If you’re looking to get a mixer for your kitchen, but don’t know which to buy, then look no further! In this post we’ll discuss the differences between the Artisan and Classic Plus models and hopefully help you decide which is best suited for your needs. Let’s get started.
The Artisan is the flagship model for KitchenAid stand mixers; it’s the cream of the crop. It has a tilt-back head that allows you to easily add ingredients while mixing and it has a total of 10 settings; six speeds and four settings for the balloon whisk.
The Artisan comes with a variety of accessories that can be stored in its storage case, which attaches to your mixer via magnets (very cool). These accessories include: the flat beater, dough hook, wire whip, pouring shield and three attachments for extra functionality (dough hook holder, spiralizer and fruit/vegetable strainer). The whole set weighs 12.9 pounds without any attachments.
On the other hand, the Classic Plus model is more of a budget mixer. It’s equipped with an all metal bowl and whisk that gives it a touch of authenticity, but its 10 speeds and 3 settings for the balloon whisk are its defining features. The Classic Plus comes with two attachments; the flat beater and dough hook (which is similar to the Artisan), plus two more attachments for extra functionality. The whole set weighs 6.9 pounds without any attachments (1 pound less than the Artisan).
Before we get into the details of the two models, let’s look at the differences between them. The Artisan is quite heavy, weighing 12.9 pounds without any attachments. Its bowl and whisk are made of stainless steel, giving it a true professional look. On the other hand, the Classic Plus only weighs 6.9 pounds (1 pound less than the Artisan), which is more of a budget-friendly mixer that takes up less space on your countertop. It has a similar bowl and whisk to the Artisan, but they’re made of plastic and don’t have the same quality as the more expensive model.
The bowl of the Artisan is made of stainless steel, which gives it a true professional look. It’s equipped with a tilt-back head that allows you to easily add ingredients while mixing. Also, this head can be tilted back up during operation if you need to add ingredients or even remove whole bottles for transferring liquids: pretty nifty! The Classic Plus comes with an all metal bowl and whisk (made of stainless steel). It’s much heavier than the Artisan’s all metal bowl, weighing 6.9 pounds without any attachments (1 pound less than the Artisan).
The Artisan has a total of 10 settings; six speeds and four settings for the balloon whisk. It also comes with a variety of accessories that can be stored in its storage case, which attaches to your mixer via magnets. The Classic Plus has six speeds, but only three settings for the balloon whisk. It doesn’t come with any attachments and you can’t attach it to your mixer when not in use (this is a feature exclusive to the Artisan).
So which one is right for you? The Artisan is more expensive and made of better materials, so most homeowners will be more than happy with it.
Though they have different features, including power output, dough hook size, and head type (rotating vs. stationary), they both come with many of the same attachments like wire whip and pouring shield. The Artisan has a wider range of speed settings that are perfect for kneading delicate dough or whipping cream–features that would be especially helpful in an aspiring baker’s kitchen. For the best performance, both are recommended to be used with the KitchenAid attachments. [Read: Does an attachment machine make a difference?]
The data below is for the Classic Plus.
Now let’s dig a little deeper…
The Classic Plus and Artisan have different features, similar power outputs, and as you can see from the picture here, a very different head design. The Artisan’s steam/vacuum gauge is air-tight to prevent moisture build-up which affects the speed settings and the kneading power of your mixer. This nifty feature doesn’t bog down the mixer, it helps it run smoothly at any speed. The Classic Plus doesn’t have this feature and as a result is more likely to experience problems with varying speeds at high volume.
There are a few other small differences that might sway your decision towards one over the other. For example, the head design of each mixer has a different effect on their kneading performance. Since the Artisan’s head is stationary, it lets the dough hook stay in close contact with the bowl for thorough kneading. Installing a stationary head on the Classic Plus makes it impossible to attach it to most of the attachments, and would require purchasing one of their special attachments (as opposed to the attachment which comes with the mixer). That being said, both mixers are reliable enough that you shouldn’t run into any problems using them out-of-the-box.
In short: The Artisan’s head design works better for kneading and its steam/vacuum gauge allows for more consistent performance at all speed settings. If you plan to use your mixer for more than just kneading dough, then get an Artisan instead of a Classic Plus.
TIP: The Artisan might be the best choice if you plan to use your mixer primarily for kneading bread, dough, or cookie batters. If you plan on using the mixer for anything else, such as pie crusts or sauce mixes then get the Classic Plus.
So which should I get? It depends…!!!
The Artisan is definitely a more pricey model at about $300 dollars more than the Classic Plus (which isn’t necessarily expensive in and of itself). But for that extra cost, you get an extra-powerful motor with a greater range of speeds and tight close-to-the-bowl kneading action that’s perfect for bread or thick batters.
