Table of Contents
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer Review
Pros
- Durability –
- All metal construction
- Easy to clean.
Cons
- Heavy
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer: Quality and Efficiency in 1
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer is one of the best stand mixers we have come across. A substantial piece of kit with great build quality, reliability and power, it’s been designed to effortlessly handle various jobs with its variety of speeds, attachments and abilities.
KitchenAid mixers have become a one of the best known makes of mixers for use in the modern kitchen. The Artisan probably comes in more colors (over 30, including black, white, and gray) than any other mixer on the market today and there’s sure to be one that matches your kitchen décor.
The number of attachments you can add, as well as its powerful motor, give you the flexibility to add more features whenever you feel like it.
It’s been said that the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer is one of the most popular wedding presents of all time!
KitchenAid Arti
san 5-Qt. Stand Mixer Features
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer is a smaller domestic version of the larger commercial mixers you find in professional kitchens, but it has the power and intuitive design associated with professional chefs.
It comes with the following features designed to suit the needs of every user:
- All-metal construction (meaning a long life)
- Tilt-back head allowing easy access to mixture and attachments
- Multi-purpose attachment hub with hinged hub cover – attachments secured with one twist. Hub cover keeps attachment slot clean
- Direct drive transmission for power and durability
- 325-watt quiet motor
- 10-speed slide control ranging from a very fast whip to a very slow stir
- 5-qt. stainless steel mixing bowl with ergonomic handle to minimize cramping
- Beater height adjustment screw for fine-tuning attachments so they never scrape your bowl yet thoroughly work through your mixture
- Locking plate to hold bowl in position
- 67 point planetary mixing action ensures you don’t have to rotate the bowl
- Motor head locking lever
So, what do these all mean?
Direct drive transmission, as it is direct, uses fewer parts and moves power to where it’s needed in the mixer more efficiently. Fewer moving parts means less chance of breaking down.
This unique mixer has a planetary action that moves the attachments around the bowl meaning that none of the mix is missed.
A model with a tilt head means that you can easily move the motor head and attachments up and out of the way so you can check on the mix in the bowl.
The KitchenAid Artisan Mixer has an attachment hub on the front of the machine. This hub is used to power optional attachments such as the Food Grinder or citrus juicer (purchased separately).
The white, plastic accessories are all dishwasher safe. The metal attachments have to be washed-by-hand, and the unit itself only needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth after use.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer Head Type
This particular mixer is a tilt-back style where you can lift up the head out of the way so that you can either attach accessories or check on the bowl contents. This means that you should check that you have sufficient clear worktop space to use this feature and avoid upper cabinets getting in the way.
Wattage & Power
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer power is 325 watts. This leads some people to think that it is not as powerful as some other mixers. However, it should be noted that the wattage does not determine the overall power of the mixer.
The KitchenAid Artisan has a direct drive transmission and because of this, delivers more power more efficiently than other mixers without a direct drive transmission. The 325 watt motor and size of the bowl (5-quart) have to be taken into account as well and means that no project will be too heavy or too large for it to handle.
KitchenAid rate this product with a “Flour Power” of 9 cups and say that it can handle 1 batch of bread or 2 batches of cookies or 7 pounds of mashed potatoes.
When you consider all of the parts that go into giving this machine its strength, it does a great job and can handle light and airy mixtures as well as heavy dough.
This particular model is a good choice for the casual/domestic chef. If you are going to do lots of baking and on a regular basis, you may want to consider something slightly more commercial.
Mixing Speeds
Most other stand mixers only offer a choice of a few speeds. The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer has 10 mixing speeds operated by means of a sliding knob handle. The marking system consists of: Stir, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. However you can also move the speed up or down between these markings, giving another 5 speeds and a total of 10 speeds.
KitchenAid Artisan Bowl Size & Capacity
The bowl included with this mixer is stainless steel, 5-quart capacity and is locked into place by twisting into the plate under the motor head. Replacement bowls are available. You can also buy additional bowls if you do a lot of baking and need to mix many sets of ingredients without combining them.
