\n<\/p>\n
Unless you\u2019re a seasoned chef, buying top-of-the-line appliances<\/a> can feel intimidating. Sure, making your own pasta noodles from scratch might sound fun in theory\u2026 until you\u2019re the owner of a pasta machine and you\u2019re not sure how to start using it. This also goes for stand mixers. As soon as you read that sentence, we bet a very specific stand mixer came to mind \u2014 KitchenAid\u2019s<\/a>, of course! But, as much of a flex as it would be to have one sitting on your counter, is this world-famous appliance really worth the hype (and the price)? The good news is, our editors have tested both high-end mixers and budget-friendly ones, so we have all the deets. This is why we created our Splurge or Save series<\/a>, which compares two editor-tested and loved products that serve the same purpose but retail for different prices.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You don\u2019t need to be an avid baker to know that KitchenAid is the best in the game when it comes to stand mixers \u2014 or at least, that\u2019s the brand\u2019s reputation. Furthermore, their stand mixer is easily their most popular product, regardless of whether we\u2019re talking about the mixers in the Artisan series<\/a> or the Classic series<\/a>. For our purposes, however, we\u2019ll be comparing the latter to Hamilton Beach\u2019s classic hand and stand mixer<\/a>, which is more than $270 cheaper. Our editors have tested both, so they have the intel on whether you should splurge on the cult favorite countertop appliance or stick to its budget-friendly alternative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n When it comes to KitchenAid stand mixers, our editors have tested pretty much every kind there is. Although each one serves the same general purpose, there are differences among them. With the Classic series mixer, you get a lower wattage of 275 compared to the Artisan series, which has a motor power of 325 watts. As a result, our editors deemed this model best<\/a> for smaller batches of whipped cream and cake batter, for example, while a stronger mixer could be used for thicker and tougher recipes, like bread dough or stiff cookie batter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Still, this machine<\/a> is highly versatile, especially when you consider that it has 10 speeds and comes with three attachments, including a six-wire whip, a flat beater, and a dough hook. Although our staffers have a bit more experience with the Artisan series mixer, which is arguably the most popular KitchenAid stand mixer model, we chose the Classic series for this post because its 4.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl is more comparable in size to the Hamilton Beach\u2019s bowl. Regardless of size, you get the signature tilt-head design, meaning you can easily swap out attachments and scrape the bowl clean of its contents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Speaking of attachments, these are what really set KitchenAid mixers apart from all others. There are numerous attachments you can buy<\/a> (apart from the ones that come with the Classic series mixer) that transform this baking appliance into a multifunctional kitchen workhorse. Whether you opt for a meat grinder, a shaved ice attachment<\/a>, a pasta cutter, or something else, the ways in which you can use your mixer become endless once you acquire your desired add-ons.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In short, it\u2019s no coincidence we included this model in our list of the best stand mixers, with tools editor Riddley writing<\/a>, \u201cAlthough the bowl does lack a handle, its capacity is smaller than the Artisan\u2019s, and it isn\u2019t best-suited to regularly kneading sticky bread dough, it can handle most other baking tasks with ease.\u201d And at $329.99, this splurgy mixer is still one of KitchenAid\u2019s more affordable models.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you\u2019re willing to look past the fact that it doesn\u2019t have a fancy brand name, Hamilton Beach\u2019s classic stand mixer is a pretty good alternative. Senior commerce editor Ian got one as a \u201cplaceholder\u201d until he could afford the KitchenAid mixer, and he noted in his review<\/a> that his girlfriend \u201cuses this for pretty much everything she mixes, from cake batters and bread dough to whipped cream, meringues, and more.\u201d What\u2019s more, the mixer comes with four attachments, including two beaters, two dough hooks, and a whisk, not to mention a 4-quart stainless steel bowl that can accommodate both single-person and small family-sized recipes. It also boasts six speeds and a handy \u201cburst\u201d setting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nKitchenAid vs. Hamilton Beach<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Overview of KitchenAid\u2019s Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Overview of Hamilton Beach\u2019s 4-Quart Classic Stand and Hand Mixer<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n