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Kitchen Stand Mixers: A Legacy of American Craftsmanship
If you enjoy cooking and baking, you know that having quality kitchen tools and appliances can make all the difference. They make kitchen duties easier, give recipes the perfect consistency, and are counted on for their dependability, making time in the kitchen more enjoyable. KitchenAid stand mixers are one of those stand-out appliances regarded for their quality, durability, and versatility.
Whether you’re kneading dough for homemade bread, baking cookies, stuffing sausage, or making your own pasta, let’s look at why KitchenAid stand mixers are applauded by professional bakers and home cooks alike.
My Best Kitchen Investment. Well, Grandma’s Best
It’s my family tradition to make Polish pierogi and a lot of cookies at Christmastime. My grandma did it, my mom did it, and in my early 20s, with a family of my own, I continued the tradition.
Kitchen Mixer Number One
I didn’t have a KitchenAid mixer right away. My first mixer was a budget Hamilton Beach stand mixer with double beaters and a glass bowl. At the time, Hamilton Beach mixers were made in the USA. However, all Hamilton Beach kitchen appliances have been made in China since 2012.
My run-of-the-mill mixer managed cookie dough, but it would struggle through the pierogi dough, and I was making a lot of it. Grandma couldn’t anymore, and my mother smoothly passed the big job on to me.
If I remember right, it was only the second Christmas season when I burned my first motor.
Kitchen Mixer Number Two
My second stand mixer lasted a handful of years with some personal adjustments. I added extra water to make a softer pierogi dough (which had its own set of problems). I also did a lot of hand kneading. Unfortunately, that mixer eventually burned out during the Christmas baking season too.
When I told my grandma another kitchen mixer bit the dust, she told me I needed a KitchenAid and wanted to gift it to me for my December birthday and Christmas. She told me to pick out a big one.
Number Three: A Heavy Duty KitchenAid Stand Mixer Made in the USA
I chose a 5-quart, bowl lift, Heavy-Duty Plus KitchenAid in matte black. KitchenAid doesn’t make that model anymore but you can still get a 5-quart bowl with a tilt-head in the KitchenAid Artisan Series or move up to the new KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl Lift.
What a difference! I whipped through cookies and pierogi dough and I could make much bigger batches, saving me all kinds of time.
I made Grandma’s Christmas cookies and pierogi until she passed in 2013. After her passing, my aunt was surprised that I’d been making her cookies and pierogi all those years. None of it made it to the parties. Oh, grandma.
I’m sure I’ll buy my granddaughter a KitchenAid of her own someday and continue to pass the tradition along. She does love baking.
My KitchenAid Stand Mixer is the Heart of My Kitchen
That same KitchenAid from Grandma is still with me, keeping Grandma close to my heart each and every time I use it.
It’s a bit beat up from years of use but it’s still running as reliably as ever. In addition to my Christmas baking, I use my Kitchen stand mixer throughout the year.
- It whips the creamiest homemade mashed potatoes and makes the fluffiest whipped cream.
- I make homemade bread throughout the fall and winter months. My family loves the cozy feeling that freshly baked bread gives our home. I love how easily my KitchenAid kneads dough.
- I also enjoy home canning and use my KitchenAid to shred zucchini for relish, and freeze the leftovers for a spaghetti noodle substitute.
- The Fresh Prep Slicer/ Shredder Attachments also makes zucchini shredding fast for summertime zucchini bread. I make strawberry, blueberry, lemon, and chocolate and more.
There is no resting for my KitchenAid and it works as well as the day I got it.
KitchenAid Mixers: An American-Made Kitchen Icon
Highlights in KitchenAid Stand Mixer History
- The first KitchenAid mixer, known as the H-5, was made more than a century ago in 1919. It did everything from mixing to slicing to straining.
- The trademarked Model K was released during the Great Depression and was the first stand mixer with a bowl that locked to the base. KitchenAid mixers continued to sell out at Christmastime through the 1930s.
