Iconic and Aspirational: Kitchenaid’s Artisan Stand Mixer
One of the most aspirational kitchen appliances today is the Kitchenaid electric stand mixer. In these days of easy come, easy go, this appliance has a remarkably long history and enduring appeal. It is very often seen gracing the kitchen benches of TV cooks and bakers.
The KitchenAid Stand Mixer has been an iconic kitchen appliance for about 90 years. The name was introduced as a trademark for an electric stand mixer that had been developed by the Hobart Manufacturing Company in 1919.
Hobart had begun producing the first electric machines for grinding foods, including coffee beans, peanuts and hamburgers, in the early 20th century, and in 1915 a subsidiary, Troy Metal Products, introduced the first electric mixer designed to mix large quantities quickly. , this 80 quart mixer was standard equipment for most large bakeries. It featured the unique and efficient planetary motion motor driving a single rotating beater. The beater traveled in one direction around the inside of the mixing bowl.
In 1919 Hobart introduced the ‘KitchenAid Food Preparer’ or stand mixer for the domestic market. Company executives took home the first blenders to test in their own kitchens and one executive’s wife is reported to have remarked, “I don’t care what you call it, but I know it’s the best kitchen help I’ve ever had.” Legend has it that this is how the name Kitchenaid was born. In 1924, the Hobart subsidiary Troy Metals was renamed the KitchenAid Manufacturing Company and its headquarters were established in Dayton, Ohio.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the KitchenAid mixer became extremely popular, and as with most household appliances at the time, it was sold door to door or through a KitchenAid party. The birth of the sales party goes back much further than we could have imagined. During the party, a vendor would demonstrate the functions of the mixer by using it to prepare a meal for the guests. After the meal, he encouraged guests to order their own KitchenAid mixer.
Several accessories were developed around the same time to be used in preparing and mixing a variety of foods, including the oddly named pea sheller! Using available attachments, KitchenAid stand mixers can be converted into anything from a grain mill to a pasta maker or even a sausage stuffer.
So what does this appliance offer today’s cooks and bakers? The Artisan has a classic look, high-quality craftsmanship, and is a powerful, reliable mixer built with an all-metal body. The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer is generally considered the best of all food mixers, and is likely to stand out in any kitchen.
Aside from the obvious color variations, the Artisan Food Mixer looks a lot like any other mixer on first inspection, but this is where the similarity to lesser models ends. Weighing in at over 11kg, or 25lbs, the Artisan will require a permanent home on a kitchen bench.
That weight adds to the stability of the machine. The smooth metal body and tough outer coating ensure that the Artisan blender is built to last a lifetime. There are stories of these machines being passed from mother to daughter or left to beneficiaries in wills.
The metal body and mixing bowl are easy to clean and the tough outer casing can withstand all but the most determined efforts to scratch it. This ensures that no bacteria can enter the case to live deep in surface scratches, as can happen with cheaper models. Much more hygienic.
The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer has been designed overall to be as user friendly as possible. The 10-speed gearbox offers a range of 58 to 220 rpm. The mixer still features the unique and efficient planetary motion motor that ensures a faster and more complete mix. The beater follows an orbital path around the bowl instead of the circular motion of most mixers, so the entire contents of the bowl are combined in the mixing process instead of bits being left around the bowl or on the sides of the bowl. the kitchen and surfaces. The large mixing bowl has an attached ergonomic handle and pour guard. The machine’s tilt-back head design also allows for easy access to the bowl. The single accessory hub is built in to make attachment accessories quick and effortless. The Artisan is so well balanced that you can effectively walk away and let it do its job without worrying about it skipping around the bench. Despite the undoubted power of the engine, it is surprisingly quiet. For your peace of mind, it comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.
The range of available colors and finishes will coordinate with any kitchen design or color scheme. The range includes Brushed Nickel, Caviar Black, Onyx Black, Metallic Grey, Empire Red, Candy Apple Red, Bronze, Chocolate, Cobalt Blue, Boysenberry Purple, Pear Green, Apple Green, Pink, Majestic Yellow, Cream, Almond Cream and Classic White. . .
Some points worth noting are that the colors are withdrawn from time to time and they have variable price tags. Higher-end brushed nickel and more on-trend colors are often the most expensive. This is a commercial standard machine and other appliances are available and manufactured to the same exacting standards. Unfortunately, not all of them are available in the full range of stand mixer colors.
The Artisan is a heavyweight machine and is a considered purchase, but is it worth the money?
The machine’s iconic status, unmatched performance and durability make a pretty compelling argument. For those who enjoy spending a lot of time in their kitchens and who use a mixer frequently and would rather have a machine to use for years to come, then this is probably the one to buy. For many homeowners, this once-in-a-lifetime purchase was simply to fulfill their own wish and enjoy the pleasure that this high-end, iconic, durable and quality appliance brings to their lives.