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KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer

Curated from 211 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 10, 2025

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer

Brand: KitchenAid
Price: $249
Snoop Score:
7.2
Sentiment
7.4
Popularity
5.9
Technical
7.5

Snoop's Take

The KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS is a versatile kitchen appliance designed for mixing, kneading, and whipping various ingredients with ease. Its durable metal construction and tilt-head design make it an excellent choice for both casual bakers and seasoned chefs alike. Consumer feedback highlights the mixer's longevity, with many users reporting that their models have lasted decades without issues. "I have been using mine for around 23 years and I make bread a couple of times a week," noted one user, emphasizing its durability and reliability. Additionally, the wide range of attachments available enhances its functionality, allowing users to explore diverse culinary creations. Many users also appreciate the efficient mixing capabilities, stating it improves baking efficiency and simplifies the process of making large batches of dough. Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding its durability, efficiency, and versatility, the KitchenAid Classic Series Stand Mixer is highly recommended for anyone looking for a reliable and effective mixer in their kitchen.

Not for you? Check out our other rated

I have been using mine for around 23 years and I make bread a couple of times a week.

Positive Feedback

Don't put that whisk or any other attachments with aluminum hubs in the dishwasher!!!

Negative Feedback
Product
7.2
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer
Baking Cookies & Cakes
10 / 10
Bread & Dough Preparation
6 / 10
Whipping & Emulsifying
9 / 10
Accessory-Based Cooking
7 / 10
See how this compares to all Reviews

