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 features of the Artisan Plus are small but mighty, and the difference in cost feels like a bargain, especially in high-stakes recipe scenarios. This upgraded model has a more powerful 350-watt motor compared to the 325-watt motor of the Artisan series models. With the increased intensity of Artisan Plus also comes new precise speed control. Twist the Artisan Plus’s knob and you engage the half-speed setting, so you can go between two and 2.5, all the way up to 11. Previous generations were capped at 10 speeds.

The Artisan Plus’s “Soft Start” allows for gradual changes between speeds. Combined with the LED light located above the mixing bowl, it makes handling the most delicate recipes precise. When I compared the Artisan Plus and Artisan series models, I found that the addition of the bowl light and precise mixing speed made it worth the slightly higher price point. I often stop mixing to check progress with my Artisan series stand mixers, whereas the Artisan Plus can run at perfect speed without breaking its pace due to its lightness.

mix and match

Taking a look at the KitchenAid attachments of yesteryear, it’s clear that the Artisan Plus is an upgrade. Its whisk whip, dough hook, flat beater and new double-edge beater attachment are all stainless steel, smooth and heavy. Apart from what I had for the ’64 mixer (most of the attachments had faded over time), the older mixer had a combination of aluminum and powder-coated attachments to do the job. All attachments, regardless of mixer generation, are designed to be top-rack dishwasher-safe; This is still the case with the Artisan Plus addition.

I set up each mixer together and had them all make the same recipe at the same time. While my pseudo-test kitchen was chaotic, it was insightful to see generational differences in action and even slight changes in design over time. The footprint of the Artisan Plus does not take up much space compared to previous generations. It doesn’t look fundamentally different from the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer or even the 1990s models.