Nikai NSM1200A Kitchen Machine, 12L Steel Bowl, 1500W, 6 Speed

Our review

This is a heavy-duty stand mixer built around a 12-litre stainless steel bowl that comes with its own cover, so large batches of dough or batter are less likely to throw flour around the kitchen. The 1500W motor drives a full metal gear system through a double belt, and the planetary mixing action moves the attachments around the bowl rather than spinning in one spot. Three tools are included: a dough hook, a whisk and an egg beater, which covers bread, cream, meringue and cake mixes. Six speeds with a pulse function give you slow folding and faster whipping, and the switch panel has an LED display. Skid-resistant feet help keep it steady at higher speeds. It suits home bakers and small food businesses doing frequent, sizeable batches, and anyone who wants one machine instead of a hand mixer plus a separate dough mixer. Before buying, measure your counter and cupboard height, since a 12L bowl machine takes up real space, and check that your sockets can handle a 1500W appliance. Compare against other planetary mixers on bowl material, gear construction and the number of included attachments, because those are the parts that decide how it holds up over years of kneading.