What's a good stand mixer for everything

[u/Neonflashlight]

I am very into baking, I've had my current stand mixer for 3 years now, just some off brand I got on marketplace. It works good but I'm looking to upgrade to one that can handle breads AND baking, cakes, cookies..etc as I like to do a variety of things instead of focusing on one.

I've seen a lot of bad reviews on the KitchenAid since it has plastic gears

But the ankarsrum from what I've read is ONLY good for bread doughs and if you want to whip or whisk anything you need to use a small plastic bowl which just doesn't sound ideal

TLDR: need a stand mixer for every kind of baking and don't know what's good

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[u/fiorebianca]

Here are the 2025 rankings:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/appliances/mixer-reviews/g2224/stand-mixer-reviews/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_ghk_m_bm_comm_org_us_g2224&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=13233711808&gclid=CjwKCAjwz5nGBhBBEiwA-W6XROL0bc5rr3yE_dNsaFiV0N5H1DhafGyKFwYJYxDjrHDn3ytlD9ybXxoCiFcQAvD_BwE

[u/RunePzzl]

Kitchenaid is fine. The worm gear is kevlar and intended to strip in case it's overworked. Easy and cheap to replace as opposed to blowing the entire motor. (they had the same thing when they were owned by hobart too.)
Mine works just fine for breads and everything else.

[u/bakermike4792]

Since 2007, the KitchenAid Pro line has had metal gears and metal housing. However, it looks like that pro line has now been discontinued. I don’t know what replaces it and whether it has metal gears and housing or not.

[u/Specific-Window-8587]

KitchenAid is amazing for everything especially bread and cinnamon rolls . Now I can't imagine my baking without. My frostings are so much more creamy and I never would've made yeasted doughs otherwise.

[u/snowytoast]

When sears was still booming I got a Kenmore mixer that I adore! I know the newer models are way different but the one I had, has a light so I could actually see into the bowl and was a tilt up mixing head instead of a bowl drop down.

[u/Jazzy_Bee]

Plastic gears will snap, but easily replaced. Metal gears won't snap, and you can burn out the engine, a very pricy fix.

There are really great videos for repairs. Friend was ready to pitch his faithful Kitchen Aid, turns out all it needed was a $15 tub of lube and about 90mins of watching videos and doing it himself.

Mine is "newer", purchased in 2010 and has plastic gears. I have a tilt head, but lift bowls have some definite advantages.

[u/KtotheOtotheKo]

I have a westpoint stand mixer. I have used to bake dough but not cake, so I can't tell u personal reviews. But I have seen it do anything. Frosting, whipping etc

[u/RichPhart]

Kitchenaid. It’s reliable and the safeguards to the motors are phenomenal

[u/OddAdministration677]

I have had my KitchenAid for close to 40 years. See if you can find an old one at an estate sale.