Best Stand Mixer: KitchenAid vs Hamilton Beach

The KitchenAid Mixer and the Hamilton Beach Mixer are two brands of stand mixers that are popular on the market. Which is better, though? I’m here to break things down for you.

Both the KitchenAid and Hamilton Beach mixers come with a dough hook and a whisk attachment, but Hamilton Beach does not include an additional mixing bowl.

KitchenAid stand mixer has a storage case for all of its tools and attachments in one place that you can keep on your countertop when not in use, but Hamilton Beach does not have this feature.

The KitchenAid stand mixer is about $30 more expensive than the Hamilton Beach stand mixer ($229 vs $199).

The KitchenAid stand mixer has over 4,000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating on Amazon while the Hamilton Beach only has over 1,200 reviews and a 3.8 star rating on Amazon.

The KitchenAid mixer has wider mixing paddles than the Hamilton Beach mixer, which means that it can mix thicker doughs easier than the Hamilton Beach mixer can.

A 1 horsepower motor is included in both of these stand mixers, but many other stand mixers in this price range have a 2 horsepower motor or higher (see Cuisinart SM-55).

Speed and mixing power:

  • When it comes to power, the KitchenAid stand mixer has 1.5 horsepower motor and can achieve speeds up to 2,000 RPM while the Hamilton Beach stand mixer has only 1 horsepower motor and can only achieve a maximum speed of 1,500 RPM. You can see that the KitchenAid stand mixer is almost twice as powerful as the Hamilton Beach stand mixer (3.5X more powerful).
  • When it comes to speed, the KitchenAid stand mixer has a higher maximum speed of 2,000 RPM and can achieve speeds up to 2,000 RPM while the Hamilton Beach stand mixer has a lower maximum speed of 1,500 RPM and can achieve only speeds up to 1,500 RPM. You can see that the KitchenAid stand mixer is almost twice as powerful as the Hamilton Beach stand mixer (3.5X more powerful).
  • The KitchenAid stand mixer also has a free-standing base while the Hamilton Beach stand mixer has a fixed base on which it sits (see pictures below).
  • Both the KitchenAid and Hamilton Beach have a 5.5-quart mixing bowl that is magnetic. However, the KitchenAid 5.5-quart mixing bowl is larger than the Hamilton Beach 5.5-quart mixing bowl (see pictures below).
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Let’s say you want to buy the KitchenAid, but you are concerned about the motor. Does it have the same strength as other brands? The current KitchenAid 5.5-quart stand mixer (model KSM155PS) has a 5.5-quart mixing bowl and a 1 horsepower motor, which is standard for most stand mixers in this price range (see  Cuisinart SM-55). To find out how this compares to other stand mixers that cost more than $199, please read our article on the Best Stand Mixers powered by 2 horsepower motors here .

Which brand of stand mixer do you trust most?

The KitchenAid brand is one of the most trusted brands on Amazon, which means that when you buy a KitchenAid mixer, you will get it from a trusted source. The KitchenAid brand has over 2,100 reviews on Amazon and they get an overall 4.5 star rating. Hamilton Beach gets over 1,500 reviews and they only get an average rating of 3.8 stars. Please consider that when you are deciding which stand mixer to buy!

Finally, both the KitchenAid and Hamilton Beach mixers have warranties that last for 90 days (see above for more information about warranties).

Both the KitchenAid and Hamilton Beach mixers are great, but which give you the best bang for your buck?  KitchenAid is more expensive than Hamilton Beach, but they have a better quality and customer service. Overall, I’d recommend choosing the KitchenAid if you can afford it.

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How do you use a Hamilton Beach mixer?

Hamilton Beach stand mixer has a fixed base on which it sits, while KitchenAid stand mixer has a free-standing base (see pictures above). Because of this, you can use the Hamilton Beach stand mixer on your kitchen countertop. You need to make sure that the Hamilton Beach stand mixer is stable on your countertop. Always check to make sure that the Hamilton Beach stand mixer isn’t about to fall over when you are using it.

Is the KitchenAid heavy?

The KitchenAid 5.5-quart mixing bowl weighs just over 8 pounds, but I wouldn’t say this is very heavy because it is made out of plastic and metal.  Never place a KitchenAid 5.5-quart mixing bowl in the dishwasher because it will break easily. I don’t see why anyone would want to put a plastic bowl in the dishwasher, anyway.  Instead, I clean my KitchenAid 5.5-quart mixing bowl by hand with a soft sponge and warm water.

The Hamilton Beach 5.5-quart mixing bowl weighs about 8 pounds, but this is more of a heavy duty industrial mixing bowl that’s made out of cast iron, stainless steel and plastic so it can withstand more wear and tear than the KitchenAid 6-quart mixer’s plastic mixing bowl.

Can you use KitchenAid attachments on Hamilton Beach?

Yes, you can use KitchenAid attachments on the Hamilton Beach stand mixer.  Check out this video of a KitchenAid whisk working on a Hamilton Beach stand mixer.  However, you can’t use other brands of whisks on a Hamilton Beach stand mixer, such as a Cuisinart or Oster.

Which is the best value?

Which one is the best bang for your buck? I think the answer to this question depends on your needs.  I have tried both and they both have their strengths and weaknesses (see above).

I hope that you found this comparison helpful and that it helps you choose which stand mixer is right for you.  

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The Best Stand Mixers Powered by 2 horsepower motors:

1.  Cuisinart SM-55 (click here to see our full review)

2.  KitchenAid KSM155PS (click here to see our full review)

3.  KitchenAid KSM150PS (click here to see our full review)

Why is my Hamilton Beach mixer not working?

Always unplug your Hamilton Beach stand mixer from the electrical outlet after each use and before you store it. Make sure that the Hamilton Beach stand mixer is level when you place it on a flat surface. If your motor is not working, then check to make sure the bowl has been properly locked in place (see picture below).

If your motor still isn’t working, then there could be a problem with the power switch (see picture below).  Check to make sure that the power cord has not come loose from the power switch. Make sure that there are no obstructions blocking your Hamilton Beach stand mixer’s drive shaft and also check to make sure that there is nothing loose inside of your mixing bowl or attachment (see pictures below).

How do I turn on my Hamilton Beach food processor?

To turn on your Hamilton Beach food processor, make sure that the power cord is plugged into the electrical outlet (see picture below). Next, turn your food processor on by pressing down the power button (labelled “T” in the picture below) until you hear a start beep.

To turn off your Hamilton Beach food processor, press down the power button again until you hear another stop beep. The motor will come to a stop and then switch off. If you want to cancel all processing, then press down the stop button (labelled “OFF” in the picture below).

Final Thoughts:

I hope this comparison helped you choose the best stand mixer to fit your needs.  If you have any questions, please post them in the comments below and I’ll try to help you out as soon as possible! These are my top recommendations based on customer reviews, so they are also the best stand mixers that customers like the most.

Happy baking!

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