The 5 Best KitchenAid Mixers in 2021 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

KitchenAid has gone from strength to strength in its century of existence, focusing on producing high-quality houseware and kitchenware. In an effort to offer customers greater cooking experience, all KitchenAid’s products are packed with innovative features and technologies. Among these appliances, electric mixers tend to be the most well-known tools. They're especially designed to help automate the tasks of stirring, kneading, whisking and beating.

People love KitchenAid mixers for their practical design, exceptional durability, and outstanding performance. Compared with other mixers, KitchenAid are much more versatile. From whisking heavy cream to blending even the hardest veggies, a decent KitchenAid mixer can do it all! And with much less time and manual effort than its peers.

Whether you’re after a basic hand mixer or want to become a professional home chef with a powerful stand mixer, our review of the best KitchenAid mixers has you covered.

How to Choose the Best KitchenAid Mixer

The best KitchenAid mixer is the choice between a hand mixer or a stand mixer. Hand mixers are less expensive and can handle efficient a variety of baking tasks, but are slower and not as powerful as their counterparts.

KitchenAid Hand Mixer

KitchenAid hand mixers are comfortable to hold and not too heavy so users hardly ever get tired holding them. Brilliantly balanced, they’re also not too light. By that way, they don’t vibrate and move around a lot while running at even the highest speed. Compact, lightweight, and powerful, KitchenAid high-quality hand mixers are great for your everyday kitchen tasks.

There are three main versions of KitchenAid hand mixers: 5-speed, 7-speed and 9-speed. As a matter of fact, the more speed settings your mixer has, the more versatility it provides, and the greater finesse for different recipes.

KitchenAid Stand Mixers

KitchenAid stand mixers are some of the best mixers on the market. They usually come in two types, including tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers. They’re also available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 3.5 to 8-quart, with various price points and a wide array of colors.

The KitchenAid stand mixers are categorized into four different series: Classic, Artisan, Professional, and Proline & Commercial. Regardless of size, color, or style, all KitchenAid stand mixers have ten speed settings. So you’ll always be well-prepared for any recipes. They also have the same unique planetary action and a power hub for optional attachments, such as the meat grinder, spiralizer, and pasta cutter.

1. KitchenAid Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Typical tilt-head KitchenAid mixers measure about 14-inches tall. They are usually an ideal choice for those with low hanging upper kitchen cabinets.With bowl-lift mixers, height varies from 16 7/16- to 17-inches. So, in general, tilt-head mixers are relatively shorter (around three inches) than bowl-lift models. This can make a difference if you have wall kitchen cabinets that give less clearance than the standard height (18-inches). Be mindful that you will need extra clearance for the tilting action!

Tilt-head mixers often have their head locked into place when operating. They tilt back from the base when desired. This makes it easier for users to change accessories, add ingredients, or remove the mixing bowl. However, if you are accustomed to the old style fixed head, it may take a little while to get used to the extra step of tilting the head back. Each has its own pros and cons.

At the time of writing, KitchenAid tilt-head stand mixers come in 3.4-, 4.5- and 5-quart sizes, with two different series (Classic and Artisan).

2. KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

Many people prefer bowl-lift mixers due to their heavy-duty motor, large capacity, and incredible mixing skill. While others don’t because they find it difficult to remove the mixing bowl and attachments on their device. Unlike tilt-head mixers, the head of bowl-lift mixers remains stationary. That’s why the beaters must be removed first if you want to free the bowl.

Bowl-lift mixers offer a professional look and are best suited for those who bake a lot of bread or dense cookie dough regularly. Because the head of the mixer remains stationary, you can't remove the mixing bowl without also removing the beaters.

In general, bowl-lift mixers have a more powerful motor than the tilt-head models. That's why they can tackle big jobs more efficiently. That being said, they aren’t great for small tasks, such as whipping a single egg white or a ½ cup of cream. Because the bowl of bowl-lift mixers is usually larger and has a much wider bottom than the tilt-head, causing the attachments cannot make full contact with the ingredients when mixing small batches.

