KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer Review: Tiny Additions, Big Difference
There is a $100 price difference between the Artisan Plus and Artisan models. However, the Artisan Plus’ features are small but mighty, and make the cost difference seem like a good deal, especially in higher-stakes recipe scenarios. This upgraded model features a 350-watt motor that is more powerful than the Artisan Series model’s 325-watt motor. The increased intensity of the Artisan Plus also comes with the new precision speed control. Turn the knob on the Artisan Plus and you engage the half-speed settings, so you can move between two and 2.5, all the way up to 11. Previous generations topped out at 10 speeds.
The “Soft Start” function of the Artisan Plus allows you to gently change from one speed to another. Coupled with the LED lighting located above the mixing bowl, it allows you to manage the most delicate recipes with precision. Comparing the Artisan Plus and Artisan series models, I found that the addition of the bowl light and precise mixing speeds alone was worth the slightly higher price. I often stopped mixing to visually check the progress with my Artisan Series stand mixer, while the Artisan Plus could move forward without breaking stride thanks to its light.
Mix and match
Taking a look at KitchenAid accessories of yesteryear, it’s obvious that the Artisan Plus is an upgrade. Its whisk, dough hook, flat beater, and new double-edged beater attachment are all stainless steel, sleek and heavy. Besides what I had on hand for the 64 blender (most of the accessories have been lost to time), older blenders had a combination of aluminum and powder coated attachments to work with. All accessories, regardless of the generation of the blender, are designed to go in the dishwasher in the top rack; This is always the case with the Artisan Plus extras.
I set each blender up side by side and had them make the same recipe at the same time. Even though my pseudo-test kitchen was chaotic, it was interesting to see the generational differences in action and even slight design changes over time. The size of the Artisan Plus did not take up more space compared to previous generations. It also doesn’t look fundamentally different from the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer, or even the 1990s model.
