ConsFirst / Stand mixers / Compare
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer vs Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on mixing performance, ease of use. Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer wins on heavy dough, durability.
The biggest complaint about the KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer is reliability complaints from owners; for the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer it's steep learning curve. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer | Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in stand mixers | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$$ |
| Type | Bowl-lift | Other |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 23% | — |
| Overall score | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Mixing performance | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Heavy dough | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Quietness | 4.0 | — |
| Durability | 2.5 | 4.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $200 · $$ $200–450 · $$$ over $450. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
- Reliability complaints from owners
Amazon's summary reports units that stop working after minutes or break after a second use (reliability: 82 positive vs 180 negative mentions), and 21% of its Amazon ratings are 1 star. Walmart 1-star reviews describe a unit that died on first use, overheating and a clucking noise, and one that burned out kneading a large high-hydration dough.
- Fiddly bowl and a bump that traps ingredients
Serious Eats says it takes finagling to seat the bowl on the arms, and a raised bump at the bottom lets unmixed ingredients pool. One Walmart reviewer says flour flies past the pouring shield.
- Heavy, bulky and expensive
ATK lists it as heavy and bulky and notes KitchenAid limits the dough hook to speed 2. On Amazon, value for money draws more negative than positive mentions for a $600+ product.
Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer
- Steep learning curve
Serious Eats says you must add wet ingredients first and adjust the arm position, which takes getting used to. ATK lists a steep learning curve and many parts.
- Weaker setup for cakes and frosting
Wirecutter says it falls short on other baking tasks: batters use a smaller, flimsy plastic bowl that flexes, the center column gets in the way, and bain-marie frostings need a separate bowl.
Source: Wirecutter - Expensive, with pinch risk
Serious Eats calls it quite expensive (about $800). Wirecutter warns it's easy to squish a hand between attachment and bowl, and ATK says the open bowl with a high-torque motor requires care.
Who should pick which
Pick the KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer if
Avid bakers making big or double batches
Stiff bread and pizza dough
A mixer that stays on the counter
Skip it if: You bake occasionally; You have limited counter or cabinet height; Reliability reports worry you more than capacity
Pick the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer if
Frequent bread bakers
Very large dough batches
Long-term ownership (long warranty)
Skip it if: You're a beginner or bake with kids; You mostly make cakes and frosting; You want a familiar KitchenAid-style workflow
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