KitchenAid has three main models of stand mixer: the 4.5 quart Classic tilt-head ($188, or $226 for the slightly more powerful "Plus"), the 5 quart Artisan tilt-head ($298), and the 6 quart fixed-head Professional ($359). The prices are Amazon prices; MSRP is considerably more, and B&M retailers have trouble matching Amazon even with Black Friday sales.

I'm sure the bigger mixers are, in some ways, better, but don't underestimate what an enormous step up even the lowly Classic model is from a hand mixer or plastic food processor. This is a very solid product. And most of us, while we value the convenience of a big stand mixer when baking things, don't exactly use these things every day. Even if you think that at some point in the future, you have reason to get a bigger one, remember that the bigger ones take up a lot more space, and these things actually have decent resale value, so if you want to upgrade later, your previous investment isn't necessarily lost altogether.

I bought this because I'd been baking Dutch-style appeltaart a number of times, and people really like it, but it was a lot of work to make. At some point, I looked into how to make it faster, and I ended up getting a $20 peeler/corer/slicer for the apples, as well as this mixer. Appeltaart involves a heavy shortbread pasty crust (what the Germans call "Mürbeteig"), which is a challenge for a lot of kitchen equipment and traditionally has to be kneaded by hand, so if I was going to get a device to make it for me, it would have to be a pretty heavy-duty one.

The dough has a 3:2:1 flour/butter/sugar ratio (by weight) and just a little bit of egg. Usually, I'd cut the butter into small pieces to make it easier, but to put this mixer to the test, I just dumped in the ingredients and pulled the delightfully solid-feeling lever to the slowest speed. It wasn't a small amount of dough either; the bowl was filled pretty much to capacity and a little bit of flour spilled out initially. At first, it looked like the dough was never going to come together, but I just left it running for a few minutes and before long I had a perfect dough. I had worried that maybe the dough would be too crumbly because the mixer can't do the typical squeezing motion that you do by hand to really make the dough cohesive, but it turns out that once everything is thoroughly mixed, it only takes 10 seconds of hand-kneading to make the dough really come together. The hard work is really in the mixing and the mixer does it extremely well.

It's clear that these things have been on the market for a long time and a lot of minor issues have been worked out over the years. The shape of the attachments and the shape of the bowl, for instance, are well matched to each other so the thing will beat even a single egg or a small amount of whipping cream just fine, and doughs don't stick to the bowl when using the paddle attachment. The bayonet type bowl attachment really locks the bowl in place without making it hard to remove, things don't splatter into spots that are hard to clean, etc.

Two nit-picks:

1. The mixer works if you don't lock it in the down position. I can't imagine this is good for the internal gearing, though then again the head is heavy enough that it might not matter very much. Still, it would be good to have some sort of interlock so that it didn't operate when you don't lock it down. Meanwhile, just remember to double-check that you have it locked down before turning it on.

2. The whisk attachment oxidizes a lot when you put it in a dishwasher, especially if you use a copious amount of strong detergent (e.g. Cascade brand). This leaves a black powdery residue that rubs off easily. I don't think it's particularly dangerous if it were to end up in your food in small quantities, but it has a metallic smell and taste and it's unsightly. I'm sure it says somewhere in the manual that the whisk attachment shouldn't go in the dishwasher, but it would be nice if the manufacturer could either make it so this doesn't happen in the first place, or alternatively attached a label to the thing with a warning so you can't miss it.

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Nice smaller stand Kitchen Aid mixer. It works well, but if I were to do it over again, I would have sized up. That was my error and in no way reflects how well this appliance works!

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It was a birthday present to myself. It is a pleasure to use. It is expensive so you will have to judge for yourself if that is what you want. But it has been around for a long time for a reason.

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I'm a huge fan of KitchenAid products. This is my first electric mixer I've ever had and it works so well. It is a bit pricey but if it's something you think you would use relatively often I highly recommend it. The only thing is I wish the ball had a handle on it, I know some of the larger models come with that but it would be nice for the smaller one too. Thank you!

