KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield KSM150PS, Metallic Chrome

I just bought as a wedding gift for my young friend. She and her new husband are comingling their kitchens and this is the must have item to bring the new kitchen up to chef's standards. I have owned an Artisan since 2003. It gets regular use, for everything from whipped cream to semolina pasta dough (very stiff dough). It has never misbehaved and never let me down. The finish is still as shiny and unmarred as the day I bought it. The bowl and beaters are still solid, although the spatula beater and dough hook are a little dull. Here are some of my observations after using my stand mixer for 14 years. 1.The head will move a little bit with stiff dough. If it jumps a lot read the owners manual and make the necessary adjustments (to make sure the beater is at the correct level in the bowl). Very stiff dough will cause a little movement. That's why there is a lock on the head. 2.The only issue I have had with the mixer moving slightly with very stiff dough is the entire mixer slowly walking across my counter. This was worse on my previous porcelain tile counters but it does not move as much on my granite slab counters, maybe an inch over several minutes. In any case, if you are running the mixer for 10 minutes on a stiff bread dough, keep an eye on it. 3.The motor head will heat up with hard dough, high speed, or a long running time. This has never posed a problem. 4. The mixing bowl, when new, will need a good scrubbing to remove the factory polish material. Other posters here suggest salt or baking soda. I don't remember using anything other than dish soap and a scrubby pad and I have never had grey dough. 5. I have a few of the attachments. They are pricey and may or may not be worth the money (especially the roto cheese grater). I use the meat grinder the most. It grinds partially frozen cuts just fine. I ground up about 30 lbs of turkey very easily last winter, it just took a little time.The sausage stuffer is useful, especially since you can adjust the speed to your comfort level. The pasta extruder is pretty nifty. I can't think of a stand-alone appliance that is better for that (I used to have an stand-alone machine that mixed and extruded pasta but it took up a lot of counter acreage and it broke after about 10 uses). However, I don't think I would replace my crank pasta roller/cutter with the attachment, since it is so expensive and the manual crank one is easy to use.

35 years ago I got the larger KitchenAid to use in bread making and grinding flour, the one that cranks the bowl up. It was impressive in both power and construction but alas it now belongs to someone else. This is the little brother (325 watt vs 575 watt motor). It was also purchased for use in bread making and grinding flour. It has a couple of advantages over its big brother: (1) it fits on the counter under the cupboards and (2) the tilt head makes getting the mixing bowl in and out easier than was the case with the larger KitchenAid mixer. While the construction of this unit seems to be as good as the old one the assembly left a bit to be desired. The ring around the drive for the beaters was not properly seated (easily fixed) and the label band was not properly seated at the back where it is screwed to the housing, which took a little more work to fix properly. Finally, the slot for the anti-twist pin that all attachments have needed to be radiused on the bottom, the casting had excess material that prevented the pins from seating properly and needed to be cut away. Not too much work to fix. Otherwise it arrived in perfect condition. The mixing beaters work fine for mixing dry or sloppy ingredients. The dough hook works fine for a standard loaf of bread dough, not sure how it will do with dough for two loaves. The splatter shield leaves a lot to be desired. It does not attach to the bowl firmly, it is a bit warped so it does not sit down properly all the way around, and it needs to be held in place by hand. It isn't really needed if the speed is started slow and not raised too much while mixing ingredients. This part has been squirreled away in a dark place as a useless piece of equipment. To grind flour I purchased a Mockmill which attaches to the KitchenAid as if it were OEM equipment, an item I'll review once it has been used a few times. The Mockmill, as advertised, is shown attached to this KitchenAid model so I'm sure it has more than enough power to grind flour with this mill. My take on all those broken beaters mentioned in other reviews is that they were used to mix ingredients that were either too viscous for that beater or the speed was set too high. That said I'm not impressed with the dough hook but the shape is right and it seems to have no trouble kneading enough dough for one loaf. Purchasing a backup may be a good idea. To avoid destroying the machine should something lock up the beater KitchenAid put one gear in the drive train that will break up so as not to damage the rest of the drive train. The replacement isn't too expensive so it is my recommendation that one backup replacement should be kept on hand to avoid putting the machine out of commission until the replacement part arrives. Probably overkill though.

