Kitchen in the box made its name with a tiny 3.2-quart mini mixer, popular with apartment bakers. Its newer 6.5-quart, 10-speed stand mixer is a different machine: a full-size tilt-head mixer aimed squarely at the same buyers as the Aucma 6.5-Qt, people who want a real stand mixer without paying KitchenAid prices.
In this Kitchen in the box stand mixer review, we look at what the 6.5-Qt model offers, how it’s likely to handle bread dough, and whether you should pick it over the Aucma or Vospeed.
How we put this review together: the 6.5-Qt is a newer model, and we haven’t found any independent lab testing of it yet. This review is based on the manufacturer’s listing, owner feedback, and published testing of the brand’s other mixer and of comparable 6.5-quart budget mixers. Where something isn’t confirmed, we say so.
Check the current price of the Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt Stand Mixer on Amazon →
Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt Stand Mixer at a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bowl | 6.5 qt stainless steel, dual handles |
| Speeds | 10 |
| Mixing action | Planetary, tilt-head |
| Attachments | Dough hook, wire whisk, flat beater |
| Extras | Splash guard lid |
| Motor | Check the current listing (not clearly stated) |
| Brand warranty | Kitchen in the box advertises a 2-year warranty on its mixers. Confirm for this listing. |
Quick verdict: The Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt is a sensible full-size budget mixer. It has a big bowl with two handles, 10 speeds for finer control, and planetary mixing. It’s a step up from the brand’s mini mixer for anyone who bakes bread or makes big batches. The catch is that it’s new and untested, so you’re trusting the spec sheet more than with the independently tested Aucma.
Key Features
6.5-Quart Bowl With Dual Handles
The bowl is the same size as the Aucma’s. That’s enough for one to two loaves of soft bread dough, a double batch of cookies or a large layer cake. The dual handles are a practical upgrade: a full bowl of dough or batter is heavy, and two handles make it much easier to lift, pour and scrape.
It’s also a big change from the brand’s 3.2-Qt mini mixer. Owners of that mini model report that its usable capacity is only about half the rated size. With 6.5 quarts, that problem largely goes away.
10 Speeds
Most budget mixers offer six speeds. Ten speeds give you finer steps between a slow stir and a fast whip. That’s useful for adding flour without a cloud, kneading on a true low setting, and bringing cream to soft peaks without overshooting.
Planetary Mixing Action
Like the Aucma and KitchenAid, this mixer uses planetary mixing. The beater spins while travelling around the bowl, so there are fewer unmixed pockets and less scraping.
Tilt-Head Design and Splash Guard
The tilt-head makes it easy to swap attachments and lift out the bowl. The splash guard lid helps keep flour and batter in the bowl, especially at higher speeds.
What About the Motor?
The listing we checked doesn’t clearly state the wattage, and third-party listings for similar-looking 6.5-Qt mixers conflict. Check the current Amazon listing before buying. As we explained in our Aucma review, wattage only measures power draw. It doesn’t tell you how well a mixer kneads, so don’t treat it as the deciding factor anyway.
How Does It Handle Bread Dough?
There’s no independent kneading test of the 6.5-Qt model yet, so here’s what we can say honestly.
What works in its favor: the larger bowl, planetary mixing and very low speed settings are exactly what bread dough needs. That’s a big improvement over the brand’s 3.2-Qt mini, which was the second-slowest of ten mixers to knead stiff dough in TechGearLab’s testing.
What to be careful about: budget tilt-head mixers in this class, including the Aucma 6.5-Qt, tend to strain during long kneading of stiff dough. Expect the Kitchen in the box to behave similarly until testing shows otherwise.
Tips for kneading bread in it:
- Knead on the lowest one or two speeds. With 10 speeds, you have true low settings, so use them.
- Knead in rounds. Run 3–5 minutes, rest 2–3 minutes, then repeat.
- Try an autolyse. Rest flour and water for 20–30 minutes before kneading to shorten mixer time.
- Start with soft doughs: pizza, rolls, brioche and sandwich loaves with normal hydration.
- Don’t overload the bowl with stiff dough. One loaf of whole wheat at a time.
If bread is your main reason for buying a mixer, also consider a dedicated dough maker. See our guide to the best dough kneading machines.
Whipping, Cookies and Cakes
Cakes and cookies are where a 6.5-quart planetary mixer is most comfortable. Owners share photos of layer cakes, fruit-topped cakes and pies made with it, and feedback on everyday mixing is positive.
Whipping: the 10-speed range helps you control whipped cream and meringue more precisely. As with any wide 6.5-quart bowl, very small amounts (a single egg white, a few tablespoons of cream) are harder to whip than in a small bowl.
