When I started my search for a well maid stand-up mixer the obvious choices were KitchenAid or Cusinart? I was torn between the two because they both received excellent reviews and so I purchased both and here is what I have observed.
1. Depending on which KitchenAid you purchase they can be just as pricy as the Cusinart. However, if you search well enough you can find sales for both. I found the best deals on the web which included free shipping which is a plus.
2. One of the most important features for me is when a mixer scrapes the very bottom of the bowl in order to mix all of the ingredients together. The whisk on my Cusinart rubs the bottom of the bowl which insures that all of my ingredients are all mixed together. The whisk on my KitchenAid did not reach the bottom, therefore, I had to stop the mixer and scrap the bottom of the bowl severl times.
3. Another very important feature for me is the motion of the whisk. At any speed the Cusinart blended my ingredients very well. When looking down into the bowl you would see a smooth swirl even on the highest speed. Now, with the KitchenAid it also blends very well and when you are looking down into the bowl at any speed you will not see a smooth swirl like the Cusinart, you will see a wild roaring little ocean. The movement of the whisk for the KitchenAid mixed my ingredients faster because it allowed more air to get into the mix, which helps to cool down the mixer and to create a fluffy mixture in less time.
Both the KitchenAid and the Cusinart are fantastic mixers. How you choose between the two probably depends on your needs. My next purchase will probably be a Cusinart because at my place of business, Homemade With Shea, we whip Shea Butter along with other natural ingredients and it is extremely important for all ingredients to me mixed very well.
Now, the KitchenAid I purchased belongs to the Artisan series and so I am going to look into their other models because if I can find a KitchenAid that has a whisk that will scrape the bottom of the bowl I will gladly purchase it because of the KithenAid’s awesome whisk motion.