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Durable construction and longevity
I have been using mine for around 23 years and I make bread a couple of times a week.
I’ve owned that mixer at least 45 years and have put all attachments in the dishwasher and this thing works as good as the day I got it.
I've had mine for almost 20 years still working like a champ.
Mine is almost 30 years old, never had a problem.
Effective for mixing dough at speed 2
Lots of recipes call for higher speeds but that's not how these mixers were designed to work.
I do hear the motor straining a little at the higher speeds.
Wide range of attachments available
Good information in there!! Supplement that with looking at KitchenAid’s page on mixer use.
I really wanna buy the ice cream attachment 😍
I have ice cream attachment which I love. I also have the shredder attachment which makes grating a block of cheese so fast.
Durable and long-lasting
The actual steps of regreasing are not hard. Take apart cover case, clean out old grease, replace with new grease, and reassemble.
I bet grandma or great aunt or whoever had the KitchenAid would be so pleased to know that it got passed to you, someone who could really appreciate it:)
I have a KitchenAid that is about 25 years old where the majority of its load is mixing dough. Never
My mom is using one that she got as a wedding gift back in the 70s. It's never missed a beat, or ha
Good for cakes and cookies
My Kitchenaid works fine.
On sale its not that bad, still expensive but so worth it
Discounts available for purchase
I really like mine. If you keep an eye out for sales sometimes they’re quite discounted.
Worth it for main kitchen tool
They are worth it if it's going to be one of your main tools in the kitchen.
Effective for mixing dough
I do a little bit of hand kneading still for some recipes, but it’s less sticky than it used to be.
My parents got theirs for a wedding gift and it's been cranking out cookies and more for 40+ years.
Good for baking efficiency
I'm able to make so many things so much more efficiently than before.
And I have one party recipe that requires 10 egg whites beaten to stiff peaks.
Tilt-head design is user-friendly
I bought the bowl lift and ended up selling it and getting an Artisan tilt head for the reasons mentioned above and because the bowl was too big for smaller things like whipping just a couple of egg whites.
Effective for making small batches of dough
Having said that, when I'm making hamburger buns, I do everything in my kitchenaid because the volume of dough is low enough that even if it climbs it stays below the hook collar, and it does an excellent job!
Strong enough for mixing dough
I have the classic. I use it for doughs all the time, it’s plenty strong, even for large batches.
Stretch and fold!!! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll like it more than kneading commercial yeast.
Effective for normal batch sizes
Making larger batches (like 2 loaves of challah - about 8-9c or 1kg flour) was pushing the limits.
User serviceable with replacement parts available
They are one of the few things you can buy these days that are meant to be user serviceable.
Good for casual home baking
I make cinnamon rolls once a month and a 2 lb loaf per week on my tilt head mixer.
Built to last with durable construction
Exactly, those KitchenAid motors are the real deal. I got one for a wedding present five years ago and I swear it's built better than my car.
The mixer is DEFINITELY built better than my car. If I could drive the mixer, I'd throw the Fiat in the dumpster.
My Mom's was gift in the late 60's. It's used on a regular basis and it doesn't have a thing wrong with it.
Effective at mixing without needing to scrape the bowl
I've had cheap stand mixers in the past and I've never been satisfied with them, then my mother got me a Kenwood chef sense and it's been the best thing ever.
Versatile for various uses, including ice cream
I never thought about using mine to churn icecream, and I think you might've just changed my life for the better!
Effective for light mixing tasks
I've been making no-knead bread a little for the past month or two so I just use the KA to bring the initial mix together.
Durability with routine maintenance
It's a good machine, and will run pretty much forever with routine maintenance and repairs as needed.
Long-lasting design appreciated over years
I never had to worry about finger prints.
Smaller mixer serves family needs well
What is the difference between the more expensive (larger) Kitchenaid stand mixer and the slightly smaller one? I have been wanting to purchase a KitchenAid stand mixer for a while and have always wondered which one I should get.
The smaller one serves all the needs of my family. I surmise that the bigger one would be a better fit if you make larger recipes for functions or a smallish business but we have never been able to justify getting the bigger one, just for us.
Larger model is more powerful for heavy tasks
While I have fond memories of all the years my smaller one serves me the larger one is just more powerful.
Artisan model is effective for standard baking tasks
It's particularly useful because I like to make bagels, and it's large enough and powerful enough that I can make large batches of pretty heavy dough and it does well with them.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Attachments may not be dishwasher safe
Don't put that whisk or any other attachments with aluminum hubs in the dishwasher!!!
Don't put the attachments in the dishwasher, hand wash only.
My only question is, is the KitchenAid worth it for its price, or would I just be better off making dough by hand?
Mixer stalls at high speeds with dough hook
Mine will stall if I mix dough on speed two.
High price point
Should I just take the leap and buy it (or buy secondhand) or is there a more affordable brand that works just as well.
I just want one so badly but it’s so expensive here.
Not suitable for heavy bread dough
It's insulting to sell a $400+ mixer and put a warning on it that you shouldn't use it for bread dough.
Mixer may struggle with heavy dough
I burnt my three year old 4.5 qt stand mixer out making bread.
The motor sounds like it is struggling. Not impressed in the least.
Potential overheating issues
It overheats easily and really jiggles around whenever it's running and recently I was kneading some dough and speed 4 and the motor completely burnt out.
Struggles with larger batches of dough
Higher powered motor that handles double batches easily.
Less powerful than bowl-lift models
I much prefer the bowl lift.
Not suitable for long mixing times
they just don’t handle long mixing times well.
I make sourdough and none of my recipes called for a mixer.
Concerns about planned obsolescence
Did planned obsolescence reach with it's dirty fingers onto the KitchenAid stand mixers? I was thinking of buying one assuming that they last decades when taken care of.
I'm afraid that they started to implement planned obsolescence, it's a general concern in everything in these days.
Plastic gear may cause issues with heavy use
The fact that they have a plastic gear to save itself if someone does something stupid tells a lot about the product (designed well).
Struggles with heavy dough
Mine can't even get through a batch of cookies once all the flour has been added.
a plastic worm gear inside that can crack or wear, pretty cheap and quick to fix
Wobble in tilt-head joint
I didn't really like the head-tilt because there was some wobble in the joint when it was working hard.
Not suitable for significant bread kneading
The kneading function of a KA mixer will break a tilt head faster than anything else.
Mixer struggles with heavy dough
the real problem with these breaking is overheating the motor, from overwork and not enough cooling
Cuisinart mixers are seen as inferior
Honestly just save up for the KitchenAid, it will outlast you.
Concerns about hinge durability on tilt-head models
My main train of thought was to get the most powerful version I could because for me, I would imagine more power=better for stiffer dough.
Smaller model struggles with larger recipes
The motor sizes do change as you go up in size. I found the smallest can barely make a batch of cookies or cake, but the next sizes up are better.