- In 1955, KitchenAid released stand mixers in a variety of popular colors and it’s one of the qualities KitchenAid mixers are known for. Colors included petal pink, island green, and sunny yellow.
- The K-45, with its easily recognized shape and style, was released in 1969 and remains the most popular KitchenAid stand mixer.
Where are KitchenAid Stand Mixers Made?
KitchenAid stand mixers are made in Greenville, Ohio, USA, where KitchenAid has been making them since 1941.
Secret Ingredients: Power, Performance, and Style
KitchenAid stand mixers are designed to be long-lasting and powerful and have earned their reputation as the best kitchen stand mixers on the market. They also come in classic and trending colors, making them a functional statement piece in your kitchen.
But what exactly makes KitchenAid mixers the best stand mixer on the market?
Durability and Dependability
The first thing that makes KitchenAid stand mixers so impressive is their durability. KitchenAid mixers are made with sturdy metal construction and a powerful motor. Where other stand mixers feel flimsy and struggle with tough tasks, KitchenAid mixers perform consistently and hold up through years of heavy use. I’ve had my KitchenAid mixer for two decades!
User Friendly Design
KitchenAid mixers are designed to make your time in the kitchen efficient and enjoyable whether you’re baking for your family or are a professional chef. Some of the features include:
- Tilt-Head vs. Bowl-Lift: KitchenAid mixers come in two popular designs: tilt-head and bowl-lift. The tilt-head models make it easy to add ingredients and change attachments, while the bowl-lift models provide added stability for heavy duty mixing.
- Multiple Speeds: With ten speed settings, KitchenAid mixers are right for the job whether you’re blending, mixing, kneading, or whipping.
- Stainless Steel Bowls: KitchenAid mixers come with generously sized, durable, easy-to-clean stainless steel bowls.
- Stainless Steel Accessories: KitchenAid mixers come with a stainless steel dough hook, flat beater, and wire whip.
Versatility
There’s so much more to a KitchenAid stand mixer than meets the eye. With various optional attachments and accessories, your KitchenAid will be the most versatile appliance in your kitchen.
Chop, Grind, Shred, Slice: KitchenAid Mixer Attachments
These are some of the most popular KitchenAid stand mixer attachments:
- Pasta Maker: Quickly and easily make fresh pasta in your home kitchen with attachment options that include a pasta press, pasta rollers, and cutters.
- Food Grinder: Whether you’re stuffing sausage, grinding meat, or shredding chicken, KitchenAid’s food grinder attachments will give you great results.
- Food Processor: Slice, dice, and chop fruits and vegetables for soups, salads, stews, and home canning with consistent, even results.
- Slicer & Shredder: The Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder has three quick-change blades for easy slicing and shredding of cheese, vegetables, and other foods.
- Spiralizer: Peel, core, and slice spiral zucchini noodles, curly fries, apple snacks and more.
- Ice Cream Maker: Make your own ice cream and sorbet flavors and choose your ingredients for healthier ice cream options.
- Shave Ice Maker: Add your favorite flavored syrups for delicious beverages, frozen lemonade, snow cones, and other shave ice treats.
But that’s not all! (I sound like a commercial…but wait, there’s more!) There are more, though. KitchenAid also makes:
- a strainer to help you puree fruits and vegetables for jams, sauces, and baby food.
- a grain mill attachment for easily grinding oats, rice, corn, and more.
- a sifter and scale attachment for more consistent results.
There’s also a vegetable sheet cutter, and a citrus juicer…you get the idea! See all of the KitchenAid stand mixer attachments on Amazon.
Mix, Knead, Whip, Display: KitchenAid Mixer Accessories
KitchenAid makes various stainless steel, glass, and ceramic bowls that are designed to fit KitchenAid stand mixers. For example, this pretty quilted stainless steel bowl adds an element of charm, and this glass measuring bowl saves a step.
Replacement accessories like beaters, whips, hooks, and pouring shields are also available, along with optional accessories like pastry beaters, flexible edge beaters that scrape the bowl as you mix, and quilted dust covers.
