Ever wonder if a KitchenAid Mixer is worth it? We promise you’re wondering no more once you discover the features, benefits, and of course, limitations of the two different models. The 5 quart model (KSM150PSER) has been available for a few years now, and it’s become one of our favorite mixers for new bakers or folks who bake infrequently. The 7 quart model (KSM175PPER) is an upgraded version that includes a power hub for use with other KitchenAid stand-alone appliances such as food processors.
Both these mixers are fantastic and make baking utterly effortless. But depending on the size of your kitchen and baking needs, one of them may be the better fit for you. Read on for details about what makes these two models different and which may be right for your kitchen.
Anatomy of a KitchenAid Mixer
With all the options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to decide which KitchenAid mixer is right for you. One quick way to narrow down your choices is to look at what attachments each model comes with and how they stack up against each other.
Let’s take a look at the anatomy of both models and what is different between them.
When you open up a KitchenAid 5 quart stand mixer, you’ll find the motor, bowl and beater assembly (which we’ve already mentioned). Inside the motor housing is the motor, which is powered by an over-speed protection device. The heart of this machine is its five quart stainless steel bowl. The bowl also has a rim that keeps it from getting too hot on warm mix sessions (which can lead to rusting). All these pieces are connected via gears, shafts and belts.
The beater assembly is one of the things that really sets KitchenAid mixers apart from its competition. It consists of a flat beater, dough hook, and optional convex beater depending on which model you purchase (for comparison, the KitchenAid 7-quart mixer only comes with a flat beater). This nifty piece of equipment ensures that even vigorous mixing won’t leave bits unincorporated in your batter.
On the other hand, the KitchenAid 7 quart stand mixer has most of these same pieces – except it comes with a more powerful 3-peak horsepower motor. This gives it more speed and power for mixing heavy doughs, cookie batters, icings, etc. The steel bowl on the 7 quart mixer is also larger so you can handle baking projects with more ease.
The attachments for the 7 quart mixer are also different than those of the 5 quart mixer: It comes with a pasta rollers & cutter set, a food grinder and a sausage stuffer & tubes. For people who plan to do a lot of food prep or regularly dye their own yarns, these attachments may be worth considering. Otherwise, it’s easy enough to find these pieces on their own if you need them later on down the line.
Both the 5 quart mixer and the 7 quart mixer come with a flat beater, dough hook and wire whip as attachments (the flat beater, dough hook and wire whip are included on all KitchenAid stand-alone mixers). However, the 5 quart mixer comes with a convex beater (which is like a smaller dough hook) while the 7-quart model comes with a pasta roller set.
When you’re finished with your project, clean up is incredibly easy. Simply remove any attachments and pop them in the dishwasher. Then detach your bowl from the motor base by simply lifting it off.
On the other hand, the 5 quart mixer’s bowl is attached to the motor base, which means you have to disassemble your whole mixing setup before you can wash it. For easy cleaning, you’ll want to make sure you can easily wash your bowl and attachments in a dishwasher.
Both KitchenAid mixers also come with a wire whip that connects from one side of the machine (though the attachment’s knob on one side only). This allows for some fun kitchen tricks by making that wire whip into a hopper for mini muffin pans and releasing them into a baking sheet. Remember, these mixers can be used as stand-alones or with other KitchenAid appliances. You’re not limited to just one appliance.
Is 5-quart mixer big enough?
First, let’s make it clear that both models of KitchenAid mixers are big. Not only are they big, but they’re also heavy, which can be a challenge for some kitchen counters or cabinets. That being said, a 5 quart mixer is perfect for people who bake very infrequently or have small kitchens (ideal for apartments and small homes).
If you don’t need the extra dimension that comes with the 7 quart mixer (or you have an insulated kitchen), then 5 quart mixer is enough to provide you with all the power and ease-of-use you could expect.
As we mentioned in our guide to choosing a stand mixer, picking a model based purely on size isn’t always the best idea. That’s because the overall quality and features of a mixer come down to its motor, bowl and attachments. In the end, these are what determine how much work you can do in one session. Especially for infrequent bakers, making extra passes with sticky dough isn’t all that bad (and you’re already ahead of the game because you’re baking more often)!
Does 5-quart mixer have enough power?
Power is another important factor to consider when choosing between models. This is especially true since both models are very powerful machines. The 7 quart model packs a 3-peak horsepower motor while the 5 quart model boasts 2 horsepower (this translates to 2 peak HP). They can both handle a wide range of projects from bread to meat.
With that said, if you plan to create a lot of heavy doughs, batter or ice cream, then the 7 quart mixer may be worth considering. It ensures you have enough power on tap for all your baking needs and kneading is done with ease. Just don’t expect the 5 quart mixer to heat up your kitchen (it’s not designed for that).
How much dough can a 7 qt mixer make?
Let’s take a look at the kitchen appliance industry and how it’s developed over time. In the ’70s, mixers were designed for volume mixing. Nowadays, most mixers are designed for convenience (and efficiency) and can handle more types of mixing jobs.
KitchenAid stand-alone mixers make up for this by being very powerful. Mixing your dough is no problem with these machines! It also makes it easy to switch from one mode to another without having to change bowls or attachments. The 7 quart mixer has a removable bowl, so you can wash the bowl from time to time (to keep it looking nice).
What size KitchenAid is best?
If you’re planning to do a lot of baking, then the 7 quart mixer might be worth considering. However, this model is more expensive and your counter might not have enough space for it. If you’re mainly mixing ice cream, cookie dough or preparing spaghetti sauces (on a weekly basis), then the 5 quart mixer will get the job done just fine. Most people don’t need a more powerful machine.
How big is the 5 qt KitchenAid mixer?
As mentioned, the 5 quart mixer is the same size as many stand alone mixers. This means you can use it on its own or stack it with other KitchenAid appliances such as the stand mixer or hand mixer. It’s light enough to be easily moved around, but it still feels sturdy enough to hold up under heavy use. The only thing that may put you off a little is that it doesn’t come with a pasta roller or a meat grinder attachment (if you really have no use for these options).
Other than that, the 5 quart mixer comes with everything else you could want: dough hook, flat beater and round beater, wire whip and smaller dough hook. It also has a reinforced cast iron base, which will ensure the mixer stays in place during use.
How big is a 7 qt KitchenAid mixer?
As mentioned, the 7 quart model is larger than its 5 quart counterpart (keep in mind the ‘quart’ refers to an imperial gallon). This means your counter space may be limited depending on where your stand-alone mixer will live at home.
Additionally, this model isn’t as light as the 5 quart mixer and it comes with more attachments as standard. We cover that later and you’ll see why you might want to leave them in their boxes for now.
CONCLUSION:
Considering the advantages of appliances such as these, it becomes very clear that a 7 quart mixer is an excellent investment. Having money to spend on kitchen appliances doesn’t necessarily equal better quality, but in this case it does. If you plan to use your mixer more than once per week then the extra space and power are well worth the extra cost. It’s also important to note that a 7 quart mixer is not limited to just one particular recipe (as some models may be). It can handle multiple tasks at once and multiply their output in no time. This means you’ll be able to prepare more food at once rather than using pepper or other kitchen utensils for multiple tasks (such as mixing batters or doughs).
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