Kitchen aid stand mixer professional


KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional mixer, which is best?

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

It’s the perfect time of the year to take the plunge and invest in that dream stand mixer, but which mixer - KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional - should you opt for? 

KitchenAid is renowned everywhere for its high quality and sleek designs, and these mixers are no exception. As two of KitchenAid’s most loved and popular models, they rountinely sell out as soon as a good discount is applied. We've tried both the KitchenAid and the KitchenAid Professional our expert reviews, and while they both excel at mixing, there are some crucial differences between these two appliances that set them apart.

Knowing what you want from your mixer before you make your purchase is key, so have in mind just how many cakes, brownies, or loaves of bread you typically want to make in one week, and you’ll be in a good position to start shopping. From there we’re going to delve into price, design, and capability so that you end up with the best stand mixer for your home.

To help you make that decision we’re directly comparing the two and making it easy to see which one would best suit you.

KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional stand mixer: what’s the difference? 

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The first crucial difference between the KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional stand mixer is just how much each appliance can yield in one mix, which gives you an indication of which baker each is targeted towards. The KitchenAid Artisan boasts a five-quart capacity, can hold a maximum of 1kg of flour, and mix up 108 cookies worth of cookie dough in one sitting. Whether you’re new to stand mixers, or a keen home baker already, it wouldn’t be surprising if this sounds like a more than capable amount.

However, if you’re concerned that capacity might not quite be enough, then it’s worth bearing in mind that the KitchenAid Professional has a huge six-quart mixing bowl, a maximum capacity of 2.2kg of flour and can whip up an astronomical 168 cookies worth of dough in just one mix. As you can tell from the name, this is the kind of yield that a professional baker would find useful in a commercial kitchen, rather than for simply using at home.

These two differences in capacity make all the difference when it comes to the other features of the KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional Stand mixer qualities. It affects the design of the mixer heads and bowls as well as how you insert attachments, the weight and maneuverability and importantly the price. These are the factors we’re going to delve into to get an even better understanding of these two excellent mixers.

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KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional: Price difference

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

As you can probably tell from our KitchenAid Artisan review, this is Kitchenaid’s most popular model, with an RRP of $429. 99. Due to its status as a fan favorite, it often benefits from discounts as shopping events come around. It’s a step up from the more basic KitchenAid Classic at $299.99, but still at a reasonable price for any keen home baker to make the investment.

As you can learn in our KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer review, the KitchenAid Professional is in a league of its own for many reasons and has an equally elevated price tag to match. With an RRP of $529.99, it is substantially more expensive than the Artisan but is capable of churning out a lot more too. If you’re going to be using your mixer to create cakes, bread and more professionally, this is an investment that probably won’t take too long to pay off thanks to the sheer amount you can mix up with this machine.

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

You might be wondering how the KitchenAid Professional can make batches of such epic proportions. Well, that’s due to the difference in design with the KitchenAid Professional, which rather than the tilt-head that we see on other stand mixers, has a bowl-lift design for maximum mixing. That means that with the help of a wind-up lever on the side of the mixer, the bowl is delivered into exactly the right place for your chosen attachment to have its impact, meaning that no pocket of flour or sugar is left unattended.

In a more classic style, the KitchenAid Artisan does have the tilt-head design that you’ll probably recognize, especially if you’re a fan of the Great British Baking Show, as these as the mixers the contestants use in the tent. You can bring the head of the mixer up or down depending on whether you are adding ingredients or ready to mix, which is ideal for smaller to medium-sized batches.

Of course, as stand mixers are such an aesthetic appliance, it’s also important to think about the available color schemes of each. It’s fair to say that the KitchenAid Professional is available in a more conservative range of colors (8 altogether) that not might be to everyone’s liking, with neutral colors and silvers taking the lead. On the other end of the spectrum, the KitchenAid Artisan not only has a wide range of 20+ colors to choose from, but these colors incorporate both pastels and bright shades, meaning you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the different shades.  We have also compared KitchenAid vs Smeg for those who prefer a more retro-style aesthetic. 

