Cuisinart SM-55BC Stand Mixer Review

Whether you’re seeking a stand mixer for yourself or as a gift, finding one that does everything you want it to, and that is going to be long-lasting, can be difficult.

There are so many different brands and models on the market; it can be overwhelming to choose. The Cuisinart 5.5-quart 12-speed stand mixer is just one option you might find online or at your local department store that we’ll be reviewing here!

It has a timer, a powerful motor with 800 watts, and the ability to add optional attachments to expand the mixer into a complete kitchen center.

But not everyone has fallen in love with this Cuisinart mixer. Some users have complained that their mixer wobbled on their countertop and that it was very loud.

However, before you make your ultimate decision on whether this is the mixer for you, let’s take a closer look.

Cuisinart 5.5-Quart 12-Speed Stand Mixer: The Details

In A Nutshell

• Weight: 1 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5 x 10 x 12.5 inches.
• Capacity: Mixes a recipe with up to 12 cups of flour, two loaves of bread, double batch of cookies.
• Speeds: 12 speeds.
• Bowl Type: Stainless-steel bowl.
• Motor: 800 watts.
• Warranty: Three-year product warranty; five-year motor warranty.

Features

12 speeds

This Cuisinart comes with 12 different mixing speeds, so you will be able to find a speed for whatever doughs, batters, and/or mixes you’re working with.

You just have to pick the speed you desire on the control dial, and you’ll be ready to go!

There is also a slow-start feature so you don’t have to worry about flour or cookie dough coming out of the bowl even if you turn the mixer on a higher speed.

If you are looking to gently fold berries into bread or chocolate chips into cookies, this mixer has you covered with the fold function.

This allows you to either have the mixer on continuously or to pulse it for ultimate control of how many ingredients are incorporated into whatever you’re making.

Attachments

The mixer also comes with three different mixing attachments: a whisk, a flat mixing paddle, and a dough hook.

The whisk will aerate and increase the volume of egg whites or whipping cream, and can also be used to mix up certain puddings and cakes.

The flat mixing paddle ensures everything is thoroughly mixed together, and will probably be the attachment you use the most.

The dough hook ensures you never have to knead by hand again (save your arms!). And no need to worry about cleaning up after a stress-baking session; all the attachments are dishwasher safe.

You also get a splashguard, which will ensure nothing comes out of the bowl and onto you. It makes it easier to add ingredients, as it has a spout on it.

The splashguard might be the perfect thing to use when baking with kids too.

Cuisinart also sells optional attachments that connect to one of three power outlets on the mixer.

There’s a blender attachment, food processor attachment, juicer attachment, and a pasta maker and meat grinder attachment that you can buy separately.

15-Minute Timer

This mixer also comes with a 15-minute countdown timer.

So, if you need to walk away or want to make sure you are only mixing for a specific amount of time, the Cuisinart has you covered. It will turn off once the timer runs out.

Tilt-Back Head

This Cuisinart Stand Mixer has a tilt-back head, so to add ingredients, you just have to lift the mixer head up, add your next item, and then tilt it back down.

You also don’t need to worry about the head slamming down before you’re ready since the mixer has a locking mechanism that secures the head in place when it’s lifted up.

Whether you’re adding ingredients or you need to change an attachment, the mixture has safety features to ensure nothing bad happens while you’re using this machine.

5.5-quart Stainless-Steel Bowl

With the 5.5-quart bowl, you can make double and triple portions of all your favorite meals (whether that’s cookies, cakes, or mashed potatoes).

No matter how much you have in the bowl, the handles on the sides will make sure you can have a secure hold when you need to carry it around.

Planetary Action

You also don’t have to worry about scraping the sides of the bowl constantly while you’re mixing up your favorite recipe.

The planetary action of the attachment and the bowl allows for the mixer to not miss an inch of the ingredients. Everything will be mixed together evenly and thoroughly.

Warranty

Cuisinart guarantees their stand mixers up to three years for any defects and five years for the motor.

This means, if you notice any errors or faults in craftsmanship or manufacturing, you’ll simply need to contact Cuisinart’s customer service department and they promise to repair or replace your mixer for you.

Keep in mind these warranties don’t usually cover wear and tear or damages made by the owner so be sure to handle your stand mixer with care.