The bowl has an ergonomically designed handle which is comfortable to hold and which means there is less likelihood of accidentally dropping the bowl.
Included Attachments
The Kitchen Aid Artisan 5-qt. stand mixer comes with the following three attachments:
- Flat beater – your generic beater ideal for mixing a variety of both heavy and soft mixes, sauces, and creams.
- Dough hook – both mixes and kneads bread and pizza dough
- Wire whip – ideal for adding the maximum amount of air to be added to the mix.
- You attach the beaters by pushing the end up over the beater shaft and, with a partial twist, lock them into place.
Optional Accessory Attachments
The KitchenAid Artisan also has the option of adding additional accessory attachments which are purchased separately. It is unlikely that every user would want to add all of the available attachments, but most users would probably want a few of the following options that are available:
- Food Grinder
- Citrus Juicer
- Gourmet Pasta Press
- Sausage Stuffer Kit
- Ravioli Maker
- Noodle Cutter
- Roto Slicer w/ Shredder
- Pasta Roller
- Ice Cream Maker
- Stainless Steel/Glass Mixing Bowl w/without Handle
- Fruit & Vegetable Strainer Parts & Grinder
- Food Tray
- Various Mixer Attachment Packs
- The pre-packaged kits of attachments are usually cheaper than buying each attachment individually.
Dimensions
- 14 x 8-2/3 inches x 14 inches
- Weight: 25 lb. 8 oz.
At 25 lb, the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer is of sufficient weight that you won’t want to keep moving it on and off your worktop regularly. It is far easier to leave it out rather than digging around in a lower cabinet and lifting it onto the worktop. The fact that there is a choice of so many different colors means that there should be a color to match your décor if you decide to leave the mixer sitting out in full view.
Features Overview
- Feature KitchenAid Artisan
- Brand KitchenAid
- Capacity 5 Quart
- Watts 325
- Speeds 10
- Head Type Tilt
- Included Attachments 3
- Optional Attachments Available Yes
- Color Choices Yes
- KitchenAid Mixer Colors Available
There are currently 32 colors available and prices can vary depending on which color you go for. The less popular colors can save up to $100. The color of the trims can also vary by color.
To see the colors available for the KitchenAid Artisan range, go here: KitchenAid Artisan Colors.
Pros
- Durability – All metal construction.
- Comfortable – Ergonomic handle.
- Hygiene – Easy to clean.
- Less mess – Pour shield.
- Options – Large number of attachments to choose from.
Cons
- Weight – Heavy, so best to leave out on worktop. Not really a con, but important for buyers to know.
Consumer Reviews
For most of us, it’s a difficult enough choice as to which is the right mixer to choose. However, with the KitchenAid Artisan series, there is the added problem of having so many colors to choose from, and it can get very confusing at times. The majority of users are very happy to have such a wide color choice.
Customers are also very pleased with the performance of the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer and any complaints are usually minor and few and far between. A few did report a minor issue in that, like a lot of other mixers, it can be a bit tricky adjusting the bowl and mixer to the correct height to stop too much friction between bowl and attachments. However, after a few initial adjustments, it’s easy to do.
With over 3000 ratings online, there is more than enough feedback to help you decide if this mixer will met you own needs.
Average Customer Rating: 4.7
KitchenAid Artisan Price
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer price does vary both for the color chosen and also where you buy. The lowest price is more often than not to be found on Amazon, and that along with the current shipping deal makes it very good value especially since the mixer weighs in at over 25 pounds.
Summary
The majority of customers have been very positive in their reviews of the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars online. They appreciate, not only that the mixer can produce a great finished product, but also the fact that it is so durable with its all-metal construction. Customers’ positive comments range from the machine’s style to the ease of cleaning. The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. stand mixer could quite easily become one of the most important and most-used tools in your kitchen.