Kitchenaid Classic Stand Mixer Review: Is It Still Worth It?

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Read this Kitchenaid Classic Stand Mixer review and find out if it’s still a good buy this year. Is it really the best basic stand mixer? Can it make bread?

Read this KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer review and find out if has the features you’re looking for. 

KitchenAid is a reputable brand, and their Classic Series is undoubtedly one of the most popular stand mixers.

It costs less than other crowd-favorite KitchenAid mixers like Classic Plus and Artisan. But is the Classic still worth getting over other “basic” stand mixers in the market?

If you’ve been dreaming of having a KitchenAid stand mixer at home, perhaps the KitchenAid Classic is a good start. Here’s why:

KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer Review

KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer is considered a “base” option among KitchenAid mixers. As of this writing, it only costs $319 on Amazon compared to the Artisan Series, which retails for $459.99. 

Of course, this means it has a less powerful motor, a smaller bowl, and a lack of other features. However, the Classic Series is still popular and often recommended with the phrase, “You can never go wrong with the Classic.”

Let us see for ourselves with this Classic KitchenAid stand mixer review, shall we?

Specs and feature overview

The KitchenAid Classic series is a 4.5-quart tilt-head stand mixer. It weighs 22 pounds, so it’s not a challenge to take it from one spot to another. 

The mixer’s dimensions are 14.1 x 8.7 x 13.9 inches. It’s a good size for most kitchen counters and kitchen cabinets. And color-wise, you can only choose between white and onyx black compared to other KitchenAid stand mixers.

Still, the KitchenAid Classic is worthy of its name, “classic.” Why? The overall design looks exactly like that: “classic.”

It also has a solid build with a premium feel thanks to its metal construction. 

Accessories

What’s in the box?

KitchenAid Stand Mixers come with different accessories as standard. With the Classic, you’ll get a 4.5-quart brushed stainless steel bowl, coated flat beater, coated dough hook, and a 6-wire whip. 

Let’s take a look at each accessory:

• Flat beater: The flat beater is an iconic accessory you’ll often find with KitchenAid mixers. It’s perfect for mixing thick cake batters or simply whipping eggs.
• Dough hook: The dough hook is designed to make your kneading needs effortless and efficient. However, there’s a downside to bread-making regarding the Classic Series, as you’ll find out later in this read. 
• Wire whip: This is basically a whisk, and it’s probably the most-used accessory in mixers at home. KitchenAid’s 6-wire whisk feels durable and can easily whip egg whites or heavy cream to get you the perfect stiff peaks. (Imagine impressing your loved ones with homemade pistachio macarons!)

What I love about the KitchenAid Classic Series is that even though it’s more “basic” than pricier KitchenAid mixers, it still features a multi-purpose hub attachment.

You can purchase over 15 attachments and turn your mixer into the most versatile tool in the kitchen. This range includes a pasta roller, meat grinder, vegetable chopper, ice cream maker, and more!

Power

The Classic Stand Mixer’s motor runs on 275 watts, but it’s not something to turn your nose up at.

The only thing this motor really can’t cope with is…spoiler alert: bread dough, which we’ll discuss in more detail below. 😔

On the bright side, the KitchenAid Classic Series uses a 59-point planetary mixing action.

Without sounding too technical, this simply means that the whisk (or any other attached accessory) and the beater turn in opposite directions.

This pulls the mixture to the center of the bowl before pushing it back out again, so no areas of the mixture are left unbeaten. 

Capacity

The Classic Stand Mixer is not the smallest mixer offered by KitchenAid since their Artisan Mini Series only has a capacity of 3.5 quarts. 

Meanwhile, the Classic Stand Mixer has a capacity of 4.5 quarts, which we can translate to 2 1/2 pounds of mashed potatoes, 4 loaves of bread, and 7 to 8 dozen cookies. 

It sounds like it’s more than enough for most home-cooking needs, right? 

But of course, you can get the Artisan or a bowl-lift stand mixer if you plan on making larger batches of recipes. 

Ease of Use

The KitchenAid Classic Series K45SS mixer is a straightforward unit. It’s a tilt-head mixer, meaning it’s easy to access the bowl as you work. 

It also offers 10 mixing speeds, which is fantastic, so you don’t feel limited by the settings as you mix different types of ingredients. 

However, since it’s a simple KitchenAid stand mixer, you won’t get some convenient features like those seen in their more expensive models.

For example, it doesn’t have a pouring shield, which is always helpful to avoid messes when mixing. 

The Classic’s 4.5-quart bowl doesn’t have a handle that would’ve been useful for transfers, and it also lacks practical features like KitchenAid’s Soft Start so you wouldn’t get splatters when you first turn on the mixer or a Commercial Auto Reset for the longevity of the motor since it will reset on its own if the mixer stops from overload. 

Cleaning

Clean-up is easy with the KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer. The bowl, flat beater, and dough hook are all dishwasher-safe!

