KitchenAid stand mixers are iconic kitchen appliances known for their power, versatility, and durability. Two of the most popular KitchenAid mixer models are the Artisan and the Professional 600. But when it comes to KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional, which one reigns supreme?
We compared the key features side-by-side to help you determine which is the ultimate KitchenAid stand mixer. Read on as we put the Artisan and Professional 600 to the test across categories like mixing performance, capacity, speed settings, accessories, design, warranties, and price.
Discover how they stack up to help you decide between the KitchenAid Artisan and KitchenAid Professional for your baking and cooking needs.
Mixing Performance
The mixing performance is perhaps the most important criteria when evaluating a stand mixer. You want a powerful machine that can thoroughly mix, knead and whip ingredients with ease.
Motor Power
- The KitchenAid Artisan has a 1.3 HP motor
- The KitchenAid Professional 600 has a 1.75 HP motor
The Professional 600’s more powerful, 1.75 HP motor gives it an edge when working with thick batter and dough. The extra torque allows it to maintain speeds even under heavy loads.
The Artisan’s 1.3 HP motor can handle most mixing tasks but may strain at higher speeds with dense ingredients. It’s better suited for medium to light mixes.
Planetary Mixing Action
Both the Artisan and Professional 600 use KitchenAid’s signature planetary mixing action to thoroughly mix ingredients.
The beater, whip, and dough hook attachments rotate one way while circling the bowl the other way. This provides comprehensive bowl coverage for fast, efficient mixing, ideally with little need for scrapping down the sides.
10 Speed Settings
The Artisan and Professional 600 both offer 10 speed settings ranging from very slow stir to very fast whip.
The Professional 600 maintains more consistent speeds, especially at higher settings, thanks to the more powerful motor. But both allow you to fine tune mixing speeds as needed for recipes.
Larger Capacity
The Professional 600 has a 6-qt bowl capacity compared to the Artisan’s 5-qt capacity.
The larger bowl size gives you the flexibility to make bigger batches – great for larger families or if you bake frequently. But it’s also more space to clean.
Overall, the Professional 600 delivers superior mixing action to handle thick batters and large batches. But the Artisan no slouch for most home baking needs.
Design & Construction
KitchenAid stand mixers have a similar overall aesthetic but there are some key differences in their design and construction.
All-Metal Construction
The Professional 600 has an all-metal construction from top to bottom. This makes it feel sturdier and contributes to the durability.
The Artisan has a plastic housing covering the motor base. The mixers have comparable weights but the Professional 600’s all-metal body gives it a somewhat higher-end feel.
Tilt-Head Design
Both models have the traditional KitchenAid tilt-head design where the head tilts back for easy access to add ingredients and attach accessories.
Many bakers prefer the tilt-head over models with a bowl-lift design. It offers clear visibility and keeps attachments secured to the mixer head rather than the bowl.
Color Options
The Artisan comes in over 25 different colors options ranging from basic white to bold colors like green apple. This makes it easy to find a color to match your kitchen.
The Professional 600 has fewer color choices – around 8 – but comes in both matte and shiny finishes. It offers versatile options like black, silver and white.
Larger Footprint
With its 6-qt bowl, the Professional 600 has a larger countertop footprint (14 x 14 inches) compared to the Artisan (13.7 x 11.4 inches).
While not a huge difference, the Professional 600 takes up a bit more space. The Artisan’s smaller size can be a plus for storage.
The Professional 600‘s all-metal construction gives it a sturdier feel. But the Artisan wins points for offering more color options for a customized look.
Speed Settings
We’ve touched on speed settings for mixing performance, but it’s worth comparing the speed control options for each mixer:
10 Speed Dial
Both the Artisan and Professional 600 have a 10 speed settings controlled by a dial. Speeds range from slow (stir) to fast (whip).
Visual Speed Indicator
Unique to the Professional 600 is a visual speed indicator around the dial. It displays graphically where the speed is set between stir and whip.
The Artisan lacks this visual display but has an arrow indicator pointing to the set speed number.