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I have wanted one of these stand mixers for a long time, finally pulled the trigger.
I bought the 4.5 quart model, and it was worth every penny.
Delivery was quick, on time, and everything arrived in one piece.
This mixer is heavy, bulky, takes up a lot of counter space, was expensive, AND I LOVE IT.
It also makes short work of any mixing chore, and the dough hook is incredible.
If you do a lot of baking, or want to do more, get one of these bad boys.
This mixer is everything the ads and reviews say it is. The only negative I have found is I was stupid and waited a long time to buy one.

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I am disabled, and before purchasing this product, baking was almost impossible for me. Due to weakness in my hands, I really did not have the strength to be whisking and mixing ingredients together.

This was a bit of a hefty expenditure for me and my husband. Being newly married, money is a little tight. But we felt that it was an investment-something that will last us through the years. Already, it has proven itself to be a worthwhile purchase, and the house is regularly full of the pleasant smells of tasty treats and wholesome meals.

The mixer itself is very large, and might be worth other potential buyers being forewarned that it is also extremely heavy. I cannot lift or move this mixer myself, I have to ask my husband to do so. But this is not really a problem for me. The head lifts and lowers very smoothly, and the bowl attaches to the base so easily that it barely requires any effort. I do have problems managing to get the whist attachment in place (and removing it when needed) but this is probably a result of my weak grip. My husband manages it just fine when I ask him to do it for me.

This mixer has turned the hardest tasks into a simple matter of throwing the ingredients in the bowl and turning on the power. There are ten speed levels to choose from, (I barely find I need to go above the seventh or eighth speed setting) and I like that the mixer doesn't just spin the whisk, it also rotates. My mum used to have a mixer (different brand), and that one was not as good as this one because you were constantly having to stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl, because it would only whisk the mixture in the middle. Not so with this product! Everything is mixed without any effort from me whatsoever.

I do wish that the bowl came with a lip for pouring though. It's a bit difficult to get the mixture from the bowl into the baking pan. Aside from that though, great product! Clean up is very easy. The whisk (or whatever attachment you're using) simply goes in the dishwasher (as does the bowl) and comes out looking as good as new.

It's a large appliance, and mine takes up a fair amount of space on the kitchen counter. It's too heavy for me to store it out of the way (Plus I use it so often there's no point) but I think it looks nice (even without a cover over it).

All in all, this is definitely value for money and a great product.

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Work’s great

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The KitchenAid mixer has become a cherished addition to our kitchen, thanks to my wife's sheer adoration for it. Its exceptional performance and versatility have truly won her over.

From whipping up delicate meringues to kneading tough bread dough, this mixer handles every task with ease. The powerful motor and range of attachments make it a true workhorse in the kitchen. My wife particularly loves how it simplifies complex recipes and saves her valuable time.

The build quality is impressive, with robust materials that exude durability. It's clear that KitchenAid has put thought into both form and function. The various color options are a nice touch, allowing for a personalized touch in any kitchen decor.

Cleaning is a breeze, as well. The detachable components are easy to wash, and the stainless steel bowl adds a touch of elegance to the whole package.

In summary, the KitchenAid mixer has become an integral part of our culinary adventures. It's a reliable, versatile, and beautifully designed appliance that my wife simply can't do without. If you're serious about cooking and baking, this mixer is an investment that's well worth every penny.

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I have wanted this for so long. As I am aging I am finding it more difficult to mix anything thick. Oh my goodness this delivers what it promised. I have probably gained weight now that I am making bread, cookies and oh ya, cheesecake! My friends are not complaining about the goodies coming from my kitchen! Kitchen aid has been around forever and is still a top notch brand. Mixer is very easy to use, easy to clean and has more attachments if you are a die hard kitchen diva. I wish I would have purchased before now!

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Chef quality beautiful machine however too sophisticated for me