This KitchenAid Stand Mixer Review is a side-by-side, feature comparison of the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer and the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Mixer. I'm stacking the features of these two particular units because they happen to be two of the top-selling stand mixers. Come see which one is right for you!
KitchenAid Stand Mixer Review: Artisan Mixer vs. Professional 600 Stand Mixer
KitchenAid mixers come in several modes, shapes, colors, and sizes.
This can make it tricky to make buying decisions, especially if you’re a first-time buyer, or upgrading a very old stand mixer.
I previously owned the 4.5 quart KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer and it was a perfect stand mixer for small batches of baked goods.
Eventually, I found it not powerful enough, primarily for my desire to knead bread dough.
As an upgrade, I purchased the Artisan Stand Mixer (5 quart) and was later gifted the Pro 600 Stand Mixer (6 quart).
This is precisely why I have two stand mixers in my kitchen for the comparison video I made (see below). Both models are very popular upgrades to the 4.5 qt KitchenAid Classic stand mixer.
I'm happy to report that neither of these stand mixers disappoint. But, this outcome may vary based on your needs, which means I recommend trying to anticipate your needs are before buying one.
For me, what’s not to love about both units?…after all, they’re both made by KitchenAid…and we all know they make superior products. Be sure to watch the full video to find out which model is my go-to here at The Kitchen Girl headquarters.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer features
- stainless 5 Quart Bowl With Handle
- attachments: Wire Whip, Dough Hook, Flat-Beater
- plastic Pouring Shield
- 10 Speed Settings
- front Reservoir for pasta maker, food grinder
- 47” 3-prong 110V power cord
- 325 Watts
- tilt head
- 13.9” inches tall / 18” with tilt-head lifted
- weighs 26 lbs
Artisan Stand Mixer DESIGN
- tilting head more convenient for scraping bowl/attachments
- short height = more countertop storage options
- several color options
- front reservoir not on a hinge (so don’t lose it)
- glass bowl with lid purchased separately
KitchenAid Professional 600 features [KitchenAid Pro 600]
- stainless 6 Quart Bowl With Handle
- attachments: Wire Whip, Dough Hook, Flat-Beater
- plastic Pouring Shield
- 10 Speed Settings
- front Reservoir for attachments (pasta maker, food grinder, etc)
- the power cord is 47” 3-prong 110V
- 575 Watts
- lift Stand - Stationary motorhead
- 16.5” inches tall
- weighs 29 lbs
- soft start feature (delay motion = safety/reduce splashing)
Professional 600 Series DESIGN
- lift stand (stationary) stable but restricts scraping movement
- taller height - not good with shorter cabinet height
- fewer color options
- hinged front attachment reservoir (won’t lose it)
(Note: In the video, I briefly talk about small vs. large batch prep)
KitchenAid Stand Mixer [popular models]
- KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer
- KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Qt Stand Mixer
- KitchenAid Artisan DESIGN SERIES (Includes glass bowl, not stainless)
- KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Classic Series Stand Mixer
KitchenAid Stand Mixer Attachments
- KitchenAid 5-Qt. Glass Bowl with Lid & Measure Lines
- KitchenAid 6 Quart Glass Mixing Bowl with Accessories
- KitchenAid Pasta Roller and Cutter Set
- KitchenAid Citrus Juicer Stand Mixer Attachment
- KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment
- KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment
- KitchenAid Spiralizer Attachment with Peel, Core, and Slice
Hope you found this review helpful! Feel free to use the comment section below to ask me questions! As always, thanks for hanging out with me.
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I have Artisan but fed up of the head wobbling even with dime test when making dough on setting one dough hook. Does the pro wobble?
The pro doesn't have a tilt head...it's a solid piece.
Great video , thanks. Could I purchase the pro dough attachment and use on the artisan? Seen it is a better design and kneads better? Thanks
Hi Jacqui, no they're not interchangeable, unless KitchenAid has done some thing in the last few years that I am unaware of.
Review and comparisons helpful as struggling to decide. I saw a review where the artisan dough attachment didn’t knead the dough as well as the pro did. I would prefer the tilt head of the artisan. Have you found bread making a problem? Thanks
Jacqui
Hi Jacqui, I only find bread making a problem in the artisan when I try to knead too much dough in it. If you check out my French Bread recipe, that is the perfect amount for the Artisan stand mixer. Hope that helps and let me know if you have further questions 🙂
Question: can a 6 qt bowl be used by the artisan if you bought separately?
