Tom's Guide Verdict
If you're a regular baker, look no further than the KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer. It provides consistent results, is a sturdy appliance and will add the wow factor to your kitchen countertop. Although it's not cheap, it will keep you busy baking for years.
Pros
- +
Durable and solid appliance
- +
Consistent results
- +
Easy to use
- +
Good bowl capacity
- +
Stable in use
Cons
- -
Heavy to move
- -
Not all attachments are dishwasher safe
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Model: 5KSM150
Bowl capacity: 5 quarts
Dimensions: 14.09 x 8.7 x 13.9 inches
Weight: 24.9 lbs
Speeds: 10
Material: Stainless steel bowl
Finish: Die cast body
Cord length: 4.5 ft
Color:
I’ve always been a baking fan. At a young age, you’d find me in the kitchen with my mom, mixing up cakes and rolling out pastry. Even today, whenever I’ve got a spare moment, I’ll roll up my sleeves and measure the ingredients for a cake or loaf of bread. The only thing is that whatever I make never stays around for long!
My mom always relied on a stand mixer that she owned for years and never needed to replace. And just like my mom, I have my own favorite brand that’s just as sturdy and reliable. I’ve been using a Kitchenaid Artisan stand mixer for over 10 years, and it still takes pride of place on my kitchen countertop. But, unlike my mum’s reliable Kenwood, my KitchenAid ups the stakes in the beauty contest.
But one of the best stand mixers shouldn’t be judged by looks alone, so here I put the KitchenAid 5-quart stand mixer to the test to see how it performs. I used all three attachments to mix and knead dough, mix and beat ingredients for a cake, and whisk heavy cream. The appliance was intuitive to use and didn't disappoint in any respect.
KitchenAid's Artisan Stand Mixer: Price and availability
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart tilt-head stand mixer is available at Amazon, but the price will vary depending on your preferred color choice. If you opt for Almond Cream, like me, expect to pay $499 at Amazon.
Although if I was choosing again I’d buy the stand mixer in Dried Rose, which is reduced to $379 at Amazon. Whichever option you decide on, it will still be cheaper than Smeg’s Retro Stand Mixer that retails at Amazon for $599.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer: Design
The KitchenAid stand mixer has enjoyed an iconic status since it was first introduced over 100 years ago, and continues to be a sought-after kitchen gadget. While the stand mixer is available in different models, including the latest KitchenAid Design Series Evergreen Stand Mixer, the Artisan tilt-head version retains the classic styling.
And whatever the color of your kitchen, you’re bound to find a stand mixer to match. From muted neutrals to brights and anything else in between. The only problem you’ll have is choosing a favorite. If you like the KitchenAid design you may also like the styling of Smeg's retro stand mixer, although it's not available in as many color options.
Size-wise, the KitchenAid stand mixer sits comfortably under a wall cupboard in my kitchen — I pull it out when I want to use it, as otherwise, there isn’t the headroom to lift the upper section. The lever controls — the motor head release and speed settings sit on either side of the appliance and are easy to operate, although you might find the head section feels top-heavy when raised. In comparison, Smeg's retro stand mixer sits taller, and the controls are on the top, making them a little harder to reach if you are vertically challenged.
The downside is that the stand mixer is on the heavy side, and if you’d prefer to keep it out of view and stored in a cupboard, you won’t want to drop it on your toes. If weight is an issue, you might prefer the lightweight Hamilton Beach 7-speed stand mixer, which is also a budget buy. However, with something that looks this good, I think you’ll want to shout about it and have it out on display.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer: Functionality
The KitchenAid Artisan tilt-head stand mixer comes with various-sized bowls. The average home baker will be happy with either a 4, 4.5 or 5-quart capacity bowl, but if you make small bakes KitchenAid also offers a 3.5 smaller version, the KitchenAid Classic, available for $379 at Amazon. As a guide the 5-quart bowl will hold 9 dozen cookies or 4 loaves of bread in a single batch — perfect if you like to batch bake.
