Best Retro Stand Mixers: Top 5 KitchenAid Artisan Alternatives
There is no denying when it comes to retro good looks, durability and functionality, the KitchenAid mixers are some of the best out there. But if you are looking for other alternatives with equally good looks, aesthetically pleasing, ergonomic and reliable, check out our list.
These 50s inspired retro stand mixers will go nicely in any kitchen. While the choice of colours allow you to match it to other appliances or to pick one that complements the kitchen colour scheme. Whichever one you choose to go for, you will be assured for a good value purchase and long service life.
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart
Before we jump right into the stand mixer alternatives, let’s take a look at what we are up against. The KitchenAid Artisan is like the gold standard in retro looking stand mixer.
Colour Choices
The advantage of going with the KitchenAid Artisan is not only that the stand mixer just works but for the choice of colours available. Choose a colour that matches your style, your existing appliances or kitchen.
Choice of Attachments
Plus, the power hub, or the attachment port lets you use 1 of 15 optional attachments to go beyond just a mixing. Thereby turning the stand mixer into sort of a culinary center.
Included Accessories
It comes with a 5-Quart capacity stainless steel mixing bowl with pouring shield. KitchenAid claims that the mixing bowl is big enough to whip up 9 dozen cookies or 4 loaves of bread in a single bath. For mixing, there is the flat beater, wire whip and dough hook, everything you need for mixing dough to cake mix.
Artisan Advantage
The KitchenAid stand mixer is well known for its reliability and functionality. This is made possible by the 59-Point Planetary Mixing Action design. It simply means there are 59 touch points per rotation around the bowl for a thorough in-the-bowl mixing. The ingredient will be mixed more evenly.
Easy Access Design
Like most stand mixers, the tilt-head design allows clear access to the bowl and attached beater or accessory. Also, it lets you can easily add ingredients for a recipe.
Features
- 5-Quart. stainless steel bowl
- 59-Point Planetary Mixing Action
- Tilt-head design
- Powerful enough for nearly any task or recipe, whether you’re stirring wet and dry ingredients together, kneading bread dough or whipping cream.
- Accessories Included: coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip and 1-piece pouring shield. The flat beater and dough hook are dishwasher-safe.
Power hub supports more than 15 optional attachments - Colour Choices: too many to list
1. Hamilton Beach Eclectrics All-Metal Stand Mixer 4.5-Quart
The first in the line of contenders is the Hamilton Beach Eclectrics All-Metal Stand Mixer. It has a smaller mixing capacity and is also among the cheapest. Consequently, the bowl only takes up to 4.5 Quart making it slightly on the small side. This also means it is more compact and takes up less space. The 12-Speed Electric motor can be controlled with a slider switch.
Typical of all stand mixers, it has a pivot or tilt-head allowing for ease of access. During mixing there is also a handy cover with pouring chute to add more ingredients. Compared to the KitchenAid Artisan, the Hamilton Beach Eclectrics Stand Mixer is a steal. You can get it for around half the price of the KitchenAid Artisan mixer.
Features
- Planetary mixing action for even and complete bowl coverage
- Speed: 12 speed setting
- Motor power: 400 watt
- Capacity: 4.5 quart, Pouring Shield
- Colour Choices: 4 (Licorice Black, Red, Sterling Silver, Sugar White)
- Included Accessories: Stand mixer attachments include a flat beater, dough hook, whisk and pouring shield to protect/guard against splatters.
2. Cuisinart SM-50TQ Stand Mixer 5.5-Quart
Next in our line-up is the stand mixer from Cuisinart. The stand mixer has a bigger bowl capacity of up to 5.5-Quart, that’s 0.5-Quart larger than the KitchenAid artisan. Hence, the motor is also more powerful compared to that on the Hamilton Beach at 500-watt and it offers the same 12 speed setting.
Like all stand mixers featured here, it has a tilt-back head to access and remove the mixing bowl. Additionally, the all metal die-cast construction makes this Cuisinart stand mixer durable and capable of long service life.