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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Aucma Stand Mixer 6.5QT Electric Kitchen MixerAucma Stand Mixer 6.5QT Electric Kitchen Mixer$169
8.0
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CHeflee Stand Mixer 600W 6+P with 6.5QT BowlCHeflee Stand Mixer 600W 6+P with 6.5QT Bowl$169
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HOWORK Electric Stand MixerHOWORK Electric Stand Mixer$139
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KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Stand MixerKitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer$249
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COOKLEE 6-IN-1 Stand MixerCOOKLEE 6-IN-1 Stand Mixer$219
7.2
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Kitchen in the Box Stand MixerKitchen in the Box Stand Mixer$139
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ZZR SEVEN Stand Mixer with 5.5 QT BowlZZR SEVEN Stand Mixer with 5.5 QT Bowl$57
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Aifeel Stand Mixer, 8.5QT & 6QT Stainless Steel BowlsAifeel Stand Mixer, 8.5QT & 6QT Stainless Steel Bowls$179
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KitchenAid® 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand MixerKitchenAid® 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer$499
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KUCCU Stand Food MixerKUCCU Stand Food Mixer$159
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KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand MixerKitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer$349
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KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Stand MixerKitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Stand Mixer$279
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Facelle Stand MixerFacelle Stand Mixer$99
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Kitchen in the Box Stand MixerKitchen in the Box Stand Mixer$119
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KitchenAid KSM150PSBK Artisan 5 Quart Stand MixerKitchenAid KSM150PSBK Artisan 5 Quart Stand Mixer$349
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Peicual Stand Mixer, 6QT 10+P Speed Electric MixerPeicual Stand Mixer, 6QT 10+P Speed Electric Mixer$84
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Zuccie 4.8QT Kitchen Electric Stand MixerZuccie 4.8QT Kitchen Electric Stand Mixer$74
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DASH Stand Mixer - Electric Mixer for Everyday UseDASH Stand Mixer - Electric Mixer for Everyday Use$39
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Cuisinart Stand Mixer SM-50BKCuisinart Stand Mixer SM-50BK$179
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Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer, 4 QuartsHamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer, 4 Quarts$108
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Kitchen in the box Stand MixerKitchen in the box Stand Mixer$79
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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Comment on the aesthetic appeal of the mixers
God I love the look of those with their little arms.
Discussion about DC motors in mixers
Most posts seem to be about a year old here.
The only available brand new Kitchenaid being sold in the USA that has DC motor is the commercial 8qt bowl-lift NSF certified mixer.
I did this research before buying mine and (if I remember correctly) only the mini classic (3qt?) and 7qt Pro had the DC motors.
The DC motors are often fetishized and are highly sought after, but what kind of juice turns the motor is pretty much irrelevant when it comes to whether the mixer is capable of doing the work.
Discussion on mixer types and sizes
I have enough storage space and counter space to house the standard size, but not enough vertical space for the professional bowl-lifting size.
Discussion about the history of KitchenAid mixers
Kitchenaid stand mixers?! Hello Reddit, I have been doing a lot of reading about Kitchenaid stand mixers and how they have plastic gear boxes that fail and other problems... what is your take on this?
I have a kitchenaid stand mixer that my parents gave me. We've had it for as long as I can remember (into the mid nineties, at least), and as far as i know we've never brought it in to be repaired.
Discussion on popularity of Artisan vs Bowl-Lift models
I gathered the DC motors are better over the AC motors, because they are quieter and offer more power and toque.
And I think the real answer to your question about popularity comes down to the color selection available in the Artisan Series tilt-head mixers.
I have the lift and prefer it.
The Artisan comes in more colors and it's a very common item to give/receive as a gift.
User preferences for lift vs tilt-head models
I hated it. The head was in the way, I couldn’t see into the bowl as well, it was harder to scrape down the bowl, etc.
Discussion about motor strength differences
The Pro 5 Plus is usually 300watts stronger on the motor than the tile head models.
Differences between various KitchenAid models
Is there any difference between this and the Deluxe (KSM97PT)

