The Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer was my top pick overall in my larger tested review of the best KitchenAid stand mixers. Here’s how the iconic model earned such high marks.
It’s hard to go wrong with any of KitchenAid’s stand mixers. Thanks to their premium construction and timeless design, all of the brand’s iconic models are top-of-the-line machines that could easily earn a permanent spot on your kitchen countertop. After subjecting five leading KitchenAid models to a series of culinary tests, though, I can confidently declare the Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer to be the very best KitchenAid mixer overall. This streamlined, versatile mixer met every one of my recipes—whipped cream, kitchen sink cookies, pizza dough and sponge cake—with both power and precision, proving this bestselling model is deserving of its status.
Thanks to its power and versatility, the Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is the ... [+]
Featuring a 5-quart capacity that’s perfect for home kitchens, the Artisan passed all my tests with flying colors. When I made the loaded kitchen sink cookies, it expertly incorporated all the mix-ins and left behind no clumps of ingredients, yielding cookies with evenly dispersed raisins, chocolate chips, walnuts, coconut and oats. In the pizza dough test, the machine didn’t bounce around at all as it kneaded the stiff dough into a smooth ball. I also found it easy to add more ingredients when necessary and swap out attachments, thanks to the Artisan’s intuitive tilt-head style that also makes the entire machine streamlined.
Alongside the standard included attachments—a flat beater, wire whisk and dough hook—this model also includes an innovative pouring shield that I found especially effective at preventing ingredients from splattering. The hardest part of the shopping process, once you decide to invest in this model, is deciding which color you want: The Artisan comes in 27 attractive hues, one (or many) of which is certain to beautifully fit your kitchen aesthetic.
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer Features
Powerful And Versatile
Whether you want to whip up rich buttercream or knead together stiff bread dough, the Artisan is up to the task. During testing, I was thoroughly impressed by the mixer’s versatility—it mixed everything, delicate cake batter and stiff bread dough alike, just perfectly. When I used the included wire whisk to make whipped cream on high speed, none of the heavy cream splattered over the sides; after running the machine for 5 minutes, my bowl was full of soft, billowing peaks. During my kitchen sink cookie test, the paddle attachment evenly incorporated all my mix-ins thoroughly; while I figured I might find a dry spot or clumps of raisins, I was proven wrong. When I used the dough hook to knead pizza dough at high speeds, the Artisan didn’t bounce around my countertop, as many inferior machines do. Instead, the mixer’s body remained steady as it mixed the dough into a tight ball that yielded airy, crispy pizza dough.
When it was time to be gentle, the Artisan responded accordingly—and proficiently. Using the paddle attachment, I prepared a traditional sponge cake batter, which is a relatively finicky mixture; if you overwork the batter, which is easy to do in a stand mixer, your cake can become tough or it can collapse. The cake that the Artisan yielded was impossibly light and tender. In fact, I went on to enjoy it with my fresh whipped cream and some macerated strawberries for a simple yet elegant dessert.
Intuitive To Use
The Artisan is a tilt-head machine, which means the mixing bowl locks into the base of the body and the head tilts backward. Overall, I found this style incredibly easy to use. Throughout my testing, I used every one of the included attachments—the beater, whisk and dough hook—and when it came time to swap them out, I had no trouble removing them. While I typically removed the bowl to do this, I was able to change the attachments while the bowl remained locked in place. It was also a cinch to stop the machine so I could scrape down the sides of the bowl or add in more ingredients.
The Artisan Series 5-Quart mixer had no trouble incorporating all the kitchen sink cookie mix-ins.
That said, the Artisan comes with a tool that makes it easy to add ingredients to the mixer as it’s running: a clear plastic pouring shield. Not only does this attachment fit on top of the bowl to keep ingredients from flying out while the machine runs, but it also features a tapered spout on its side where you can easily add ingredients. I found this tool especially handy when making pizza dough, as it allowed me to add flour to the mixer as it kneaded the sticky dough—and prevented a major mess.
