Stand mixers are incredibly popular kitchen appliances that have been around for several decades. The question of which is best, however, remains. Kenwood Mixer vs Kitchenaid has been an ongoing debate for a while, and for good reason.
The reason for their popularity is easy to see. Mixing, beating, and whipping is a very labor intensive task in the kitchen. Trying to knead bread dough by hand, for example, is something a lot of people don't look forward to.
In comes the stand mixer to make it all easier.
As you can see on the chart below, in the timeframe from 2010 to 2018 stand mixer sales in the US alone grew by a whopping 34%. That's impressive.
While the most recent data isn't available, no doubt the pandemic had a positive impact on them as well since most people found themselves in their houses and cooking more often.
Graph provided by: Statista
The KitchenAid mixer is one of the most popular stand mixers on the market. It comes in different colors and sizes, and it has a lot of great features.
For example, it has a tilt-head design that allows you to easily add ingredients, and it has 10 speeds that let you mix ingredients quickly and thoroughly. It also comes with a dough hook, a wire whip, and a flat beater.
The Kenwood mixer is another popular stand mixer that's available in different sizes and colors. Like the KitchenAid, it has a tilt-head design and 10 speeds. But it doesn't come with as many attachments. It does, however, come with a dough hook and a wire whip.
So which mixer should you get? Honestly, it depends on what you need. If you're looking for a mixer that has a lot of attachments and features, the KitchenAid is the better choice.
But if you're looking for a cheaper alternative that still has a lot of power and is a solid machine, the Kenwood mixer is not a bad alternative.
Here is a quick comparison table for the two looking at construction materials, power, capacity, weight, attachments, and cost.
Quick Overview of both Mixers
Let's break them down a bit more...
KitchenAid Stand Mixer - 100 Years Of Excellence
KitchenAid has been around since 1919 - they know a thing or two about making great appliances and other kitchen products. Arguably their most popular, however, is the stand mixer. This is one of the most high-quality stand mixers available on the market today.
As far as stand mixer brands go, the KitchenAid's stand mixers are as stunning as they are functional. With 80 color options to choose from and classic styling, this is a very popular choice for kitchens across the world.
The KitchenAid line of stand mixers includes a variety of models, ranging from the Artisan Mini (which is popular among chefs) to the Artisan Tilt-Head stand mixer and the more professional style bowl-lift stand mixer.
They offer a wide range of stand mixer bowls, including stainless steel bowls, ceramic bowls, and glass bowls. With over 10 distinct attachments to choose from, you can produce everything from fresh pasta to gourmet burgers to ice cream and more.
Various Models of KitchenAid Stand Mixers
Tilt-Head Mixers - Come Standard with a Stainless Steel Bowl
Artisan mini , 3.5-quart bowl
Classic series, 4.5-quart bowl
Artisan series, 5-quart bowl
Higher Capacity Bowl Lift Mixers - Come Standard with a Stainless Steel Bowl
Professional 500 series, 5-quart bowl
Professional 600 series, 6-quart bowl
Pro line series, 7-quart bowl
Which Kitchenaid Stand Mixers Are The Best?
Each KitchenAid stand mixer comes with three attachments: the flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip. Purchasing these items separately would cost around $50 so it is helpful they are included in the original purchase.
Which KitchenAid stand mixer is the best comes down to how much baking you're going to need to do. The mini mixer can make a few dozen cookies at one time, however, the pro-line series can put out 13 dozen in one batch.
That's a lot of cookies. If you need a larger capacity or regularly mix heavy materials like bread dough, a professional or pro-line is most likely the best option.
If it will be used for more general, simple tasks then a mini, classic or artisan would likely suffice. The Classic mixers and Artisan mixers have the most color options as well.
Two Primary Kenwood Stand Mixers Models
The Kenwood stand mixer is another formidable mixer among the top stand mixers around. Kenwood is also very good at what they do. They have been manufacturing kitchen appliances since 1947 and have produced some very good products.
The two main Kenwood stand mixers are the Kenwood Chef 750W and the Kenwood Chef 800W.
The Kenwood Chef is a powerful stand mixer that comes in different sizes and colors. It has a tilt-head design that allows you to easily add ingredients, and it has 12 speeds that let you mix ingredients quickly and thoroughly. It also comes with a dough hook, a wire whip, and a flat beater.
The Kenwood Chef is a well-rounded mixer that can handle most baking tasks. It's a great choice for those who want a powerful and affordable stand mixer.
Which Kenwood Stand Mixer Is The Best?
The two Kenwood stand mixers, 750W and 800W, are pretty similar with the main difference being the power consumed. They are both Kenwood chef mixers with one being the Kenwood Titanium Chef.
This is only applicable when the unit is operating at max power on the highest setting which means it will only really make a difference during the toughest tasks.
Apart from that, the 800W unit weighs one pound more and is very slightly bigger, but overall they are very similar.
Kenwood Mixer vs KitchenAid By The Numbers
Now that we have some background, let's compare these babies side-by-side in various categories to see how they stack up. We'll give one of the machines an edge in each category and tally up the points at the end.
Options and Variety
In the US, Kenwood only provides two options for stand mixers that we discussed above. The Kenwood stand mixer is a solid choice, but it is ultimately only one choice. Even the two models are so similar there isn't much of a difference.
