Intermediate On 3 pages
Under $50 The scale most often on a professional bench: it reads fast, tares instantly, and nothing about it is trying to also be a nutrition tracker.
Best for: weighing every ingredient, which is what makes scaling a recipe work
Check price on Amazon Amazon prices move often, so check before you buy.
Expert On 2 pages
Under $100 The cast iron base is the whole point: a heavy turntable keeps spinning at a steady speed while you hold a scraper still, which is what produces a smooth side.
Best for: smooth buttercream sides
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Expert Recommended
Under $1,000 A published 14 cup flour capacity, which is the point at which a 14 inch tier and its buttercream both fit in one bowl instead of two batches.
Best for: tiered cakes and anyone selling from home
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Intermediate Recommended
Under $500 The default decorating mixer: 10 speeds down to a stir that folds rather than throws, a 5 quart bowl rated for 9 cups of flour, and the tilt head that makes scraping a buttercream bowl quick.
Best for: the buy-once home mixer for cakes and buttercream
Check price on Amazon Amazon prices move often, so check before you buy.