At the moment, KitchenAid bowl-lift stand mixers can be found in 4.5-, 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-quart sizes. They include the Professional series and Proline & Commercial series.

3. Mixing Bowl

Every KitchenAid mixer comes with a ceramic, glass, or stainless steel mixing bowl— which has various sizes and offers three handle options (a bowl with no handle, flat "strap" handle, and ergonomic handle).

An extra mixing bowl will come in handy for when you want to prepare multiple dishes for holiday baking, or to have a back-up when one is in the dishwasher or fridge.

Ceramic Bowl

The bowl is made from titanium-reinforced ceramic which can help resist chipping, cracking, crazing and staining. From chilling butter to melting chocolate, these beautiful ceramic bowls are great for all sorts of mixing tasks.

Although they’re much heavier than the glass or stainless steel bowl, ceramic bowls are still the favorite for many people. They can withstand the heat of an oven (up to 450 degrees) without being broken or getting damaged and are also safe for use in a microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. Ceramic mixing bowls are only available for tilt-head mixers.

Clear Glass Bowl

The clear glass mixing bowl with measurement markings provides a see-through design for a transparent view of the bowl's contents. Made of heavy-duty tempered glass, the bowl is hard to break and is suitable for use in a wide range of temperatures. This means this part is microwave- and freezer-safe. It’s also dishwasher-safe for quick and simple cleaning. The glass bowls are available for all tilt-head and some bowl-lift models.

Stainless Steel Bowl

This type of bowl is made from highly durable stainless steel— the material that can resist cracks, stains, and never absorb odors. You can easily clean your stainless steel bowl by hand with water and soap. Or put it in the dishwasher for hassle-free cleaning. It can also go directly into the freezer for additional functionalities.

Stainless bowls are better for whipping egg whites or cream than glass or ceramic bowls. Stainless steel is not as slick as glass. This means when you’re whipping your egg whites, the foam can more easily hold to the sides and build up. Being lighter in weight, the bowls are also easier to hold and move around.

While glass and ceramic bowls can shatter if dropped accidentally, KitchenAid ensures their stainless mixing bowls are exceptionally strong and durable. You can drop your bowl on the floor several times with no problem. The only drawback is that the accessories aren’t microwave- or oven-safe.

Stainless mixing bowls are available for all tilt-head and bowl-lift stand mixers.

4. Capacity

KitchenAid stand mixers come in various sizes. There’s definitely a reliable stand mixer that can fit the needs of every individual. What you want to make and how many people you want to serve should be the primary factors in determining which capacity is perfect for you.

• 3.5-quart capacity: This is an ideal option for one or two people with a small kitchen. You can use your 3.5-quart mixer to make 5 dozen cookies, a loaf of bread, or a batch of guacamole in a single run.
• 4.5-5-quart capacity: Stand mixers with 4.5-5-quart bowls are suitable for families of 3-4 members. These models can help you prepare 6-9 dozen cookies or 3-4 loaves of bread.
• 5-6-quart capacity: The spacious 5-6-quart stand mixers work well for 4-5 people. They’re large enough to knead dough for 6-8 loaves of bread, 9-13 dozen cookies, or 6-8 pounds of mashed potatoes in a single batch.
• 7-8-quart capacity: The extra-capacity stand mixers can handle more than 8 pounds of dough for a great big batch of cookies or bread. They are a great choice for those usually making multiple batches at once.

5. Included Accessories

Some models come with pouring shields for guiding either dry or wet ingredients into the bowl without making a mess. They also help prevent the bowl’s contents from splashing out while mixing, making clean-up a breeze later on. This add-on can be hand washed or go directly in the dishwasher.

Pouring shields are available for almost every stainless bowl mixer. They are not compatible with glass, ceramic, or textured (hammered or quilted) stainless bowls.

6. Color Considerations

KitchenAid stand mixers are available in over 50 colors and finishes— but not all units come in all colors. You absolutely can find a design that best matches your aesthetic preferences to complement your kitchen.

The Artisan series is the most popular KitchenAid stand mixer. It also has the most color and finish options of all the series.