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Discussion on sourdough techniques
America's Test Kitchen just came out with an updated review of stand mixers. (Click the "Read more"

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Advice on mixer maintenance and care
Chemical reaction between the dishwasher and caustic soap will destroy the protective coating.
Thanks!! I ended up watching some videos on it and it seems like Bar Keepers Friend is a better choice, as the abrasive pads can leave scratches behind.
If you are worried about scratching, pick one that says nonscratch, and use it with a bit of barkeepers friend.
Kitchen-Aid specifically says in their manuals to knead dough at speed 2 and that anything higher creates a potential for failure.
Discussion on the effectiveness of cleaning methods
BKF + a warm scrub daddy 🤷🏼‍♀️ not a big deal, just had to scrub in the same direction.
Discussion about the availability of mixers at thrift shops
Geez how many of these are at thrift shops and why (since they are so awesome)
Advice regarding the range of models and their power
Some Tilt-head mixers are more powerful than some bowl-lift models.
Advice on re-greasing the mixer
generous offer! just commenting about the oil (i have same mixer)…it needs to be re-greased which isn’t too complicated.
Discussion on secondhand purchases
Made panettone one time the first year and killed it. Never again, kitchenaid mafia 4 life.
Comparison to Bosch for bread making
yes, agreed. Kitchen aid for cakes and cookies, Bosch for bread
General discussion on baking experiences
My sunbeam is going on 15 years. I’m praying for that damn thing to die so I can justify a KA 😩😂
Discussion about preferences between tilt-head and bowl-lift models
I hope to be using the stand mixer next week instead of going out to the store.
Thank you, this is something to think about! The extra power of the bowl lift is great but maybe there are trade-offs.
Preference between head-tilt and bowl-lift models
Now I’m happier with my bowl lift! I make a lot of bread
Advice on mixing techniques and care
Oh well, some times it sucks when people get what they want.
The nylon gear is meant to be a fail safe.
General discussion on mixer repairs and maintenance
The mixer part of it doesn't rotate. I'm guessing there's a belt or a gear or something that's been broken.
It sounds like the worm gear failed in which case it's a very easy thing to fix.
Advice on purchasing second-hand mixers
If it isn't pressing, I would search reselling websites and see if you can find a good KitchenAid second hand.
Mention of price comparison with Aldi
Aldi just had a stand mixer for sale for a great price.
Discussion on pricing and discounts for mixers
I never have to check if my dishes are actually clean and I can't even hear the thing run.
The bowl lift ones rarely see a discount like that, I watched for ages before I caved and got a tilt head one because they were a much more palatable price.
Practical considerations for mixer size and counter space
I purchased a Professional 5 and I found out it wouldn't fit under my cabinets.
Upcoming discounts and deals during Black Friday
If you can wait a month and a half I think there will be better deals (larger % discounts) during Black Friday than this umpteenth circle week.
Advice on maintenance and repairs
They can help familiarize you with the mechanics and maintenance needs of your new mixer.
Discussion on choosing between mixer types based on use
If you want to make bread, get the bigger bowl lift.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion about where mixers come from
Do you only have to get the grease replaced if it’s leaking? I found one on the curb the other day that was working perfectly but didn’t know if it needs some kind of “tune up” of sorts.
Get the silicone scraper paddle, they’re awesome. I have two from Goodwill, one my dad got 15 years ago for $15, and another my husband got a few months ago for $25.
Discussion about finding used mixers at estate sales
I've been told that estate sales are a great place to find deals on used stand mixers.
Historical context of KitchenAid mixers
FYI the lift is not an industrial or commercial product.
Interestingly enough, I also have a KitchenAid fridge and stove. I use those all the time and love them!
Preference for bowl-lift over tilt-head for heavy dough
I've owned both and I much prefer the bowl-lift model!
The bowl lift models are much better if doing things like bread dough.

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