KitchenAid vs Smeg: pick the right brand for your kitchen
Everything you need to know in the KitchenAid vs Smeg debate, including a comparison of the KitchenAid and Smeg mixers
If you're looking for a stylish appliance brand for your kitchen, it's likely that you'll come down to KitchenAid vs Smeg when making your decision. Both brands are enduringly popular for their iconic and stylish designs, as well as the striking color collections that will complement any kitchen. Both are also known for making iconic stand mixers, which we have tried hands-on in our stand mixer reviews.
In this KitchenAid vs Smeg comparison, we take an in-depth look at the entire line of KitchenAid and Smeg products available for your kitchen. You may be here to find a Black Friday small appliance deal, or perhaps you just want to find the best stand mixer for your home and have whittled it down to two major brands, but we're here to shed some light on the key differences to know before buying.
Although both offer a similar range of small appliances, they do differ on price and choice. KitchenAid certainly has more options when it comes to appliances like toasters, so if you’re a regular baker or want to have perfectly done specialty bread for breakfast, you might be swayed by the excess of choice of KitchenAid models. Alternatively, if your small appliance is less of a multi-use tool and more of a finishing touch, the polished beauty of a Smeg appliance might just convince you.
We’re going to delve into the other differences between the Smeg and KitchenAid brands when it comes to specific appliances, covering their functions, prices, availability and specialist features, so that you know exactly which would suit you best.
KitchenAid vs Smeg Stand mixers
There’s no better place to start when discussing stand mixers than KitchenAid, the brand that made them known to bakers everywhere. The range of KitchenAid stand mixers truly has something for everyone; the Classic collection for the casual baker, the Artisan for those who covet a pop of color and the extensive Professional range for the serious bulk-baker. Plus, the thing that ties them all together is unbeatable quality, from the body of the appliance to the bowls that range in quart size. There’s also a wide range of mixing speeds that allow you to get the right tempo for egg whites, cakes and more within the touch of a button.
Another excellent feature of KitchenAid stand mixers that you can’t find anywhere else to such an extent is its set of compatible attachments, from juicers to food processors, that transform your mixer into a multi-appliance, offering you maximum versatility. This is a money and space-saving feature that makes your stand mixer all the more valuable.
Smeg stand mixers occupy a different space, with just one type of mixer available in either all-over colors or top colors. Though certain features are more stripped back than KitchenAid alternatives, it supplies serious power (800 watts), and has a range of included attachments to rival KitchenAid too.
The design of the Smeg 1950 Stand Mixer is markedly different from KitchenAids, with a retro look and large lettering making it look as if it’s straight from another age. While KitchenAids have a more understated look, the Smeg mixer is definitely a little different and can set your kitchen apart with its addition. Smeg’s range of attachments is smaller, but still, allow you to make fresh pasta and access a food grinder after making a small purchase. We have more information in our Smeg 1950's Stand Mixer review.
The colors of the Smeg stand mixers may be another area that can sway potential buyers. At first the color range of black, blue, pink, red, silver, green and cream might not seem that impressive (compared to the KitchenAid Artisan’s 20+ color options that are growing all the time) but the fact that you can pick colors for a partial or full design is great when it comes to making tough color choices or if you don’t want to commit to going all out on one shade.
When we reviewed them, we gave the KitchenAid Artisan a 5-star rating and the Smeg stand mixer a 4-star rating, so when it comes down to our hands-on assessments, the KitchenAid is a clear winner.
KitchenAid vs Smeg Blenders
If you need the best blender to allow you to whizz up your smoothie in the morning without complication, then KitchenAid has a strong supply. In terms of simple blenders for your morning smoothie, their K400 Variable Speed Blender is likely your best bet and has three preset programs for iced drinks, icy drinks and smoothies. It’s also available in KitchenAid's color of the year Honey, so you can stay bang up to date with their latest shade. For a lower cost option, our KitchenAid K150 blender review has more information.
Smeg only has one countertop blender to compete with a more varied and feature-packed range over at KitchenAid, and we took an in-depth look in our Smeg BLF01 blender review. It’s available in a range of gorgeous pastels and will achieve the things you need when it comes to simple blending needs. Smeg, like KitchenAid, also has some very practical hand blenders on offer for blitzing a soup or smoothie up in an instant.
KitchenAid vs Smeg Toasters
Considered by many to be the best toasters when it comes to style, Smeg’s toaster range is broken into three practical distinctions: 2 slice toasters, 4 slice toasters and 4 slot toasters. Though the latter two categories can toast the same amount of bread, 4 slot toasters have two separate toasting mechanisms, which gives variation, as we found out in our Smeg 4 Slice Toaster TSF03 review. This is essential for families who crowd around the breakfast bar, as it allows two groups to have their bread done to different degrees. As you would expect the Smeg toasters share the retro designs of the other appliances, with bold lettering and a clean finish. Altogether they are an aesthetic dream but also very functional.
KitchenAid toasters vary between two and four-slice models and are all designed for quick and easy toasting. They also come in a range of colors to suit any kitchen decor you might have in mind. The 4-slice KitchenAid toaster models are ideal for specialty breads due to their wider slots, so if you love toasting ciabattas, bagels, and sourdoughs, one of these appliances will save you time and be ultra-efficient.
KitchenAid vs Smeg Immersion Blenders
The best immersion blender can do plenty more than just green juices or smoothies, and Smeg and KitchenAid are brands trying to target a growing audience who see the potential that an immersion blender can unlock when it comes to food creations in their kitchen. KitchenAid has a High-Performance Blender for any serious chefs, which has a tamper (an extra tool) to ensure all ingredients get pushed into the blending vortex, preventing that annoying moment where you have to shake everything manually to readjust.
As we mentioned above, with Smeg, as with stand mixers, there’s just one immersion blender range to choose from (but there are a variation of lovely hues to drool over). This blender is admittedly more simplistic than the professional blender over at KitchenAid, but it does pack a punch when it comes to power and has a stunning 1950’s design that will give your kitchen the retro vibe of your dreams.
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Molly is the Ecommerce Writer for Homes & Gardens and spends her time searching the internet for the next best thing for your home, with a focus on shopping edits and buying guides. Before joining Homes & Gardens, Molly graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in English Literature, with previous internships undertaken at The Economist in her summer breaks.
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