Reviews of the Best KitchenAid Mixers 2021

Every KitchenAid mixer includes a heavy-duty whip, beater, and dough hook. Insert optional attachments to the power hub to make your mixer an all-in-one kitchen appliance.

1. KitchenAid KSM150PSER – Best to Buy in 2021
2. KitchenAid K45SSOB Classic – Best Value KitchenAid Mixer
3. KitchenAid Pro 600 Series - Best 6-Quart KitchenAid Mixer
4. KitchenAid KHM926CU - Best Budget KitchenAid Mixer
5. KitchenAid KSM3316XER - Best KitchenAid Mini Mixer

Here are our picks of the Best KitchenAid Mixers.

1. KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan – Best to Buy in 2021

Peaking at 325 watts of power, the KitchenAid Artisan is one of the fastest stand mixers on the market, taking less than 8 minutes to turn 7 raw egg whites into incredibly creamy and fluffy meringue. With 10 speed options, this tilt-head stand mixer performs almost every baking task well, saving time and bringing optimal convenience.

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• Smooth power delivery

• Heavy-duty attachments

• Suitable for both low- and high-volume applications.

• User-friendly

• Quite bulky

Size and Strength

The mixer mesures 13.9-inches tall, 14.1-inches deep, and 8.7-inches wide. It’s a little bit bulky so it may not be a great option for kitchens with limited counter space. Compared with many heavy-duty countertop appliances out there however, this workhorse seems to be much more compact. It’s a worthwhile investment for anyone with a low hanging upper cabinet and desire to bake.

The stable working process and simple operation are nice features that make the KitchenAid KSM150PSER an excellent choice for both low- and high-volume applications.

The 550-watt motor has a smooth power delivery with plenty of low-end torque. It runs quietly and can gradually speed up to prevent ingredients from splashing. The motor allows you to switch between ten speeds. It is powerful enough to handle heavy dough without rocking around on your counter. Unlike cheaper models, it rarely gets hot, even after extensive use.

Included Accessories

The KitchenAid Artisan comes with a nylon-coated beater for mixing batters and thick foods, a wire whip for whisking eggs, and a heavy-duty dough hook for kneading almost all types of dough. All these included accessories can be attached and adjusted easily. They are also dishwasher safe for hassle-free cleaning (with the exception of the wire whip).

A five-quart stainless steel bowl locks firmly into the flat base via several anchor points. It works well and ensures not to vibrate or become dislodged while mixing. The bowl works with a pouring shield to prevent splattering and features a comfortable handle for easy transport. This mixer can make nine dozen cookies, four loaves of bread or seven pounds of mashed potatoes in a single batch. It can also tackle smaller batches of dough in its spacious bowl (many 5-quart stand mixers couldn’t handle small quantities of ingredients.)

The built-in power hub where you can attach any of KitchenAid’s optional attachments, makes your stand mixer the most versatile tool in the kitchen. If you want to buy more attachments, there are up to 15 options available separately, such as the meat grinder, food processor, and pasta roller & cutter attachments.

The KitchenAid Artisan offers 20 different color options and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

2. KitchenAid K45SSOB Classic – Best Value KitchenAid Mixer

The KitchenAid Classic stand mixer offers an unrivaled combination of speed, quality, and top-notch mixing performance. It can handle tough tasks with smaller food batches very efficiently and comes with all sorts of innovative features to make the baking process simpler and faster. If you’re after a machine that runs quietly and is strong enough to properly incorporate all ingredients, this tilt-head mixer could be the best option for you.

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• Compact size

• Affordable

• User-friendly

• Dishwasher-safe accessories

• Bowl doesn’t have a handle

• Lacks a pouring shield

• Cannot tackle big jobs

An Incredible Mixer for Small Mixing Tasks

Compared with the Artisan, the Classic has a less powerful motor. This causes it to often struggle with dense cookie dough at the very end of the kneading process. So, if you expect to use your mixer for big jobs, the KitchenAid Classic’s 250-watt motor might disappoint you. But if you don’t intend to mix dense doughs or big batches, the Classic 4.5-quart stand mixer has all the power and capacity you need in a more compact size (in comparison to the Artisan).