Streamlined For Home Kitchens
One of the biggest challenges of adding a KitchenAid mixer to your kitchen arsenal is making the space for it. And though the Artisan isn’t the brand’s smallest model—that award goes to the Artisan Mini, which is a fantastic model for beginners or occasional bakers—its streamlined tilt-head style makes it easier to move and store than bowl-lift models. Whereas models in the latter camp hover around 30 pounds and measure over 16 inches tall, the Artisan weighs 26 pounds and sits at about 14 inches tall. Additionally, in my testing, I found the Artisan to be just as efficient as a bowl-lift model with the same capacity: the Professional 5 Plus Series 5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. While the latter performed well across all my tests, I didn’t find that the extra pounds it had on the Artisan Series made it any more functional.
How Does The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer Compare?
This model gets gold stars across the board. In my culinary tests, the Artisan proved itself to be just as efficient and versatile as larger, more expensive models with nearly twice as much wattage. What makes this model so great for home kitchens, though, is its streamlined design. Because it’s more compact, it’s both easy to use and store. And though this mixer isn’t suited to tackle extra-large quantities, at no point during testing did I wish it were any bigger. A 5-quart capacity is plenty big for a wide range of baking projects, from delicate cakes to thick, dense breads. Plus, whereas the other models I tested came in 10 or so colors, the Artisan is available in 27 gorgeous hues, including Lavender Cream and the classic Empire Red.
How I Tested The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
To determine the best KitchenAid stand mixers, I put five different models (including the Artisan) through a series of culinary tests to see how well they handled a variety of doughs and batters. First up was whipped cream, which I made in the Artisan using the wire whisk. Because I alternated between medium and high speeds, this test helped me see how easy it was to change speed settings. I also noted how quickly the machine whipped the heavy cream into medium-stiff, airy peaks.
Next, I made chunky kitchen sink cookies to test the mixer’s ability to incorporate a variety of mix-ins: raisins, nuts, chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut. To see how the Artisan handled stiffer dough, I then challenged it to a batch of pizza dough. Because subpar stand mixers often bounce around on the countertop when mixing dense doughs, this test helped me evaluate the stability of each machine; if a machine bumped or shook, I took note of it. To finish, I made a decidedly more delicate recipe: a traditional sponge cake, during which I observed whether the Artisan overmixed the batter or gently folded the ingredients with necessary finesse.
My Expertise
As a former professional chef with experience working in catering and restaurant kitchens (plus my own home kitchen), I’ve used KitchenAid stand mixers extensively over the years to whip up both sweet and savory foods. I also have a degree in culinary arts from the Institute of Culinary Education. Using my training and experience, I’ve spent the past 5 years testing and reviewing different types of equipment for use in home kitchens. My work can be found in Food Network, Food & Wine, Taste of Home and People.com. For this piece, I also spoke with Joanne Chang, owner of Boston’s Flour Bakery & Cafe, and Jürgen David, director of pastry research and development at the Institute of Culinary Education.
What Is the Difference Between The Artisan Series Stand Mixer And The Classic Standard Mixer?
The Artisan Series 5-Quart Stand Mixer is similar in size and functionality to the Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer—the former is just slightly more elevated, designed for home cooks who want a bit more style and efficiency. To start, the Artisan has a 5-quart capacity, whereas the Classic mixer can accommodate 4.5 quarts. Additionally, the Artisan includes the handy pouring shield, which helps cut down on mess and makes it easier to add ingredients as the mixer runs. Both machines have the same number of mixing speeds, but the Artisan is slightly more powerful—it operates at 325 watts, while the Classic operates at 275 watts. Also, the Artisan is available in 27 vibrant colors, while the Classic is available only in black and white.
What Attachments Come With The Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer?
Alongside the 5-quart metal bowl, this mixer comes with a beater, dough hook, wire whisk and plastic pouring shield. That said, if you want to expand the machine’s functionality, the Artisan is compatible with KitchenAid’s varied suite of accessories that attach to the universal power hub on the head of its stand mixers—including the pasta maker and the meat grinder. Just note that additional attachments and accessories are sold separately.
What Is The Best Way To Clean The Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer?
All KitchenAid mixing bowls are dishwasher-safe, as are most of the standard baking attachments. For more delicate attachments, such as the wire whisk, hand-washing is recommended. It’s also important to clean the base and head of the mixer after use; to do so, simply wipe down the machine with a wet cloth.