The Best KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Your Kitchen
KitchenAid makes a mixer for every user. Whether you’re a professional baker or making cupcakes for the kids, there’s a KitchenAid stand mixer for you. Let’s find the best KitchenAid mixer for your kitchen!
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
The 325-watt, 5-quart Tilt-Head Artisan Series is the best mixer for most home kitchens. The mixing bowl locks onto the base and the head tilts back to add ingredients. It’s ideal for everyday dinner tasks and easily gets through desserts like cakes, pies, and cookies. However, if you plan to use your mixer for kneading dense dough like white bread and pizza dough, you’ll want a bowl-lift model with a bigger bowl.
The hardest part of using a KitchenAid stand mixer is picking the color. The 5 Quart Artisan Series model KSM195PS comes in over 10 colors, and model KSM150PS comes in over 20 colors!
- Model KSM150PS includes a 5-quart stainless steel bowl, coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip, and pouring shield.
- Model KSM195PS (premium accessory pack) includes a 5-quart stainless steel bowl with comfortable handle, a 3-quart stainless steel bowl, flex edge beater, pastry beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip, and pouring shield.
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
The 500-watt, 7-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer provides maximum stability, powerful mixing, and the ultimate capacity so you can easily mix up to 13 dozen cookies and knead over 8 pounds of bread. It also has a 1/2 speed for folding delicate ingredients like blueberries and egg whites.
If I had to buy a new KitchenAid mixer today (knock on wood), it would be the 7-quart bowl-lift. I knead dense dough for white bread, pizza, and pierogi, which requires the added stability and performance offered in the 7-quart KitchenAid mixer.
- Available in over 10 colors
- 11 Speeds
- Model KSM70SKXX includes premium accessorries includining a 7-quart stainless steel bowl, double flex edge beater, coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 11-wire whip, and pouring shield.
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
The 275-watt, 4.5-quart Tilt-Head Classic Series is a budget-friendly option and a good choice if you need an affordable kitchen mixer you can count on. Its capabilities are equivalent to the 5-quart Artisan Series with a slightly smaller capacity and no handle on the bowl.
- Model K45SS comes with a 4.5-quart stainless steel bowl, flat beater, dough hook, and 6-wire whip.
KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
The 250-watt, 3.5-quart Tilt-Head Artisan Mini Series mixers are perfect for casual users, beginners, and small spaces. If you’re downsizing or tiny living, you can still have a KitchenAid mixer that works with all of KitchenAid’s stand mixer attachments and accessories. It’s available in seven colors too, so even though it’s the smallest KitchenAid mixer, it still makes a big statement.
- Model KSM3316X comes with a 3.5-stainless steel bowl, flex edge beater, coated dough hook, and 6-wire whip.
KitchenAid Stand Mixers: American Craftsmanship for Your Kitchen
When you buy a KitchenAid stand mixer, you invest in a durable and versatile kitchen mixer that has built and maintained a solid reputation for over 100 years. With your KitchenAid mixer, you’ll enjoy decades of use and possibly a lifetime of baking memories.
Aside from their strength and reliability, one of the most appealing qualities of KitchenAid stand mixers is that they’re made in the USA, a factor I consider in all my purchases. While other brands have moved manufacturing abroad, KitchenAid mixers are still proudly made in Greenville, Ohio.
KitchenAid stand mixers are available in department stores, big box stores like Walmart, and the Official KitchenAid Amazon Store, where you get all the perks you’ve come to expect from Amazon, like fast, free shipping.
I had a Kitchen Aid years ago and sold it and bought a imported unit, a total fail and very expensive. What I will question with KA is the dough hook. What is it made out of and why is there a large support ring? The imported unit I bought had a heavy duty steel hook but it had a huge cap that collected any thing added, plus the cap was unnecessary. Just curious because I am going to buy a new unit.
Hello 🙂 My KitchenAid dough hook is stainless steel. There is no support ring and it is very easy to clean.