The Difference Between 4.5 and 5 Quart KitchenAid Stand Mixers

In the world of kitchen appliances, one mixer in particular has stood out — the KitchenAid 5 quart stand mixer. This prestigious appliance has been in the hearts of bakers everywhere since the 1700s! But despite its popularity, there are some crucial differences between different models of this model. In this blog post, we will go over these differences to help you decide which is best for your needs.

Whether you’re a professional baker or just one that loves baking for fun at home, you’re going to need a standing mixer to make all kinds of delicious treats and desserts. But before you run out and buy the first 5 quart stand mixer you come across, here are a few things you should know about this appliance.

The History of KitchenAid Stand Mixers

German housewife, Florence Herzog, was the original inventor of the beloved KitchenAid 5 quart stand mixer. In 1919 she was trying to make a cake for her son’s birthday and didn’t want any mess in her house — so she created a way for her to mix up the batter with no mess at all. It took her another year of hard work and trial and error before she had created this masterpiece, but once it was complete she could finally bake without spending loads of time cleaning off counters or mixing batter in pans while standing up. From there, many more improvements were added to this model that made it a kitchen staple.

Over time, KitchenAid came out with other models of their 5 quart stand mixer — the KSM5 and KSM5SS — but they still maintained the basic design and function of their original model. No matter which model you choose, you’ll still be able to make the same delicious treats for your family or friends!

Gathering the Ingredients Before you get started baking with your KitchenAid 5 quart stand mixer, make sure you’ve gathered all of the ingredients you need. You can find more information on how to make sure your ingredients are measured correctly in our post called How to Make Sure Your Ingredients Are Correctly Measured .

Is a 4 quart stand mixer big enough?

One of the first things you’re going to want to consider before you purchase your 5 quart stand mixer is the task that you will be using it for. Do you need something that can hold a lot of ingredients, or does your recipe only call for a handful of ingredients? This is especially important for bakers who like to bake small batches instead of giant ones.

If you don’t bake very often or have a family, then there is no need in getting a motor that’s too large — it just ends up costing more money and stuffs up your kitchen more. If this sounds like you, then perhaps one of the 4 quart models may be better suited for your needs.

Is a 5 quart mixer big enough?

However, if you are a baker that likes to bake large batches in order to keep your family satisfied or just enjoy the process of baking, then you may need a bigger motor that can hold more ingredients than the 4 quart mixers.

But what if you want a KitchenAid 5 quart mixer but don’t want it to be too big? In this case, perhaps the KSM150PSSM 6-Quart Professional Series Stand Mixer would be a good option for you. Not only are both of these stand mixers capable of holding at least 5 quarts in their mixing bowls, but they also have many other features that people love about their larger counterparts.

What is the standard size KitchenAid mixer?

As you can see from the pictures above, the 5 quart stand mixers are a bit bigger than the 4 quart models. Although there are some people who think this is a good thing because they don’t want their KitchenAid mixer to be too small, there are others who prefer their smaller stand mixers because of how much easier it is to store.

With all of that being said, we will briefly go over what different sizes mean among the different models.

How do I know my KitchenAid mixer size?

The number that you’ll see on your KitchenAid stand mixer refers to the amount of volume a mixing bowl can hold. For example, a 5 quart mixer will be able to hold at least 5 quarts of batter or dough at one time. Some mixers are also able to hold more than their advertised capacity because they have unique designs that make it possible. But for the most part, volumes are as accurate as they can be.

The 4.5 quart models are all made by KitchenAid and are meant for home use only . That’s right, none of these mixers have motors that are large enough for professional kitchens. Although, some people have found that the 4.5 quart mixers are quite capable for their personal use, especially if you don’t need to make a lot at one time. When it comes to using a KitchenAid stand mixer, no matter the size, we always recommend using the “beating at medium speed” method , though other experts will tell you it’s better to beat faster or slower depending on your recipe.

Is there an advantage to having a larger stand mixer?

There are a few advantages that come with having a bigger motor in your mixer — one of them is weight. Typically, the larger the motor, the more power it has. The more power your mixer has, the easier it will be to mix thicker doughs or batters. It also makes mixing brownie batter much easier because you can mix it for less time than you would with a smaller mixer.

But there’s also a drawback to having a stand mixer with such a large motor — weight. Because these mixers are built with such powerful motors, they’re often heavier than their 4 quart models. This can be an issue for people who use their stand mixer often because the added weight can cause fatigue and pain in your wrist and arms.

How long will a KitchenAid mixer last?

One of the main reasons that people buy a KitchenAid stand mixer is because they know it will last. While operating a stand mixer can definitely be a tiring experience, they’re made to withstand heavy use and sometimes even abuse.

When looking at the longevity of your kitchen tool, try to look at things that are important to you — like their design, comfort, and performance. If you’re looking for something that will last you a long time and are willing to pay a bit extra for it, then you should consider investing in one of KitchenAid’s larger stand mixers.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a 5 quart stand mixer, one that’s durable enough to tackle big batches of dough or light batters, then you can’t go wrong with any of the models we’ve mentioned above. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn’t be happy with their mixer after using one for a while.

However, if you don’t mind having a smaller stand mixer because it’s easier to store or would like a mixer that costs less than the alternatives, then we suggest the KSM150PSSM 6-Quart Professional Series Stand Mixer . While it’s not as powerful as some other models on our list, its design and price are still competitive.