Best KitchenAid Mixers

UPDATED January 2020

From breads and desserts to dips and sweets, a KitchenAid mixer will help you do it all.

BEST KITCHEN
AID MIXER 2019

BOTTOM LINE

The Professional 600 Series is easily the cream of the crop. It works with 15 different attachments and and has a six-quart bowl that lets you make up to eight loaves of bread at the same time.

PROS

This model comes in a number of different colors and features a six-quart mixing bowl. It’s also compatible with different attachments.

CONS

Though the Professional 600 is a great option for many, it falls outside the budget that some have. It may be too big for your kitchen too.

Artisan Tilt-Head

BOTTOM LINE

Powerful mixing action ensures that the attachment you use reaches 59 different points inside the bowl, though some found that this Artisan model doesn’t work as well with dry ingredients. The included attachments are great for making dishes and experimenting in your kitchen.

PROS

The tilting head makes it easy to get into the bowl and check out your mixture. It also comes with attachments for different recipes and will work with other optional attachments.

CONS

This model has a smaller five-quart bowl capacity and isn’t quite as powerful as some. You may have issues mixing dry ingredients in the bowl.

Classic

BOTTOM LINE

The Classic lets you aid a bright pop of color to your kitchen and mix up delicious treats, but it comes with only a 4.5-quart capacity bowl. Though you may not find the exact color that you want, this mixer does feature 10 different speed settings.

PROS

A power hub makes this compatible with other tools and attachments, and it has 10 speeds you can choose from as you mix. It also comes with a stainless steel 4.5-quart mixing bowl.

CONS

While the Classic has a nice look, it doesn’t come in as many colors as other mixers do. You may find that it lacks some of the power of modern mixers too.

Artisan Mini

BOTTOM LINE

The Artisan Mini is a small mixer that packs a big punch. It comes with a 3.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl and in several colors. This model is lighter and smaller than other mixers too.

PROS

Weighing 25% less than the Classic, the Artisan Mini also takes up 20% less space in your kitchen. That makes it a good choice for those with smaller kitchens.

CONS

As it comes with only a 3.5-quart mixing bowl, it may not be large enough for your needs. The Artisan Mini comes in a limited number of colors too.

Classic Plus

BOTTOM LINE

The Classic Plus lets you bring home a stand mixer without spending nearly as much money as you expected. Its 4.5-quart bowl and tilting head allow you to make sweet and savory dishes, and its power hub is compatible with different attachments.

PROS

With a tilting head design and a 4.5-quart bowl, the Classic Plus combines elements of other models. It comes in at a lower price point that more people can afford too.

CONS

This model lacks the faster and more powerful speed settings of more expensive models. You may want one with a larger bowl too.

Shopping Guide for KitchenAid Mixers

If there is any small appliance that you can’t live without, it’s the KitchenAid mixer. This iconic mixer is a staple of many homes and a must-have tool for home chefs. Since first released in 1914, it developed a legion of fans who cannot imagine getting through the holidays without one, like a great coffee machine. Though KitchenAid added some new features over the years, some of the original models still mix and work today.

Not only can you mix up a batch of cookies or brownies, but you can now make a wide variety of sweet and savory dishes with these appliances. KitchenAid makes so many attachments that you may even decide to throw away some of your old tools to make space for those attachments, all you’ll need to keep hold of is a set of knives. Ice cream, sausage and pasta are just a few of the things you can now make with your mixer.

As there are so many different models available, we reviewed them all and ranked the five best KitchenAid mixer models. Use our research as a guide to find one that matches the look and style of your kitchen and works for all the dishes you love making.

Selection Criteria

The Classic mimics the look of the original KitchenAid mixer released, but the company now makes several different models that all come with a stainless steel bowl. Each of those models has a different bowl capacity that lets you know how many ingredients that bowl will hold. We used capacity as one of the main factors when ranking these products because many home cooks want one that can hold more. Some of the more expensive models come with features like those found on commercial models. A lever mechanism, for example, makes it easier for you to lower the bowl down to check on your mix and slide it back up to keep mixing. Home chefs may prefer one with a tilting head that lets them check on their mixture without removing or dropping the bowl too. Use our recommendations as a guide to find out more about the top models. You’ll then find that deciding which is the best KitchenAid mixer 2018 model for you is easy.