Slow Start Feature
The Professional 600 has KitchenAid’s “soft start” feature that starts speeds slowly then quickly increases to the set speed. This helps prevent ingredient splatter.
Hands-Free Speed Control
Only the Professional 600 offers a hands-free speed control lever to change speeds without adjusting the dial during mixing. Very convenient!
The Professional 600 provides more advanced speed controls. But both models sufficiently cover a wide range of mixing speeds.
Attachments & Accessories
KitchenAid stand mixers come with three core attachments – a flat beater, wire whip, and dough hook. But the optional attachments are where the versatility comes in.
Here are some key differences between what’s included and available:
Core Attachments
The Artisan and Professional 600 both include:
- Flat beater for mixing batters and frostings
- Wire whip for whipping cream and whipping egg whites
- Dough hook for kneading yeast doughs
Pouring Shield
Only the Professional 600 comes with KitchenAid’s pouring shield attachment.
This clear shield attaches to prevent ingredients splashing out of the bowl when adding liquid or dry ingredients during mixing. Very useful!
Accessory Hub
Both models feature the power hub that allows you to use any KitchenAid attachments like:
- Meat grinder
- Pasta rollers and cutters
- Food processor
- Spiralizer
- Juicer
- and more…
Any attachment fits either mixer. But the Professional 600 can power more attachments at once with its stronger motor.
Flex Edge Beater
The Pro 600 comes with the newer flex edge beater that scrapes the bottom and sides of the bowl better than the standard beater.
Larger Capacity Bowls
Professional 600 bowls come in both 6-qt and larger 7-qt or 8-qt capacities. Artisan bowls max out at 5-qt.
The Professional 600 supports larger batches with its bigger bowls and comes with the handy pouring shield. But both mixers offer similar versatility with attachments.
Warranty
The warranty partially reflects the durability you can expect from KitchenAid stand mixers.
Artisan Warranty
The Artisan mixer comes with a 5 year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal home use.
The warranty only applies to purchases made directly from authorized retailers. Normal wear, misuse, commercial use, modifications or damaged caused by non-KitchenAid attachments are not covered.
Professional 600 Warranty
The Professional 600 mixer has a 10 year limited warranty covering defects in materials or workmanship during normal home usage.
The same conditions and exclusions apply as with the Artisan. But the extended 10 year coverage highlights the Pro 600’s proven durability.
The Professional 600‘s 10 year warranty demonstrates KitchenAid’s confidence in its longevity.
Pricing
With any major appliance purchase, pricing often comes down to your budget. Here’s a look at the typical retail pricing for these KitchenAid heavyweights:
Artisan Series Stand Mixer
- $429.99 for 5-quart bowl
- $479.99 for 5-quart bowl with glass bowl
KitchenAid Professional 600 Stand Mixer
- $499.99 for 6-quart bowl
- $529.99 for 6-quart bowl with glass bowl
The Professional 600 costs around $50-80 more than the Artisan. For serious bakers, the extra power and performance justifies the Pro 600’s higher price.
More casual bakers may opt for the Artisan to save on cost. But you can often find it lower than MSRP during seasonal sales.
Overall, the Artisan wins for shoppers looking for the lowest price point. But the Pro 600 offers more value for performance.
KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional 600: Key Differences
| Feature | Artisan | Professional 600 |
|-|-|-|
| Motor Power | 1.3 HP | 1.75 HP |
| Mixing Action | Planetary | Planetary |
| Speeds | 10 | 10 |
| Bowl Capacity | 5 quartz | 6 quartz |
| Construction | Plastic and metal | All-metal |
| Tilt-head Design | Yes | Yes |
| Pouring Shield | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 years | 10 years |
| Price | $429.99 | $499.99 |
Verdict: Which is the Ultimate KitchenAid Stand Mixer?
So when considering KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional 600, which stand mixer reigns supreme?
The Professional 600 is the winner when it comes to power and performance. With a larger bowl and more powerful motor, it can handle bigger batches and dense mixes better than the Artisan.
