KitchenAid calls its new Artisan Plus Stand Mixer the biggest upgrade to the appliance since 1955. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the limited speed settings on the brand’s iconic mixers, you might agree. Not only does the new Artisan Plus introduce an additional half-speed setting for gently folding and incorporating ingredients like egg whites and berries, it also features a redesigned control lever for selecting an exact speed in-between its 11 presets.
The speed control lever is now capped with a knob on the end that can be rotated a quarter-turn to disengage the detents that normally limit its movements to jumping between the 11 presets. The alternate mode allows the lever to smoothly slide up and down the scale, unlocking precise speed adjustments for the mixing tool. While previous versions of the mixer used an electromechanical control system inside, the new Artisan Plus features a microcontroller-based system with a Hall effect sensor for more precision.
Other upgrades include an LED light pointing down into the bowl that KitchenAid fine-tuned with a specific color temperature and intensity to make ingredients look as appetizing as possible. It automatically turns off when the mixer is tilted up, but can be manually activated using the redesigned control lever. The Artisan Plus also comes with a new beater that uses silicone edges to scrape the sides of a bowl as it mixes. It’s only compatible with the new mixer as its upgraded electronics detect the extra friction and increase the motor’s power automatically to maintain the desired speed.