For decades, KitchenAid and its famous stand mixer, in particular, have been a staple in both home and professional kitchens. The brand name has become synonymous with wedding registries and family heirlooms, and the KitchenAid stand mixer has been celebrated for its classic design and quality craftsmanship that stands the test of time.
"KitchenAid has always been about reliability and inspiration," shares Danielle Sepsy, chef and author of "The Scone Queen Bakes." "I still remember getting my first stand mixer from my Grandma Rosemarie when I was 8. It opened up a whole world of experimentation in the kitchen and truly shaped who I am today. Their products feel durable, timeless and like they’re built for creativity, which is why so many home cooks and pros love them."
Below, we interviewed chefs about what makes the brand so popular and which of KitchenAid's products are truly worth the splurge. Plus, we have all the details on KitchenAid's latest innovation, the Artisan Plus Stand Mixer.
What is the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer?
According to KitchenAid, the Artisan Plus is the biggest upgrade that the brand has made to its stand mixer since 1955. It's still the quality gadget that people know and love, with an aesthetic and durable design, versatile features and an easy-to-use interface, but it has some additional upgrades.
One of the biggest changes is the new built-in light, which illuminates the contents of the bowl, so you can make sure your mixture reaches the perfect consistency and see what's happening inside, even in low-light situations.
The new precision speed control knob allows you to choose from one of the preset speeds, like with the brand's other mixers, but when you twist it, you can slide between speeds for more exact control. There's also a half-fold speed, which is great for recipes that require a more delicate touch.
When I got the chance to try out the new mixer, I immediately appreciated both the bowl light and the precision speed control. As someone with limited experience using a stand mixer, I also loved how easy it was to jump right in and start using the machine.
I tried out the four different attachments, though my favorite by far was the new double flex edge beater. When I used it while making a compound butter, it seamlessly scraped the sides of the bowl as it mixed, so there was no need to start and stop to do it manually.
While the new mixer is an exciting development for the brand, the experts and our editors are sharing some of their favorite tried and true products below.
The best KitchenAid stand mixers, according to experts
There are a few sizes and versions of the stand mixer, though the tilt-head style is a popular choice. Sepsy says that for someone who finds themself baking often or is commonly experimenting with various recipes, the larger seven-quart version may be ideal. But "for casual bakers or smaller kitchens, a compact five-quart version might be perfect," she shares.
"The stand mixer is iconic because it can do so much," Sepsy adds. "From mixing batter to kneading dough, whipping cream, or making pasta, it’s like having multiple tools in one. Plus, there’s something magical about the first time you see it effortlessly handle a recipe-you immediately feel empowered to try something new. No more whisking or kneading by hand for minutes (or hours) on end."
Not sure whether to go with the Tilt-Head Mixer or the Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer? According to Michael Handal, a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education, the bowl-lift mixer might be better for those who are often kneading dough, as the brand says that there's twice as much power in the bowl as the Tilt-Head Mixer and the three-point locking bowl provides more stability.
Handal shares that he has one of the brand's Bowl-Lift Stand Mixers in his own kitchen.
The best KitchenAid stand mixer attachments, according to experts and editors
"I make a ton of whipped cream during the summer months, mainly for macerated berries and cream but also ice cream, galettes and tartes, so I’m using the wire whip on the regular," shares deputy managing editor Jess Bender.
According to the brand, the whip quickly incorporates air into ingredients, so you can not only make fluffy whipped cream, but you can also whip egg whites or make light and airy frostings.
Senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil says that she often uses her stand mixer for cake and cookie batters, so she loves this flexible beater. She adds that it "makes it easier to scrape every last bit of the good stuff out of the bowl."
"In the summertime, I use my ice cream maker attachment all the time!" says Sepsy. "Just keep your bowl frozen, and you can have homemade, freshly churned ice cream all week long!"
While the best attachments for you will depend on what you intend to use your machine for, Handal says that "the pasta attachments offer a nice way to prepare pasta dough with ease."
This attachment hooks up to your mixer and allows you to easily roll out fresh pasta dough. There are also separate attachments for cutting pasta, if you don't want to do that part by hand.
More of the best KitchenAid products, according to editors
While Bender loves her KitchenAid stand mixer, she also uses this hand mixer "pretty religiously" in her home kitchen. "I grew up with one in the home and brought that original one with me to my first few apartments until it finally conked out. This one I bought for myself seems like it’ll last me just as long, based on how well it’s performing several years after I bought it. It’s slim enough to store away in my kitchen drawer, it’s a breeze to clean and it’s lightweight enough to easily maneuver without wearing down my wrists over time."
Cocchi Zabloudil says this immersion blender is "such a handy tool for quickly pulsing soups or sauces right in the pot, rather than waiting for hot ingredients to cool down and then doing all the work of transferring them to a regular blender." She adds, "It’s both powerful and compact, and like most KitchenAid products, it looks chic!"
Why is KitchenAid so popular?
"KitchenAid is definitely an iconic brand with many devoted followers," Handal says. This is because the brand offers a range of products "at an excellent value for their cost," he says, especially in regards to their famous stand mixer.
When we spoke with Chad Ries, the global head of product, brand and insights at KitchenAid Small Appliances, he shared that it all comes back to the main factors that define the brand: "Quality and durability, that is the underpinning of everything that we do. If you didn’t have that, KitchenAid isn't KitchenAid."
And because of those things, the brand's products have become a staple, not only in the homes of consumers but also in their core memories as well.
"It’s such a central icon to people’s memories," Ries says. "KitchenAid isn’t just about making durable products that look great, which is true, but it’s also about the memories that you have associated with it. I remember waking up with my mom, early morning, making things. I remember my grandma doing the same. You have those moments when you use KitchenAid products that make you feel like the best version of yourself, that take you to a time where you remember your loved ones, whether they’re with us or not with us. There’s so much more that’s tied up into KitchenAid than just [that] it’s a small appliance brand."
Are KitchenAid stand mixers worth it?
While many of the brand's products, especially its stand mixers in particular, can be pretty pricey compared to some other options on the market, Sepsy says that you're making "an investment in both quality and inspiration." She adds, "A KitchenAid stand mixer has been a constant companion in my kitchen, helping me develop some of my most popular recipes. The price reflects the durability and versatility you get."
Handal agrees that they are worth the higher price tag. "I know first-hand how their mixers perform day in and day out in kitchen classrooms at the Institute of Culinary Education, as well as professional kitchens. Wear and tear in these environments can be substantial, and KitchenAid mixers hold up quite well."
And while the upfront cost may seem like a lot, there's a good chance that you'll never have to pay it again. "Not only do I still use the stand mixer I received when I was 8 years old, but I also have my grandma Rosemarie’s KitchenAid stand mixer that is over 40 years old!" Sepsy shares.
How we chose
We chose to highlight this brand because of its lasting popularity and range of products. All of the above products were either recommended by the experts we spoke to or were editor-loved picks.
Meet our experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are provided independently and without any undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Danielle Sepsy is the chef and founder of The Hungry Gnome, an online bakery in New York City. She is the author of the new cookbook, "The Scone Queen Bakes."
- Michael Handal is a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. His training was grounded in classical French cuisine and is the Institute’s resident charcuterie expert.
- Chad Ries is the global head of product, brand and insights at KitchenAid Small Appliances.
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