KitchenAid vs Professional: Features 

(Image credit: KitchenAid )

There are a few other features when it comes to the KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional stand mixer debate that might make you feel as if one appliance is more suited to you than another. The first is what’s actually included in the box once you’ve hit ‘checkout’. With the KitchenAid Artisan, you’ll get your mixer, a 5 quart bowl, a dough hook for making bread and cookies, a 6 wire whip for meringues and lighter mixes, and a pouring shield, to keep your kitchen from becoming splattered with flour during the baking process. 

All of the same additional parts will be included with the purchase of the KitchenAid Professional, but your bowl will be a whopping 6 quarts instead of 5. Both mixing have ten different speeds for ultimate versatility, and you’ll find that once you get started with using your mixer you can establish your personal perfect speed for different methods, such as whipping or incorporating ingredients.  

With both mixers, there’s also the huge benefit of having access to a wide variety of attachments from the KitchenAid line that are machine-compatible. These attachments will allow you to turn your mixer into a pasta maker in an instant so that you have a multicooker on your countertops for a fraction of the price while saving on space.

Which should you buy? 

(Image credit: Best Buy)

Establishing the difference between the KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional stand mixer is a little more simple once you realize that these two mixers were created for entirely different bakers. The KitchenAid Artisan not only has the looks but also has the capability of making most home bakers extremely happy with its power, versatility and iconic status thrown in too. 

If you’ve already used a KitchenAid Artisan or a KitchenAid Classic and are desperate for an upgrade that has a little more space, or if you know from the offset that your yield of baked goods has to be seriously big, then invest in the KitchenAid Professional for a super smooth mixing experience.

 Molly is the Ecommerce Writer for Homes & Gardens and spends her time searching the internet for the next best thing for your home, with a focus on shopping edits and buying guides. Before joining Homes & Gardens, Molly graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in English Literature, with previous internships undertaken at The Economist in her summer breaks.

Best KitchenAid Mixers 2022 - Bowl Lift and Tilt Head Designs

When my boyfriend of six years (now fiancé) proposed a little over a year ago, two thoughts kept running through my mind. The first, of course, was how excited I was to spend forever with the love of my life. And the second? That we needed to put a KitchenAid stand mixer on our future wedding registry. I know it sounds silly, but I’ve been pining over it for years. You see, I loved to bake when I was in high school. I would regularly give my friends cookie cakes and other sweet treats—so much so I garnered a reputation for being our group’s resident baker. But when I went to college, I hung up my apron and have been looking to get back into baking ever since. (I know, even I’m surprised that I didn’t succumb to the sourdough trend in March 2020.)

With multiple speed ranges, a planetary rotation that hits every part of the mixing bowl, and a bunch of fun colors to choose from, KitchenAid’s stand mixer is sure to be the golden ticket to my confectionary future. Not only will it take some elbow grease out of the recipes I know and love—here’s looking at my precious cookie cakes—but it’ll also give me the confidence to try new ones, too. Of course, KitchenAid’s stand mixers aren't a one-type-fits-all situation, so which model is the best? To get to the bottom of it, I asked five professional bakers about their favorite KitchenAid stand mixer. Though each model has small nuances, their advice will hopefully help point you in the right direction.

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1. KitchenAid Classic Series KitchenAid 10 Speed 4.

5 Qt. Stand Mixer, $329.99

Calling all small-space dwellers: KitchenAid’s Classic Series 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer is a worthy addition to your culinary corner. With 10 speeds and a tilt-head design, this pared-back option has the power and versatility KitchenAid is known for, but it is a fraction of the size and price of the other models. It’s no wonder why Bianca Dodson is such a fan. “I use it for everything, from whipping meringue and making cake batter to shredding chicken,” the Lenox Bakery blogger explains. “It’s the ultimate kitchen gadget and one that I use daily.”

