This review dives into the Aicok 5-quart stand mixer, a stylish and surprisingly lightweight kitchen appliance perfect for smaller spaces. Amy Learns to Cook puts this budget-friendly mixer to the test, exploring its performance across a variety of baking tasks, from whipping cream to kneading bread dough. We'll examine its design features, including the tilt-head mechanism and innovative dual-paddle dough hook system, and assess its overall effectiveness and ease of use. Is this a worthwhile addition to your kitchen arsenal, or are there compromises to be made?This comprehensive review covers multiple baking scenarios, providing detailed feedback on the mixer's performance in each. We'll explore both its strengths and weaknesses, highlighting the aspects that impressed and areas where minor improvements could be beneficial. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this review offers valuable insights into the capabilities and limitations of the Aicok 5-quart stand mixer, helping you determine if it's the right choice for your baking needs and kitchen setup.
Pros And Cons
- Stylish looking with chrome accents
- Lightweight and compact, easy to move
- Tilt head
- Easy-on/easy-off pouring shield with a wide feed
- Unique two-paddle dough hook system (planetary type dough hook and a 'pusher' to move dough)
- Did not overheat during extended use
- Made of plastic
- Head is slightly clunky
- Whipping required higher speed to achieve desired creaming consistency
- Cookie dough required scraping and higher speed to achieve desired creaming consistency
- Not suitable for multiple large batches of bread
Read more: Hamilton Beach 7-Speed Stand Mixer Review: Best Stand Mixer for 2024?
Unboxing and First Impressions
Upon receiving the Aicok 5-quart stand mixer, I was immediately struck by its stylish design. The sleek black body with chrome accents gives it a modern and sophisticated look, a welcome departure from some bulkier models.
It's surprisingly lightweight, a significant advantage for those with limited kitchen space or who prefer easier maneuverability. This makes it ideal for smaller kitchens or even RVs.
The tilt-head design and easy-to-use pouring shield add to its practicality. The shield's wide feed is a plus, unlike some narrow-feed shields that make using the mixer cumbersome.
Whipping Performance Test
The first test involved whipping cream. I used two cups of chilled whipping cream and a bit of sugar.
The mixer whipped the cream to stiff peaks in roughly two minutes on high speed, a reasonable timeframe for this task.
The results were excellent; the cream was smooth and well-incorporated. This indicates good power and efficiency.
Baking Cookies
Next, I used the paddle attachment to make snickerdoodles. The recipe involved creaming butter and sugar. I found I needed to increase the speed to achieve the desired creaming consistency.
The paddle attachment, while efficient, did leave some unmixed dough near the edges of the bowl requiring scraping. This might be due to slight spacing between the bowl and paddle.
Overall, the cookies turned out perfectly. However, the higher speed setting and extra scraping suggest this mixer might not be ideal for very large cookie batches.
Bread Dough Making
Finally, I put the dual-paddle dough hook system to the test, making bread dough. The innovative design includes a main dough hook and a 'pusher' which moves the dough around during mixing.
This system performed exceptionally well, kneading the dough thoroughly and evenly. There was no motor bogging or uneven mixing, even during extended mixing.
The resulting dough was perfectly hydrated and had a good gluten development. This feature proved to be a surprising highlight of the mixer.
Final Verdict
The Aicok 5-quart stand mixer, while not a high-end model, punches above its weight class in terms of performance considering its price point.
Its lightweight design and stylish aesthetics are appealing, although the tilt head could be refined. The dual-paddle system proved exceptionally effective for bread making.
While minor adjustments (higher speed and occasional scraping) were needed for cookies, overall, this mixer offers value for money for basic baking and dough preparation tasks. It's a great option for single-batch baking and smaller kitchens.