Cuisinart 5.5-Quart 12-Speed Stand Mixer Review

The Positives

Capacity

With a 5.5-quart bowl, the Cuisinart can mix quite a lot. One user noted they were able to work with a mix that had 12 cups of flour in it!

While you probably won’t be working with that big of a batch every day, it is nice to know that you have the option.

This Cuisinart can also mix up a double batch of cookies, and up to two loaves of bread dough. That double batch of chocolate chunk cookies you make for Christmas will be a breeze with this mixer.

This is great for busy bakers with small businesses or a long order list from the neighbors.

Mixes Thoroughly

The planetary action on the Cuisinart ensures chocolate chips or nuts in your cookies or loaves of bread are distributed evenly throughout your mix.

You also don’t have to worry about getting the edges. It gets right to the sides of the bowl. You don’t have to stop the mixer and scrape it down ever again.

So, don’t be afraid to add a variety of ingredients and extras to your recipe since you’ll know the stand mixer will get every bit.

Safe

The Cuisinart also ensures that if the mixer is ever overloaded or struggling too much to mix something, it will shut off.

This is an important feature that will guarantee the mixer doesn’t smoke or break completely.

You may have overestimated how much cookie dough a recipe makes or how thick bread dough should be, but you don’t have to worry about ruining your machine.

Easy to Use 

Beginners and those who just don’t care to fumble around will enjoy the fact that there is little to no learning curve with the Cuisinart SM-55BC Stand Mixer.

It’s pretty easy to use, from its settings to its attachments, leaving all frustrations at bay. The timer is easy to see and illuminates making it harder to make a mistake even in dimly lit spaces.

And whether you’re a whirlwind in the kitchen or not, this stand mixer is super easy to clean which is a relief for every kind of baker.

We all know how daunting clean up after a baking or cooking sesh can be, but you won’t need to dread your post clean-up with this machine.

Versatile 

Whether you’re a beginner baker or have years of experience under your belt, you can trust the Cuisinart stand mixer to get you through a variety of meals and recipes.

From the basics like bread dough and cake batter to the more complex like pasta and sausages, it can all be done with just one machine.

While Cuisinart has extra attachments for an additional cost, this still saves you the money (and space) of purchasing different machines for each task.

Cuisinart makes it easy to grow and learn with one machine.

The Negatives

Poor Customer Service

Multiple users complained about Cuisinart’s customer service.

While they seem to respond to customer complaints quickly, many users didn’t like that they had to pay for their mixer to be shipped back and forth when something was in need of repair.

The repair can also take up to six weeks to fix, so if you need your mixer within that time range, you will probably be out of luck.

You cannot try to repair the mixer on your own, as the parts are not available for separate purchase.

Attachment Got Stuck

A number of users also had issues with an attachment getting stuck on the mixer.

This is a major issue since you rarely want to use the same attachment forever, not to mention how impossible it would be to clean a beater without removing it from the machine.

Plastic Parts

Some users had issues with the plastic parts on the mixer. Some had them fall off, while others had them stop working.

Most mixers these days are made entirely of metal, so this is an unfortunate cutback.

Loud

Users also found the mixer to be quite loud, especially at higher speeds. While this may not be a deal breaker for some, it’s worth considering for an early morning or late-night baker.

Waking up to the smell of freshly-made cinnamon rolls is one thing; waking up to the sound of a loud mixer is not ideal.

Overall Verdict

After going over the positive and the negative aspects of this mixer, we are recommending the Cuisinart SM-55BC Stand Mixer.

While sticky attachments and noise levels are certainly issues, they don’t fully outweigh the many positive experiences users had with this Cuisinart.

The capacity is more than several mixers out on the market, as is the power of the motor. If you are looking for a new mixer or a gift for someone who loves to cook, this is certainly worth your attention.

Where to Buy the Cuisinart 5.5 Quart 12-Speed Stand Mixer

Cuisinart is no stranger to making affordable, well-made appliances. They’re a common name on the shelves of department and home appliance stores and have been for years.

The Cuisinart SM-55BC 5.5 Quart 12-Speed Stand Mixer can be found both in-store and online, but to start, you can check out the following online retailers.

• The Home Depot (from $312)
• Sears (from $379)

But of course, you can also find this stand mixer on Amazon.