But in the long run, getting this mixer in white might be practical if you want an easy way to keep it looking brand-new. Growing up, my parents often got white appliances since the black ones easily show the wear and tear they inevitably receive over the years. 

Is KitchenAid Classic good for making bread?

You probably weren’t expecting this, but we must talk about the loaf-shaped elephant in the room…

Can the Classic Series handle making bread?

It comes with a coated dough hook, and it’s marketed with a capacity to make four loaves of bread, which means, yes, it can technically make bread.

However, if you use the KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer for heavy bread making, it will struggle, even with the dough hook.

It’s a good “basic” stand mixer for most recipes and mixtures, but you want something more powerful for kneading dense dough, like when making perfectly crusty French baguettes.

This limitation is not surprising, as the Classic Series only uses a 275-watt motor. 

If you’ll make bread often, here’s a bread machine vs stand mixer comparison to help you decide which appliance is more practical to get. 

KitchenAid Classic Pros

• Good value for money
• Capacity and power are sufficient for most basic cooking needs
• Easy to clean
• Comes with basic attachments for different mixing tasks
• Multi-purpose hub attachment compatible with other KitchenAid accessories
• Solid construction and premium look

KitchenAid Classic Cons

• Only 275 watts
• Not meant for kneading dough 
• Might struggle with heavy-duty mixing

KitchenAid Classic vs Classic Plus

Both the KitchenAid Classic and Classic Plus are tilt-head stand mixers. Their capacity is also the same at 4.5 quarts, and even their motors are both 275 watts.

In fact, both the Classic and Classic Plus Stand Mixers feature a 10-speed motor!

So what’s the point of getting the Plus? Is the name “Plus” just a gimmick?

Well, if you’re a neat freak like me, you’ll appreciate its Soft Start feature. When you start the Classic Plus stand mixer, you won’t have ingredients flying out, and you can say goodbye to annoying flour puff. 

Here’s our KitchenAid Classic Plus Stand Mixer review to know more about the Classic’s sibling. 

KitchenAid Classic vs Artisan

Despite the significant difference in their prices, most potential buyers are often torn between getting the more affordable KitchenAid Classic Series K45SS mixer and the more powerful with bigger capacity KitchenAid Artisan Series.

I say it’s worth it to get the Artisan if you’ll often make big batches of recipes or will usually work with thick, heavy mixtures. It features a pouring shield, and the Artisan even comes in many color options to easily suit your family kitchen aesthetic. 

But how does Artisan compare to the Classic Plus? Check this showdown of KitchenAid Classic Plus vs Artisan!

Is the KitchenAid Classic Worth It?

As we’ve seen in this KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer review, it is worth it. 

First, you’re getting a solid, premium-looking stand mixer from a reputable brand. You can feel confident that it will last for a long time. 

Despite being a basic model, it still has a multi-purpose hub attachment that makes it compatible with accessories to turn the mixer into a culinary center. 

It’s also easy to clean, and its power and capacity are good enough for common tasks in the kitchen. 

Try this mixer with cookies. But hold on; don’t just make any cookie recipe.

Have you ever tried a sweet and savory cookie? Check out these bacon chocolate chip cookies!

How Do You Use a KitchenAid Classic Mixer?

This KitchenAid Classic Mixer review has given you the pros and cons of the unit. But to get the best experience and performance from your Classic Series, it’s important to use it correctly.

Here are the basic steps:

1. Place the KitchenAid Classic Series on a flat surface.
2. Attach the correct accessory for the job. 
3. Since the Classic is a tilt-head stand mixer, you must unlock the head first by sliding the lever. 
4. Tilt the head backward and ensure you’ve turned off the speed control and unplugged the mixer.
5. Find the shaft under the head of the mixer and line up the accessory’s pin with it. Slide it over the shaft as far as possible, then turn the accessory counterclockwise to secure it in place.
6. For the bowl, simply align it with the clamping plate. Then, push down and twist clockwise to install.
7. Tilt your mixer’s head back, and you’re now ready to add the ingredients. Once done, lower the head and slide the lever to the locked position. 
8. To start, slide the speed lever to the first position. From here, just adjust the speed setting as needed.

FAQ About KitchenAid Stand Mixers

KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer Review: Final Verdict

So is it still worth buying the KitchenAid Classic Series K45SS mixer this year?

Yes, you really can’t go wrong with the Classic Series, and its price point makes it a good introductory mixer if it’s your first KitchenAid stand mixer.

If you are a first-time baker or won’t often work with heavy ingredients, thick bread dough, or large batches of mixes, then the Classic offers great value for money. 

But with the lower price point, be prepared to sacrifice a bit with the power, capacity, and lack of convenience features seen in pricier KitchenAid stand mixers.

Still unsure of what to get after this KitchenAid Classic review? Explore more of the best KitchenAid stand mixers reviewed:

• KitchenAid Stand Mixer Artisan vs Classic
• KitchenAid Classic Plus vs Artisan
• KitchenAid Classic Plus Stand Mixer Review
• KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer Review
• KitchenAid Professional 6000 HD Review