Tom's Guide Verdict
I loved testing Smeg’s newly launched SMF05 stand mixer. It was a breeze to use and felt sturdy and reliable. I also appreciated the introduction of the speed sliding control. It is an expensive appliance, but comes as a hot second to KitchenAid's Artisan stand mixer.
Pros
- +
Sturdy appliance
- +
Large bowl
- +
Smooth speed control
- +
Stable in use
- +
Consistent results
- +
Hub for attachments
Cons
- -
On the pricey side
- -
Heavy
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I always get excited when I get the opportunity to test a kitchen appliance, especially if it is one of the best stand mixers. It also means that I don’t have an excuse to make fresh homemade bread and delicious cake. Because, of course, the ultimate test is in the eating.
Smeg has just launched two new stand mixers, the SMF04 and the SMF05, and I got the chance to try the SMF05. I’ve already tested Smeg’s previous incarnation, the SMF03, and I was impressed with its performance, giving it a 4-star rating. However, this time Smeg has pumped up the power to 1000W, an extra 200W on the SMF03. I also loved its retro look, which the latest model continues to champion, but is the newest Smeg stand mixer more than just eye candy in the kitchen?
Bowl capacity | 5 quarts |
Dimensions | 14 7/8" (19" with head up) X 16" X 8/4" |
Weight | 21 lbs |
Speed | 10 |
Materials | Stainless steel bowl |
Finish | Die cast aluminum |
Cord length | 3 ft 3 inches |
Power | 1000 W |
Smeg SMF05 stand mixer: Price and availability
Smeg’s SMFO5 5-quart stand mixer has an MSRP of $675, although it's currently discounted by 10% to $607 at Smeg, not all colorways are currently available. However, it’s $549 at Williams Sonoma, and you can choose between all eight colors — Black, White, Cream, Pastel Green, Pastel Blue, Pink, and Red. You’ll also find 18% off the stand mixer at AJ Madison, where it’s currently available in six colorways.
How does it compare to other stand mixers on the market? Amazon has a great deal on KitchenAid’s Artisan 5-quart stand mixer, currently reduced from an MSRP of $499 to $397. I’ve also spotted GE Profile’s Smart Stand Mixer at 38% off, now down to $499 at Amazon. There’s certainly a lot of competitive pricing going on.
Smeg SMF05 stand mixer: Design
Smeg’s stand mixers take on a 1950s retro design, and it’s no different for this new model. It’s no shrinking violet, and you won’t be rushing to hide it away in a cupboard if unexpected guests turn up. The stand mixer has a tilt-head design, and the rounded head that tapers resembles a bullet or an airship.
The styling sits with other Smeg appliances, so it won’t look out of place if you own a Smeg Espresso Machine or Countertop Air Fryer.
There are also eight exciting colors to choose from, as already mentioned above. I tested the White version, and I liked its crisp appearance. And there is a good range of colors, varying from neutrals, pastels and brights.
I always think of KitchenAid stand mixers as being heavy, including both tilt-head and bowl-lift models, but the Smeg stand mixer is also a bit of a monster, so do think about the weight before you buy, especially if you plan to store it in a cupboard and need to lift it between uses.
The styling is consistent with previous Smeg stand mixers, the head release is on the back, the speed control is on top of the tilt-head, and the hub for attaching other accessories is on the front.
What does the new model offer?
Smeg's SMF05 offers 1000W of power. Smeg has also added a new direct-drive motor to handle heavier mixing (think larger batches in less time). And its motor can now spin its attachments independently of the mixing head — meaning thorough mixing without leaving neglected spots in the bowl. Smeg has also tweaked the accessories to improve their performance and widened the spout of the pouring shield to make it easier when adding ingredients.
Smeg SMF05 stand mixer: Unpacking and setup
The appliance was well-packed with the attachments tucked inside the cardboard packaging. On removing the appliance you'll find its contained within a soft fabric bag, which includes a 'Smeg' tag. It a little touch, but it makes it feel like a high-grade product.
Inside, you'll also find a quick start up guide, an instruction manual, including details on the appropriate attachments to use for eggs, batters, pastry and dough, and a speed guide.
Smeg SMF05 stand mixer: Functionality
The Smeg SMF05 comes with a decent-sized 5-quart bowl, giving you plenty of room to mix up a large batch of dough. The handle is also useful, as apart from making it easier to lift and move the bowl, it gives you extra leverage to twist and remove the bowl from the base. The pouring shield is a welcome addition that I think should be an essential part of every stand mixer, to prevent flour and other light ingredients from covering your kitchen surfaces.
