KitchenAid’s stand mixer is one of the most iconic kitchen appliances ever made, so much so they own a trademark for its easily recognizable silhouette. Now, the long-running food prep staple is getting one of its most substantial updates in the form of the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer.
Billed as an “evolution” of the classic tilt-head mixer, the new appliance brings a smattering of what the outfit calls “breakthrough enhancements.” We’re talking about stuff like LED bowl lighting, a double-flex edge beater, and more precise speed controls, including a 1/2 speed setting for those times when even the lowest mixer speed is still too aggressive for the job.
The KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer looks like any of the outfit’s classic tilt-head mixers until you start looking at it a little closer. First thing you’ll notice is the new speed control, which consists of a lever that you can move between 11 different presets, including a 1/2 speed setting that finally gives users an even slower speed than those from previous models, making it usable for working with more delicate mixtures. The lever, by the way, comes with a knob at the end that can be rotated a quarter turn to lock it in place, ensuring you don’t accidentally change the setting while doing all sorts of other tasks while it’s running.
Inside, the changes are even more significant. While old versions used an electromechanical control system beneath all that housing, the new one is fitted with a microcontroller-based system that even uses a Hall effect sensor for more precise operation. They also put in a LED light to point straight down into the bowl, so you can see what’s being mixed even with less-than ideal lighting in the kitchen. According to the outfit, they fine-tuned the color temperature and intensity of the light to make the ingredients look as appetizing as possible, by the way, so it showcases the food as much as it illuminates. The light, by the way, automatically turns off when you tilt the head up, although there are also manual controls if you prefer going that route.
The KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer also includes a new double-flex edge beater that, the outfit explains, uses the silicone edges to scrape the side of the bowl while it mixes. Sadly, the new accessory is only compatible with this model, since it requires the updated electronics to detect extra friction, which it uses to adjust the motor’s power accordingly and maintain the desired operating speed. It further puts that microcontroller to work with a “soft start” feature that gradually ramps up to the desired mixing speed to minimize any kind of splatter.
Like other versions of the outfit’s stand mixer, it comes with a bevy of stainless steel accessories, including a mixing bowl, a wire whisk, a dough hook, and a flat beater, all of which are safe to throw in the dishwasher. The appliance is available in 15 different colorways, including four that are exclusive to the model, namely sundried tomato, wild blueberry, iron ore bronze, and oat.
The KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer is available now, priced at $599.99.
