If you are a casual baker or cook or someone who really thrives in the kitchen, a stand mixer is a must-have. These handy appliances are great for more than just mixing dough for bread and cookies. Most standing mixers have attachments for making pasta, grinding meat, and much more.
Two of the biggest names out there are KitchenAid and Cuisinart. Their mixers are top-rated, tried-and-true appliances that will make baking and cooking a breeze. But which is the better choice?
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When deciding between these two brands, it can be hard to decide based just on what the mixer looks like, its extra features, price, etc. Performance is the bottom line when it comes to purchasing an appliance. After all, what’s the point in investing in something that doesn’t work as well as you need it to?
KitchenAid
This brand (specifically the KitchenAid Artisan) knocks it out of the ballpark when it comes to getting every bit in the bowl thoroughly mixed. The shape of the bowl makes it easier for the beaters to combine every ingredient at the bottom and sides to ensure nothing is left behind.
Cuisinart
Cuisinart comes close to its competitor’s performance. It can keep up in every way, but it does leave some bits of dough behind in several tests. Whether this is because of the bowl shape or a flaw in the machine, it still does a fine job blending ingredients together.
Features
Both brands of mixers come with a whisk, paddle, and dough hook. KitchenAid’s KSM 150 comes with a shield, and the Cuisinart model has a splash guard. Both the shield and the splash guard are helpful while the mixer is in use to prevent annoying extra cleanup.
KitchenAid
The company is constantly making new attachments for their stand mixers. While it is an investment, it pays off with the ability to use this appliance for multiple aspects of cooking (and saves you space by not having to buy numerous other appliances that do what a small accessory on a KitchenAid mixer can do).
Some of the extras you can buy for your KitchenAid stand mixer are a meat grinder, frozen dessert maker, and numerous accessories for making pasta. These aren’t just for baking cookies!
Swapping out attachments is easy: simply remove the nameplate on the front of the mixer after unscrewing the knob on the side. Be careful, though, the nameplate is small, and you don’t want to lose it.
Cuisinart
Cuisinart may not have as many extra attachments, but you can still buy the basics for creating pasta, meat, and dessert recipes. The 5.5-quart bowl is the largest of any kitchen mixer and has a handle to make things just a little easier for you.
One of the best things about Cuisinart’s mixer is that it has 12 speeds (KitchenAid has 10). The lowest speeds are slow enough that you don’t have to worry about ingredients flying everywhere when you add them to the bowl while the machine is going.
Design and Appearance
Both brands of mixers have an adorable, retro appearance that fits in any kitchen. Mixers are large and will most likely be displayed prominently on your countertops. After checking out the specs of each mixer, it’s time to move on to the appliance’s aesthetics.
KitchenAid
KitchenAid’s mixers come in a variety of colors, over a dozen, in fact! With that many choices, there’s a shade out there that is sure to be perfect for your kitchen.
These mixers are known for their vintage, timeless design. Modern touches like a stainless steel bowl and metal accents combine to create an appliance that looks as good as it works.
Cuisinart
Cuisinart’s mixers do not have the wide range of color options like its counterpart, but that doesn’t mean it won’t look good in your kitchen!
These mixers have a polished stainless steel bowl and accents that will fit right in with the rest of your kitchen appliances. The overall vintage design is delightful.
Price
After reading reviews and comparing the two brands, the price may be the deciding factor when picking a mixer.
KitchenAid’s mixers are generally several hundred dollars more expensive that Cuisinart’s appliances. Both mixers perform about the same and have the durability to last for years to come. The biggest difference seems to be that with KitchenAid, you have a broader choice of colors and attachments.
Both brands have made a name for themselves as makers of reliable, durable kitchen appliances. In the end, it’s up to you to decide which is the better fit for you and your home.
For me it really comes down to the KitchenAid Power Hub attachments. Those accessories are the best and really push KitchenAid over the edge for me. Cuisinart is great, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think anyone can compare to KitchenAid’s versatility.