Cuisinart 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer SM-55

The Cuisinart 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer SM-55 is a powerful option for frequent bakers. It has an 800-watt motor that can knead dough and mix thick ingredients with ease. It comes with three attachments (a flat beater, whisk and dough hook) and has several modern user-friendly features. It has a three-year warranty.

Performance

Performs like a champ. Reviewers are impressed with the overall performance of the Cuisinart SM-55. Users at Amazon.com, Cooking.com and Viewpoints.com all say it has a very powerful motor than can handle mixing jobs with ease -- even kneading double batches of bread dough. Most owners say the machine doesn't struggle under heavy loads like many other models. Owners say it whips through small batches just as well.

Testers especially like the added functions of the Cuisinart. Editors at Good Housekeeping say the fold feature ensures flour is incorporated into mixtures without overbeating, and the spiral dough hook "worked more efficiently than most other models to knead dough," say testers at Cook's Illustrated magazine.

Ease of use

User-friendly features. Reviewers say the Cuisinart stand mixer is easy to use and versatile; several praise the digital timer with automatic shut-off, saying it allows them to do other things while mixing without the threat of overbeating delicate ingredients. Several also praise the included splashguard, which helps prevent messes, but some point out that the pour spout is too small to effectively pour in dry ingredients while the mixer is in use.

Appearance

Boring and cheap styling. The SM-55 doesn't have the sleek styling of KitchenAid stand mixers, but most users say it's attractive enough (available in white, black or brushed chrome) to leave it out on their countertops. Although the Cuisinart has plastic housing, unlike the KitchenAid, that trade-off also makes it lighter.  A few users complain that the positioning of the attachments doesn't allow for use of the full 5.5-quart capacity of the mixing bowl.

Noise

A bit loud on high settings. While we didn't see a lot of complaints about noise levels, some users at Amazon.com say the Cuisinart stand mixer can be quite loud when on its highest speed settings. Most say it's worth it, given the powerful motor, and others say the noise doesn't bother them at all.

The bottom line

The Cuisinart 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer SM-55 is a powerful, large-capacity stand mixer loaded with user-friendly features. It isn't as attractive as KitchenAid models, however, and reviewers say the plastic housing looks cheap. It is durable, though, and Cuisinart stands behind the machine with a three-year warranty. The Cuisinart is comparable to the KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer (*Est. $350) but doesn't receive frequent reviews -- the primary reason it isn't listed as a top-rated mixer.