KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer vs KitchenAid Pro 600 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

Buy the Artisan Plus for everyday home baking, small batches and looks on the counter. Its bowl light, half-speed fold setting, soft start and double flex-edge beater make it the more refined tool for cakes, cookies and frosting, and owners rate it very highly. The Pro 600 is the better choice for heavy dough and volume: a 575 W motor, a 6-quart bowl and a bowl-lift frame that handles up to 14 cups of flour per batch. The trade-off is weight, a taller lift-and-lock workflow and a shorter warranty.

• Choose the Artisan Plus if you bake in normal home batches, want the fold speed and bowl light, and prefer a tilt-head you can load from the front.
• Choose the Pro 600 if you knead bread regularly, mix triple batches, or want the extra power and bowl capacity for a busy kitchen.