of making a mess in your kitchen.
In addition to hand and stand mixers, you’ll also find a stick mixer set which includes a whisk with a stick mixer, alongside a 550ml beaker and a 600ml mini chopper, allowing you to whip, blend and chop with one appliance. It has variable speed control, plus an on/off button. Expect stainless steel attachments with a detachable stainless steel shaft.
Kmart achieved five stars for value for money but just three stars on overall satisfaction. It also got three stars for performance, additional functions and design, plus four stars on ease of use and ease of cleaning.
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ALDI has also featured a range of mixers in its Special Buys from a number of brands. If you’re on a budget and are in no rush of getting a mixer right away, then ALDI might be for you. The ALDI Ambiano Premium Stand Mixer (MD16480) comes in two different colours – red and blue. It includes a beater, dough hook and a whisk. There are six different spin speeds to choose from with a splash guard to ensure your counter stays clean even on the highest setting.
As with all small appliances found at ALDI, its mixers are available for a limited time only and while stocks last. So, to get your hands on one, you’ll have to keep an eye on the catalogue and even rock up early to the store on the day of its release to ensure you don’t miss out. ALDI mixers typically make an appearance a couple of times a year with September and December being the months they’ve been seen in stores previously.
Rounding out this year’s results, ALDI Ambiano received three stars for overall satisfaction and for all other factors.
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Aside from the brands mentioned, there are plenty of others you may like to consider that may not have received the minimum sample size to be included in our ratings but are just as prominent in the market:
With many kitchen appliance brands now offering a variety of models and mixer types, consumers are spoilt for choice when it comes to whipping up a storm in the kitchen. Mixers are generally split into two different categories – hand mixers and stand mixers. Hand mixers, as the name suggests, are hand-held models commonly used for smaller quantities, or for whisking eggs and whipping cream.
Stand mixers, otherwise known as bench mixers, are larger units with more functions and features. While a bit more of a financial investment, stand mixers generally have a higher work rate, in addition to a larger capacity, making them more suitable for larger households, or those regularly cooking or baking. It’s important to note our review considers all types of mixers.
When it comes to finding out what drives customer satisfaction after purchasing a mixer, our research revealed the following factors as most important:
Performance is the most important driver in mixing satisfaction, followed by value for money. When you need the batter battered or the cream whipped, you’ll want a mixer that will do it just right. But when it comes to ‘value’, this doesn’t just mean that the most expensive unit on the market is ‘best’ as there are plenty of cheap options available that can represent good value for money by delivering on performance and reliability.
Depending on the type, prices for mixers start at around $50, but can go up to almost $2,000 for those looking to amp up their cooking and baking skills. Our survey found that households spend an average of $184 on new mixers, with most keeping theirs for about nine years.
When considering which mixer to buy, it would be wise to think about how often you’ll use it and what you’ll use it for. Almost a quarter (23%) of survey respondents said they don’t use they mixer as must as they thought they would and only 12% wish they had spent more money on a better mixer. A third of respondents (34%) have cooked/baked more since purchasing their mixer.
Mixers are a handy appliance to have in the kitchen, saving you time – and your hands – while making short work of the preparation phase of recipes. Households have no shortage of options when it comes to choosing a mixer, with both hand and stand models readily available to suit whatever what you plan on cooking.
With multiple brands and models available, narrowing down the best option can quickly become a struggle, with the motor size, safety features and optional attachments all factors to be considered. While Kmart has been rated five stars for value, it didn’t get the same high marks in other areas like Kenwood did. KitchenAid, however, received three stars for value but still achieved some top results in other areas.
Ultimately, which mixer you walk out the door with will depend on your personal preferences, such as how often you’re cooking, what you’re cooking, and if you’re looking to expand your culinary horizons with new recipes that require specific beaters or whiskers.
Picture credits: Daniel Jedzura/shutterstock.com, 4teen/shutterstock.com
*Prices taken from respective retailer websites, correct as of November 2019
Our latest customer satisfaction research on mixers saw a number of brands rated best in different categories:Â
Canstar Blue surveyed 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased a new mixer in the last 3 years (this includes electric handheld mixers and stand/bench mixers/beaters and does not include blenders) – in this case, 551 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.