Top five stand mixers for 2021

This stand mixer is a terrific all-rounder and considerably cheaper than some other top-of-the-range mixers. It scored full marks for kneading, mixing and whisking in our tests, and earned four stars for whipping. We also found it easy to assemble and clean. Plus, it's one of the quietest stand mixers we've tested, which is great news if you like to bake while others are asleep or working from home.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

This stand mixer has seven speed settings and a pulse function, but just two attachments (other accessories are sold separately). Even so, it proved versatile enough to receive top marks in our tests for mixing, and four stars for kneading and whisking. We were also impressed by its quietness and how easy it is to add and remove attachments. If not for its three-star whipping, it would have got an even higher score.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Its elegant design means this stand mixer would complement most kitchen decor, but it isn't just a looker. It's excellent at whipping, leaving cream and egg whites light and fluffy, and earned four stars for whisking and kneading. But if you mainly use your stand mixer for making cake batter, there are better options; this model failed to impress us with its mixing.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

This stand mixer is a thing of beauty, but that isn't the only reason you should buy it. It's good at mixing and whisking – plus it couldn't be any easier to clean. Given its strong showing in our other tests, we were slightly underwhelmed by its three-star whipping, but not so much that we wouldn't recommend it. Just watch out for its open splashguard – messy spills always seem imminent with this model.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

If you're after a stand mixer for around £100, look no further. This stand mixer outperformed some much more expensive models in our tests, with ratings never dropping below four stars. We were particularly impressed by its whisking – it whisked five egg whites up to 750% of their original volume within two minutes – and enjoyed playing around with its 10 speed settings. However, the mixing bowl is heavy and doesn't have a handle, making it difficult to remove and transport.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

This stand mixer has a striking retro design, but that isn't enough to distract from its lacklustre performance. It's particularly bad at whisking; while it somewhat increases the volume of egg whites, it's an unbearably long process.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

This stand mixer is decent at several kitchen tasks, but you're better off whisking eggs by hand. Plus, it's hard to remove the blender attachment from its base – we ended up breaking one of the safety pins, such was the force required to prise it apart.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time