Features
- Large 5.5-Quart, stainless steel bowl
- Powerful 500-watt motor handles the heaviest mixing tasks
- 12 speeds for precision mixing
- Tilt-back head allows easy access to the mixing bowl
- Die-cast metal construction
- Include Accessories: chef’s whisk, flat mixing paddle, dough hook and splash guard with pour spout
- Colour Choices: 8
3. KitchenAid KP26M1XBU Professional 600 Series 6-Quart
Third in our list is also from KitchenAid. Yes, a worthy alternative to the Artisan is KitchenAid’s own Professional series. The KitchenAid Professional 600 series is a bigger alternative to the smaller KitchenAid Artisan series for the serious bakers. As a result, it comes with a big 6-Quart capacity bowl and a professional bowl-lift mechanism.
On top of that the mixer features 67-point planetary mixing action for a more thorough mix. Furthermore, KitchenAid boast that the Professional 600 is capable of whipping up to 13 dozen cookies in a single batch.
Features
- 6-Qt. Stainless Steel Bowl with Comfortable Handle
- 67-Point Planetary Mixing Action, that’s 8 points more than the KitchenAid Artisan
- Multipurpose attachment hub, over 15 optional attachments
- 10 speeds setting
- Accessories Included: burnished Power, knead spiral dough hook, burnished flat beater, wire whip, and 1 piece pouring shield
- Colour Choices: over 10 colours available
4. Smeg SMF01CRUK 50’s Retro Style Stand Mixer 5-Quart
Also in the list of retro styled stand Mixer is the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer. The mixer is part of the Smeg Retro 50s range of small and big appliances. Moreover, Smeg is in fact the original retro brand. For that reason, the mixer not only looks good but is perfect for mixing cake, cookie & bread dough.
Smeg appliances have always been about making a fashion statement. Therefore, if you have already invested in Smeg appliances in the kitchen such as the Smeg fridge freezer then you might consider a Smeg stand mixer. At the price range it is a better value alternative and still comes with an amazing build quality and design.
Features
- Body material: Die-cast aluminium
- Bowl material: Polished Stainless Steel
- Bowl capacity: 4.8 liter (5-Quart)
- Safety lock when mixing head tilted up
- Front attachment
- Planetary action
- Variable speed control (10 speeds with soft start)
- Anti-slip feet
- Accessories included: Stainless steel wire whisk, Aluminium flat beater, Aluminium dough hook, Plastic bowl cover
- Power: 800 W
5. Breville BEM800XL Scraper Mixer Pro 5-Quart
This die-cast stand mixer from Breville has the added advantage of offering a thorough scraper mixer, a beater accessory with spatula like edges for 360 degree coverage. The mixing bowl also comes with a pouring shield. Most importantly, the stand mixer not only takes on the retro design but combines it with new digital controls. Rather, it comes with modern conveniences like LED indicators and numerical display. The LED indicator gives a clear idea of speed setting while the numerical LCD display shows the count down timer when used.
Feature:
- Planetary mixing action with 5-Quart stainless steel bowl
- 12 Speed Electronic Control with LED speed indicator and timer and LCD display
- Included Accessories: double sided scraper beater, standard flat beater, dough hook, wire whisk, splash guard and spatula attachments.
Others
KitchenAid KSM75SL Classic Plus 4.5-Quart
- Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, 4.5-Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Supports over 10 optional attachments
- 10 speed settings, 275 Watt
- Included Accessories: Coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6 wire whip
Litchi Kitchen Stand Mixer 5.5 Quart
- 650W 6-Speed Electric Mixer
- Included Accessories: Stainless Steel Bowl, Pouring Shield, Beaters, Whisk, Dough Hook
Aucma Stand Mixer 6.5-Quart
- 6-Speed Tilt-Head Food Mixer, 6.5-Quart, 660W
- Included Accessories: Kitchen Electric Mixer with Dough Hook, Wire Whip & Beater
Posame Stand Mixer 5-Quart
- Dough Mixer Cake/Bread Kneading Machine,Professional Kitchen Electric Mixer Tilt-Head
- Included Accessories: Stainless Steel Bowl,Dough Hook,Whisk,Beater,Pouring Shield
- 500-Watt