It comes with three attachments, including a dough hook, whisk and flat beater, which I’ve always found work perfectly for kneading dough, whisking egg whites and heavy cream, and for mixing pastry and cake batters. The attachments feel more heavy-weight than those that accompany Smeg’s retro stand mixer, although Smeg adds an extra accessory into its offer.
The pouring shield is also a plus, as it prevents flour and light ingredients from covering your countertop, while providing space for other ingredients to be added during the mixing process.
There are also 10 speed settings to choose from, designed for different mixing needs (more on this later). The core speeds are 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, while the in between speeds allow for fine-tuning. KitchenAid gives guidance on how the speeds work, but I found them very intuitive and easy to use.
In addition, the central hub at the front of the stand mixer allows for attachments to be added, so you can get creative and make your own pasta or spiralize your vegetables.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer: Performance
I made a variety of baked goods to experiment with the three attachments. I started with making an easy white bread dough using the dough hook, followed by a classic vanilla cake using the flat beater, and some whipped heavy cream with the whisk.
Making bread
To mix the ingredients and then knead the dough for 10 minutes, I set the stand mixer to speed 2, suitable for slow mixing, as recommended in the manual. I also recorded the noise level on a sound monitor, which registered an average of 77 dB. At the end of the 10 minutes, I was left with a lovely smooth dough, ready to prove.
Although mixing and kneading dough is a tough job, the stand mixer stayed on my countertop, and thanks to the secure lock and click system, the bowl stayed firmly clamped in place.
Making sponge cake
You can’t own a stand mixer without making a cake, so I got mixing. However, before getting started I made sure the butter was soft. I set the speed to 6 and creamed the butter and sugar together. I was able to do this without using the pouring shield, as there were no lightweight ingredients to disperse over my countertop.
Then, I placed the pouring shield on top of the bowl and gradually added the eggs while reducing the speed to 2. Despite using the pouring shield protector, there was no splash-up, and the eggs were incorporated into the mixture, with the help of a small quantity of flour, without me having to scrape around the side of the bowl. I then increased the speed to 7 before reducing it again to 4 to incorporate the final flour.
Apart from a small amount of flour at the top of the mixing bowl, everything was thoroughly mixed without any intervention. I also recorded the noise level which averaged 76 db.
Whisking heavy cream
You really don’t want to take your eyes off the game when using the whisking attachment — it’s super fast. I placed 10 fl oz of cream in the mixing bowl, and set the speed to 8, which is recommended for whisking. At the same time, I was busy monitoring the noise level, which registered an average of 77 dB, but when I turned back, the cream was already very well whipped after 1 minute 23 seconds. My advice is, if you’re looking for a light whip, keep your eyes peeled.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer: Ease of Use
There’s nothing overly complicated about using the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer. It’s a simple case of 'unpack and go'. The bowl is simple to attach using a lock-and-twist system. The tilt-head can be easily raised by releasing the slide lever, and the attachments are twisted in place. The only issue would be using the correct speed for your bake, which can be checked by reading through the manual.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer: Cleaning
I always wash my stand mixer bowl and attachments by hand as they can take up valuable space in a dishwasher. However, if you prefer, the bowl can go on the top or lower rack of a dishwasher, and the pouring shield and coated and stainless steel tools can go on the top rack. The wire whip and uncoated tools should be hand-washed only. Plus, after use, I always wipe down the body of the stand mixer with a soft damp cloth and clean the beater shaft.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer: The Verdict
Whether you’re a regular baker or just starting out on your baking journey, you’ll enjoy using the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer. It’s intuitive to use, mixes ingredients without much intervention and can withstand kneading dough without the appliance moving around and becoming unstable. If you haven’t yet invested in one of the best bread machines, and you're looking for a stand mixer to make your dough, you won’t be disappointed with the strength of the appliance’s motor.
Apart from looking beautiful in your kitchen, you’re guaranteed an appliance that gives consistent results and one that’s built to last. Although it might seem like a hefty investment, especially if you only bake the occasional cake, you won’t be replacing it after a year or two, and it can withstand almost anything you throw at it. The only reason you’ll want to swap it is if you want a change of color!
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