It also comes with four attachments, including a stainless steel wire whisk, an aluminum dough hook and flat beater, and a flex-edge beater with a silicon edge. I was delighted to discover the flex-edge beater, as it’s a wonderful tool for mixing batter, as the silicon edge incorporates all the ingredients into the mix without you having to stop the appliance and scrape the mixture off the side of the bowl. With the KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer, you have to buy a version with the premium accessory pack to gain this accessory.
What else do you get? Apart from the standard stand mixer functions, you can attach other accessories to the front hub of the appliance, including a multi-food grinder, slicer and grater, a pasta roller, and a pasta roller and cutter set. You can also buy an ice-cream maker.
You’ll also find 10 speeds, and this is where the latest model is different from past versions. It has a smooth start system, with the speed gradually increasing until the set speed is reached. Smeg says this prevents damage to the appliance and accessories and ensures that ingredients are not ejected from the bowl. The control slider is pleasant to use and glides.
Smeg SMF05 stand mixer: Performance
Whenever I review a stand mixer, I always make some white bread dough, a classic vanilla cake and whip up some heavy cream. This allows me to test the accessories and the different baking techniques that each method requires — kneading, beating and whisking.
If you're unsure which speed to use or which attachment to add, the accompanying manual includes a clear usage guide.
Making bread
I added the flour, salt and a knob of butter into the bowl and positioned the pouring shield, before combining the ingredients on speed 1. I then added the dried yeast and water, and once again, set the mixer to speed 1. Once everything had formed a dough, I set the mixer speed to 2 and ran it for 4 minutes, as suggested in the manual. I was happy with the feel and texture of the dough and then left it to rise.
Kneading dough can be a tough task, but the Smeg stand mixer stayed put on my countertop, and it didn’t feel or sound under strain. The noise level did peak at 84 dB, but it averaged 76 dB, only fractionally more than when making the sponge cake.
Making sponge cake
Having attached the flex-edge beater to the mixer, I added softened butter and sugar to the bowl and started mixing at speed 2, then increased it to speed 10. I didn’t feel that the mixer was shaking or rattling at the top speed. After a minute or two, I reduced the speed back to 2 and started adding the beaten egg, with a small amount of flour to prevent the mixture from clumping, and then I added the remainder of the flour.
I was impressed by the smooth operation of the speed control and appreciated that I didn’t need to stop the appliance to remove the batter from the bowl's side. The only thing I needed to do was remove the mixture from the beater (I dare you to try it without eating any!)
Smeg's instructions suggest you use the flat beater for mixing cake batter, and the flex-edge beater should be used for pastry. However, I prefer to use the flex-edge beater when making batters
Whipping heavy cream
I attached the wire whisk and placed the heavy cream in the bowl. The manual recommends whisking heavy cream for 2-3 minutes on speed 8-10, so I set the speed to 2 and a timer for 2 minutes. It wasn’t quite ready and needed an extra 30 seconds to get the consistency I required to fill my sponge cake. When testing KitchenAid's Artisan stand mixer, it took 1 minute 23 seconds to whip the same quantity of cream, but I wasn’t disappointed with these results.
I didn’t find the mixer overwhelmingly loud, so I was surprised to see it register an average of 78 dB on a sound meter, 1 dB higher than the KitchenAid.
Smeg SMF05 stand mixer: Ease of use
Everything about using this stand mixer is intuitive. The head is raised and lowered by pressing the release button at the reverse of the machine, and the speed control elegantly glides on the top of the machine — it’s almost therapeutic to use it!
What’s more, the pouring shield attaches neatly, and the front control hub cover is easy to remove and reattach. The mixer also includes a safety-lock function — if you raise the head when it’s still mixing, the machine will automatically shut off. That's a great feature if you have little helpers in the kitchen who like to bake.
Smeg SMF05 stand mixer: Cleaning
Despite owning a dishwasher, I always hand-wash the bowl and attachments, but if you prefer a machine to do this for you, the dough hook, flat beater, flex edge beater, pouring shield and stainless steel bowl are all dishwasher-safe. The only part that you must wash by hand is the wire whisk.
I also recommend wiping down the stand mixer's body with a soft, damp cloth.
Smeg's SMF05 stand mixer: Verdict
Smeg’s newest stand mixer feels like a real upgrade to the SMF03, which has 800W of power. And it proved to be a reliable kitchen workhorse, gently whipping heavy cream, beating batter and kneading dough. I was already impressed with the SMF03, but it never quite felt as sturdy as a KitchenAid. Now I think Smeg is onto a winner.
It’s looks aren’t as classic as KitchenAid, and you will have to appreciate retro design if you want any Smeg appliance on your countertop — but hey, Smeg doesn’t do anything but retro.
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