The time-tested KitchenAid stand mixer is a baking staple for a reason. Read up on how it's whipped, stirred and mixed its way to the top over the past century.
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Little did my Aunt Carol know she was affecting the trajectory of my life when she would invite my childhood self to bake with her. One of my favorite traditions as a kid was whipping up confections in her KitchenAid stand mixer. Together, we’ve produced hundreds of poppyseed loaves, just as many birthday cakes and thousands of cookies.
Now, nearly 35 years later, her KitchenAid stand mixer is still going strong as she makes goodies for her great-nieces and -nephews, and I have a mixer of my own. It was a proud day 17 years ago when I was finally able to afford my beloved tilt-head stand mixer. And I very much intend to use it to make wedding cakes, macarons and more until I’m Aunt Carol’s age.
The colorful KitchenAid stand mixer has been a venerated appliance for more than 100 years, as have so many of the company’s other products. They’re heavy-duty, hands-free mixers that allow home cooks more freedom and control during the mixing process—while sparing them some strain too. With both hands available, bakers can employ more precise preparation methods (e.g., alternating the addition of dry and wet ingredients to a cake batter or slowly adding hot sugar syrup to egg whites when making Italian meringue).
Currently, there are three styles of KitchenAid stand mixers from which to choose: tilt-head, bowl-lift and mini. Selecting which model will work the hardest in your kitchen is key.
All three types of KitchenAid stand mixers come with a stainless steel mixer bowl (the capacity of which depends on the model), dough hook, wire whip, flat beater and pouring shield. So, it’s safe to say these mixers can do a heck of a lot more than your hand-held beaters. Plus, there’s increased precision. Each KitchenAid stand mixer has 10 speeds so you can whip, mix or knead your ingredients just so.
The stand mixers don’t stop at sweets. Each model features a multi-purpose attachment hub fit for apparatuses that can process vegetables, form fresh pasta or grind meat. There are 10 of these smart attachments, sold separately, and KitchenAid is always developing and launching more awesome options.
Beyond the working capabilities of the mixers, KitchenAid boasts an impressive selection of colors (the tilt-head line includes the most hues), so home cooks can select the best color for their space and personal style.
Finally, KitchenAid backs up its products with a respectable warranty, so you can purchase with assurance. Now let’s explore the differences among the models.
The iconic tilt-head model is the most popular—and for a reason. This model, with a top portion that hinges backward, allows users to change the mixer’s accessories (i.e., the whip, beater and hook) and remove the bowl easily. The tilt-head model has a slightly smaller footprint than the bowl-lift model but is still powerful enough to knead bread dough.
The bowl-lift model costs the same as the tilt-head one but is best for hardcore bakers and cooks because the mixer’s powerful motor readily handles dense batters and thick bread doughs. Plus, it technically has an eleventh half-speed for folding. The bowl-lift mixer boasts the largest capacity of up to seven quarts, and it’s fitted with arms that raise the stainless steel bowl into the air.
The newest addition to the KitchenAid family is the mini stand mixer. This bite-sized stand mixer, which also has the tilt-head feature, is perfect for those with a compact kitchen. The mini model is smaller and weighs less, yet it still offers the benefits and functionality of its larger counterparts. Its size would certainly complement KitchenAid’s cordless appliances.
Over the past few years, the Test Kitchen has performed two stand mixer tests, including brands such as Breville, Wolf Gourmet, Beautiful by Drew Barrymore and, of course, KitchenAid. The stand mixers came in a variety of price points and degrees of quality. The least-expensive models cost around $100, and the top-dollar ones were more than $1,000.
Test Kitchen staffer Sarah Tramonte is a big fan of stand mixers. “Stand mixers give you mixing independence as you can walk away while mixing. They are the best kitchen helpers and make it easy to mix all kinds of doughs, batters and more,” she raves. And she was impressed with the KitchenAid Artisan mixer as soon as she took it out of the box. “It is aesthetically pleasing,” she says. “The matte is elegant and modern.”
During testing, Sarah mixed cookie dough, whipping cream, egg whites and bread dough. She was pleased to report that the KitchenAid mixer can handle a chunky cookie dough as well as bread dough with no issues. “It only bounced a little bit when mixing in the add-ins and kneading the bread dough,” she explained. Additionally, she found that egg whites whipped effortlessly with the wire whisk attachment.
In addition to mixing dough, cream and egg whites, Sarah points out that this mixer has some unexpected uses. Most notably, properly cooked and cooled proteins including chicken, pork and beef can be shredded in the mixer with the paddle attachment. Talk about handy!