Our Top Pick

Our top pick, and the one we think is right for most homes, is the Artisan Tilt-Head model. With a stainless steel bowl that has a five-quart capacity, it gives you all the space that you need for making a single batch of cookies or whipping up treats for a crowd. A metal base on the mixer keeps this bowl from moving as you prep and makes it easy for you to get the bowl in and out of the mixer. The Artisan comes in some great color options that will match any kitchen. You can pick from bold shades Tangerine and Empire Read or stick to lighter shades like Lavender and Aqua Sky. Silver elements and accents really highlight those colors. We like this model because of its Planetary Mixing Action, which helps the beater or attachment that you use come into contact with the bowl in 59 different places. This keeps clumps from forming where the ingredients did not mix properly and produces a smoother mix. You may appreciate the tilting head action too. This allows the head or top of the mixer to come up and tilt away from the bowl to give you a good look at your mixture.

Great for Bigger Batches

The best KitchenAid stand mixer for bigger batches is the Professional 600 Series, which is similar to the ones used in commercial kitchens. It comes with a stainless steel steel bowl that can hold up to six quarts of ingredients. You can make up to eight loaves of bread, multiple cakes or dozens of cookies in a single batch. This model is also easy to use when whipping up a larger batch because it has a speed knob on the side that helps you adjust the speed as you mix. Its soft start feature allows it to come on slowly to keep flour and other ingredients from spilling over the top of the bowl. You get a pouring shield with the Professional 600 Series for adding wet ingredients to your dry mix without any spills too. Other accessories that come with this model include a whip and a dough hook. That dough hook incorporates all ingredients together without leaving behind any lumps or clumps. With the whip, you can create a light and fluffy meringue for your next pie or turn ordinary cream into whipped cream for topping your favorite desserts. Other accessories from KitchenAid are compatible with this machine.

Best for Occasional Bakers and Small Kitchens

Not everyone needs a large mixer with a big bowl, which is why KitchenAid now makes the Artisan Mini. It takes everything you like about full-size models and reduces its footprint. Not only does it take up 20% less space than the Classic model does, but it also weighs 25% less than that larger mixer too. Don’t assume that this model is only suitable for whipping up a simple batch of cookies though. The 3.5-quart included stainless steel bowl can hold enough mix to make at least two loaves of bread and several batches of cookies with one mix. The classic design of this model is another reason why it’s a good option for those with small kitchens. It uses one solid color on the body and some silver accents along the sides. You can choose from different colors to match the Artisan Mini to other appliances in your kitchen or to your decor. With other attachments, this mixer might just replace some of the other appliances in your home. Those attachments quickly snap into place on the power hub to help you make your own pasta, sausage and other foods. It even works with the optional pouring shield.

Sizes and Models

Start your search for a new mixer with a look at the overall size of the included bowl. The Artisan Mini has the smallest bowl out of all mixers, but this bowl still has a 3.5-quart capacity. That gives you enough space for mixing dough to make two loaves of bread or up to five dozen cookies. Both the Classic and the Classic Plus have a 4.5-quart bowl capacity and come with a stainless steel bowl that is easy to clean. You can make around six to seven dozen cookies based on the size of the cookies you make. That bowl can make nearly two full loaves of bread dough too. For larger batches, you may want a mixer with a larger bowl capacity like the Artisan Tilt-Head, which has a five-quart capacity. KitchenAid says that this bowl size can accommodate up to nine dozen cookie’s worth of dough or enough dough to make four bread loaves. If you want to make even larger batches, the Professional 600 Series has you covered. With a six-quart capacity, this model has the largest bowl size available for home use. This lets you make enough dough for more than 10 dozen cookies in a single batch.

Stand Mixers Vs. Hand Mixers Vs. Dough Mixers

Comparing a dough mixer to a hand mixer and a stand mixer (or even a food processor) is an easy way to see which one meets your needs. A dough mixer looks similar to a commercial mixer and comes with a dough hook. This metal piece moves quickly from the top to the bottom, which helps more air get inside your dough. As the hook scrapes across the bottom of the bowl, it brings up any ingredients trapped there to create a more incorporated mix. KitchenAid makes dough hooks that work with its mixers to turn your stand mixer into a dough mixer.

Hand mixers are more lightweight and allow you to work anywhere you want, as long as you have an outlet nearby. These products usually come with two sets of beaters for mixing wet and dry ingredients and for beating eggs, cream and other liquids. KitchenAid and other companies make hand mixers for those who want a more convenient way to mix ingredients. Hand mixers are not usually as strong as stand mixers are though. When mixing thicker dough, you risk burning out the motor.

