KitchenAid is the American brand of countertop kitchen machines that has been building stand mixers since 1919. Its hallmark is the planetary mixing action: the shaft turns one way and the attachment the other, so the beater reaches at least 59 points around the bowl and pushes the ingredients towards the centre without you having to scrape down. At Hiperchef you will find the tilt-head Classic and Artisan models with a 4.8-litre bowl, the bowl-lift Heavy Duty and Professional with NSF certification, the 1.19-litre food chopper and the genuine attachments: mincers, beaters and bowls.

Which KitchenAid stand mixers you will find at Hiperchef

Tilt-head: Classic and Artisan

The Classic stand mixer is the basic, timeless model: 10 speeds with a slide lever, from 1 for gentle folding through to 10 for beating at full speed, and a metal body. The Artisan series adds coloured enamel finishes, a 300 W direct-drive motor and a 4.8-litre stainless steel bowl with a handle (speeds from 58 to 220 rpm). There are three versions within food mixers and stand mixers:

• Artisan 125: 4.8 L bowl, flat beater, wire whip and dough hook.
• Artisan 175: adds a second 3-litre bowl, a pouring shield and a flex edge beater.
• Artisan 185: the most recent design, with a rounded head, metal controls, a zinc structure and a 5-year guarantee.

Bowl-lift: Heavy Duty and Professional

The 4.8-litre Heavy Duty swaps the tilt-head for a lever-operated bowl-lift, which is more stable for dense doughs and frequent use, with metal gears and metal controls. The Professional stand mixer is the brand's largest and most powerful: it carries NSF certification for commercial kitchens, a bowl guard, a stop button and a bowl secured with 3 locking points so that it does not vibrate while kneading.

Food chopper

The 1.19-litre food chopper has 2 speeds (chop and puree) plus a Pulse function, a stainless steel multipurpose blade, a built-in container for liquids and a whisk accessory for whipping cream or making mayonnaise.

Genuine KitchenAid attachments

A KitchenAid stand mixer can be extended with attachments that fit onto the head or replace the standard beaters:

• Mincer attachment with coarse (6 mm) and fine (4.5 mm) stainless steel mincing plates, a removable tray and a food pusher; dishwasher-safe.
• Metal mincer attachment with three discs (3, 4.5 and 8 mm), two sausage stuffer tubes and a cleaning brush; compatible with models 5KSM3311X, 5K45SS, 5KSM45, 5KSM95, 5KSM125, 5KSM175PS, 5KSM180-185, 5KSM150PS-156, 5KPM5, 5KSM7580X, 5KSM7591X and 5KSM7990X. Both are listed under mincers and mixers.
• Flex edge K beater: nylon-coated aluminium with a silicone edge that scrapes the sides of the bowl as it mixes.
• 4.7-litre glass bowl with a pouring spout, engraved measurement markings and a silicone lid; microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe (29 x 29 x 24 cm).

The flex edge beater and the glass bowl fit the 5K45SS, 5KSM45, 5KSM95, 5KSM125, 5KSM175PS, 5KSM180-185 and 5KSM150PS-156 stand mixers.

How to choose your KitchenAid

For everyday home baking, the Classic or the Artisan 125 will handle sponge cakes, meringues and bread doughs with plenty in reserve. If you often prepare two mixtures back to back, or work with small quantities, the Artisan 175 with its extra 3-litre bowl saves on washing up. For sourdough, large batches or intensive daily use, the bowl-lift on the Heavy Duty brings more stability, and in professional catering the Professional with NSF certification is the only model in the range designed for commercial kitchens.

Use and maintenance

The stainless steel bowls, the flat beater and the dough hook are dishwasher-safe (top rack); the wire whip and the pouring shield should be washed by hand. The metal body is cleaned with a damp cloth. Always start at speed 1 and work upwards to avoid splashes, and do not strain the motor with high speeds on stiff doughs: speed 2 is the recommended setting for kneading bread.

Frequently asked questions about KitchenAid

What is the difference between the KitchenAid Classic and the Artisan?

The Classic is the basic model, with 10 speeds and a metal body. The Artisan adds a 300 W direct-drive motor, a 4.8-litre stainless steel bowl with a handle, coloured enamel finishes and, depending on the version (125, 175 or 185), a second 3-litre bowl, a pouring shield or a flex edge beater.

What is KitchenAid's planetary mixing action?

It is the mixing system used by KitchenAid stand mixers: the shaft turns in one direction and the attachment in the other, so the beater reaches at least 59 points around the bowl and pushes the ingredients towards the centre to combine them without scraping down.

Which KitchenAid is best for kneading bread or stiff doughs?

The bowl-lift models, the Heavy Duty and the Professional, are the most stable for dense doughs and frequent use. The Professional, with NSF certification, a bowl guard and a stop button, is the only one designed for commercial kitchens.

Which KitchenAid attachments are compatible with my stand mixer?

The flex edge K beater and the 4.7-litre glass bowl fit the 5K45SS, 5KSM45, 5KSM95, 5KSM125, 5KSM175PS, 5KSM180-185 and 5KSM150PS-156 models. The metal mincer attachment adds compatibility with the 5KSM3311X, 5KPM5, 5KSM7580X, 5KSM7591X and 5KSM7990X.

Are KitchenAid attachments dishwasher-safe?

Yes, with a few exceptions: the stainless steel bowl, the flat beater, the dough hook, the flex edge beater, the glass bowl and the mincer attachment are dishwasher-safe (top rack). The wire whip and the pouring shield should be washed by hand.

What guarantee does the KitchenAid Artisan 185 come with?

The KitchenAid Artisan 185 stand mixer comes with a 5-year guarantee and a zinc metal structure built to last.