KitchenAid Stand Mixers Buying Guide
KitchenAid is an American home appliance brand owned by the Whirlpool Corporation. The company was formed back in 1919 and has developed a long-standing tradition of reliability and performance. It offers a wide range of kitchen appliances including food choppers, processors, blenders, slow cookers, multi-cookers and even coffee machines. However, its journey began with its iconic stand mixer. Let’s review the features and details to help you decide if these mixers are worth the money.
KitchenAid Stand Mixers
KitchenAid Mixers come in a variety of sizes to suit individual baking needs from beginners to dessert connoisseurs. Each range comes with a variety of colours, with the exception of a few models that come in one specific colour. Taking some time considering the capacity you’ll need and what you’ll be making with it is probably one of the most important steps to help narrow down your search for a new KitchenAid stand mixer. Here’s a brief overview of each mixer before we go into detail on a few of the standout models.
| KitchenAid Mixers | Price | Capacity | Good for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSM3311 Mini Stand Mixer | $699 | 3.3L | Small households. |
| KSM45 Classic Stand Mixer | $799 | 4.3L | Occasional use, mixing small batters and not fussed about colour. |
| KSM192 Artisan Stand Mixer | $879 | 4.7L | Frequent home baking. |
| KSM195 Artisan Stand Mixer | $1,049 | 4.7L | An aspiring home baker with many colour options available. |
| KSM60 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer | $1,099 | 5.6L | Large batches of dough with a range of attachments. |
| KSM70 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer | $1,199 | 6.6L | Large batches of dough on a regular basis with additional attachments. |
Source: KitchenAid, January 2024
KitchenAid Mini Stand Mixer (KSM3311)
If you’re only expecting to use a mixer on occasion, you might like to start out with this one. The KitchenAid Mini Stand Mixer is lighter and smaller than the Artisan Tilt Head Mixers. It’s ideal for small batches with its 3.3L capacity bowl and can fit in small kitchens.
It features 10 speed settings and comes with a flat beater, wire whisk and dough hook. Its planetary mixing action ensures thorough ingredient incorporation. The model is made from full die cast metal and is the lightest in the range. Keep in mind this model only has a few colour options.
- Colour: Matte Black, Empire Red, Contour Silver
- Dimensions (cm): 2 x 19.8 x 31.2 (H x W x D)
- Weight: 5kg
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer (KSM195)
Within the Artisan range, you’ll find this KSM195 model. It’s designed in a similar fashion to the mini range with planetary mixing action. For more versatility, the attachment hub transforms the mixer into a pasta maker, food grinder, vegetable slicer and even a spiraliser, with more than 10 attachments that can be purchased separately. The tilt-head design is boasted to provide clear access to the bowl to help add ingredients with ease.
For convenience, it includes a 4.7L and a 2.8L stainless steel bowl for different quantities. Standard attachments include a pouring shield, pastry beater, flex edge beater, wire whisk and dough hook. There’s also a variety of different colour options you can choose from to match your kitchen aesthetic.
- Colour: feathered pink, candy apple red, dried rose, milkshake, pistachio, blue velvet, white, contour silver and majestic yellow.
- Dimensions (cm): 3 x 21.1 x 33.8 (H x W x D)
- Weight: 11kg
KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer (KSM70)
KitchenAid’s KSM70 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer is for the advanced, with professional style performance and a 6.6L capacity. It’s designed with 11 speed settings and standard planetary mixing action. Its bowl-lift design is stated to provide sturdy support and stability when mixing large batches and heavy ingredients.
It comes with a number of extra attachments, including a wire whisk, flex edge beater, flat beater, dough hook and pouring shield.
- Colour: Candy Apple Red, Pebbled Palm
- Dimensions (cm): 9 x 28.7 x 37.2 (H x W x D)
- Weight: 7kg
KitchenAid Attachments
KitchenAid’s stand mixers can turn into a culinary hub with all the different attachments available, allowing you to create anything from burgers and fresh pasta to ice cream and more. Here is a list of attachments and prices at the time of writing:
- 3 Piece Pasta Roller Attachment: $289
- Metal Food Grinder Attachment: $219
- Ice Cream Bowl Attachment: $199
- Shave Ice Attachment: $179
- Slicer / Shredder Attachment for Stand Mixer: $169
- Sifter + Scale Attachment: $249
- Spiraliser Plus with Peel, Core and Slice attachment (7 blades): $219
- Pasta Roller: $149
- Gourmet Pasta Press: $399
- Vegetable Sheet Cutter Attachment: $219
- Food Processor Attachment: $399
- Food Grinder Attachment: $119
- Citrus Juicer with Strainer: $59
- 3-Piece Drum Set for Slicer/Shredder Attachment: $69.95
- Pasta Cutter and Angel Companion Set: $199
- Grain Mill Attachment for Stand Mixer: $229
KitchenAid Accessories
Aside from the different attachments, there are also a number of accessories you can purchase separately. These include all types of whisks, beaters and bowls you might need for specific recipes. You can also buy protective shields that attach to the bowls as well as pasta drying racks and covers to keep the unit dust free.
Its accessories are stated to be cross-generational, so even if you bought your first KitchenAid stand mixer 30 years ago, it’s likely that the accessories will still work with a current model.
Purchasing a KitchenAid stand mixer
Purchasing a KitchenAid stand mixer is potentially one of your biggest countertop appliance investments. These are fairly large kitchen appliances and can provide versatility for your cooking and baking with the numerous attachments on offer.
With various sizes and ranges available, there’s plenty of choice to find the right mixer for you and your cooking preferences. Depending on the capacity you’ll need and what you’ll actually be using it for, you can choose accordingly. To help you decide which model is right for you, check-out some of Canstar Blue’s best-rated mixers.