KitchenAid's new premium stand mixer has one brilliant feature I didn't realize I needed in my baking

• KitchenAid has launched a new version of its classic Artisan Stand mixer
• The KitchenAid Artisan Plus offers more power and control over mixing
• It's on sale now in the US for $599.99 (about £450 / AU$870)

KitchenAid has just launched a new version of its tilt-head Artisan stand mixer, with a more powerful motor, a bright LED light to help you see inside the bowl while you work, and several features that make working with flour and sugar less messy.

The classic KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer has remained basically unchanged since the 1950s, and for good reason: it's a sturdy and reliable appliance that's built to last, and has pretty much all the features a baker could ask for. I've owned mine for 13 years now, and it's still going strong. It's not quite perfect though, and with the Artisan Plus, KitchenAid has made some thoughtful tweaks to the original design that make you life easier, and keep your kitchen cleaner.

For example, the new mixer has a more powerful motor, and can move between speeds more smoothly. The classic mixer offers a good range of speeds (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10) but there's sometimes quite a large jump from one setting to the next, and if you're not prepared, you could accidentally increase the power too suddenly, spreading flour over your kitchen or flicking batter around. With the Artisan Plus, it's easier to find exactly the right speed for the baking task at hand. There's a half-speed fold mode as well, for tasks like mixing soft fruit into muffins without squashing them.

The KitchenAid Artisan Plus also has a new 'soft start' mode, which increases the mixing speed very gradually at the beginning. I can see this being particularly useful for making buttercream without coating your kitchen in a layer of icing sugar. Sure, the classic KitchenAid Artisan comes with a shield to keep things contained, but it's easier to see what's happening in the bowl without it.

Speaking of seeing clearly, my favorite new feature is the integrated bowl light, which makes it easier to check on the progress of your mixing, whisking, or kneading. I have under-counter lights, but the mixer tends to cast a shadow over the bowl, so this is a truly helpful addition.

The Artisan Plus comes with a double flex-edge beater, which scrapes the inside of the bowl like a spatula to ensure everything is fully incorporated, plus a set of stainless steel accessories. This is a real upgrade on the original mixer's coated aluminum accessories, which (in my experience) didn't always fare well in a dishwasher. The Artisan Plus is also compatible with all your existing KitchenAid attachments, including the three-in-one pasta roller that launched earlier this year.

The KitchenAid Artisan Plus is available now in the US for $599.99 (about £450 / AU$870). International release dates are yet to be confirmed.

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