Hi Joanne, no the 6 qt bowl cannot be used with the artisan and I'm not aware of KitchenAid making a 6 qt bowl for that model. Hope that helps 🙂
I have a new Artisan 5 QT its head wobbles alot for dough or butter cream. Is this normal? Becouse for £400 surely it shouldnt do this?
Hi Daz, hmmmm, it sounds like your tilt head isn't locked in place. Is that possible?
My mother in law gave me my mixer as a wedding gift 30 years ago! I love it but would love a bigger bowl! Do you know if the 5 Qt will fit my mixer? I believe mine is a 4.5 quart. When doing double batches of mashed potatoes or chocolate chip cookies I could use a bit more room!!
Hi Kim! Everything I've read says the 5 qt bowl would work in place of your 4.5 qt bowl. That said, I can't guarantee it and would make the purchase only if you can return it in case it doesn't work. Let me know what you end up doing...I'll be excited if it works out for you 🙂
Where do I find the video? I would love to watch it but can't seem to find it. Thanks!
Hi Jen, the video is located in a few places within the post once you scroll down. What browser are you using to view the post?
Chrome from my computer and it still isn't showing. But I just pulled it up on my phone and its definitely there! Great video! Thank you!
Ok glad to hear it. Not sure why it's having trouble showing up. I'm looking into it. Thanks so much for taking the time to let me kn know 💚
This is a helpful video! You answered the questions a newbie baker would have and now I know which one I am going to get. Thank you 🙂
Awesome, Erik! Love hearing that it was helpful for your buying decisions 🙂 Thanks for letting me know
Hey, thank you for your helpful post and video!
We’re deciding between the Artisan and a Costco version of the Professional 600 - 6qt and 590w. We’d like to choose whichever model does the most of the jobs we need. We’ll be making a lot of doughs - bread, pizza, pasta, dumplings - not huge batches but not small either. We’ll also use it for mashed potatoes, muffin batter, and lighter jobs like whipped cream and meringue.
We’re worried the Artisan might struggle a bit with our dough batches but we don’t want to be stuck not being to do smaller jobs with the Professional 600.
1. Do you know the minimum volume needed in the 6qt bowl to be able mix effectively?
2. Do you know the minimum volume the 5qt needs (i.e, might they both have trouble with two egg whites, for example)?
3. What are the limitations we might experience with the Artisan’s 325w for making our doughs?
4. Do you think the extra power of the Professional 600 is worth having (for all our dough-making) to the point that spending extra money to get the 3qt bowl/beater set to manage the smaller jobs is a fair price to pay??
Thanks!!
Hi Libby, glad you're finding the post helpful! 🙂 To answer your questions:
1. Great question, but unfortunately, I don't have that info 🙁
2. Same as #1. FYI - I always use my hand blender for really small jobs like 2 egg whites.
3. Limitations mainly involve motor strain from batches too big (which could be broken down into smaller batches) or too dry (such as 100% whole wheat) which naturally works the motor harder.
4. Hmmm, I'm not fully understanding this question. Do you mind rewording it?
Thanks!
Can you comment on the relative loudness of these two models? In reviews I've read, the 600 is a bit of a loud beast. Thanks!
I've never noticed a difference in volume or noise between these two machines. I think they sound similar, actually.
I love my Pro 600! I love the power as I mix double the recipes for all my bread, cookies, and mashed potatoes! I am in the kitchen all the time and having a tool as basic and gray as my Pro 600 makes me confident I can whip up anything in my kitchen. I had thought about the Artisan but I didn't like the wattage or plastic attachments. Thanks for the review, it has solidified my decision to go with the Pro 600.
Yay Delores! I'm so glad to have helped you make the BIG decision. The 600 is definitely great for double batches of ALL the things. Thanks so much for your feedback...much appreciated 🙂
I don’t like the ridge in the bottom of the bowl on the artisan. I feel like the powder ingredients get trapped. Does the glass bowl have the same ridge and does the 600 have the ridge.
Thanks
Hi Crystal, I have not noticed this with the Artisan or the 600. But then again, I always stop a few times in the mixing cycle to scrape down bowl sides and press dough together (bread dough). It might seem counterintuitive since it's an electric mixer, but it's what works the best for my dough. Hope that helps answer your question.
Wonderful review!! I’ve spent so long debating which one I wanted. And it was kind of coming down to colours hahaha. But after watching your review I’m sure I want an artisan <3 thank you!!!
