KitchenAid has always been well respected by bakers, and for good reason. The brand makes exceptional stand mixers that are robust and built to last. When I buy a KitchenAid stand mixer, I know I won’t be replacing it after a couple of years.
But this does come at a cost, and when budgets are tight, it can be difficult to justify paying out big bucks for a baking tool. My advice is always to buy the best you can afford, rather than scrimping on the lowest-quality option that might not see you through as much use.
That’s my prep talk over before I introduce KitchenAid’s latest stand mixer, the Artisan Plus. It’s an upgrade over the Artisan model, which ranks at the top of our best stand mixers, but since I’ve tested the latest launch, its prime position could be in jeopardy.
KitchenAid Artsian Plus: Specs
|
Bowl capacity |
5 quarts |
|
Dimensions |
14 ⅛ (height) |
|
Weight |
28 lbs |
|
Speed |
11 |
|
Materials |
Stainless steel bowl |
|
Finish |
Die cast aluminum |
|
Cord length |
3 ft 6 inches |
|
Power |
350 W |
|
Price |
$599 / £699 |
KitchenAid Artisan Plus: Price and availability
The KitchenAid Artisan Plus 5-quart tilt-head stand mixer is available direct from KitchenAid for $599. The new model boasts additional features over the KitchenAid Artisan model, which is $499 at KitchenAid and $499 at Amazon, where it is often available for less.
How does this compare with other stand mixers? It’s less than Smeg’s latest offering, the Forte stand mixer, which is $675 direct from Smeg, but more than twice the cost of Cuisinart’s SM-50R Precision Master stand mixer, which I recommend as the best budget stand mixer in our buying guide and is $279 at Amazon.
Unboxing and set up
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The appliance comes well-packed and, apart from the main appliance, it includes a 5-quart stainless steel bowl, four attachments and a bowl shield, which is designed to prevent mixture from escaping over the side of the bowl.
You’ll also find a safety and operations booklet and a Quick Start Guide, which takes you through how the bowl light and speed control work and which attachment to use when and at what speed.
KitchenAid Artisan Plus: Design
I can’t help but be impressed by the design of the KitchenAid Artisan Plus. It takes the same form as the standard Artisan, except this version has five new gorgeous colors: Sundried Tomato, Oat, Mint Julep, Wild Blueberry and Iron Ore. You can also choose the classic colors: Porcelain White, Juniper, Medallion Silver, Feather Pink, Cast Iron Black and Pebbled Palm.
I tested the stand mixer in Medallion Silver, and it has an exquisite shimmery finish and looks elegant on my kitchen countertop.
One downside of the KitchenAid Artisan Plus is that it’s heavy, which could be an issue if you struggle to lift or move a stand mixer on your countertop. However, there is a solution. There are plenty of options for buying sliding mats compatible with KitchenAid stand mixers, such as Fracijuy’s Bamboo Mixer Slider, $17 at Amazon.
KitchenAid Artisan Plus: What’s new?
Shining the spotlight on the new stand mixer
You won’t instantly notice when you unpack the stand mixer, but once you switch it on you’ll see that a light shines into the bowl (although the tilt head must be lowered). It really was a ‘Wow’ moment when I first witnessed the light, and although I knew it was a feature, I was still impressed with what a difference it makes.
Sleek controls
Aside from the light, the speed controls also vary. You have the option to use the standard control lever in ‘classic mode’, moving between one speed at a time, or turn the control knob 90° clockwise to switch to ‘precision mode’, where the speeds merge.
What’s more, the new design gives you 11 speeds — the additional 1/2 speed allows you to start the mix super slow. That’s a great plus if you’re mixing light ingredients, such as powdered sugar.
Stainless steel accessories
You get four stainless steel accessories that feel more premium than those that come with the standard model. What impressed me most is that a double-flex edge beater is included — it’s my favorite accessory, which I rave about, and I think should be standard with all KitchenAid stand mixers.
Apart from the flex edge beater, which is on both sides of the attachment rather than one, you also get a flat beater, wire whisk and dough hook.
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Pouring shield with extra grip
There’s also been another upgrade. The pouring shield, which prevents mixture from spilling out from the bowl, has grips. This means it attaches more securely to the bowl than its predecessor, which means less chance of being knocked when you’re adding ingredients.
