I’m going to tell you the truth…I LOVE my Kitchenaid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer. I have the Empire Red model pictured above. I’ve had it for a number of years now and I use it constantly.
The sleek design, the pop of color and durability have made this mixer a kitchen status symbol, displayed proudly on valuable counter space even in small apartments, rather than stored away in a cabinet.
This brand is so iconic that Julia Child’s blue KitchenAid is in “her” kitchen recreated by The Smithsonian Institute for the National Museum of American History.
Despite it’s pretty face, this thing is a workhorse. Throughout its 100 year history, the KitchenAid has proven to be a piece of culinary equipment that is incredibly strong and reliable. It has been a trusted brand name with some of the highest customer ratings for any product sold online.
In addition to the stellar reputation and high demand, the pricing of their mixer product line remains affordable and accessible to virtually any home chef, as well as the professional chefs, bakers and foodies who have invested in a KitchenAid appliance.
The History of Kitchenaid Mixers
The history of Kitchenaid Mixers began with a company called The Hobart Electric Manufacturing Company.
Hobart was founded in 1897 by Clarence Charles Hobart out of Troy Ohio. They specialized in creating powered food production machines for the foodservice industry.
In 1914 Herbert Johnston, an engineer working for the Hobart Corporation, came up with the
concept of an industrial size electric free-standing mixer for the foodservice industry.
The original 80 quart mixer was called the Hobart and proudly served on U.S.Navy battleships in World War I.
In 1918 The Hobart Corporation began testing a new brand new product – A smaller version of The Hobart, intended for home use. The KitchenAid trademark was registered with the U.S. Patent Office in 1919.
That same year, the mixer that will win “Oldest Running Hobart Mixer Contest” in 1990 is built and sold to Von Hatten’s Bakery in Fort Smith, AR.
The home models were pricey at $189.00 (the equivalent of $2,800 when adjusted for inflation) and heavy (65 pounds!). Many stores wouldn’t stock them because of the price so Hobart sold them door to door, using a mostly female workforce.
The brand struggled to catch on due to the high cost and stiff competition. The current silhouette was introduced in the 1930s by an industrial designer named Egmont Arens and when eye popping colors were introduced in 1955, the brand took off. The rest, as they say, is history.
My Glorious Artisan Kitchenaid Mixer
The wonderful thing about the Artisan Kitchenaid Mixer is it’s versatility. It comes with flat beater paddle, dough hook, wire whip, splash shield, and a stainless steel bowl.. It has 10 speeds and a tilt head design that allows for easy access to the bowl.
- This is the primary multi-purpose beater and should be used for heavy mixtures such as:
Cakes- Frostings
- Cookies
- Meat loaf
- Mashed potatoes
- Shredding cooked chicken, pork or beef
- The Wire Whip is meant primarily for incorporating air into:
Eggs- Egg whites
- Whipping cream
- Some candies
- Angel food cake
- Mayonnaise
- Making butter
- The dough hook is used for kneading yeast dough such as:
Bread- Coffeecakes
- Pizza dough
- Buns
- Pasta dough
These are only a few examples of the usefulness of this mixer. All the ways to use these included attachments are limited only by your imagination.
Kitchenaid Mixer Attachments
Did someone say attachments? Ohhhhhh, my! This is where things really heat up.
These 14 attachments will make you rethink the way you cook.
You’ll be able to grind your own meat and poultry to insure that you get the quality and fat content you desire.
Pasta making will be a one stop project!
Vegetables? Slice ’em, dice ’em, grate ’em, spirilize ’em, noodle ’em or puree ’em–anyway you want. (Did I just hear you humming the tune to “Anyway You Want It”?)
Oh, and don’t forget to make some ice cream for desert!
These attachments will fit any Kitchenaid Mixer, no matter the model or when it was manufactured. It will fit your mixer, your neighbors mixer (yeah, you better hide ’em), they’ll even fit the mixer Grandma left you in her will. Kitchenaid actually GUARANTEES it!
Attachments:
Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment
Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachment
7 Blade Spiralizer with Peel, Core and Slice
Food Processor with Commercial Style Dicing Kit
Vegetable Sheet Cutter Attachment with Noodle Blade
But, wait! There’s more! After you’ve picked out your perfect set of attachments, let’s look into their assortment of mixing bowls.
Your Kitchenaid is a thing of beauty, a sleek, shining piece of art on your countertop but now you can make it even more alluring with a decorative mixing bowl!
The ceramic bowls are titanium reinforced to resist chipping, cracking, crazing and staining, and is guaranteed with a 5-year no-chip limited warranty. They’re freezer, microwave, dishwasher and oven (up to 475°F) -safe.
The glass bowls are freezer, diswasher and microwave friendly (although they may break more easily than the ceramic style). Both styles fit the locking mechanism of any of the tilt head models.
Bowls:
Clear Glass Bowl with Measurement Markings and Lid
Quilted Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Ink Watercolor
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Black Textured
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Black Tapestry
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: White Gardenia
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Winterberry
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: White Chocolate
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: While Chocolate Textured
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Gingko Leaf
By now, I’m sure you’ve worked up quite a thirst so I think it’s time to make yourself a nice, cold glass of juice. You’re welcome.
The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a true classic. It’s original design was so well done it has needed very few alterations since they first entered the market. They come in a full range of attractive colors and possess an accessibility that anyone can handle.
From the young, eager chefs just entering the kitchen to professional chefs who want a quality product, these mixers are quintessential examples of an industrial-grade machine disguised in a pretty color.. This wide appeal is what helps make KitchenAid mixers the standout among other mixing appliances.
All my best,
Cynthia
Hi
I liked reading about this, nice to see it was from your point of view stating the quality of the product as you have one yourself. I may have to look into having one myself if I had the room for it:)
Larisa, I’m glad you found my article helpful and I really hope you can find the room for one. It’s a fantastic piece of machinery!
Hi Cynthia, very nice and complete review for Kitchenaid Artisan series, I found a little word missing in the following sentence ‘The brand struggled to catch on until… due’ The dots are for the missing word maybe ‘recently’? Otherwise all good.
Thanks for the comments and the heads up on the typo. All fixed now! Have a great day!
Thank you for such a detailed review of the Kitchen Aid mixer. Very informative from an actual user instead of a paid company advertisement.
Thank you! I do love my mixer!