The Pro 600 also oozes quality with its commercial-grade all-metal construction and advanced speed controls like soft start. Plus the 10-year warranty provides peace of mind.
But the Artisan puts up a good fight as a less expensive alternative without sacrificing much functionality for home bakers. It can still whip up cakes, cookies and other goodies with ease. And the tilt-head design and wide color selection give it broader visual appeal.
Here’s a quick comparison of the pros and cons:
KitchenAid Artisan
Pros:
- Lower price point
- Lighter batches in 5-quart bowl
- Tilt-head bowl access
- Broader range of color options
- Sufficient power for most home recipes
Cons:
- Motor can strain on dense mixes
- No pouring shield
- Shorter warranty period
KitchenAid Professional 600
Pros:
- More powerful motor
- Larger 6-quart capacity
- All-metal construction
- 10 speeds with advanced controls
- Comes with pouring shield
- Longer 10-year warranty
Cons:
- Higher price tag
- Larger footprint
- Fewer color choices
For most home bakers, the KitchenAid Artisan has sufficient power and performance for basic recipes. The wider range of vibrant colors let you get a stand mixer matching your kitchen style.
But enthusiasts and frequent bakers who want to knead bread dough, whip up large batches, and use attachments will benefit from the KitchenAid Professional 600. It’s an investment that pays off through many years and many delicious homemade creations.
So deciding between the Artisan and Pro 600 ultimately depends on your budget and how advanced your baking needs are. Both iconic KitchenAid models will churn out incredible homemade results you’ll love sharing with family and friends.
Whichever you choose, one thing’s for sure – with a KitchenAid stand mixer as your kitchen companion, you’ll whip up everything from meringues to cookie dough in style!
Frequently Asked Questions
Still trying to decide between the KitchenAid Artisan and Professional 600 stand mixers? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Which KitchenAid mixer is better for bread baking?
The Professional 600 is better for kneading bread dough. Its stronger motor maintains speeds for intensive kneading. The 6-quart bowl also accommodates larger batches.
Is the Pro 600 worth the extra cost over the Artisan?
For avid home bakers, the Pro 600 is worth the extra investment. You get more power for larger batches, a sturdier body, and longer warranty. For more casual bakers, the Artisan provides sufficient performance at a lower price.
Does the Professional 600 have more accessories?
Both models can use all KitchenAid attachments. The Pro 600 comes with the pouring shield and has bowls up to 8-quarts. But otherwise they use the same accessories and hub.
Is the Artisan powerful enough for stiff cookie dough?
The Artisan can handle thick cookie dough thanks to the planetary mixing action. But the Pro 600 is better equipped for frequent large batches of stiff dough.
Which mixer is quieter?
The Professional 600 operates a little more quietly. Its all-metal construction results in less noise and vibration. But both models have relatively quiet motors.
Which tilt-head mixer is easier to use?
They have a nearly identical tilt-head design for ease of use. The Pro 600 has a slightly heavier lift. But both make it simple to add ingredients with the head tilted up.
Do Artisan and Pro 600 models have the same footprint?
The Professional 600 takes up a bit more counter space with its 6-qt bowl compared to the Artisan’s smaller 5-qt bowl. But the difference is just a few inches in footprint size.
Conclusion
After comparing the key specs and testing KitchenAid Artisan vs Professional 600 models, the Pro 600 takes the cake as the superior stand mixer. With commercial-level power and performance, larger capacity, and sturdier all-metal construction, it’s built to deliver outstanding results for avid home bakers.
But the Artisan still shines as a versatile mixer able to whip up quality baked goods at a more budget-friendly price point. Whether you prioritize affordability or mixing prowess, KitchenAid sets the gold standard for stand mixers any home chef would love.
Whichever model fits your needs, prepare for kitchen creations par excellence when you unwrap your shiny new KitchenAid stand mixer. Let us know if you have any other questions as you shop for the perfect mixer to complete your baking arsenal!