Yay! So glad to hear it, Yvonne. Hope you love it, and feel free to pop back in and let me know 🙂 Thanks for the feedback, btw!
This wholeheartedly convinced me to buy the Artisan. Thank you!!!
Wow awesome!!! Even though this video is old (and my first ever video LOL)...I'm so glad it did what it was supposed to do 🙂 Thanks SO much for this feedback. Hope you love that mixer...and I'm always here for Q & A.
I have been reading reviews that in the 6 qt the beaters do not reach the bottom of the bowl which makes thorough mixing difficult. Do you find this at all? This could be the deciding factor for me between the 5 or 6 qt.
Hi Gill, I've found that any model can have trouble mixing ingredients if the ingredient volume is too small. That said, the 5 QT bowl is taller with a narrower base, which works well for my ingredient volumes (standard sized batch of brownies or cookies). If a job is too small for my stand mixer (like beating an egg white) I use the hand mixer.
There are no video reviews. I clicked on the two separate images and it opened an identical page?
Hi Jerome! You're so right...and I just fixed it. You'll find the video near the bottom of the post. Thanks! Hope you find it helpful 🙂
Hi,
I'd like to buy one of these for my wife as a birthday gift. she makes bread all the time. Price aside - would the artisan get the job done? To me, the wattage is night and day on both models.
Thanks.
Hi Steve...apologies for my delayed response. Will the Artisan get the job done? It sure does, but in slightly smaller batches than the Professional 600. So, your decision might come down to which mixer fits best in your space. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have more questions 🙂
I'm debating even after the video because I've had problems with my bowl getting stuck after making bread - the lift wouldn't get stuck. Great video, thanks for the info!!!
Hmmm, are you saying the bowl lift gets stuck? I'm not sure I understand. I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 🙂
Hi Traci, my husband and I are interested in using the meat grinding and pasta making features. Did you happen to try them on these two models? We just assumed the higher wattage of the Pro 600 would have the better performance.
Hi Justine, great question! I did try both attachments on both models. To be honest, I didn't find any difference between the two in terms of performance. Here's where they will differ. The Artisan is a tilt head (that locks) and the Pro is a unibody (no locking required). Because of this, you simply have less one less task to remember before you turn the machine on (if using the Pro). Otherwise, some people just love the feeling of the Pro b/c it doesn't rely on a hinge and a lock. Hope that helps! Don't forget to visit my Kitchen Tools page to window shop mixers and accessories...and please do let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
nice video what about the 8 qrt and the artesan thanks
Hey thanks! Haven't reviewed that one because I don't own it. But, maybe one of these days 🙂
Thanks for the straightforward and informative video. The Artisan has been my first choice but I found the Pro 600 for $30 cheaper and was tempted! I'm sticking with the Artisan, thanks for the information!
Omgosh, you're soooo welcome! I love it when someone can make a buying decision based on my review. Please don't hesitate to ask more questions (here in the comments is fine). Hope you love your purchase!
Thank you for this. I've decided on the Artisan. 🙂
Can't even tell you how happy this makes me...I always love to hear when my content tips the scale for someone. Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Thank you so very much for this video! I am currently about to purchase the Artisan model, which I love, but wanted to double check I was making the right decision over the Pro 600. This video answered all my questions! Thanks again!!
Shonna, you are so very welcome 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and letting me know...your feedback is incredibly helpful! I'll be doing more reviews like this, so be sure to either subscribe to my newsletter (https://thekitchengirl.com/tkg-subscribe/) or to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/thekitchengirl). You'll get notified through either. Thanks again!
Thanks a lot for your amazing thorough review , i have been debating. Between both for months now! I was always convinced of the artisan but some people said it is flimsier than the pro and weaker
This answers a lot!
Do you have any updated tips ?
Thanks a lot
You're SO welcome, Lora! Oh, and you like to overthink purchases too, do ya? 🤣🤣 So, nothing has changed in my mind since I made this video (way back in 2015). When making a purchase like this, I really have to factor in: size, functionality, and budget. Any one (or all) of those things can be deal-makers, or deal-breakers. The "flimsy" or "weaker" comments...are truly matters of opinion, because how you use the mixer will determine how it handles the jobs. You can overwork the smaller mixer with too big of a job, and the bigger mixer can underperform on smaller jobs. It all depends on what jobs you're doing. Hope this helps! Lemme know 🙂