Product test

«Saldo» tests kitchen machines: how much bang for your buck?

13.12.2020

Translation: Veronica Bielawski

How do cheaper kitchen machines fare against expensive models? In its 2 December 2020 issue (Nr. 20/2020), the consumer magazine «Saldo» tested eight kitchen machines in collaboration with a laboratory. The machines were tested for sturdiness, ease of use and noise levels. All but one on the models tested got a «good» grade. Read on to learn more about the winner and three additional models.

The test

A total of eight kitchen machines were tested for «Saldo». All of them have a swivel arm in common that you lower into the dough bowl from above. The kitchen machines were tested for their most common uses – that is, kneading dough, mixing, as well as beating egg whites and cream. Each machine was used to knead two portions of bread dough and one cake batter. In addition, four egg whites and 200 millilitres of whole cream were beaten using each model.

The winner was determined based on the following criteria:

Practical test
Endurance test
Ease of use
Noise level

In the practical test, the machines were timed for kneading and beating the ingredients. The experts then checked the dough for uniformity and smoothness, while the cream was examined to see if it was voluminous and evenly whipped. In the case of the egg whites, uniform stiffness was of importance. In the endurance test, each machine had to knead the dough 100 times for ten minutes. The aim was to find out whether the machines showed signs of wear. This would be the case, for example, if the swivel arm started to wobble. In the ease-of-use test, the operation and cleaning of the kitchen machines were assessed. Finally, it was assessed whether the machine makes any loud or unpleasant noises.

The result

Almost all of the kitchen machines passed the test. However, no model achieved the grade «very good». «Saldo» gave seven of the eight kitchen machines the grade «good». Only one was deemed «unsatisfactory».

«Good»

The «MUM 58720» by Bosch was deemed the winner. It showed no signs of wear after the 16-hour endurance test. The experts also praised the machine for being much quieter than its competitors. The dough was also good, and the Bosch machine was the best at mixing cake batter. The Kenwood «Multi One» model came in second place, followed by the Turmix «CX970» in third place. Both machines achieved equally good results in kneading and beating. They also barely differed in ease of use and noise levels. Both models also have a meat grinder, so you can make minced meat. The «EKM4000» by Electrolux came in fourth place, while the Durabase model came in fifth. The inexpensive Durabase machine, available at Migros, kneaded the dough evenly and smoothly. It also whipped the cream quickly and received the overall grade «good». However, a point of criticism was that not all the included accessories are dishwasher safe. The cheapest food processor by Prima Vista, available for purchase at Landi, landed in sixth place. Surprisingly, the machine was even able to produce the best bread dough in a short time. It also performed well in terms of whipping cream and egg whites. But it did get quite loud, so some points were deducted for noise. There were also some wear marks during the endurance test. The machine still managed to finish with the rating «good», just like Rotel’s «Power Mix 441» model. The «Power Mix 441» came in seventh place, scoring especially well in beating cream and egg whites.

The winner

Bosch Hausgeräte Serie 4 MUM58720 (1000 W)

Kitchen machines

CHF212.–

Bosch Hausgeräte Serie 4 MUM58720

1000 W

2nd place

Kitchen machines

Kenwood MultiOne

1000 W

4th place

Kitchen machines

Electrolux Ekm4000

1000 W

7th place

Kitchen machines

CHF107.–

Rotel PowerMix 441

350 W

«Unsatisfactory»

The «Culina 2» by Satrap, purchased from Coop Bau + Hobby, just couldn’t keep up in the test and was rated «unsatisfactory». In the case of bread and cake dough, the machine didn’t knead the entire dough. A lot of flour remained stuck in the mixing bowl. In the case of cream, experts noted it wasn’t beaten evenly. And after the endurance test, you could also see clear scratch marks in the bowl. They also criticised that the included accessories aren’t dishwasher safe.

You can download the full «Salso» kitchen machine test here, for a fee.

39 people like this article

Murat Circi

Leader Category Management Do-It & Garden

Murat.Circi@digitecgalaxus.ch

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«Saldo» tests kitchen machines: how much bang for your buck?

The test

The result

«Good»

The winner

2nd place

4th place

7th place

«Unsatisfactory»

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Introducing the Ankarsrum kitchen machine – the Swede teaching me how to bake

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