What To Know Before Buying A KitchenAid Appliance

If you've ever seen a KitchenAid on a gift registry, chances are it was a stand mixer. But the company also makes many other kitchen appliances, from blenders to dishwashers. KitchenAid is often considered the best of the best — but every product and brand has both pros and cons, and KitchenAid is no exception.

Part of why KitchenAid has such a solid reputation is because it's been around for more than 100 years. With families passing mixers down through multiple generations, the KitchenAid brand has become well-known for its reliable products. This sets it apart from newer and less familiar brands that may or may not deliver on quality. It's also a brand that appliance professionals and expert reviewers often recommend. The stand mixer is consistently top-ranked in online reviews, and other KitchenAid appliances are often considered a safe bet too.

"Personally, I recommend brands like Bosch or KitchenAid for appliances. They may cost slightly more upfront but will last much longer and perform better over time. It's worth investing in quality brands, especially for major appliances, to avoid costly repairs and replacements down the road," Jesse Andrews, owner of New England Home Pros, previously told House Digest in an interview about unreliable appliance brands.

Are all KitchenAid appliances as great as people say? There are a lot of perks to the stand mixer in particular, which makes sense because it was KitchenAid's first-ever product. The mixer is high-quality, long-lasting, and compatible with a variety of attachments that allow you to do way more than just bake. You can make pasta, ice cream, sausage, and more. People who bake frequently can save a lot of time and effort with a KitchenAid stand mixer. You can expect one to last for around 15 years on average, or decades with the right maintenance, which makes it easier to stomach the several hundred dollars one typically costs. It's not just a mixer, but a potential heirloom.

Both KitchenAid's mixers and other appliances are stylish-looking and come in a wide range of colors and finishes. In general, KitchenAid's products are energy-efficient and built to last. However, they also have some downsides, particularly when you look past the stand mixers.

The main con of a KitchenAid stand mixer is that it's expensive and may not be worth the money if you only bake occasionally. Stand mixers are also quite heavy and bulky, so they can be difficult to move frequently. Like any machine, they can experience occasional mechanical issues and may need repair; some people claim the quality has gone down over the years.

Other KitchenAid offerings are expensive, too, and while pros say their appliances are worth the splurge, opinions vary among customers. KitchenAid only ranked 17 out of 25 in Consumer Reports' 2023 appliance reliability rankings, for example, which looked at fridges, dishwashers, microwaves, ovens, and more. In the 2024 JD Power Appliance Satisfaction Study, KitchenAid was top-ranked for dishwashers and wall ovens, but not for other appliances like fridges and ranges.

Always research the specific KitchenAid product you're interested in rather than just relying on their solid brand reputation. Each specific appliance has pros and cons, and that's true for any KitchenAid product. For example, some customers report flimsy racks on certain dishwashers or mixer attachments not reaching the bottom of the bowl. Consider how you plan to use the product to determine the best model for you, and look at reviews to see the most common issues that customers have had. If you're on a budget, consider buying a refurbished model or heading to Costco to save on name-brand KitchenAid items.