If you're shopping for a new stand mixer, the decision often comes down to KitchenAid vs Cuisinart. Famous for their range of brilliant mixers, KitchenAid mixers are built in the USA and come in a range of different colors and sizes. This means they're a more versatile choice for both large bakes and single-serve dishes.
With that said, others consider the much-loved Cuisinart Precision stand mixer to be an excellent alternative to the classic KitchenAid Artisan, with a larger mixing bowl and similar attachments for cooking anything from bread to cupcakes.
Many of us will be trying to decide which option is the best stand mixer for their kitchen, and it's a tough call, because the specs are very similar, and both stand mixers are very popular with buyers.
We've tested both the Cuisinart Precision and the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer independently, so if you're trying to decide between the two, our reviews can help. Side-by-side these mixers may look similar, but there are important differences in price and capabilities, as well as that all-important performance test. In this piece we will explain the differences between the two mixers and help you decide which is right for you.
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KitchenAid vs Cuisinart stand mixers: which should you buy?
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Buy the KitchenAid Artisan if you're looking for the very best your money can buy; if the style and color of the machine are an important consideration; or if you tend to cook smaller servings of baked goods.
In our KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer review, we found that this mixer lives up to its reputation with the perfect capacity for most baking tasks and a reliable motor that won't overheat, no matter how much you use it.
For
- Sleek design
- Easy to use and store
- Great for small batches
- Makes cakes in an instant
- Three attachments
- Optional attachments available online
Against
- It shakes a little when kneading dough
- Some ingredients get stuck to the side
Buy the Cuisinart Precision stand mixer if you want the best value option, or if you plan on cooking large servings of cake or cookies at a time.
The Cuisinart Precision stand mixer review also went very well, but we did find that the slightly larger capacity puts it at a disadvantage if you're cooking smaller servings. If you're making a single loaf of bread or a loaf cake, for example, the flat beater struggles to reach right to the bottom, which means the mixing can be less effective.
For
- Dial with many speeds
- Large 5.5 quart bowl
- A powerful motor
- The bowl has a handle
- Lifting the tilt-head is straightforward
- A reasonably priced option
Against
- Some of our ingredients got stuck to the side of the bowl
- Fewer color options
Millie Fender is Head of Reviews at Homes & Gardens. She was formerly our Small Appliance Editor, and has tested many of the leading stand mixers on the market side-by-side to see how they compare on looks, power, and that all-important taste-test.
Comparing the KitchenAid and Cuisinart mixers
KitchenAid has an immense range of stand mixers - the brand appears three separate times in our stand mixers buying guide. Cuisinart, by contrast, is best known for its Precision stand mixer. This is most directly comparable to the , which is also KitchenAid's most popular stand mixer. If you've ever seen a KitchenAid mixer on someone's Instagram or on a cooking show, it was likely an Artisan.
When you look at the spec differences between the KitchenAid Artisan and , the Cuisinart is – on paper – the front-runner. It has a more powerful motor, more speeds, a marginally larger capacity, and the same attachments.
One other difference is that the bowl on the Cuisinart has a handle included, which is useful for pouring and scraping out cake batter and bread dough.
Which is better on price?
The KitchenAid Artisan usually retails for $399.99, whereas the Cuisinart Precision costs $249.99. You can keep reading to find out which mixer performs better, but if budget is a big part of your evaluation, the Cuisinart is a better value pick.
Cuisinart Precision stand mixer and attachments
Which has better features?
On paper, the Cuisinart is a better value stand mixer. However, there are some perks to buying a KitchenAid too. The Cuisinart used to only have six colors: Onyx, Red, Bright Blue, Blue Mint, Chrome, and White. Recently, Cuisinart added some gorgeous pastels including Blushing Coral, Agave Green, and Arctic Blue. However, there's still no comparison between this range and the available colors for the KitchenAid Artisan.
KitchenAid and Cuisinart stand mixers mixing cake, head-to-head on test
We cannot even list every color you can buy the KitchenAid Artisan in, but the total number is in excess of 40. If you want to pick a stand mixer to suit a specific look in your kitchen, the KitchenAid will be the best choice for you.
Aesthetically, the KitchenAid also wins out for me. The Cuisinart is slightly curvier and bulkier, but the KitchenAid has a classic sloping design. It's all subjective, though.
Which is better at making cake?
The flat beater with the Cuisinart and the KitchenAid both work effectively at making cake, but we did find that the KitchenAid Artisan did a better job of creaming butter and sugar together without assistance. When we tested the Cuisinart, we had to go in with a spatula multiple times to scrape butter and sugar away from the sides of the bowl.
If you make a lot of cake, the KitchenAid is better for this. Because the Cuisinart has a larger bowl it is also more wide, which means the flat beater doesn't touch all sides of the bowl when beating and whipping.
KitchenAid and Cuisinart stand mixers making bread, head-to-head on test
Which is better for bread?
We followed the same recipe when testing both the Artisan and Precision mixers. While it was close, Cuisinart did a better job.
The KitchenAid's smaller motor had an effect here because you have to work on the lower speeds in order to not damage the machine. The mixer moved around the counter when kneading, and we felt like we had to supervise to make sure it didn't move too much or even fall over.
By contrast, Cuisinart did a very good job of working the bread dough. The motor was able to work at a higher speed, and we were able to make a great loaf of bread when working with this machine.
Which is best for speed control?
Stand mixers on test
The KitchenAid dial goes up to 10, but if you click it along you'll find it only goes at six speeds. The Cuisinart has a dial, and there are 12 speeds to choose from. This dial also has a slow-start mode that prevents clouds of flour from exploding in your kitchen, which is a really nice touch.
Which is better for attachments?
Now, while you can remove the front panel from the Cuisinart to attach some add-ons, there are far fewer add-ons available with this mixer than the KitchenAid, which has everything from a food processor to a pasta maker attachment. There are five in total that you can buy for the Precision, but over 14 available for the Artisan.
Are KitchenAid and Cuisinart attachments interchangeable?
No, you can't use the attachments for KitchenAid and Cuisinart mixers interchangeably. Or at least, that's what the official guidance will tell you. Technically, the whisk, hook and flat beater from the Cuisinart Precision and the KitchenAid Artisan will fit into place on the opposing mixer, but there's no saying if they'll work as well on a different mixer, and it could even damage your machine if you use attachments that aren't designed to fit onto the specific head of your mixer.
Where is KitchenAid made?
KitchenAid is a US-based company, and while not all its products are made here, its stand mixers are made in the USA.
By contrast, Cuisinart is a French company who mostly manufacture in China.
Does KitchenAid go on sale?
It's not every day that you'll find a KitchenAid mixer on sale but you can usually find a good deal around Black Friday on retailers such as Amazon or Macy's. The Cuisinart Precision is already more affordable, and we have noticed that it will also go on sale more often throughout the year.
KitchenAid vs Cuisinart: which should you buy?
This depends on your needs. For a start, if you have a specific kitchen design that you want to adhere to, the KitchenAid has a larger range of colors and styles, and even custom bowls that you can buy online.
Budget-wise, the is cheaper than the by about 50%, and while we found that making cake was trickier, it did perform a little better with bread. For the money, it's the better value choice.
If we were going to buy one stand mixer, it would be the KitchenAid Artisan.
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