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This article was taken from the May 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
Stand well back: Wired pushes the button on the latest stand mixers
<span class="s1">[#image: /photos/606da5fe6a2b7484dab93162]
How we tested
With the help of chef Steve Field from cookery school
L'atelier des Chefs, we assessed the latest stand mixers for design, functionality, sturdiness and ease of use. Performance and power were rated by whisking 100ml of pasteurised egg-white on full power to see how well each could create stiff peaks in one minute.
Assistent AKM6120C
Chef Steve Field described this model as "genius" and was impressed by the speed at which stiff peaks were formed, and the volume created. It comes with a seven-litre stainless-steel bowl, but the additional 3.5-litre bowl (which we used for the test) is made of plastic. Its wide feet help it grip on to the worktop, and the power settings offer smooth, stepless speed changes. Our pea-green model is one of six colour options.
Wired: <span class="s2">Fast-working; super-stiff peaks
Tired: Cheap-feeling, small plastic bowl
Score: 8/10
Price: £575
KitchenAid 6.9L Artisan
This attractive mixer has been designed for easy cleaning so bacteria will not get trapped in its body. It has a professional feel and a handle on the solid stainless-steel bowl makes pouring easy. "There's a useful lift mechanism for the bowl that can be adjusted so the whisk can get deeper into the mixture," says Field. He found it tricky to remove the bowl from the attachment, however, and the design is a little top heavy. But on the plus side, its 1.3hp high-efficiency direct-drive motor helped to produce good results.
Wired: <span class="s2">Stiff peaks
Tired:<span class="s2"> Fiddly bowl
Score: 7/10
Cost: £799
Bodum Bistro 11381-565UK
The sturdy nature of this model appealed to Field -- "It has a nice centre of gravity," he says. It was, however, the loudest model on test and failed to achieve stiff peaks in the allocated minute. The plastic guard also seems like a cheap addition on an otherwise well-made body. The Bodum's robust build suggests it is particularly suited for tasks such as breadmaking.
Wired: <span class="s3">Balanced design; foot suckers
Tired:<span class="s3"> Plastic guard; poor performance
Score: 5/10
Cost: £350
Kenwood kMix Boutique
The pivoted head, for connecting attachments and the bowl, is a practical design touch here. The mixer is easy to use and clean, and has an ergonomic handle and an auto-stop function if the head is lifted. Field noted that even though stiff peaks weren't achieved before our timer ran out, the whisk was getting to the bottom and lifting the mixture nicely.
Wired:
Wide choice of colour options
Tired: <span class="s3">Basic settings
Score: 7/10
Cost: £399
Tefal <span class="s1">QB405D40 Kitchen Machine Plus
This model has a tough stainless-steel bowl, but is let down by a plastic base and flimsy casing that Field felt could break easily. The locking mechanism isn't sealed, so ingredients such as flour could build up in nooks and crannies. Although the mixer is powerful, only soft peaks were achieved. And it has the smallest bowl on test, so any yield would be limited.
Wired:<span class="s6"> Handy blender attachment
Tired:<span class="s6"> Not for serious cooks
Score: 4/10
Cost: £199
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