KitchenAid, on the other hand, has more than 10 different options for types of mixer and around 80 colors. This gives you almost endless possibilities in getting the exact stand mixer to fit your needs.
From multiple capacity sizes - 3.5-quart to 7-quart - and various power settings and types (tilt-head vs bowl-lift) the KitchenAid stand mixers are more versatile.
All About The Numbers
To do a comparison, let's look at the most powerful units for each. This would be the Kenwood chef major 7qt stand mixer vs the KitchenAid 7-quart pro-line series.
Let's look at some basic specs:
KitchenAid 7-Quart Pro-Line Stand Mixer
Power - 1.3hp motor
Mechanism - Direct drive - Bowl-lift
Capacity - 7-quarts
Size - 17 x 20 x 13 inches
Weight - 31 lbs
Speeds - 10 speeds
Material - Stainless steel construction with all steel gears
Included Attachments - Powerknead spiral dough hook, flat beater, stainless steel wire whip
Color Options - Black, Copper, Red, Silver
Warranty - 5 year warranty
Reviews on Amazon - 1,150+
Rating on Amazon - 4.7 stars
Kenwood Chef Major 7-quart Stand Mixer
Power - 800W
Drive - indirect drive
Mechanism - tilt-head
Capacity - 7-quarts
Size - 34.3H x 23.8W x 40.8D
Weight - 28 lbs
Speeds - 8 speeds
Material - Die-cast aluminum
Included Attachments - Power whisk, dough hook, k beater (all stainless)
Color Options - Stainless/Grey
Warranty - 1 year total + 4 years parts
Reviews on Amazon - 190+
Rating on Amazon - 4.4 stars
Mixing Ability, Capacity, and Speed
As described above, Kenwood technically has more raw power. This is a little deceiving, however, since the KitchenAid is a direct-drive machine and the Kenwood is an indirect drive.
This means the KitchenAid can transfer more power directly to the work head which requires less overall power.
Both machines we looked at above have a similar capacity, however, KitchenAid wins in this category because of the various machines they offer. Someone only looking for 3.5 quarts won't be able to find that with a Kenwood machine, for example.
From a speed perspective, the KitchenAid has more speed options, however, the Kenwood offers the option of a slow start which will slowly ramp up the speed as you begin working the machine.
While not 100% necessary, this feature is nice because it allows the user to turn it on without having to worry about throwing flour all over the kitchen or having to manually manipulate the speed settings at first.
It's worth noting: Kenwood in the US is not as common as KitchenAid since it's primarily a European machine. Replacement parts or other technical issues may need to come from overseas or otherwise experience delays. I think they have a local vendor in the US which helps, but food for thought.
The Battle of the Attachments
Let's focus for a second on attachments. Each stand mixer brand comes with similar attachments, but there are differences.
The KitchenAid mixers come with three attachments as stated above. The three are:
1. Power knead spiral dough hook
2. Flat beater
3. Stainless steel wire whip
The Kenwood stand mixers come with three attachments as well, however, the included attachments are all stainless steel.
1. Dough hook (stainless)
2. K beater (stainless)
3. Power whisk (stainless)
What's the difference? It's mainly stainless steel vs nylon covered. This isn't a huge difference, but it is a bit of a value that the Kenwood stand mixer offers above the KitchenAid Artisan mixers.
You can read more about the various KitchenAid attachments here.
Conclusion
So who wins? Honestly, it's a bit of a toss-up.
I lean towards the KitchenAid stand mixer just because there are more options to choose from to make sure it's a great fit for what you want to do. Pricewise they are very similar depending on the options you pick and the type of KitchenAid mixer.
When it comes down to it, both the Kenwood mixer and KitchenAid mixer are great machines with a lot of features in common. However, the KitchenAid mixer does have a few advantages, such as more speed options and a tilt-head design that makes it easier to mix things by hand.
The biggest difference between the two is probably the price, with the KitchenAid mixer being a bit more expensive.
Which machine is best for you depends on your needs as a home cook. If you're looking for a powerful machine that can handle large batches of dough, the Kenwood might be a better option. If you're looking for something with more options and variety, the KitchenAid mixer is likely your go-to machine.
In the end, keep researching both and use all of the available info to make an informed decision.
FAQ: More questions and answers about KitchenAid mixers and Kenwood mixers
Is Kenwood Chef a good mixer?
Kenwood Chef is a good mixer for the price.
The Kenwood DBM 650WT Chef stand mixer is one of the best mixers you can find in this price range. It offers eight speeds and overload protection which are both great features to help make your kitchen adventures easier!
What is better than KitchenAid?
There are a few stand mixers on the market that are comparable to the KitchenAid. One such mixer is the Kenwood Chef. It offers eight speeds and overload protection which are both great features to help make your kitchen adventures easier!
What stand mixers do bakers use?
Bakers use a wide variety of mixers to make their baked goods. Some popular brands are KitchenAid and Kenwood. However, there are many other brands on the market that can do the job just as well.
With so many choices available, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. That's why we made this guide comparing the top two choices.
What stand mixer do chefs use?
Chefs use a variety of mixers to make their food. Some popular brands are KitchenAid and Kenwood. However, many other brands on the market can do the job just as well.
Regardless a chef is going to use one of the larger models like the KitchenAid Pro-Series or the Kenwood Chef 800W.