Comparison of KitchenAid mixers and FAQs to help you choose

A KitchenAid stand mixer is a significant investment but it's for life. Therefore, we receive some very frequent and recurring questions that we hope to answer in this post, from what the differences between the different KitchenAid models are to others like which KitchenAid mixer is right for me, which KitchenAid is the most popular, questions about accessories or how to get the recipe book.

KitchenAid mixers are very complete and versatile appliances, acting as a dough mixer, beater and mixer all in one, and able to become spiralizers, fresh pasta machines, food grinders... and so many other things thanks to their accessories. KitchenAid mixers are perfect kitchen helpers and ideal for home bakers and pastry chefs.

It should be clarified that they are not cooking robots (they do not emit heat), they are assistants to prepare recipes and simplify many of the steps and processes involved

Which KitchenAid model is the most common?

The brand's most popular mixer is the Artisan model. There are several KitchenAid Artisan versions, you can distinguish them by the last 3 digits of their codes, mainly the 5KSM125, 5KSM175 and 5KSM185. These mixers are exactly the same, what varies are the included accessories.

Among the Artisans, the most common currently is the 5KSM175, since it includes numerous accessories that are very useful (notably the flexible-sided spatula to reach every corner of the bowl (which the 5KSM125 does not include) and an additional bowl that is very practical when you bake, and which you should know fits perfectly inside the main bowl, so it doesn't take up extra space in the kitchen when you're not using the mixer.

Differences between Artisan 5KSM125, 5KSM175 and 5KSM185

The Artisan models 5KSM125, 5KSM175 and 5KSM185 are the same stand mixer, with the same features, differing only by the accessories included which you can see detailed in the table below.

In summary, the 5KSM125 model includes fewer accessories than the 5KSM175 , and as a particularity, the 5KSM185 model has the same accessories as the 5KSM175 , but manufactured in stainless steel (unlike the 5KSM125 and 5KSM175 models, which are made of enameled aluminum).

Comparative table of KitchenAid models

Which KitchenAid model is most recommended?

• Classic model: they have the great advantage of being more affordable, without sacrificing the quality and power of a KitchenAid mixer. But they have slightly less power than an Artisan and some accessories won't fit this model. When to buy a Classic? When your baking needs are focused on making cakes, whipping cream and egg whites. If that's all you plan to do with it (and you can do a lot), it will be enough, plus you'll save money.
• Artisan model: they have more capacity than the Classic and more power. If you enjoy baking and know you'll likely expand to making bread dough and don't want to close the door to having accessories like pasta makers, spiralizers, ice cream makers... or others that may appear, buy an Artisan. The Artisan gives you ideal power for bread doughs, of course you'll do all kinds of baking, a larger capacity bowl and you ensure that future accessories will fit it (being the most popular model, KitchenAid will always release accessories that may or may not suit other models, but will almost certainly work with the Artisan).
• Mini model: was launched thinking of smaller kitchens. That's the reason to buy it, but be aware it will have slightly less capacity and power (similar limitations to the Classic). So if you have limited space a Mini will work great, but if you can fit an Artisan in your kitchen and have aspirations to expand your baking, get an Artisan to ensure you don't fall short.
• Heavy Duty and Professional models: let's leave these for those who really do a very large amount of baking, needing a lot of power and capacity to knead large quantities of dough.

Note: Since it's a high-value appliance, you might be interested in financing your KitchenAid purchase interest-free. You can do this at Claudia&Julia through an online process, you'll find all the information here, or you'll see it indicated as an option at checkout in our store's purchase process.

Do KitchenAid mixers seem to have less power than others?

It might seem that way, but it's quite the opposite! Some people directly compare the watts of KitchenAid to other brands and think KitchenAid has less power, but that's not true. It's not just about the watts, but a combination of power and speed.

While similar products from other brands rely on high speed combined with relatively low force to achieve a certain power, KitchenAid products work at lower speeds but with greater brute force, so we get lower electricity consumption with superior efficiency (with each rotation of the KitchenAid beater or whisk it is delivering much greater force).

Which KitchenAid accessories are essential?

KitchenAid has specific accessories for making certain types of preparations (like the pasta maker, food processor, juicer... you can see them all here), but for using KitchenAid for baking there are 3 accessories that to me are essential or highly recommended:

• The flexible-sided beater: with it you ensure you reach every corner of the bowl. Essential for optimal results.
• The sifter and scale attachment: you don't know how grateful you'll be for this accessory until you have it. It's a container with a scale, through which you weigh and add your ingredients as you go (this eliminates having many bowls with pre-measured ingredients, making less mess and speeding up preparations), and it's also a sifter, so it sifts the flour instantly, requiring fewer utensils and ensuring you don't dirty the kitchen.
• An additional bowl is also very appreciated, because many recipes require mixing yolks and whites separately before combining, or you're making a cake and want to whip cream, or you want to mix part of the batter with chocolate and the other part plain to make a zebra cake. The additional bowl, once you have it, is very handy. If you have to buy it, I find the glass one very pretty and practical, but it's also available in stainless steel, which in fact already comes with the Artisan 175 model.

Regarding accessories for other types of preparations, the winners here are clear: the ice cream attachment (those who love baking know how easy it is to make ice cream and how enjoyable homemade ice cream is) and the pasta accessories.

By the way! Want a free KitchenAid ice cream recipe book? You can download this book that we made with lots of love. I hope you enjoy it!

You can see all the accessories we have here, but if you want any particular one you can write to tienda@claudiaandjulia.com, we can order it for you without any problem.

Warranty and recipe book

It is very important to buy the mixer in Spain and not outside the European Union mainly for two reasons: the warranty and the plug.

Artisan models have a 5-year warranty, while Classic, Heavy Duty and Professional models have a 2-year warranty.

Another important issue is the plug, since mixers purchased directly from the United States or outside the European Union do not have the standard plug we use at home.

How to get the recipe book

1. Go to the KitchenAid Spain website, access the "customer service" tab and then "Register your product"
2. Click "Register now" and fill out the form.
3. Once registered, you will receive the book by email in PDF format and, within about 4 weeks, you will receive the physical book.