The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is a kitchen staple for novice and experienced home bakers. Known for its iconic design, durability, and versatility, this stand mixer can easily handle various cooking and baking tasks. Whether mixing dough, whipping cream, or making pasta, the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is designed to make your culinary endeavors more enjoyable and efficient. In this review, we’ll explore the design, features, performance, and overall value of the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 to help you decide if it’s the suitable mixer for your kitchen.
In this KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Review, we’ll take a look at:
Design and Build Quality
The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is instantly recognizable with its classic, elegant design that adds a touch of style to any kitchen. It can be customized in various colors to match your kitchen decor or personal taste.
- Iconic Design: The Artisan Series 5 features a timeless design with a sleek, smooth finish that complements any kitchen aesthetic. Its tilt-head design allows easy access to the mixing bowl, making adding ingredients or changing attachments simple.
- Durable Construction: This stand mixer is built to last with high-quality materials, including a sturdy metal frame and a robust motor. The solid construction ensures stability during operation, even when mixing heavy ingredients.
- Color Variety: One of the standout features of the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is its availability in over 20 different colors, allowing you to choose a model that best suits your kitchen’s style. From classic red to pastel blue, there’s a color for every preference.
Performance and Features
The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is not just about looks; it’s designed to deliver robust and consistent performance for all your mixing needs.
- 5-Quart Capacity: The 5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl is large enough to handle recipes that require up to 9 dozen cookies or 4 loaves of bread in a single batch, making it ideal for both small and large baking projects.
- Powerful Motor: Equipped with a 325-watt motor, the Artisan Series 5 provides plenty of power to mix thick batters and heavy doughs without straining. The direct drive transmission ensures efficient power delivery to the mixing attachments.
- 10 Speed Settings: The mixer offers 10 different speed settings, ranging from a slow stir to a fast whip, giving you precise control over the mixing process. Whether you’re gently folding ingredients or whipping egg whites to stiff peaks, the Artisan Series 5 can handle it.
- Versatile Attachments: The stand mixer has three standard attachments: a flat beater, a dough hook, and a wire whip. These attachments are designed to handle various tasks, from mixing cake batter to kneading bread dough and whipping cream. The tilt-head design makes swapping out attachments and accessing the bowl easy.
Ease of Use and Convenience
The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is designed with the user in mind, making it easy to operate and clean.
- Tilt-Head Design: The tilt-head feature allows the head of the mixer to tilt back, providing transparent access to the bowl and attachments. This design makes adding ingredients easier and checking your mixture’s consistency without removing the bowl.
- Easy to Clean: The stainless steel mixing bowl is dishwasher safe, and the attachments are easily cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher. The smooth finish of the mixer’s body also wipes clean easily, ensuring that maintenance is hassle-free.
- Planetary Mixing Action: The mixer features a unique planetary mixing action, where the beater moves in one direction while the shaft moves in the opposite direction. This ensures thorough mixing and even incorporation of ingredients, reducing the need to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Versatility and Expandability
One of the key advantages of the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is its versatility, which extends far beyond basic mixing tasks.
- Attachment Hub: The front of the mixer features a power hub that can accommodate over 10 optional attachments (sold separately). These attachments transform the mixer into a multipurpose kitchen tool, allowing you to make pasta, grind meat, spiralize vegetables, and more.
- Optional Attachments: Available attachments include a pasta roller and cutter, food grinder, ice cream maker, vegetable spiralizer, and more. This expandability makes the Artisan Series 5 a long-term investment that can grow with your culinary interests.
Price and Availability
The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is a premium stand mixer, and its price reflects its quality and durability.
- Price: The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 typically retails for around $429, though prices may vary depending on color and retailer. Its performance, durability, and versatility make it a worthwhile investment for serious home cooks and bakers.
- Availability: This stand mixer is widely available through significant kitchen appliance retailers, online marketplaces, and KitchenAid’s official website.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Iconic and Durable Design: The Artisan Series 5 is built to last with a timeless design that adds elegance to any kitchen.
- Powerful and Versatile: With a 325-watt motor and 10-speed settings, it easily handles various mixing tasks.
- Customizable and Expandable: Available in multiple colors and compatible with various optional attachments, the mixer can be tailored to suit your needs.
- Ease of Use: The tilt-head design and planetary mixing action make it user-friendly and efficient.
Cons:
- Premium Price: The Artisan Series 5 is priced higher than many other stand mixers, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious buyers.
- Heavy Weight: The mixer is quite heavy, which adds to its stability but can make it difficult to move or store in small kitchens.
- No Splash Guard Included: While the mixer is equipped with essential attachments, a splash guard needs to be included, which may be a drawback for some users.
Conclusion
The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is a standout choice for anyone serious about cooking and baking. Its powerful performance, durable construction, and versatility make it a valuable addition to any kitchen. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, the Artisan Series 5 can easily handle everything from whipping up light batters to kneading heavy doughs. While it comes with a premium price tag, its quality, longevity, and expandability make it a worthwhile investment for those who love to spend time in the kitchen. If you’re looking for a reliable and stylish stand mixer that can grow with your culinary skills, the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 is worth considering.
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 FAQ
Can the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Stand Mixer handle heavy dough like bread or pizza dough?
Yes, the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Stand Mixer has a powerful 325-watt motor and a dough hook attachment for kneading heavy doughs like bread and pizza dough. The mixer’s planetary mixing action ensures the dough is thoroughly kneaded, providing consistent results. It can handle up to 4.5 loaves of bread or 9 dozen cookies in a single batch, making it an excellent choice for serious bakers.
Are the attachments for the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 dishwasher safe?
Yes, the standard attachments with the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5, including the flat beater, wire whip, and dough hook, are dishwasher safe, making cleanup easy and convenient. The stainless steel mixing bowl is also dishwasher safe. For the best results, wash these items on the top rack of the dishwasher. After use, the mixer should be wiped down with a damp cloth to keep it clean and well-maintained.
What makes the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 different from other stand mixers?
The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 stands out due to its durable all-metal construction, powerful motor, and iconic design. It offers a high level of versatility with a wide range of optional attachments, allowing it to perform various tasks beyond mixing, such as making pasta, grinding meat, or spiraling vegetables. The tilt-head design provides easy access to the mixing bowl and attachments, making it user-friendly. Its 5-quart capacity is also large enough to handle most baking tasks, making it a favorite among home bakers and professional chefs.