Shop on Wayfair, $329.99

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2. KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt Head Stand Mixer, 5QT, $449.99

For a reliable stand mixer that can take on recipes of all sizes and consistencies, the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer is a clear favorite among the professionals—and for good reason.

“I love the fact that it's big enough to make large bakes—all my huge showstoppers were made with my trusted KitchenAid—but the machine is not too big, meaning you can also make small-batch bakes in there,” explains Crystelle Pereira, a cook and baker who appeared on The Great British Bake Off.

According to chef Ryan Pollnow, who is responsible for the decadent pasta dishes at San Francisco–based restaurant Flour + Water, every professional kitchen he has ever worked in has had this particular model. “The bowl size is perfect for the production needs of a small restaurant—plus all at-home needs,” he says. When it comes to cooking at home, chef Pollnow loves to take advantage of KitchenAid’s handy attachments.

“The pasta-roller attachment makes for an easy rollout at home, especially if you have a small apartment kitchen, like mine,” he says. “On my days off from the restaurant, it's nice to be able to use the bowl to bring the pasta dough together before I finish kneading it by hand. After I let the dough rest in the bowl, I can easily put the roller attachment on and, in the very small footprint of my kitchen, I can use one machine to make pasta at home.”

Not only does Baking With Blondie’s Mandy Merriman also love the 5-quart tilt-head model, but she takes full advantage of its attachments, too. “I use the paddle attachment for American buttercream,” the author and entrepreneur adds. “I also really enjoy using the pouring shield when adding confectioners’ sugar to my buttercream; it's less of a mess, and I don't have to worry about sugar clouds going all over the place.”

Shop on Food52, $449.99

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3. KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series 5 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, $449.99

Looking for a heavy-duty mixer that could rival that of a professional bakery? The brand’s 5 Plus Series is a sound option. “While I have several different models of KitchenAid hand mixers and stand mixers, the one I reach for the most is the Professional 5 Plus 5 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer,” shares Kristin Hoffman, the author and baking educator behind Baker Bettie. “The bowl-lift design makes it much easier to get into the bowl to scrape down the sides without taking the entire bowl off the stand. I like this size compared to their 6-quart bowl lift mixer because it's a little lighter and less bulky and is plenty big for a home baker. I also do a lot of bread baking, and the motor is strong enough to knead even a stiff bread dough!"

Shop on KitchenAid, $449.99

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4. KitchenAid Pro Line 7-Quart Stand Mixer, $679.99

If you’re looking for a happy medium between KitchenAid’s professional-grade collection and its classic Artisan series, reach for the brand’s Pro Line Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. “It is simple, not too many bells and whistles, and it works really well,” explain Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald, co-founders of Levain Bakery. “It's better for us than their ‘professional’ version. We’ve always preferred making the bakery cakes in the mixer multiple times versus scaling the recipe for a larger mixer; it’s just as easy and the cakes are much better!”

Though Weekes and McDonald prefer the 5-quart—which is no longer available—the 7-quart model offers the same perks and even more space.

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What’s the Difference Between a Bowl-Lift and Tilt-Head Stand Mixer?

If you’re shopping for a KitchenAid stand mixer, the biggest decision you’ll have to make is whether you want a tilt-head style or a bowl-lift style. Both styles have that speed and efficiency KitchenAid is known for, but these small design tweaks change how you’ll add ingredients or swap out attachments.

So what’s the difference? A tilt-head is designed so the top hinges back whenever you need to add ingredients. (Here, the bowl rests at the base of a stand mixer, so you’ll have plenty of room.) With a bowl-lift, the mixing bowl is suspended with two adjustable arms. So whenever you want to add more ingredients, you’ll need to raise and lower the bowl. Ultimately, it all depends on your personal preference, so you’ll want to think about which design is more conducive to your needs.

What Size KitchenAid Stand Mixer Should You Get?