I have always wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer and this year I finally to get myself one for Christmas because I bake a lot of Christmas cookies. The unit is beautiful and heavy duty. I washed the SS bowl well before I used it but I still got a black film on the first batch of cookie dough I made in the mixer. You cannot see the black film in the new bowl so it must be imbedded in the surface of the bowl which has a slight grain to it. The raw dough acts like a sponge to pull the black film off the surface of the bowl. I washed it again and had no problems after that. I have only used the mixer a hand full of times and it functions as expected. But I was surprised at how little space there is between the beater and the side of the bowl making it awkward to add new ingredients. I did use the pour shield that came with the mixer, but it does not fit tight on the bowl and it was also a bit awkward to use. In my opinion, the mixer is best for mixing stiff doughs saving the operator from strenuous stirring or mixing. I think it will be great for mixing bread dough. But for everyday small mixing jobs, I find it is more convenient to use my portable hand mixer. In addition, when baking some of the Italian cookies, sometimes I will use the "old time" method of making a well of flour (and dry ingredients) on a board and adding the wet ingredients into the well. Then you literally mix all the ingredients by hand. This "hands on" method really gives you feel for the dough (too wet or dry) you don't get when used an electric mixer. There is something very rewarding and pleasing about really getting your hands on the dough with this method. So in my opinion, electric mixers have their place, but there is something magical and satisfying about going back to the old fashion way of baking that gives you a "feel" for the dough and the love is transmitted into the dough with your hands. The artisan mixer is beautiful and functional, but in my kitchen it will not be the only tool I use for mixing.

I grew up with a Kitchen Aid in my house and was very happy to purchase this one. I chose the slightly more expensive Artisan model (over the basic model) because of the handle on the bowl (super useful) that I was used to from my parent's model (which is still going strong after 25+ years) and because it came with the splatter shield (plastic piece on top). Unfortunately, the new splatter shield KitchenAid KPS2CL Pouring Shield for 4-1/2 and 5-Quart Stand Mixers , instead of making a full circle as my parents did, is horseshoe shaped and made out of lighter plastic. When you try to mix basically anything (even on the lowest speed), it sprays the flour out the back and up under the crack between the bowel and the rest of the plastic shield because it doesn't make the same close contact that the older models did. This is a serious design flaw and quite annoying since they had a version that worked much better before. In addition to having the splatter shield in place, I now either wrap a dishcloth tightly around the whole top of the kitchen aid, turn the low power on for less than a second to get the paddle to move but not to go to full speed (and repeat until the liquid/solids are mixed enough that they won't fly out), or I just turn it on and then clean up the mess off a 1-foot radius (that unfortunately includes the floor). Despite this drawback, I gave it 5-stars because having this stand mixer is so awesome for cooking and baking. I moved to the UK and just took my kitchenaid hand mixer (to use with an upconverter) and realized how inconvenient it is. The stand mixer allows me to be mixing while I am looking for other ingredients or preparing other steps. The different attachments (including the Flex Edge Beater) work much better than the single set of whisks for hand mixer. I use the Flex Edge Beater (has a spatula like edge that somewhat scrapes the bowl whilst it is mixing) for cookies, cakes, muffines, scones. I use the bread hook for bread (very fun not having to hand knead). And the whisk for whipping cream, cheesecake, frittatas. I find that I bake more and make more interesting foods because of the convenience of the mixer. My spouse and work colleagues appreciate it too. The best part is the US kitchen aid works just fine here in the UK with the upconverter too (make sure the converter is for the appropriate number of watts), and I can bring it back to the US when we return. I am expecting this KitchenAid to last as long as my parents' KitchenAid, which they have been using continuously. If one can divide the cost over 20-30 years, the mixer becomes very economical indeed. I have not tried any of the attachments for pasta making, etc.

First off, I gotta say... wow. The kitchenaid mixer really lives up to the hype. I'm a self-proclaimed semi-ametuer chef and baker, but I've only every worked with hand mixers. This thing is the real deal though. My cheesecakes in the past have been notoriously laborious, having to scrape the sides before adding the eggs and after adding the eggs to avoid unmixed cream cheese. That's a thing of the past now (I did buy a mixer head with a silicon side scraper, though the stock one works just as well). I can mix my filling ingredients whilst intricately levelling and perfecting the sides of my graham cracker crust, cutting 5-10 minutes off of prep time. When making regular cakes, I can throw the ingredients in, start the mixer, and forget about it as I oil and flour my pans, reducing prep time there as well. If you've never owned a kitchenaid stand mixer before, like me, you'll be surprised at how dang heavy it is! The entire structure is metal, and it's a hefty piece, at least 25 lbs. You're getting a solid piece of machinery. I've bought 2 attachment sets so far and I'm starting to realize just how much of an all in one small kitchen appliance this is. It's very easy to use, with one lever to lock/release the tilting head and another lever that clicks between the multiple speeds. I would definitely recommend the dime test though. The mixer heads are recommended to clear the bowl by 1/16th of an inch. A dime (10 cent American coin) is exactly 1/16th of an inch. Set your dime in the bottom of the bowl around the small point in the middle of the bottom of the bowl, and turn on the mixer with the standard whisk head attached. If the head moves the coin every time it spins around, you're good. If it doesn't, unlock and tilt the head back to reveal a flathead screw in the joint and turn that screw 180° clockwise. Rinse and repeate until your mixer head is touching and moving the dime with each gyration. This guarantees that your ingredients will be fully incorporated from bottom to.top, as the mixer head will touch every inch of the bowl. Kitchenaid says their mixers come properly calibrated, but mine took 4 turns to properly scrape the full bowl. It was a big purchase for me, but I couldn't recommend it more. If you enjoy baking as a hobby like I do, you gotta get yourself one of these artisan mixers. You'll feel like a pro and with the color options, it can accent any kitchen :)

