Since launching to the general public in the early 1900s the KitchenAid mixer has remained atop of every baker's dream wishlist. And with a wonderfully sturdy exterior, the retro design, and ability to be used for everything from cake batter to bread dough, who could be surprised? The KitchenAid got its iconic name in 1918 when prototype models were given to the wives of factory executives in Ohio. The product - then referred to simply as the C-10 model - was such a hit, one woman was reported to have stated: "I don't care what you call it, but I know it's the best kitchen aid I've ever had!" Word quickly spread and KitchenAid mixers saw such a high demand that in the late 1930s the factory would completely sell out of its products each Christmas as eager bakers hurried to get their hands on one. KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer, £449 But, nearly a century on from their debut, are KitchenAid mixers still the best around? Thanks to nearly 100 years of experience behind them and a list satisfied customers that continues to grow, you know exactly what to expect when purchasing a KitchenAid mixer.

Chances are, your grandmother had a KitchenAid in the corner of her kitchen while you were growing up, and it's probably still there today. KitchenAid mixers, while admittedly pricey, are built to last so you know you'll be getting your money's worth from it. Worried you don't bake enough to warrant a KitchenAid mixer? The company also sell a pasta roller set that fixes directly into the head of a KitchenAid mixer to make flat-sheet pasta, linguine and tagliatelle with ease. Everyone wants a KitchenAid mixer after all. The classic model will set you back upwards of £250 and you won't find a coveted artisan model for less than £400. If you don't have much space in your kitchen, maybe a KitchenAid mixer isn't the one for you. They're notoriously heavy duty and take up a fair amount of space. Will you use it? As nice as it is to be able to tell your friends and family that you own an iconic KitchenAid mixer, is it really worth splurging if you're only go to use it once in a blue moon?

The KitchenAid mixer is one for people who bake regularly, not casual bakers. If you're finding that the cons outweigh the pros, there are many other great alternatives on the market that do the job just as well, and we've rounded a few particularly excellent ones up for you.breville kinetix control blender - cranberry Seven of the best stand mixers on sale nowkitchenaid artisan blender technische daten 1. Kenwood kMix KMX52 Stand Mixer, £267.99blender pride whisky price in gurgaon If you can’t afford a KitchenAid, a kMix is a reliable bet. hamilton beach bar blender hbh850

Best Buy, they have a similar old-fashioned appearance and produce excellent results. There are various additional useful attachments you can buy, including a pasta maker and meat grinder.ninja master prep professional qb1004 best buy 2. Assistent AKM6120 Stand Mixer, £575breville bsb510xl control grip hand blender Rather different in appearance to most other mixers on the market, the Assistent is a swish Swedish machine that would fit very well in a modern kitchen.kitchenaid mixer mail in rebate 2013 canada It has a large seven-litre bowl, various speeds and a timer function, but isn’t quite as easy to use as some other machines. 3. Andrew James 5.2 Litre Food Mixer, £77.99

The best-selling food mixer on Amazon’s UK site is this cheap-and-cheerful product from Andrew James. Unsurprisingly, it’s not quite as simple to operate as its more upmarket counterparts, but it performs the basic functions of mixing, kneading etc well. The mixer also comes with a handy silicone spatula, so you can scrape down any leftover mix on the sides of the bowl. 4. Sage The Scraper Mixer Pro 4/7L Stand Mixer, £250 Heston Blumenthal himself has approved this pricey mixer, which claims to cut down mixing time by 60 per cent (it has a special blade which constantly scrapes down the side of the bowl). The machine is straightforward to use with smart features: for example, you don't have to guess what speed is suitable for which mix because the buttons are labelled with different foods. 5. Breville Digital Twin Motor Stand and Hand Mixer, £96.16 If you can’t decide whether to buy a hand or a stand mixer, this ingenious machine from Breville could be the answer – the top is detatchable, so you can use it as a hand mixer whenever you need.

There are 12 mixer speeds, and a digital LCD screen with timer. 6. Bodum Bistro Electric Stand Mixer, £199 Made from rubber-sprayed plastic, this mixer is one of the funkier-looking machines on the market. It whisk, whips and mixes with ease, but bear in mind some users find it a little slow and noisy. 7. Dualit Stand Mixer, 1000 Watt, £164.82 Not dissimilar in appearance to a KitchenAid but considerably cheaper, this is a robust and easy-to-use machine. It comes with a whisk, dough hooks, beater and a spatula beater (to help clear mix from the sides). There's also a handy pause button, in case you forget to add an ingredient. READ: The best kitchen gadgets READ: The best cake standsVintage, elegant and colourful: Ten of the best mixers and blenders MIX things up with a funky new food blender Mix things up with a funky new food blender[PH]From left:Breville Pick & Mix blender in strawberry; £)Kenwood kMix KMX86 stand mixer ;