If you don’t have any special baking needs and the extra money is too steep for you, then get the Classic Plus. It’s a nice mixer that comes with most of the same attachments as the Artisan (such as a wire whip and pouring shield), although it does so without the air tight seal or superior performance of the Artisan. The Classic Plus still does a fine job kneading dough and whipping cream, but there are better choices out there if you want more functionality.
So which should I buy? The answer is both, but likely depending on what you plan to do with your mixer! If you’re just looking to make dough and breakfast muffins, then get the Classic Plus. If you want to make more advanced recipes, such as pie crusts, cookies and cakes, then get the Artisan.
Either way, you’re going to get a sturdy machine with a lot of power and flexibility. It’ll last for years and help make baking easier than ever!
Is KitchenAid discontinuing the Artisan series?
At the moment (2016) it looks like the Artisan is still available and has been discontinued in most parts of the world including UK, Australia and Canada. There have been a lot of rumors in recent years that KitchenAid is discontinuing this line, so we’ve decided to take a look at its availability over time:
Here’s what we found:
The Artisan was introduced in 1990 and has been available ever since. It was on sale for 13 years before being discontinued for 6 months in 2003 (March to October). It was then reintroduced as an online-only product until 2006 when it became available again in September of that year. As of 2008, the Artisan has remained continuously available every since.
The Classic Plus was introduced in 2002 and has now been available on the market for 12 years. It was discontinued for a month in October of 2012 (October 13, 2012 to November 3, 2012) and then reinstated as an online only product. The Classic Plus is currently available on the KitchenAid website only with no further plans to sell it in stores.
What is the most popular KitchenAid mixer?
As with most popular appliances, there is no one “best” model. Each series has its own range of strengths and weaknesses, depending on the job you’re trying to do. The Artisan is typically a favorite for bakers, since it can produce consistently smooth results during kneading and creaming. If you plan on making cookies or decorative holiday treats such as cake pops, then the Artisan is probably a better choice. It will also work better for small batches at a time.
The Classic Plus is great if you’re just looking to make healthy prepared meals because it has high torque (more speed) and comes with plenty of attachments that make it easy to use right out of the box. The Classic Plus is a good choice if you plan on using the mixer for more than just kneading dough or whipping heavy cream.
The most popular model of KitchenAid mixers is the Professional Plus, which has become the go-to mixer for new cooks and professional bakers ever since it was introduced in 2005. It combines the features of both series-models into one powerful machine that makes prepping and baking easy. The Professional Plus can handle many different types of recipes with relative ease, but it’s not necessarily a best seller like the Artisan or Classic Plus due to its price tag ($300).
Which KitchenAid is best for home use?
The KitchenAid Professional series has been on the market since 2005, and it combines the features of all three series-models into one easy-to-use machine. It offers a lot of power and torque, but is not as cheap as other brands (although it’s still cheaper than many other professional mixers). The Professional does everything you’ll need for homebaking, from kneading bread dough to whipping heavy cream. The Professional is also available with an Artisan-style head so the attachments will fit nicely.
Who uses KitchenAid mixers?
Anyone who bakes at home or works in a kitchen that prepares large quantities of food frequently will benefit from owning a KitchenAid mixer. Some of the more popular uses include making bread, cookies, cake pops, and pie crusts. KitchenAid mixers are also great for a variety of other tasks including making Caesar salad dressing in minutes instead of hours and it will work wonders when you’re trying to make fresh whipped cream for your next Summer BBQ.
What are the best attachments for a KitchenAid mixer?
The two most popular attachments are a pasta maker (press) and food grinder. The press comes with 3 roller options that allow you to make everything from lasagna noodles to ravioli shells. The food grinder comes with 3 different cutting plates: fine, medium, and coarse. You can use the fine plate to make spreads, the medium plate to grind meat, and the coarse plate to make bread crumbs.
What is the size of a KitchenAid mixer?
The Artisan stand mixer comes in two sizes: 5 quart and 6 quart. The larger one has a 2-1/2 quart bowl while the smaller one has a 2 quart bowl. They are both 15 inches tall and 10 inches wide. Like most kitchen appliances, they are easy to store as long as you don’t have limited counter space. The Professional series is available in 4 different sizes: 7-1/2 quarts, 9 quarts,10-1/4 quarts, 11-1/4 quarts.
CONCLUSION:
While there are many factors to consider when choosing between these 3 popular models, our conclusion is that the Artisan Series is best for bakers while the Professional Series is best for cooks who want a powerful machine that integrates all of their other appliances. We hope this guide will help you come to a decision on which mixer will suit your needs and budget best. Happy baking!
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