With its ample dimensions and burly construction, this commercial 5-quart KitchenAid mixer is prepared to be a culinary beast of burden. Smartly engineered so that the beater moves clockwise while the shaft moves counterclockwise, the beater reaches every part of the bowl without requiring it to rotate. Five mixing speeds plus a stir setting means the appliance can do everything from folding cranberries into biscotti to whipping up a fluffy meringue. The all-metal construction includes a heavy-duty motor to handle stiff batters and a hardwearing transmission that ensures continuous power. The mixer’s seamless, stainless-steel, 5-quart bowl stands flat on its indented base and features sealed handle and bracket connections that meet NSF standards. A professional-style bowl lift raises it easily and securely into position, even if it’s brimming with weighty dough. The mixer comes with a burnished flat beater, a burnished dough hook, and a commercial wire whip. The flat beater is perfect for mixing cake batters, mashing potatoes, and stirring quick breads. The dough hook comes in handy for breads and coffee cakes, and the wire whip is your tool for icings and whipped cream.
Four sealed rubber feet hold the mixer stably in place, and a 3-wire, 6-foot power cord meets commercial requirements. As a safety mechanism, the overload reset button pops out if the mixer is overloaded, and the motor shuts off. If you only bake occasionally, a less heavy-duty unit will do the job. But if you work or recreate in the kitchen, this hard-working mixer can keep the pace. --Emily Bedard