Features of the KitchenAid Mixers

Though the exact features will vary from model to model, many KitchenAid stand mixers have some of the same features like a power hub that supplies the motor with power and allows you to use compatible attachments with the mixer. Most models come with a hub cover that protects this power hub but lifts off easily to connect your attachment. The Artisan Tilt-Head has Planetary Mixing Action that ensures your beaters and other attachments contact the bowl in 59 different places to thoroughly mix all ingredients. This model also has a tilting head, while other models simply let you lift and lower the bowl. You’ll also find that the included stainless steel bowl comes with a handle on the side. That handle makes it easy to move the bowl from the mixer to your baking dish or tray without spilling dough on the ground. You can also use this handle to slide the bowl back into place on the mixer after cleaning it. Many KitchenAid mixers come with a beater and a whip attachment. You may get other attachments like a pouring shield and a dough hook too.

Compatible KitchenAid Accessories

When you buy a KitchenAid mixer, you want an appliance that you can use for more than just mixing. The company makes a number of different accessories that are compatible with the Classic and other models, though you will find that some of these accessories do not work with all models. One option is an ice cream maker, which lets you make a full two quarts of ice cream. This attachment comes with a paddle to churn the ice cream and a bowl that you can put right in the freezer. The pasta roller and cutter set is another popular attachment. You get a product that you can put right on the end of the mixer to roll and cut your own fresh pasta, and you can use the bowl to mix the pasta dough. KitchenAid makes an attachment that turns your stand mixer into a food processor too. It has different settings for cutting ingredients into smaller or larger pieces. The company now makes a vegetable sheet cutter that lets you use the motor on your mixer to cut thin sheets from fresh vegetables. Other attachments include a juicer, food grinder and ravioli maker.

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Mixer

Though you can clean some of the parts of your mixer in the dishwasher, you need to rely on hand washing for the unit itself. A cloth or towel dipped in a solution of warm water and soap is all you need. Run that cloth over the outside of the machine to remove any stuck-on food. You may want to use a nonabrasive to scrub off some debris. Rinse that cloth under cool water before running it across the machine to remove the soap residue.

You can lift the cover off the power hub and remove the nut that you see inside to clean the hub too. Food can fly out of the mixer and land inside the hub, especially when using dry ingredients. You’ll also want to move the mixer to a new location each time that you use it to clean underneath the mixer and to remove any debris that accumulated on the bottom.

Keep the Bowl From Moving and Wobbling

When you use your Kitchen Aid mixer at a faster speed, you may notice that it wobbles or shakes back and forth. Some mixers can even move across the counter due to that high speed. The only thing you need to prevent this problem is a towel. Lift the base of the unit up, place the towel on the counter and put the machine back down. The unit may move because your counter is not perfectly flat or because there is some liquid on the counter. An ordinary towel adds some grip that holds the mixer in place and keeps it from moving.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer Colors

The best KitchenAid mixer for your home might be one that comes in a color that matches your kitchen. Though the company lists more than 100 color options, not all colors are available for all models. The Artisan Mini is only available in 10 shades, while the Professional 600 Series comes in more than 20 color options. Available colors can also change from year to year. KitchenAid will retire colors that weren’t as popular to make room for new shades based on current market trends. The company also has deals in place with retail shop chains that allow those shops to offer exclusive colors that aren’t available anywhere else.

Fun Facts

→ KitchenAid mixers originally had a retail price of $200, which is equivalent to around $2,700 today.

→ Many companies now make custom models and let you pick the colors and graphics that you want on the mixer. You can design one that looks just like the mixer your favorite chef uses or add images of your kids.

→ Julia Child used a stand mixer from KitchenAid on her hit PBS cooking show. Fans can find refurbished models just like hers today, but the manufacturer stopped making the original model years ago.

→ To tell prospective customers about its new machine, KitchenAid actually used door to door sales representatives. Those reps offered in-home demonstrations to show customers all the things the machines could do.

→ KitchenAid stays on top of trends and offers new accessories that are on trend. It introduced a spiralizer in 2017 that allows users to make spiral cut vegetables.

→ Though the company still makes an ice cream attachment, it now looks quite different. The first ice cream accessories came used wood.

→ The company still makes many of its metal and wire attachments, including the wire whisk, by hand in its Ohio factory.

Things You Never Knew You Could Do With A Stand Mixer

Using the paddle attachment lets you shred chicken and pork to make pulled meats. Just add the meat to the bowl, insert the paddle and turn the machine on low. Depending on how tender the meat is, you may need to add a little sauce or some of the cooking liquid.