Included Accessories

The mixer comes with a coated flat beater for mixing cookie dough and batter, a coated dough hook for kneading bread dough, and a wire whip to make quick work of frosting. It lacks a transparent pouring shield. So there’s a chance that you will end up with batter or flour splashing around your countertop. Without the splash guard, you couldn’t add ingredients without making a mess, even when your mixer is running at its lowest speed. If you want to eliminate the risk, invest in a reliable pouring shield. KitchenAid sells this add-on for all tilt-head mixers and a few specific bowl-lift models.

Again, the power hub makes your mixer an all-in-one kitchen appliance. From making pasta and shredding cheese, to grinding meats and making ice cream, KitchenAid attachments can do it all.

The stainless steel bowl is dishwasher-safe and can accommodate six pounds of mashed potatoes, six dozen cookies, and three loaves of bread in a single batch. It doesn’t have a handle. So if you aren’t bothered by carrying the bowl full of dough or batter with two hands, you’ll love it.

The KitchenAid Classic comes with a 1-year limited warranty and is available in two different colors (black and white).

3. KitchenAid Pro 600 Series - Best 6-Quart KitchenAid Mixer

The exceptionally powerful motor, consistent performance, and long operating life, makes the KitchenAid Pro an essential kitchen tool for professional bakers and restaurant chefs.

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• Extremely powerful motor

• Slow-start function

• Electronic speed sensor

• Durable

• Expensive

• Bulky

• Attachments aren’t dishwasher-safe

Not only is the machine a go-to choice for small businesses, it’s also a great investment for any home cook who is serious about baking and usually bakes in large quantities.

Key Features

The KitchenAid Pro is the most powerful mixer on our list, reaching 575-watts of power at its peak. With a strong motor, the mixer mixes, blends, and kneads big batches of dough incredibly well without jumping or rocking around on your counter. That said, this bowl-lift mixer isn’t good for smaller jobs, like whipping an egg white or ½ cup of cream. That’s mainly because the Pro’s bowl has a wide bottom and is so big that the attachments couldn't make full contact when incorporating the ingredients.

Measuring about 29 pounds, with a footprint of 17-inches tall by 9-inches wide, the KitchenAid Pro is relatively bulky. It may take up quite a bit of your counter space. So if you plan on using it daily and keeping it on display in your kitchen, make sure you have enough clearance on your counter.

The intuitive speed control knob allows you to adjust the motor’s 10 speeds. The mixer works with the electronic speed sensor to ensure you will have the right speed for your desired texture and consistency. It also features a slow-start function which inserts a short delay prior to increasing speed so as to prevent splashing.

Included Accessories

Besides the three standard attachments (dough hook, flat beater, and wire whip), the mixer can handle any optional attachment that is designed to fit in its power hub. All the included attachments must be hand washed, since they couldn't stand up to a dishwasher's force and heat.

The 6-quart polished stainless steel bowl has a handle and can hold up to 8 loaves worth of dough or 8 pounds of mashed potato. It’s dishwasher safe and works with a pouring shield enabling you to conveniently add ingredients.

The Pro 600 series offers more than 20 color options and is protected under a 1-year warranty.

4. KitchenAid KHM926CU Hand Mixer - Best Budget KitchenAid Mixer

Offering 9 speed options, the KitchenAid KHM926CU is one of the most powerful and versatile hand mixers on the market. Though the machine isn’t as powerful as a stand mixer, it comes with incredible mixing skills. Indeed, the KitchenAid KHM926CU is the best hand mixer for most people, especially beginner bakers. If you want to always get perfect cookies, bread, and mashed potatoes, this hand-held mixing device could be the one for you.

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• Compact and portable

• Heavy-duty attachments

• Various speed options

• Soft grip handle

• Soft Start function

• Doesn’t have the snap-on storage case

• Incapable of kneading heavy dough

Compact Yet Versatile

The biggest advantage of having a handheld mixer is the high level of portability it provides. While stand mixers can only work with their own mixing bowl, hand mixers work with almost all types of containers. That’s why your device doesn't have a limit on the capacity it can mix.

