KitchenAid is synonymous with mixers. If you’re a keen baker and have ever considered buying a stand mixer, a KitchenAid model has probably made it onto your wishlist. They’ve got the looks, often sit proud on any kitchen bench, and are available in a range of colours to suit any kitchen design.
But they’re also among the more expensive mixers on the market – the models we’ve tested range in price from $749 right up to $1199.
In comparison, mixers from rival brands can cost as little as $69, and you can even pick up one of our recommended models for under $400.
So is a KitchenAid mixer really worth the extra cash? What do you get for the premium price tag? And are there other brands worth looking at?
You may have heard good things about them, but is a stand mixer right for you? If you’re an occasional baker, a hand mixer that’s compact and easy to use might be all you need.
But if baking is your thing and you’re regularly serving up cakes, pastries and doughs in your household, then a stand mixer will be a handy companion.
Consider the quantity you usually make as some mixers have very large mixing bowls, which makes mixing or whisking small quantities awkward and in some cases not possible.
Like all mixer brands, KitchenAid mixers have three main functions: whisk, mix and knead. A mixer takes away the grunt work of having to knead a mixture, whisk egg whites or mix a cake batter by hand, and their large mixing bowl capacity means you can bake in bulk with ease.
What sets a KitchenAid mixer apart from other brands of mixer isn’t functionality, but rather aesthetics. KitchenAid mixers stand out from the crowd with a distinctive look that any keen baker will be able to recognise.
There’s also a lot you can do to personalise your mixer, including getting a message or name engraved onto some models for a special touch.
You can also buy an extra mixing bowl in a different design and add additional attachments (like a pasta maker or food grinder) to increase the mixer’s functionality and versatility, and there are other KitchenAid appliances like toasters, kettles and food processors that you can buy to complement your mixer and match the look.
Mixing bowl sizes
The KitchenAid mixers we’ve tested come with mixing bowls ranging from 4.3L to 6.6L.
A 4.3L mixing bowl is a perfect size for the home baker as it can mix as little as a two egg white meringue, but can also accommodate as much as a large 20–23cm cake batter, enough cooking dough for a week’s supply of cookies or a kilogram of pizza dough.
A 5.6–6.6L mixing bowl is suitable for a larger family or for a budding commercial baker.
KitchenAid also has models with bowl sizes up to 7.6L which are best for the commercial baker who’s cooking on a larger scale.
Keep in mind, the larger the bowl capacity, the more ingredients you’ll need to be using to get the best results. The larger capacity may not accommodate smaller amounts so it’s important to consider the quantity of what you’ll be baking when you decide which mixer to go for.
KitchenAid mixer with the Food Grinder attachment. Photo credit: KitchenAid.
Pros and cons of KitchenAid mixers
Pros:
Sturdy construction
Excellent performers
Five-year motor warranty (not including accessories)
Available in a variety of colours and can be personalised to suit your taste
Many optional accessories and attachments are available to increase their versatility
Beater height is easily adjustable using a flat head screwdriver – this ensures effective mixing and prevents wear and tear on the mixer and the bowl
Cons:
Relatively expensive
Optional accessories and attachments are also relatively expensive
The heavy motor head is not spring loaded, so can be heavy to lift and lower
KitchenAid mixer with the Pasta Roller and Cutter attachment.
Photo credit: KitchenAid.
All KitchenAid mixers have an outlet at the front of the unit for attaching KitchenAid accessories that can be bought separately. These attachments are universal and can be used on any KitchenAid stand mixer.
These optional extras can give your mixer more versatility, meaning you won’t need to buy each dedicated appliance separately. Fiona says, “investing in key attachments will upgrade your mixer into a multi-functional kitchen appliance and maximise the value of your original purchase.”
Along with various mixing tools, pouring shields and mixing bowls that can be bought separately, you can buy the following attachments for KitchenAid mixers:
3-piece Pasta Roller and Cutter KSMPRA ($299)
Metal Food Grinder 5KSMMGAA ($229)
Fresh Prep Slicer & Shredder 5KSMVSA ($179)
Sifter + Scale KSMSFTAA ($259)
Pasta Roller KSMPSA ($159)
Gourmet Pasta Press KSMPEXTA ($399)
7 Blade Spiraliser Plus with Peel, Core & Slice KSM2APC ($249)
Food Grinder 5KSMFGAA ($129)
Food Processor KSM2FPA ($399)
Grain Mill KGM ($229)
Pasta Cutter and Angel KSMPCA ($199)
Ice Shaver 5KSMSIA ($179)
Vegetable Sheet Cutter KSMSCA ($239)
Ice Cream Bowl 5KSMICM ($209).
