Cuisinart SM-50R 5.5 Quart Stand Mixer
A stand mixer (5.2L, 110 watts), a solid choice for everyday baking and the occasional bread dough.
Stand Mixer Attachments Explained (Paddle, Whisk, Hook)
Stand mixers come with three core tools, and knowing which to use makes a real difference to results. Here's the simple guide.
Quick answer
The three core stand-mixer attachments are the flat beater (paddle) for general mixing - cakes, cookies and mashing; the balloon whisk for whipping air into cream and egg whites; and the dough hook for kneading bread and heavy doughs. The flat beater is the one you'll use most.
The flat beater (paddle)
This is the all-rounder for creaming butter and sugar, mixing cake batters and cookie dough, and mashing potatoes. Use it for anything that needs thorough mixing without whipping in lots of air. It's the attachment most recipes assume unless they say otherwise.
The whisk and dough hook
The balloon whisk incorporates air, so it's for whipping cream, beating egg whites and making meringue and light sponges - not for heavy mixtures, which can bend it. The dough hook kneads bread, pizza and other yeasted doughs, doing the hard work of developing gluten so you don't have to knead by hand. Many mixers also take extra attachments like pasta rollers and mincers via the front hub.
Our top picks
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Cuisinart SM-50BC SMD-50BC Precision Pro 5.5-Quart Digital Stand Mixer
A stand mixer (500 watts), a solid choice for everyday baking and the occasional bread dough.
#3 
Aucma Stand Mixer
A stand mixer (6.2L, 1400 watts, tilt-head), a solid choice for everyday baking and the occasional bread dough.
Frequently asked questions
What is the paddle attachment used for?
The flat beater or paddle is for general mixing - creaming butter and sugar, cake and cookie batters, and mashing. It's the most-used attachment and the default for most recipes.
When do you use the whisk instead of the paddle?
Use the balloon whisk when you want to whip air in - cream, egg whites, meringue and light sponges. Use the paddle for heavier mixing; heavy mixtures can damage the whisk.
What attachment do you use for bread dough?
The dough hook. It kneads yeasted doughs like bread and pizza, developing the gluten for you so you don't have to knead by hand.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Cuisinart SM-50R 5.5 Quart Stand Mixer (our score 9.6/10) - A stand mixer (5.2L, 110 watts), a solid choice for everyday baking and the occasional bread dough..