GE Profile Smart Mixer Review

One stand mixer has reigned supreme since the silhouette we still recognize today was released in 1937. I’ve certainly been a lifelong KitchenAid devotee—a trait I inherited from my grandma. From the vintage white tilt-head mixer she passed down to me when I was in college, to the teal Professional 600 Series that sits on my counter today, the thought of another mixer gracing my kitchen seemed unfathomable…until the GE Profile Smart Mixer was delivered.

I knew immediately that this newcomer would pose a challenge to the queen of stand mixers. With its modern styling, digital display, Wi-Fi connectivity, integrated scale, and wrap-around bowl-lift mechanism, this mixer boasts a collection of features previously unseen in any one competitor.

What is the GE Profile Smart Mixer?

If you’re a baker, you know the benefits of using a stand mixer for everything from baked goods to whipped cream. GE Appliances has redesigned the stand mixer with modern features like a smooth-operating dial to adjust mixer speed, a one-handed click-in method for securing and releasing attachments, and auto-sense technology that monitors changes in viscosity to turn off the mixer when your meringue is perfectly whipped.

The integrated scale allows you to weigh ingredients directly in the mixer bowl or in another vessel placed on the base. Wi-Fi connection to the SmartHQ app can guide you through a recipe, sending signals to the machine to control the scale, mixer speed, and timer for your selected recipe.

With a 7.5-quart bowl capacity, GE Profile is starting off at the high end and rivaling some of the largest KitchenAid mixers on the market. The powerful motor makes this machine quite heavy, ensuring it can handle large batches of bread dough without as much as a wobble.

Currently only available for presale at Crate & Barrel for $999, the GE Profile Smart Mixer is expected to ship in early March.

How we tested the GE Profile Smart Mixer

This new mixer happened to land in my kitchen the day before the annual holiday cookie-baking extravaganza with my friend, Emily (18 years and counting!). I first put it to use making sticky gingerbread dough, fluffy sugar cookie dough, and creamy frosting.

Next, I invited senior staff writer, Monica Petrucci, to spend a day in the kitchen with me testing this new GE model alongside my KitchenAid 600 Series. We made brioche bread and then tested the mixers' functionality with the SmartHQ app by making meringue using the auto sense recipe, and pizza dough using the guided recipe. We compared these to the same recipes made in the KitchenAid.

This is a first-look review of the new mixer before it is widely available, with much more testing to come as we fully explore its functionality, and more recipes and features are added to the app.

What we like about the GE Profile Smart Mixer

All controls are front and center

The first thing you’ll notice about the GE Profile Smart Mixer is the digital display screen at the top of the mixer. This screen displays everything from mixer speed to scale measurements, timer countdown, and rotation direction.

Directly above that is the speed adjustment dial, which goes from Stir to 11 in smooth-moving increments. Also easily accessible from the front of the mixer is the bowl-lift mechanism, which can be operated with one hand from either side of the bowl.

With controls that are front and center, an accessible bowl-lift design, and an easy click-in method for installing mixing attachments, GE Appliances has addressed inconvenient aspects that loyal KitchenAid users have generally overlooked for decades. The connected app further elevates the capabilities of this appliance.

The Auto Sense feature takes the guesswork out of mixing

The first-of-its-kind Auto Sense feature is another unique and game-changing aspect that this mixer brings to the market. Through motor torque feedback delivered to the connected app, the mixer can sense changes in viscosity to determine when certain criteria have been met and stop the mixer.

I tested this function with the meringue recipe in the SmartHQ app. Four egg whites and some sugar went into the mixer bowl, I hit Start on the app and was prompted to press the center button on top of the machine—a much appreciated safety feature.

The app sent the appropriate speed setting to the mixer and when the meringue was whipped to perfectly pipable medium-stiff peaks, the mixer turned off. It took the GE Profile mixer slightly less time to reach this stage than the KitchenAid. Hands-off mixing at the touch of a button, with outstanding results, gives this mixer a big advantage.

The integrated scale and SmartHQ app bring modern convenience to old-fashioned tasks

Serious bakers do most of their measuring by weight, and the integrated scale makes it easy to weigh ingredients right into the mixer bowl. However, you can also place any bowl on the mixer base to weigh ingredients, so you rarely need to pull out another kitchen scale.

Aside from the power of the auto-sense feature, the SmartHQ app also has guided recipes that walk you through every step of measuring and mixing a recipe. When weighing ingredients for a guided recipe, the digital screen on the mixer shows the amount you need and progress as you add ingredients. In addition to the digital display, the mixer chimes lightly when you've hit the right amount. The only flaw we found in this process, which is easily remedied by an app update, is that the app shows the amount in grams while the mixer displays ounces—although the amount is correct in both cases.

The hub attachment port is universal

Smartly, the attachment hub on the front of the GE Profile Smart Mixer uses the same universal design that has always been used by KitchenAid.

GE Appliances may release some new attachments in the future, but anyone making the switch from a KitchenAid to the GE Profile will be able to use any hub attachments they’ve collected over the years.

What we don’t like about the GE Profile Smart Mixer

We have a lot more testing planned for this mixer as it becomes available on the market, so check back for future updates. For now, here are a couple of potential downsides we've noticed to this machine.

The heavy weight makes it difficult to maneuver around the counter, let alone store away. This could be seen as drawback, although we find the machine attractive enough to display on the counter. The large bowl capacity is best-suited to higher volume recipes, which means it may struggle or take longer to mix smaller amounts. This is true of all large-capacity mixers.

Less of a drawback and more of a learning curve: There's a narrower clearance around the motor head of this model, so you have less space to add dry ingredients without spillage. I learned that it’s helpful to use the bowl collar with a handy chute for funneling ingredients into the bowl. I never use the collar with my KitchenAid, but it worked well with the GE Profile to prevent spilling ingredients on their way into the mixer.

Is the GE Profile Smart Mixer worth it?

Yes, if you bake in large quantities and budget is not a concern

You’ll have to wait at least a month, but if you’re an avid baker who could benefit from a large-capacity mixer with technological upgrades, this connected appliance is for you. The price is indicative of its ground-breaking features and new position in the market, so if price is a consideration you may want to wait on this one for a bit. Pre-order at Crate & Barrel