Keep in mind that many of these attachments will add a significant amount to the cost of an already expensive mixer, and you’ll need to make sure you have the storage space to accommodate the extra accessories too.
Our expert testers, Fiona Mair and Chantelle Dart, are avid bakers and know how to put mixers through their paces in the CHOICE kitchen lab.
If your heart is set on a KitchenAid, we’ve tested seven models and found that they all perform well, with a few models scoring highly enough to be recommended.
But performance is only part of the equation – to see how the KitchenAid models stack up overall against other models from Breville, Kenwood, Sunbeam and more, take a look at our full stand mixers review.
KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer 5KSM45
The KitchenAid Classic comes with a whisk, flat beater and dough hook.
Performance score: 90%
Mixing bowl size: 4.3L
Price: $749
If you’re just after a KitchenAid mixer with the basics, this model is a good starting point. It comes with one 4.3L mixing bowl and the standard whisk, flat beater and dough hook accessories.
KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer 5KSM192XDAPT
This KitchenAid has a larger mixing bowl with a convenient handle.
Performance score: 97%
Mixing bowl size: 4.7L
Price: $849
Moving up from the Classic, this slightly more expensive model comes with the same accessories, but a slightly bigger 4.7L mixing bowl with a handle. It was near perfect in our performance tests and our tester Chantelle says, “this mixer is good for professional bakers and for baking in large quantities”.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer 5KSM195PSAFT
This KitchenAid is packed with accessories and an extra mixing bowl.
Performance score: 90%
Mixing bowl size: 2.8L and 4.7L
Price: $999
If you like to bake in small and large quantities, this KitchenAid model comes with both a 2.8L and a 4.7L mixing bowl. The 2.8L bowl has no handle but is lighter – perfect for mixing a small amount of ingredients, like a buttercream or cream cheese icing or for whipping a small amount of cream or a single egg white.
As well as the standard whisk and dough hook, it also comes with a scraper beater (KitchenAid refers to it as a Flex Edge beater) and a pastry beater as well as a convenient pouring shield/splash guard.
For our expert Fiona Mair, a scraper beater is a must-have. “It’s a really handy accessory as it scrapes the inside of the mixing bowl for you, meaning you don’t have to stop mixing to scrape the bowl yourself.”
KitchenAid Evergreen Tilt-Head Stand Mixer 5KSM180WSAEG
The Evergreen is a statement piece for your kitchen.
Performance score: 97%
Mixing bowl size: 4.7L
Price: $1099
If you’re looking for a real showstopper in your kitchen then look no further than the KitchenAid Evergreen Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. Everyone who saw this mixer in the CHOICE kitchen lab commented on the beauty of this appliance and how they would love it in their own kitchen.
At over $1000, you’ll only get the standard wire whisk, flat beater and dough hook as accessories. You’re paying for the aesthetics with this one: a deep forest green colour with a matte finish, brass-plated attachment hub cover and the real showstopper – a walnut wood mixing bowl.
There’s no denying that it looks great and it performs well in our testing too, but there are a few things to keep in mind with this model.
The wooden bowl will require extra care and maintenance – it’s not dishwasher safe and should be dried immediately after handwashing. KitchenAid doesn’t recommend leaving it submerged in water and to only use gentle, non-abrasive detergents when washing.
While a mark here and there won’t affect functionality, using oil to season the bowl can affect performance
You’ll also need to regularly season the bowl with food-safe wood polish, mineral oil or walnut oil.
The natural properties of the wood bowl means it’ll show signs of wear as you use it. While a mark here and there won’t affect functionality, using oil to season the bowl can affect performance. Whipping egg whites to a stiff peak, for example, can become troublesome if there’s oil residue in the bowl.
KitchenAid even suggests purchasing their 4.7L stainless steel bowl to have on hand with the Evergreen, which will set you back another $99.
If you’re an avid baker, this model might not be practical for you.
KitchenAid Artisan Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer 5KSM60SPXAER
This KitchenAid has a bowl-lift design.
Performance score: 97%
Mixing bowl size: 5.6L
Price: $1099
What sets this mixer apart from the other KitchenAid models is its bowl lift feature, which allows you to raise or lower the mixing bowl by using a large handle at the side of the mixer.