When it comes to a KitchenAid stand mixer, you really can’t go wrong on its size—so it all depends on what you’re planning to bake. Anyone who is ready to open their own bakery—or is simply committed to making large quantities of cookies or cakes—will get a lot of mileage out of a 7-quart mixing bowl. Working with a small space? A 4.5-quart stand mixer is great for small batches and can fit comfortably within your limited quarters. But when in doubt, a 5-quart stand mixer is a happy medium that our experts swear by.


Do you use a KitchenAid? Let us know how you use it below!
This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

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Planetary mixer what it is

Planetary mixer is the most popular kitchen helper for any confectioner. The high power of the machine is combined with high productivity and ease of use. nine0103

This is usually a stand mixer with a bowl and three main attachments: whisk, hook and spatula. The mixer is placed on the table. It is distinguished from its manual counterpart by its high power and the presence of additional nozzles in the kit. Nozzles are always metal. The material of the mixer itself varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, the standard is a mixer in an all-metal case, all parts are also metal.

Application of

As is known since very ancient times, to knead a thick dough, you need to knead it diligently with your hands for 20-30 minutes, stretch it and toss it up. There are even various chefs' songs that are sung during this sacrament. nine0003

The planetary mixer does the same job with little or no human intervention. You just need to add all the ingredients, install the dough hook and turn on the mixer.

In HoReCa (industry "hotels, restaurants, cafes") such a kitchen machine allows you to keep one pastry chef instead of two. While the mixer is kneading the dough, the pastry chef can start making other dishes. Often there are two or more mixers in the catering network.

In home use, such a dough mixer has gained popularity as a device that frees the hands and time of the hostess. nine0003

How it works

Today, planetary has become synonymous with stationary. However, this is not true, since not all stationary mixers are planetary. Let's turn to the history of this kitchen helper.

In 1919 in America, engineers from KitchenAid created the first professional pastry mixer, which allowed you to quickly whip the cream and knead the dough with little or no human intervention. It was a real revolution not only among restaurateurs, but also for ordinary American housewives. nine0003

The world's first stand mixer was discreetly named KitchenAid H5. A very interesting technology was implemented in it, in which the nozzle rotated in one direction, and its drive (movable mount) in the opposite direction. Thus, there were no unmixed areas in the bowl. This technology was called planetary rotation.

Today, mixers of direct competitors (Electrolux, Smeg, Kenwood, Redmond, Gemlux, Bosch, Kitfort and others) are also endowed with very similar, and in some cases even identical technology. nine0003

There are different versions of the planetary rotation technology. For example, in Kenwood mixers, thorough mixing occurs due to the mobility of the drive. The nozzle directly from the mount turns to the walls of the bowl during rotation. Something similar happens with Bosch kitchen machines.

However, you will not find the word "planetary" in the name of the model and its description from any other manufacturer of stationary mixers. And this is no wonder: the patent for this definition is registered by KitchenAid, they also have the exclusive right to use it. nine0003

Some manufacturers go to great lengths to find their own definition of this technology. So, the Electrolux company called its model "orbital mixer". By the way, these mixers are almost identical in their principle of operation and appearance with the current successor to the H5 model from KitchenAid. But we will talk about this in another article.

Planetary mixers are divided into three subspecies:

  1. Professional (industrial). They are mainly used in the confectionery industry. The bowl of such a mixer can have a volume of up to 150 liters. It is installed with the help of special clamps in the floor. nine0023
  2. Semi-professional. They are mainly used in ferrets. However, they are also found in home use. Bowl no more than 15 liters. Installed on the table. In rare cases, there is a floor mounting method.
  3. Household. Used in the household. There is a use in the ferret. The volume of the bowl is from 3 to 5 liters.

Which planetary mixer to choose

Today, a good planetary mixer remains a relatively expensive pleasure, like any modern electrical appliance that saves time and effort. nine0003

There are inexpensive analogues, including those made in China. However, their workmanship is often quite low (plastic parts of the drive, housing and nozzles quickly wear out and fail).

Tied for number one in the planetary mixer market is KitchenAid and Kenwood. Each brand has a lot of fans.


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