Comparison: Are Kitchen Aids The Best Stand Mixer (Updated | Dec 9th)

A KitchenAid mixer is a long-term investment due to its powerful motor, all-metal construction, and durable design that can last for decades. Its iconic design and wide range of available attachments, from pasta makers to food grinders, allow it to evolve into a complete kitchen system. This versatility and longevity often justify its higher initial price compared to other brands.

Your choice depends on the type and quantity of baking you do. The Artisan series is perfect for most home bakers with its 5-quart bowl and 10 speeds, while the Professional series offers a larger bowl and more powerful motor for heavy doughs like bread. Consider your counter space, as the larger Professional models have a bowl-lift design that requires more vertical clearance than the tilt-head Artisan.

For frequent bakers who value durability and versatility, a KitchenAid is often worth the premium. While cheaper mixers can handle basic tasks, they may struggle with heavy doughs and typically have a shorter lifespan. The extensive ecosystem of attachments also adds significant long-term value that less expensive brands cannot match.

The primary difference is how you access the bowl; tilt-head models pivot back for easy access, while bowl-lift models use a lever to raise the bowl into a fixed position. Tilt-head mixers are generally more compact and better suited for smaller kitchens, whereas bowl-lift mixers offer greater stability and capacity for large, heavy batches. Bowl-lift models are standard in the Professional series, while the Artisan series features a tilt-head design.

Beyond mixing, attachments transform your mixer into a multi-purpose appliance. The food grinder can process meat, the pasta maker creates fresh noodles, and the spiralizer turns vegetables into noodles. You can also use it to make ice cream, shred cheese, grind grains, and even stuff sausages, significantly expanding its culinary capabilities.

While higher wattage often indicates a more powerful motor, it’s not the only factor for performance. KitchenAid’s efficient DC motors in newer models deliver consistent power and torque, even at lower wattages, which is crucial for kneading dense bread dough. For most home baking tasks, the motor in an Artisan model is more than sufficient, but serious bread makers may benefit from the extra power of a Professional 600 model.

Stainless steel bowls are durable, lightweight, and standard with most models. Glass and ceramic bowls are heavier but offer the advantage of being microwave-safe and allowing you to see the mixing process clearly. Some specialty bowls, like the Flex Edge bowl, include a silicone scraper beater attachment that reduces scraping and speeds up mixing.