It comes with a 5.6L mixing bowl with handle which is best suited for large batch cooking. It also comes with a whisk, flat beater, dough hook and pouring shield as accessories.
KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer 5KSM70SHXADR
For those who like to bake in bulk, this KitchenAid has a 6.6L mixing bowl with bowl lift design.
Performance score: 97%
Mixing bowl size: 6.6L
Price: $1149
Another bowl-lift design but this model comes with a larger 6.6L mixing bowl, perfect for bulk baking. While the large bowl is handy, it’s worth noting that it’s also heavier to hold and scrape out batters and mixtures.
It comes with a whisk, scraper beater, flat beater, dough hook and pouring shield as accessories. Bear in mind this model is one of KitchenAid’s priciest offerings.
KitchenAid Artisan Plus Tilt-Head Stand Mixer 5KSM50PKVADC
KitchenAid’s latest release is the brand’s first big upgrade in decades.
Performance score: 100%
Mixing bowl size: 4.7L
Price: $1199
KitchenAid’s latest release sees the first major advancements to a KitchenAid mixer since 1955.
With the Artisan Plus, you’ll get an integrated bowl light to improve visibility into the bowl. The control lever can either be set to the traditional ‘click’ speeds or twist the lever’s cap to smoothly transition between speeds, allowing for gradual and precise speed control.
You’ll get a wire whisk, dough hook, flat beater and pouring shield as accessories as well as the new double-edged silicone beater which acts as a built-in spatula to ensure no bits are left unmixed.
It also comes with a fold or half-speed setting (perfect for delicate recipes that require gentle folding of ingredients) and a “soft start” feature which gradually builds up speed to prevent mess and splatters.
This mixer receives perfect performance results from our experts but it’s also the most expensive mixer in the KitchenAid lineup. If you’re an avid baker the advanced features on this model could work well for you.
Note: The performance score is only part of our CHOICE Expert Rating, we also conduct an ease of use assessment on each mixer. To see how these models perform overall check out the full mixers review.
Is there a cheaper alternative to a KitchenAid mixer?
If a KitchenAid is out of your budget, Fiona recommends taking a look at Breville stand mixers. “We’ve found the Breville models we’ve tested perform well and come with a double-sided scraper beater and spring-loaded motor heads.”
CHOICE tip: Compare the KitchenAid stand mixers with models from Kenwood, Breville, Kmart, Smeg, Sunbeam and more. Models that have a CHOICE Expert Rating of 80–84% aren’t recommended by our experts but are definitely still worth considering. See our latest kitchen mixers review.
A KitchenAid mixer is an investment that will become a statement piece in your kitchen. An entry-level, medium-sized model will set you back around $749, and that’s without any extra attachments or accessories.
They have a solid construction and are built to last, and while they have a distinctive look, we’re finding more brands offering aesthetically pleasing designs and better value for money.
In fact, Fiona says there are other stand mixers on the market that are “easier to use at a cheaper price, and they may also include other attachments like scraper beaters or an extra bowl”.
Compared to other mixers we’ve tested, KitchenAid models are only OK in terms of ease of use.
“They can be clunky when processing a heavy load and the motor head is heavy and isn’t spring loaded, so you’ll need to manually lift and lower the motor head,” Fiona says.
Her final tip? Try to nab a bargain during sales periods.
“If your heart is set on a KitchenAid mixer, wait for the sales – you may get a few hundred dollars off the RRP or extra accessories thrown in.”
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Rebecca Ciaramidaro is a Content producer in the Household team at CHOICE. Rebecca writes about a wide range of children's and household products, ranging from cots and strollers to ovens, BBQs, espresso machines and electric blankets. And also grocery items such as nappies, sanitary pads and laundry detergents.
Previously at CHOICE, Rebecca worked as a Test officer in the kitchen lab.
Rebecca has a Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Food) from the University of Western Sydney. LinkedIn
Rebecca Ciaramidaro is a Content producer in the Household team at CHOICE. Rebecca writes about a wide range of children's and household products, ranging from cots and strollers to ovens, BBQs, espresso machines and electric blankets. And also grocery items such as nappies, sanitary pads and laundry detergents.
Previously at CHOICE, Rebecca worked as a Test officer in the kitchen lab.
Rebecca has a Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Food) from the University of Western Sydney. LinkedIn
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