The KitchenAid 9-speed hand mixer excels at whipping cream and egg whites. It’s also a perfect appliance for stirring chunky ingredients and creaming butter. The 175-watt motor has 9 speeds. So it would be very easy to find the right speed for your favorite recipes. Unlike conventional models, this powerful motor doesn’t get hot while mixing. That being said, this compact device isn’t great for kneading heavy dough. It also might make a weird sound or rattle in your hand when tackling chunky cookies.

Many manufacturers claim their handheld mixers have the ability to knead large batches of heavy bread dough at once. But we found that this is highly unlikely. Even a very good hand mixer (e.g. the KitchenAid 9-speed) has to struggle to power through a batch of thick cookie dough.

Even if your hand mixer is powerful enough to work through heavy dough, it’d be a tiresome process. Since this tool requires manual effort to be operated and endurance to keep going. Furthermore, you’d need at least two people to do the task. One for holding the bowl and the other for holding the mixer.

Things That Stand Out

This electric handheld mixer lacks a snap-on storage case for keeping all the attachments safe and organized —which you can find in many cheaper models. On the bright side, there’s the included storage bag. So you can conveniently store all the accessories in one place.

With the Soft Start function, the starting speed is really slow to prevent ingredients from splattering. The Soft Start function also helps improve stability of the power supply. It ensures the mixer to gradually reach a steady-state operating point for less mess mixing. Even when your mixer is running at its highest speeds, the motor offers smooth and steady acceleration yet remains quiet.

Apart from the soft grip handle that provides you with the best control when mixing, its easy to wipe clean power cord is also a great feature to have. The lockable swivel cord locks into either the left or right side of the mixer so you can approach the bowl’s content from any angle.

There is a beater eject button on the top of the mixer which lets you release any attachment from the mixer with the index finger. Like most new handheld mixers, the beaters are sometimes difficult to remove in the beginning, but just know it will become easier with use.

The KitchenAid 9-speed hand mixer has a 1-year limited warranty. At the present, it is available in five attractive colors (candy apple red, contour silver, empire red, onyx black, and white,) giving the buyer the opportunity to select the color of their choice.

Included Accessories

In the package you will have a pair of stainless steel turbo beaters for mixing cake batter, a pair of sturdy dough hooks for kneading cookie dough, a pro whisk for whipping meringue, and a blending rod for making smoothies and milkshakes. All the attachments perform well in their role and are dishwasher-safe.

5. KitchenAid KSM3316XER Artisan Mini - Best KitchenAid Mini Mixer

The Artisan Mini performs almost identically to the full-size Artisan (when handling small jobs), but it’s 20% smaller and 25% lighter, making it a perfect choice for your tiny home, apartment, RV or other small space.

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• Small yet powerful

• Soft Start function

• High-quality attachments

• The bowl doesn’t have the handle

• Lacks the pouring shield

Notable Features

The mixer is as large as a commercial countertop blender, weighing about 18 pounds, with a footprint of 12.3-inches tall by 7.8-inches wide. With a compact size, it can tuck nicely under your upper cabinet. Or you can store it in a roll-out drawer in the pantry without worrying it will break the drawer tracks.

The Mini has almost all the same specs and features as the 4.5-quart Artisan, including the Soft Start function, 10 speed options and the power hub for up to 15 optional attachments. Maxing out at 250-watts of power, it does a decent job at whipping creams and mixing small batches of dough. The motor runs quietly and is definitely powerful enough for light-duty tasks.

Included Accessories

All the included attachments are made of quality material and can work with large volumes of ingredients in one go. In a single batch it can accommodate a maximum of five dozen cookies, a loaf of bread, or a batch of guacamole— which is enough to serve 1-2 people. The polished stainless steel bowl lacks a handle and a pouring shield, but apart from that, we love it!

Top-rated KitchenAid Mixers Comparison Chart

Conclusion

So that is our list for the best KitchenAid mixer this year. With top-notch performances, user-friendly designs, and affordable price tags, KitchenAid mixers should be must-buy appliances for your kitchen. Browse and buy the most suitable mixer for your needs and budget, and just think of the endless batches of cookie dough you can make at home!