When personally testing, I utilized each brand’s machine for several days and performed a controlled set of functions, including whisking egg whites and kneading bread dough. I used only the attachments included with the purchase of each mixer.
Speaking of attachments, each mixer comes with a bowl, wire whisk, coated paddle attachment and coated dough hook. Some packages may include additional attachments or you can purchase them separately. You’ll find everything from spiralizers and shredders to meat grinders and pasta presses. In other words, this mixer really does do it all.
Home cooks like you love the KitchenAid stand mixer just as much as the professionals in our Test Kitchen. See for yourself!
Pmedic, one of the more than 28,000 five-star reviewers, says, “This is my second stand mixer. My first lasted 20+ years and literally changed how I make everything! I will continue purchasing KitchenAid products. The attachments are well worth it also.”
Like me, user Lucy L. has been baking with a KitchenAid stand mixer, which she received as a wedding gift, for decades and with no complaints. “I’ve had my tilt-head KitchenAid for 37 years, and it works great!” she says. “I also have a bowl-lift (only for 20 years). As a home baker, they’re essential!”
Mable23, on the other hand, is a new customer, and she’s loving discovering all the baking (and cooking) burdens that her KitchenAid stand mixer alleviates. “My husband got me this almost a month ago now,” she says. “Homemade brownies [are] done and in the pan within 10 minutes. I make bread super easily without hurting my hands from kneading. Shredding chicken is done in a few minutes and [doesn’t hurt] my arthritic-like wrists.”
Although there are several worthwhile stand mixers on the market, KitchenAid consistently remains among the best, with thousands of consumer reviews to support this claim. Other brands’ stand mixers often perform a number of functions as well as KitchenAid’s does, but they rarely perform all of KitchenAid’s functions or with the same competency. When you combine the history, performance, longevity, functionality and consumer satisfaction of KitchenAid stand mixers, the winner is clear.
Because I have decades of experience using the KitchenAid stand mixer, I can confidently say that this brand stands up to the test of time. Not only that but there’s the benefit of additional functions and accessories too. (Psst! Organize your KitchenAid attachments with this Amazon product.)
I’ve even put the warranty to the test when I once had my tilt-head model repaired at no cost to me. For those of us who love to create food at home, despite the price, the KitchenAid stand mixer is a must-have.
The KitchenAid site offers the most options when it comes to the brand’s stand mixers, including up-to-date color choices and personalized features. There, you’ll find the standard 5-quart tilt-head for $450, the 5.5-quart bowl-lift models for $480 and the mini 3.5-quart model for $450.
However, for roughly the same price, you can also find the baking staple at Amazon, Williams Sonoma and Macy’s. Say goodbye to the elbow grease of hand-mixing and hello to your new workhorse of a KitchenAid!
KitchenAid’s tilt-head model consistently received top grades. The familiar adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is certainly true in this case; several of the less-expensive brands simply could not keep up with the outstanding performance and versatility of the KitchenAid brand. Shop KitchenAid sales!
To adjust a bowl-lift mixer, begin by unplugging it. Next, place the bowl-lift handle in the down position and attach the flat beater. Finally, adjust so the flat beater just clears the bottom surface of the bowl when in lifted position by turning the adjustment screw counterclockwise to raise the bowl and clockwise to lower the bowl. According to KitchenAid’s website, only a slight turn is required: the screw will not rotate more than a quarter turn (90 degrees) in either direction. (The full range of adjustment is a half turn or 180 degrees.)
The adjustment screw for tilt-head mixers is the same. The KitchenAid website points out that for some of the bowl-lift models manufactured after April 2003, the adjustment screw must be rotated in the opposite direction. If turning clockwise does not help, the brand advises turning it in the opposite direction.
That depends on the model you choose. A standard 5-quart tilt-head has a gross weight of 25.6 pounds while a 5.5-quart bowl-lift model clocks in at 32 pounds.
With proper care and maintenance, KitchenAid stand mixers have been known to last a decade or more.
At Taste of Home, we delight in sharing recipes, products and ideas that will simplify your life. We have a dedicated team of editors and product testers have years of experience preparing meals with just about every kitchen gadget you can imagine. For this article, we brought the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer into our Test Kitchen along with eight other stand mixers. We evaluated its overall design, aesthetic and operation along with its construction and overall value using our tried and true testing process. We aim to provide full transparency in each product review and will never recommend a product that does not meet or exceed our expectations.
Elise is a home cook and recipe developer known for family-friendly dishes, trendy bakes and entertaining ideas.