Make your own chocolate fondue from your favorite type of chocolate and some hot milk. Heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave, add chopped chocolate to the bowl and turn the machine to its lowest setting as you pour over the milk. The liquid melts the chocolate and turns it into fondue.

Create banana “ice cream” from a single frozen banana. Use the paddle attachment, put a frozen banana inside the bowl and let it go to work. You can even add your favorite ice cream mix ins to the bowl. To keep the mixture as cold as possible and to improve the frozen texture, place your bowl in the freezer for at least an hour.

Toss in ground beef or another meat with your favorite spices and breadcrumbs to make meatballs. The mixer does all the hard work for you. This same tips works for making meatloaf too.

Take the hard work out of mashed potatoes for your next family dinner. Once you cook and peel the potatoes, add the vegetables to the bowl with some milk, butter, salt and pepper. You can even leave some of the peels on for a more rustic look.

KitchenAid Mixer History

Before looking at the best KitchenAid mixer 2018 models, take a look at the history behind this mixer. The company’s first model, which KitchenAid calls the Model H, weighed more than 60 pounds and was more like the commercial mixers that you see in bakeries than the one you use in your home. Herbert Johnson came up with the idea for a mixer more than a decade early, but workers kept looking for ways to bring down the overall size of that first mixer. Original models came in designs that used just black and white. It wasn’t until later years that KitchenAid introduced other colors. Julia Child helped popularize the design after using one on television. Guy Fieri and Alton Brown are among the professional chefs who still use KitchenAid mixers on their shows today.

Whirlpool later acquired KitchenAid but kept its factory in Ohio. More than 700 employees now work the company and produce the mixers and other small appliances made by the company as well as the dozens of attachments now available. More than 7,000 appliances roll off the factory’s assembly lines every day.

Glass vs. Stainless Steel Bowls

Older stand mixers from KitchenAid came with either glass bowls or heavy-duty ceramic bowls, but most models now come with a stainless steel bowl. You can still get a glass bowl that fits on and works with your mixer, but it’s helpful to take a look at the pros and cons of each material.

Glass bowls have measurement markings embossed on the glass to help you add ingredients to the bowl without measuring out each one first. Those made from glass also feature a pour spot on one side. You can use this spout to pour out the right amount of batter when making pancakes, muffins or other treats. Many people like that the glass used is tempered glass that won’t break easily and that the glass does a better job of retaining heat than metal does. The downside is that the glass can shatter when dropped or struck.

Metal bowls can feel quite hot because the heat from hot ingredients goes right through the bowl, but you won’t worry about the metal breaking when you drop the bowl. Bowls made from metal will last longer and will not chip or crack. Many stainless steel bowls come with measurement markings and a handle too.

Average Price of a KitchenAid Mixer

Prices on these mixers vary based on the overall size and the features. KitchenAid brought the cost down quite a bit over the years and now offers mixers in a wide range of price points. Use our chart to see how much the model you want will cost.

With a retail price of around $400, the Professional 600 Series is the most expensive, but this model also comes with the largest bowl, which has a six-quart capacity.
The Artisan Tilt-Head retails for around $300 and comes with a large five-quart capacity bowl.
Many home bakers like the Classic because it comes with a 4.5-quart bowl and retails for less than $250.
One of the more affordable options for home bakers is the Classic Plus, which retails for around $200 and comes with a 4.5-quart bowl.
The Artisan Mini has the smallest capacity as just 3.5-quarts but comes in at around $250, which makes it the most affordable model.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of KitchenAid Mixer Does Alton Brown Use?

A: Alton Brown used a KitchenAid stand mixer on his hit television show “Good Eats,” which featured a brightly colored designs with flames on the side. This is a custom model that became so popular that some fans now make their own.

Do Old Attachments Work with Modern Mixers?

A: Some of the older attachments dating back to the 1940s and earlier will still work on modern mixers. Most attachments are compatible with the Classic line, but you may find accessories that work with other models too.

Where is KitchenAid?

A: KitchenAid has its headquarters in Greenville, Ohio and still assembles each mixer in its factory. Its factory also has a store that sells mixers and other appliances from the company.

Are Attachments and Accessories Dishwasher Safe?

A: You actually can clean many of the accessories and attachments in the dishwasher, and the bowl itself is safe for cleaning in the dishwasher too. Avoid putting plastic parts in the dishwasher as the heat from that appliance can warp the plastic.

Related Reviews