Looking for a new standing mixer for the kitchen? Here I have compared a Kenwood Kmix and a KitchenAid Artisan, the first being very popular in Europe and the second in the USA. Having asked around and got completely conflicting opinions from various store owners and bakers I decided to compare the two food mixers detail by detail. The KitchenAid brand is owned by Whirlpool and assembled in the USA, the Kenwood is made in China.

KitchenAid Artisan

Kmix and KitchenAid electrical and physical attributes

Wattage

Kmix uses 500Watt and the KitchenAid 325W, however the KitchenAid motor is in the front of the mixer directly above the bowel and the Kenwood mixer's motor is at the back of the machine so that it needs that extra wattage to power the distance it travels to the front of the machine. It also means that there is a chance of the Kmix's bands and cogs which bring the power to the front of the machine wearing out over time.

Speeds

Kmix has 8 mixing speeds and the Kitchen Aid has 10. In addition the Kenwood mixer has a unique folding action; it also has a "soft start feature which means the blade starts to turn gradually to avoid spillage. The KitchenAid claims a unique mixing action which prevents dough from being left untouched on the bottom of the bowl or around the sides.

Mixer body

Kmix has an aluminum body and a stainless steel bowl. Kitchen Aid Artisan is made from enameled cast zinc.

Weight and other dimensions of the two food mixers

The Kmix weighs 8.05kg (17.71LB) and the Kitchen Aid weighs 11.36kgs (25LB), but in all honesty how often do you pick up your food mixer? However the KitchenAid weight makes it sturdy and solid on the kitchen surface.

Kenwood Kmix

Similarities between the Kmix and the Artisan mixers

Some factors are so similar between the two mixers that they are hardly worth considering as a plus or a minus in any of the mixer's favor.

Both come with flat beater, dough hook and wire whip attachments

The Kmix bowl has the capacity of 5liters (5.2 US liquid quarts), and the KitchenAid bowl capacity is 4.7liters (5 US liquid quarts).

The KitchenAid Artisan comes in 28 colors and the Kenwood Kmix comes in several colors (11 at least) but not as many as the KitchenAid.

Both have a hub for attaching accessories such as a juicer, meat grinder and many more, and both mixers have a plastic guard for safety and to prevent splashing, with an opening so that you can add ingredients while the mixer is running.

Both Kenwood and KitchenAid have excellent reputations. Both are streamline designs which are easy to wipe down, and various attachments that can be dish washed.

Some differences between the two stand mixers

The Kitchen Aid Artisan bowl handle is contoured to fit your grip which the Kmix does not have.

The Kmix electric cord can be stored inside the machine, the Artisan cannot.

The Kmix has an interlock system where the mixing blade automatically stops when the head of the machine is lifted up. This is a safety feature that KitchenAid does not have. In KitchenAid if you lift up the head of the machine by accident without turning off the blade it will continue to spin.

The hub or point of attachment for accessories on the Kitchen Aid Artisan has a sturdy screw which keeps it in place; the Kenwood Kmix hub cover can be quite easily pulled off, and perhaps easily lost.

The KitchenAid Artisan has a tilt back mixer head which provides for easier access to the bowl.

I tried removing the beater from both machines and the KitchenAid attachment is much harder to get off, I was struggling.

Prices of the Kmix and Kitchen Aid standing food mixers compared

Although prices may vary, the recommended retail prices quoted here are from the official web sites.

Kmix – the lowest price on line that I found was at Amazon Marketplace where it cost 229 pounds ($348.6) and on the official site it costs 342 pounds.

The KitchenAid official site quotes a price of $349.99, while the Target site sells the KitchenAid Artisan for $299.99 and Amazon for $247.99. High street prices will probably be worth looking at as you save on the delivery and can get good deals.

In conclusion there are enough variables to make the decision not cut and dry. Both brands have many satisfied customers who have used the machines for years. So choose which stand mixer you buy by the best deal you can get, and which mixer appeals to you, after all the proof will be in the eating!

To visit the KitchenAid Website got to: http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home/

For the Kenwood Website go to: www.kenwoodworld.com/uk