KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-quart Tilt-head Stand Mixer Review

An iconic baking tool that practically needs no introduction, the KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (available at KitchenAid) has maintained its first-place ranking in our roundup of the best stand mixers for years. And with good reason: This machine impresses us time and time again with its ability to excel at everything from whipping egg whites to kneading bread dough.

If you're a home baker who is considering splurging on this classic small appliance—but want to weigh all of its pros and cons—we're here to guide you through everything you need to know.

About the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

This eye-catching appliance comes in dozens of bright (or not-so-bright, if that's your thing) colors, and a 5-quart bowl that's great for big and small batches alike. The brand claims that this appliance can mix ingredients for up to 72 cookies or four loaves of bread at once.

The stand mixer also features 10 speed settings for a variety of recipes and techniques, from gentle cake mixing to high-speed merengue whipping. Adding ingredients to the mix is easy, thanks to the clever tilt-head design.

What makes this machine so versatile is the vast number of compatible attachments. It already comes with a standard flat beater, dough hook, and 6-wire whisk attachment (which are all dishwasher safe!). But owners can choose to buy additional add-ons as well.

Meat grinders, pasta makers, and spiralizers are just a few of the accessories that widen the capabilities of this machine, making each dollar spent stretch even further. (You can even use it to make shave ice now!)

The stand mixer also comes with a handy pouring shield that protects your kitchen from splatter-prone recipes.

What we like

It works quickly and efficiently

The KitchenAid Stand Mixer aced every challenge we threw at it while testing.

Egg whites were whipped with impressive volume in just two minutes, sugar and butter creamed together easily (without having to worry about scraping the sides of the bowl), and nothing slowed the machine down—even when mixing cookie dough filled with chunky chocolate chips. The powerful motor excelled at a variety of tasks without faltering.

When it came to making bread dough, the stand mixer handled thick dough with ease, kneading it until it was smooth, satiny, and held together in a ball (with very little effort on our part).

Throughout our testing, the mixer never rocked or moved from its position on the countertop. It also didn't produce any overwhelming or bothersome noise, like some of its competitors.

It can perform countless kitchen tasks

This machine is not just for baking. Thanks to the widening number of accessories available, the stand mixer can also make pasta, slice and spiralize veggies, grind homemade flour, and more.

That makes the often-intimidating price tag on this much easier to swallow, given that it can shred parmesan and juice citrus just as well as it can mix cake batter.

It can match any aesthetic

One of the most popular appeals of this stand mixer is the wide array of colors that it comes in.

Whether you want to make your kitchen pop with Empire Red, make a statement with Kyoto Glow, or stay classic with Milkshake or Medallion Silver varieties, there's a color for everyone.

What we don't like

The speed lever could be better

One of the only issues we ran into while testing the KitchenAid stand mixer was with the speed lever.

Although the lever is both durable and effective, it’s not as pleasant to use as the dials found on most other brands. It has sharp edges that are uncomfortable to grip. Because it offers some resistance, it’s easy to push too hard and turn the mixer on faster than intended. It might take a bit of familiarity to get a better understanding of how to adjust it.

It's an investment

The primary setback stopping many people from buying this stand mixer right now is probably the price tag. It retails at about $450, which could seem daunting at first.

But, given its extreme versatility, incomparable functionality, and long-lasting capability, we think that price is worth the investment.

This isn't an appliance that you'll have to replace once every few years; once you purchase your own KitchenAid stand mixer, you're in it for the long haul. Our Kitchen editor Danielle DeSiato still uses her grandmother's, which has been passed down for two generations and still performs well. You can feel confident that your dollars will be stretched (and shared) for years to come.

Should you buy the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-quart Tilt-head Stand Mixer?

Yes!

Whether you're a seasoned bread baker or casual cookie maker, this tried-and-true appliance deserves a space on your countertop.

It's shown us—time and time again—that it blows its competitors out of the water with its fast and efficient results for all kinds of kitchen tasks. Beyond impressively whipping egg whites and kneading homemade bread dough, this machine can come in handy for everyday kitchen tasks (thanks to its countless accessories). It can ultimately save you precious time—and may even help you feel more confident in the kitchen.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.