Neat cables
They say that design is in the details, and although it’s not critical, the addition of a cable tidy is a big plus. If you’re storing your stand mixer on a countertop and you leave it plugged in, it’s not such an issue, but if it’s stored in a cupboard, the cable tie helps to keep it neat.
KitchenAid Artisan Pro: Functionality
The new and improved features that I’ve highlighted above will give you a good insight into the functionality of the KitchenAid Artisan Plus. But to recap, it comes with a 5-quart bowl, plenty big enough for home baking, four attachments to whip, beat, blend and knead ingredients, and 11 speeds that can be used in classic or precision mode.
And aside from all that, the standout feature is the integrated light that illuminates what’s happening inside the bowl. This really is exceptional and not just a gimmick.
It also features a central hub to which other attachments can be connected, such as KitchenAid’s pasta attachments, food grinders and shredders.
KitchenAid Artisan Plus: Performance
To test the performance of the stand mixer, I made an easy white bread dough using the dough hook, a vanilla cake using the flex-edge beater, and whipped heavy cream with the wire whisk.
Making bread
I made a standard white loaf, following the same recipe I use when testing all stand mixers. I placed the ingredients in the bowl and started on the ½ speed, using the ‘precision mode’. I then gradually increased the speed to level 3.
I often find mixing dough, especially the kneading stage, can be noisy, but it was noticeably quiet and sleek in operation; in fact, it almost seemed to purr.
I continued to knead the dough for 10 minutes before removing it to prove. Throughout the whole mix, the bowl stayed firmly in place and the pouring shield sat securely.
Making sponge cake
To make the vanilla cake, I added the softened butter and sugar to the bowl and set the mixer to a low speed. This helps the butter and sugar to slowly incorporate without the ingredients remaining separate in the bowl.
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Once I could see the ingredients blending, I increased the speed to 6 to allow air into the mixture. I then reduced the speed before gradually adding in the eggs, spooning in a little flour to stop the mixture from curdling. Once the eggs were nicely blended, I added in the remaining flour.
Even though the noise level peaked at 90 dB, which is loud, I didn’t feel the mixer struggling during the process; it felt smooth and consistent.
What’s more, with the double flex edge beater, I didn’t need to stop the mixer at any point, as the edges scraped around the bowl, incorporating everything into the mix.
Whipping heavy cream
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I placed 10 fl oz of cream in the mixing bowl and set the speed to 2, then quickly increased it to 8. It’s pretty fast at whipping, so if you want a light whip, keep an eye on the bowl at all times. I found it took just over a minute to reach the consistency I needed for a cake filling.
The light also allowed me to see clearly what was going on inside the bowl, to ensure the cream didn’t become over-whipped.
KitchenAid Artisan Plus: Ease of use
There’s nothing complicated about using the KitchenAid Plus. Apart from adding the appropriate attachment, there’s nothing to set up. The tilt head is raised by a lever on the right side of the mixer, and the speed is controlled by a slider on the left.
The only thing you need to do is turn the speed knob for either classic or precision mode. And if your eyesight is good enough, there’s a small icon to show which is selected.
What’s more, the bowl light automatically turns on when the mixer is on any speed, and it will remain on for the duration of the mix. You can also manually activate the light when the mixer is off, and when the tilt head is either up or down. Simply turn the speed knob left or right; it will then deactivate after five minutes.
KitchenAid Artisan Plus: Cleaning
According to KitchenAid, the exterior of the stand mixer should be wiped down with a damp microfiber cloth using warm water and a drop of dish soap, and it warns against using harsh cleaners. For any ingredients that are difficult to access, it suggests using a toothpick or a soft brush to remove dirt from crevices, such as around the speed control and attachment hub.
I always hand wash my bowl and attachments, but the mixing bowl is dishwasher-safe. For your attachments, non-coated beaters can also go in the dishwasher, but hand-washing will prolong their life. KitchenAid also warns against placing the wire in the dishwasher, as it says the aluminum will oxidize and discolor.
KitchenAid Artisan Plus: Verdict
I don’t have a bad word to say about the KitchenAid Artisan Plus, which is why I’ve given it a 5-star review. I know it’s expensive, but it’s so smooth, and the extra features aren’t just gimmicks; they really make a difference.
If your money won’t quite stretch to this new model, I’d still wholeheartedly recommend KitchenAid’s Artisan stand mixer without the extra features, but once you see the internal light and experience the smooth speed control, you might not be able to leave it on the shelf.
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