The KitchenAid 5-quart Heavy Duty Mixer K5SS with its all-metal construction, raises the bar for superior performance in a stand mixer. This unit boasts 325 watts of mixing power, along with KitchenAid's trademark planetary mixing action, which rotates the beater around a stationary bowl.

The K5SS is one of KitchenAid's bowl-lift mixers, which utilize a special two-position lever that raises the bowl up on two support arms. The benefit of the support arms is extra stability, which is particularly useful when making heavy batters and bread doughs. A secondary benefit is convenience, since the mixer head doesn't have to be tilted up to access the ingredients in the bowl. With overall dimensions of 16.4 inches (height) by 13.3 inches (depth) by 10.4 inches (width), this mixer is rather large in comparison with others in its class. Its weight (roughly 25 pounds) also makes it prohibitive to move, especially for anyone who has difficulty lifting heavy objects. For that reason, many people prefer to leave the KitchenAid mixer on the counter, ready for use at a moment's notice.

We tested the K5SS with a hard-to-mix cookie dough recipe, as well as a delicate whipped cream. The mixer breezed through the stiff butter sticks without flinching and made short work of creaming the butter and sugar with the dry ingredients. Its slowest speed was ideal to begin mixing and the graduation up to the highest speed ensured a thoroughly mixed, creamy cookie batter. With whipped cream, the K5SS proved its worth, aerating the cream and creating mountains of glossy peaks in just minutes. The unit's wire whisk is ideal for this purpose.

The KitchenAid K5SS mixer comes with a large 5-quart stainless-steel mixing bowl, a flat beater (for mixing cake batters, blending cookie dough, beating frostings and other basic mixing tasks), a heavy-duty dough hook designed specifically for mixing and kneading bread dough and an oversize wire whisk for whipping cream or egg whites.

The mixer is controlled by a speed lever located on the mixing head. There are 10 speeds in all, the slowest of which (stir) is well suited to start-up mixing. While the mixer is operating, it emits a steady hum that gets progressively louder, like the revving of an engine, at higher speeds.

We loved the smooth, effortless mixing. The weight of the mixer head, combined with its powerful motor results in exceptional stability so there is virtually no rocking or movement of any kind. The attachments twist and lock in place for secure mixing. Insertion and removal is easily accomplished by grasping the attachment and pressing upward, then turning to the right (attach) or left (remove). Optional accessories include a food grinder, pasta maker, slicer/shredder, citrus juicer, fruit/vegetable strainer, sausage stuffer, can opener, grain mill and more.


Pros: Die-cast metal construction, 325 watts, 10 speeds
Cons: Large body occupies extra counter space, heavy

Warranty
1 year, hassle-free replacement