I bought this mixer as a gift for my wife. She wanted to start baking bread and I read that not all mixers are powerful enough for this because of the density of the dough. The Artisan is perfect for this task. It doesn’t slow down, heat up, stall out, and is very versatile. So far she has made focaccia, sourdough, pizza dough, cheesecake, and carrot cake. I will warn you though, you will end up having a ton of delicious baked goods in the house and probably end up gaining a few pounds.

I purchased my KitchenAid mixer on Thanksgiving Day - great price of $223 for black Friday. I had my eye on the Bordeaux color and when the mixer arrived there was an awesome surprise: not only is it that pretty burgundy color, but the paint has little metallic flecks - it is the sparkly type of paint. But...I know we don't buy high end appliances just to look great on the counter (although it is a very happy bonus). I have used the mixer at least once (often twice) each week and it is an excellent mixer. I always avoided buying a big stand mixer because I thought it would be a pain to use for small jobs - I was wrong. It is much easier to just dump ingredients in a big bowl that is already on my counter, attach the appropriate mixing head and let it go. A big time-saver. I've made a couple of items with dense dough and this mixer had no problem with it. I've seen some comments from users stating that you need the flex beater, but I so far have seen no need for it - I have not had excessive doughs or mixes sticking to the sides or bottom of the bowl. It is easy to use and clean - I wish I had made the purchase a long time ago.

I have avoided this machine for 5 years based on the many negative reviews, however they seem to have finally improved. It fits my need to make bread especially, also cookies, occasional cake. First reviewed manual and adjusted the beater to fit bottom of bowl, then washed with a scrub sponge both my large and the extra small bowl I chose with Bar Keepers Friend to remove the coating left after manufacture. Can also use baking soda paste. Rinse water will be gray, don't need that in my food. Yesterday I made a one pound loaf of Italian bread, easily kneaded the 4 cups of flour, then I used the smaller bowl and the flex edge beater ( extra) to make choc chip cookies. Chips added by hand. All parts were easily washed by hand, dried and stored. I definitely like the white enamel ? coated beaters for ease of cleaning. I also checked the center screw which keeps the head in place for tightness. This mixer is very heavy, 26# so will keep on counter. Using a small section of parchment paper underneath makes it slide easily forward to use. The Bordeaux color is rich, satiny and shiny like a deep red wine, very nice. A flat head screw driver is needed to adjust beater depth in bowl. Place a dime in bowl, turn to low speed, If adjusted properly the beater will move the dime about 1/2 inch with each rotation of the beater. This assures all batter is reached. The screw adjustment requires the head to be up and screw is then visible in that joint. Turn 1/4 turn left or right. Right raises beater, left turn lowers it. Must do to get best use of this machine, enjoy!

Me encantó

Cannot say enough about this mixer. I bought one for myself and have had it for over 6 years, and bought this for my sister for her wedding. Easy to clean, long-lasting and works great. Has turned my sister into a baker, when she barely could manage Kraft Dinner before. Highly recommend buying a second bowl and spatula, as it is easier to make large quantities, or even make cupcakes and frosting in a quick bowl replacement.

If you do any baking at all, this mixer will make your life easier. I've used mine to mix everything from muffins, mashed potatoes, bread, cookies, whipping egg whites, etc. It works fast and efficiently.

Have had it about 8 months, use it frequently, no trouble with it at all and it makes baking an absolute breeze! I used to wish I was one of those mums who bakes great stuff with her kids, and now I am! I have not used any additional accessories , so I cannot comment on those, but for the mixer itself and the components it comes with, its wonderful! tip: go ahead and just put all the ingredients in your mixer, you dont need separate bowls or different steps! Just add the ingredients in the same order listed in the recipe (cream the butter and sugar before adding the rest) and your cakes and cookies will turn out great.

Ca fait des années que je l'utilise. Le jour où il meurt j'en rachete un. Une fois qu'on y a pris goût il est impossible de s'en passer. Je fais des gâteaux, du pain, des cremes glacées, j'ai un accessoires pour râper le fromage (pratique quand je râpe 2 kilo de fromage en 1 fois), blanc en neige, crème chantilly...