What We Like (Pros)
- Large 6.5-quart stainless steel bowl with easy-grip dual handles
- 10 speeds for finer control than typical 6-speed budget mixers
- Planetary mixing for even results
- Splash guard included
- Big upgrade over the brand’s 3.2-Qt mini for bread and big batches
- Brand advertises a 2-year warranty
What Could Be Better (Cons)
- No independent testing of this model yet
- Motor wattage isn’t clearly listed
- Likely to strain on long stiff-dough kneading, like most budget tilt-head mixers
- No attachment hub for pasta rollers or grinders
- Wide bowl is less efficient for very small whipping jobs
Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt vs. Aucma vs. Vospeed
| Mixer | Bowl | Speeds | Extras | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt | 6.5 qt, dual handles | 10 | Splash guard | Budget bakers who want finer speed control |
| Aucma 6.5-Qt | 6.5 qt | 6 + pulse | Splash guard | Budget bakers who want an independently tested pick |
| Vospeed 9-in-1 | 7.5 qt | 6 + pulse | Meat grinder, blender | All-in-one machine |
| Kitchen in the box 3.2-Qt mini | 3.2 qt | 6 | None | Tiny kitchens, small batches only |
Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt vs. Aucma 6.5-Qt: These two are very close: same bowl size, both tilt-head and planetary, similar price range. The Kitchen in the box offers 10 speeds and dual bowl handles. The Aucma has independent lab testing behind it (TechGearLab’s best mixer on a tight budget) and a longer track record. If you value proven performance, choose the Aucma. If you want finer speed control and an easier-to-handle bowl, choose the Kitchen in the box.
Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt vs. the brand’s 3.2-Qt mini: Choose the 6.5-Qt if you bake bread or big batches. The mini only makes sense if space is extremely tight.
See the Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt’s current price and reviews on Amazon →
Tips for Getting the Most Out of It
- Use the lowest speeds for adding flour and kneading, and save the top speeds for whipping.
- Lift the bowl with both handles when it’s full of dough or batter.
- Keep the splash guard on when adding dry ingredients.
- Rest the motor between kneading rounds.
- Hand-wash the attachments and dry them right away unless the manual says they’re dishwasher safe.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy It?
It’s a good fit if you:
- Want a full-size stand mixer on a budget
- Bake cakes, cookies, pizza dough and soft breads
- Like having fine control over mixing speed
- Want a bowl that’s easy to lift and pour
Look elsewhere if you:
- Want a mixer with proven independent test results (consider the Aucma)
- Want extra appliances like a meat grinder or blender (consider the Vospeed)
- Knead stiff whole wheat or bagel dough several times a week
- Want attachment-hub accessories
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kitchen in the box a good stand mixer brand?
Kitchen in the box is a budget brand best known for its compact 3.2-Qt mini mixer. Its 6.5-Qt 10-speed model is a full-size option with a bigger bowl and more speeds. It’s a reasonable budget choice, though it hasn’t been independently tested yet.
Can the Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt knead bread dough?
It’s designed to, with a dough hook, a large bowl and low speed settings. For best results, knead soft and normal doughs on the lowest speeds in rounds, and avoid overloading it with stiff dough.
How many speeds does the Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt have?
Ten speeds, compared with six on most budget stand mixers.
What comes with the Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt stand mixer?
A 6.5-quart stainless steel bowl with dual handles, a dough hook, a wire whisk, a flat beater and a splash guard.
Kitchen in the box or Aucma: which is better?
They’re very similar. Choose Kitchen in the box for 10 speeds and dual bowl handles. Choose Aucma if you prefer a mixer with independent test results and a longer track record.
What’s the difference between the Kitchen in the box 3.2-Qt and 6.5-Qt?
The 3.2-Qt is a lightweight mini mixer for small batches and tiny kitchens, and it struggles with bread dough. The 6.5-Qt is a full-size mixer with a much bigger bowl and 10 speeds, so it’s better for bread and large batches.
Final Thoughts
The Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt Stand Mixer is a solid-looking full-size budget mixer. Its 6.5-quart bowl with dual handles, 10 speeds and planetary mixing cover what most home bakers need. It’s also a clear step up from the brand’s mini mixer for anyone who bakes bread.
Its main weakness is that it’s new: there’s no independent testing yet, and the motor rating isn’t clearly listed. If you’re comfortable with that, it’s a good alternative to the Aucma with a few practical extras. If you’d rather buy a proven performer, the Aucma 6.5-Qt remains our safer budget pick.
Our rating: 7/10 for budget home bakers.
Check the latest price of the Kitchen in the box 6.5-Qt Stand Mixer on Amazon →
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