Smeg Retro Stand Mixer Review: Classic Style Meets Modern Performance

Review Summary

The Smeg Retro Stand Mixer is a kitchen appliance designed to bring both style and functionality to the home chef. Known for its vintage-inspired design and available in a range of iconic colors, Smeg’s mixer is often admired as much for its looks as for its capabilities. But does it live up to its premium price tag and reputation for quality? Here’s an in-depth review after putting the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer through its paces across a range of recipes.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer stands out for its unmistakable design. The classic 1950s aesthetic is available in a spectrum of colors including pastel pink, baby blue, cream, and bold red, instantly making it a showpiece for any kitchen. Its die-cast aluminum body and stainless-steel bowl feel robust and substantial, a reassuring feature when handling heavy-duty mixing.

With a weight of around 10 kg, the Smeg mixer is quite heavy, which adds stability during use but makes it less convenient to move frequently. The tilt-head mechanism is smooth and locks securely, and the ergonomic handle on the bowl provides a firm grip when lifting it off the stand. We found that while it doesn’t have the smallest footprint, it doesn’t feel overly bulky due to its sleek curves and compact height.

The control dial is simple but effective, offering 10 speed levels that range from a gentle fold to a vigorous whip. We appreciated the straightforward design of the controls, though we did find the lack of additional attachments included in the box a bit limiting, especially compared to other mixers in this price range.

Performance and Power

Under the hood, the Smeg mixer is powered by a 600-watt motor, which is fairly standard for stand mixers in this category. This power output managed most tasks in our testing without much struggle, although there were occasional hesitations with particularly dense doughs, like sourdough or brioche. For more straightforward recipes such as cakes, muffins, and whipped cream, the mixer performed exceptionally well.

We tested it across a variety of recipes:

• Doughs: The mixer’s dough hook attachment handled softer doughs, like pizza dough, with ease, kneading consistently without overheating. For denser doughs, we noticed the motor occasionally straining, though it completed the task without stopping.
• Cake Batter and Creaming: Using the flat beater, the mixer creamed butter and sugar efficiently, producing a smooth, airy mixture that served as a perfect base for cakes. At higher speeds, the whisk attachment whipped cream to stiff peaks in under two minutes, showcasing impressive efficiency for lighter mixing tasks.
• Meringue and Egg Whites: With egg whites, the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer excelled. The whisk attachment quickly incorporated air, achieving stiff peaks in minutes. The mixer maintained a consistent speed and didn’t lose power during prolonged whipping.

Ease of Use and Versatility

One of the main attractions of the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer is its simplicity. The 4.8-liter stainless-steel bowl is spacious enough to hold substantial quantities, ideal for batch baking. However, the absence of a splash guard was noticeable, especially when working with high speeds or thinner batters that tend to splatter.

The 10-speed dial provides a decent range of options, but without a “slow start” feature, we did experience some flour puff-ups when starting on higher speeds. Compared to some competitors that offer a slow-start function, this was a minor drawback for an otherwise seamless user experience.

Smeg does offer additional attachments, such as a pasta roller and meat grinder, which expand the mixer’s versatility. These attachments, however, are sold separately, which could make the overall investment significantly higher if you’re looking for an all-in-one appliance. For everyday use, the included beater, dough hook, and whisk attachments cover most basic tasks.

Noise Level

In terms of noise, the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer operates relatively quietly at low to medium speeds, which is a relief when working in an open kitchen. At higher speeds, it becomes moderately noisy, though not disturbingly so. Compared to similar stand mixers, it’s quieter than some, making it a good choice for households where noise might be a concern.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Cleaning the Smeg mixer is straightforward, thanks to its polished surfaces and simple attachment design. The stainless-steel bowl is dishwasher-safe, which we found convenient for post-baking cleanup, and the attachments can be washed by hand with ease.

However, the mixer’s iconic glossy finish does tend to show fingerprints and smudges, particularly on darker-colored models. A quick wipe with a soft cloth restores its shine, but frequent cleaning is necessary to keep it looking pristine.

Overall Score: 4/5

The Smeg Retro Stand Mixer combines eye-catching design with reliable functionality, making it a solid choice for those who value aesthetics as much as performance. Its ability to handle basic mixing tasks efficiently, along with its sturdy construction, makes it a reliable partner for home baking. While it may not have the power to rival some professional-grade stand mixers, it is more than adequate for most home baking needs.

For those seeking a multipurpose appliance, it’s worth considering the cost of additional attachments, as they can make the mixer more versatile but also significantly increase the overall price. Similarly, the lack of features like a slow start and splash guard might be drawbacks for more advanced bakers.

If style is a major factor in your purchasing decision, the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer delivers on that front in spades. For daily baking tasks and light to medium-duty mixing, it performs admirably, and it’s bound to be a conversation piece in any kitchen.