KitchenAid Pro vs. KitchenAid Artisan vs. KitchenAid Classic Compared

We've had our KitchenAid Mixers for a while now and thought we'd do and 3 way comparison of them.

Bowl Size: Classic holds 4.5 Quarts while the Artisan and pro holds 5 Quarts.

More info at my blog at: http://cookiescupcakesandcardio.com/?p=2402

Wattage: Classic has a 250 Watt motor while the Artisan has a 325 Watt motor and the Professional has 450 Watts.

Handle: Classic doesn't have a handle on the bowl, while the Artisan and Pro do.

Pour Shield: The Professional and Classic doesn't come with one while the Artisan does.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• KitchenAid Pro
• KitchenAid Professional
• KitchenAid Artisan
• KitchenAid Classic
• dough
• mixers
• mixer
• review
• baking
• cakes
• Mixer (cooking)

[toaster1971]

I just purchased a 575 watt pro. That thing makes some mean pizza dough. Now for that wood fired pizza oven.....:p

[CupcakesandCardio]

@toaster1971 Awesome!! Yum on the wood fired pizza!

[SizzlechestXXX]

I have a bowl lift and love it. For the non-bowl lift mixer, do you have to worry about food and stuff jamming up the part where the bowl locks into the base? Does making bread in there ever pull the bowl loose or jam it in there too tight? You should mention the most important bit of advice for any KitchenAid mixer owner: get a BeaterBlade or SideSwipe blade.

[CupcakesandCardio]

@SizzlechestXXX You do have to make sure you keep the machine clean in the area where the tilt head hinges, but its not something that I find problematic. The bowl has never come loose for me for any of the machines.

[SizzlechestXXX]

@CupcakesandCardio I was asking about "where the bowl locks into the base," not the tilt head hinge getting stuff jammed in there.

[CupcakesandCardio]

@SizzlechestXXX Oh, ok....no you don't have to worry about that area...it's actually a solid "lock" and unless you spill something down the side of the bowl (liquid) pretty much everything stays out of there....in my case :)

[SizzlechestXXX]

@CupcakesandCardio My mixer goes to 11.

[TwistingLove]

go artisan!

[CupcakesandCardio]

@eogg25 Thanks for info eogg25

[eogg25]

i have the pro and a 250 watt mixer, i use the 250 watt more because i dont make big batches of anything and a small amount in a small bowl mixes better than in a big bowl. i also use the small mixer for making sausage and spagetti with their attachments. about watts volts times current equalls watts. if you have a bigger moter you need more watt power or better gearing, to drive the motor. buy the size you need, its just like buying a car.

[bagelboi66]

Oh one more thing, Consumer Reports rates the classic 1 point over the artisan and a couple over the bowl lift model. Go figure!

[bagelboi66]

I just ordered an Artisan from Sears, it hasn't been delivered yet. I have a thirty-five year old KA-5 bowl lift model that belonged to my grandmother. It worked faithfully until one day a plastic retaining screw broke and now one of the commutator brushes won't stay seated. It also could use a new cord.

I debated the classic vs artisan and decided the pour shield and bowl handle were important enough to pay extra. I'm also getting a bonus scraper paddle thrown in too!

Good review BTW.

[CupcakesandCardio]

@baire702 I agree that Watts is a misleading term in consumer products … but until someone actually gets the technical specs from KitchenAid (or does their own tests) it’s impossible to know how much power is coming out at the paddle. I can only tell you what the box says and that the Pro powers through mixing ingredients better than the classic. If you have the specs, please post them.

[baire702]

@baire702 make that 6 years, not months.

[baire702]

@CupcakesandCardio additionally, I learned about watts not equaling power is when i repaired vacuum cleaners. those manufactures try to make the consumer think more watts are more powerful. not so!

[baire702]

@CupcakesandCardio hi, my proof is in all the Kitchen Aid Mixers that I have repaired at Kiefer Appliance, for almost 6 months.

[CupcakesandCardio]

@baire702 and your proof on this is where ...

[baire702]

watts = how much current the mixer uses, not how strong it is. and your "pro" has a "bowl lift" as a different style and has nothing to do with the weight of the motor and housing. additionally, the "pro" has a smaller DC motor and it is not as powerful as the "classic".

[troelsskipper]

Do you ever have problems with dough on the bowl side?

Have you ever worked with Electrolux Assistent, if you have, how will you compare the Kitchenaid Artisan with it?

[CupcakesandCardio]

@325iaddict Hi there...I haven't used a Kenwood before. Hopefully it works out for you :)

[325iaddict]

Just a question: did you ever compare these American made machines to some of the offerings Kenwood has, like the Kenwood Chef or the Kenwood Prospero? These seem to be good machines also... and come with a lot of accessories as a standard. Especially the Prospero KM266 seems an offer that is hard to withstand...

[CupcakesandCardio]

@nealkassanoff it's not more difficult to do smaller batches on the pro....i just find using the classic or the artisan more convenient. as far as speeds of the pro goes, it is the same as the others....1-10 levels. hope that helps!

[nealkassanoff]

So, the pro is harder to clean. Other than this inconvenience, is it more difficult to do smaller batches on the pro?

What about adjustability of speed? Can you modify the speed on the artisan like you can on the pro?

Thanks

[CupcakesandCardio]

@barker2j i would have to say the pro, or a larger model, as making pasta dough requires a lot of heavy work on the machine's parts.

[barker2j]

Which model is best for making doughs for turning into noodles?