Whether you’re a Food Network star or a take-out fanatic, you’ve probably heard of (or seen) a KitchenAid before. They’re a favorite of several major food shows on television.
While most of those are the larger-capacity models, sometimes you may want a smaller (but just as powerful) stand mixer for your own kitchen. That’s where the KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer comes in.
It has 10 speeds, 59-point planetary mixing action to hit every part of the bowl, and can handle most of the everyday jobs you’ll enlist it for.
However, while those are great features, not everyone has good experiences with this KitchenAid mixer.
Some users complained about missing parts when it was delivered, that residue came off from the bowl or paddles during use, and that it worked for less than a year before breaking down.
Nonetheless, let’s take a more in-depth look, and then you can decide whether the KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer is ideal for you.
Contents
KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer: The Details
In A Nutshell
- Weight: 8 lbs.
- Dimensions: 8 x 14 x 14 inches.
- Capacity: 6 dozen cookies, about 3.5 loaves of bread and 6.5 pounds of mashed potatoes.
- Speeds: 10 speeds.
- Bowl Type: Stainless-steel bowl.
- Motor: 250 watts.
- Warranty: One-year warranty.
Features
10 Speeds
The KitchenAid Ultra Power comes with 10 different speeds. You need only select the one you want by moving a lever on the side of the mixer.
It’s easy to pick the exact speed you need, whether your recipe calls for you to stir, beat, whip, or knead your ingredients.
Tilt-Head Design
The Ultra Power also comes with a tilt-back head, so when you recline it, you can clearly see into the bowl, add ingredients, or change the attachment.
You also don’t have to worry about the mixer head coming down while you are working inside the bowl. The head locks in place when you tilt it back and also when you tilt it down.
This ensures it will never bob up and down when you’re using the mixer. (Just make sure you hear the click! It’s happened to us all at least once.)
Attachments
The Ultra Power also comes with three different attachments: a burnished metal flat beater, a burnished metal dough hook, and a wire whip.
The flat beater is probably the attachment you’ll use the most. It works great for light, normal, and heavy batters. Everything from cakes mixes to cookie doughs can be mixed with the flat beater.
The dough hook is best for kneading and mixing yeast doughs. You don’t have to use all your arm strength just to bake some bread for you or your family. The mixer will do the work for you.
The wire whip will help put the maximum amount of air into whatever your making. From whipped cream to airier cakes to whipping up egg whites, the wire whip can operate on a lot of different things.
You will also get a plastic pouring guard to help keep the ingredients in the bowl. Additionally, because of the pour spout on the shield, the guard will help you more easily place the ingredients in the bowl.
4.5-Quart Stainless-Steel Bowl
The 4.5-quart stainless-steel bowl might seem like a small capacity, especially compared to some other mixers, but that doesn’t mean it can’t make large amounts of food.
The Ultra Power can make up to six dozen cookies, three loaves of bread, and six pounds of mashed potatoes.
The bowl is also dishwasher-safe, so you don’t have to worry too much about cleaning up.
59-Point Planetary Action
The mixer hits 59 touch points in the bowl per rotation. This planetary action ensures all the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and evenly mixed.
The attachment not only rotates in one direction, but it also spins around the bowl in the opposite direction, so that you can have your creation in the oven or on the table in no time.
Warranty
The Ultra Power also comes with KitchenAid’s one-year warranty.
If your mixer breaks in the first year you own it due to a manufacturer’s mistake, you get a replacement free of charge.
KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer Review
The Positives
Durable
Quite a few users (this mixer has 783 five-star reviews on Amazon) stated how well the Ultra Power got through most assignment jobs.
It may not be right for extremely tough jobs like kneading heavy bread doughs, but it will work for most things you’ll use it for.
Cookie dough, cake batter, and basic bread doughs will all mix together perfectly with this KitchenAid. So if you’re a home baker who likes to keep busy, know that the KitchenAid Ultra Power will have you covered.
Good Customer Service
Users also mentioned how great KitchenAid’s customer service is. They respond to most issues and pay for shipping any broken mixer back and forth for repair.
Anyone who’s had a bad experience with customer service knows how great it can be when a company actually takes your complaints seriously and doesn’t make you jump through hoops to get a replacement or a repair of their product.
Speaking of replacement and repairs, you won’t have trouble contacting customer service to use your one-year warranty should you notice any defects in your stand mixer.
This warranty is in place to protect customers from any errors in craftsmanship and manufacturing that they find in their stand mixer.
Should this happen, simply contact KitchenAid’s stellar customer service and they’ll take you through the steps with no hassle.
Easy to Use
The KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer is also very easy to use. You simply have to set the bowl in place, attach the beater of your choice, add your ingredients, choose the speed you want, and you’re all set.
Many users noted there was really no learning curve with this mixer, and that it was easy to work with even when they were baking with their kids.
This makes this stand mixer a great choice for beginner and novice bakers. You won’t be left fumbling around and confused when it comes to getting started on a new recipe.
A Smaller Alternative
This is a point for those looking for more counter space or those with a lack of space in the kitchen – you won’t need to clear out too much room with the KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer.
It’s a smaller stand mixer so you won’t have to worry about it hogging all the space on your counters, and it weighs under thirty pounds, so should you need to put it away in a cupboard, it won’t kill you to take it out when needed.
Just because it’s a smaller stand mixer, doesn’t mean it skimps out on power. It still packs a punch for its size so you get the same power of a big stand mixer without sacrificing space.
Price
You can easily spend thousands of dollars on a machine that performs as powerful and effective as the KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer – but in this case, there’s no need!
This stand mixer is offered at an affordable price so it’s easy for new bakers to invest in, and those on a budget won’t have to sacrifice quality.
As mentioned, a warranty is included in the purchase of this stand mixer making this a less risky option which is important when investing in a new appliance or hobby.
You also have the option of purchasing additional attachments to add to the stand mixer’s power hub. You can make pasta or even ice-cream all from one machine.
The Negatives
Stopped Working
Quite a few users stated in their reviews that their mixer stopped working even after light jobs. Some also mentioned that their mixer came with missing parts or with paint already chipped off it.
There were also cases where parts broke off while they were using it. YIKES! Metal does not belong in your baked goods.
This is a manufacturing error that can be replaced easily but is still worth noting. Be sure to inspect the mixer thoroughly when it arrives!
If things seem out of place or wonky, make use of that warranty.
Residue Comes Off
A number of users mentioned residue coming off the bowl or the attachments while they were mixing. Even the good reviews mentioned this issue.
One user noted that they had to wash the bowl twice with baking soda and lemon before the residue stopped coming off.
For a product that is going to be in direct contact with food, this either should be addressed before the mixer is shipped out or should be a more prominent part of KitchenAid’s marketing.
It is not a warning featured anywhere they sell their mixers. While this isn’t a total dealbreaker, be aware that you’ll need to really clean your bowl and attachments before using to avoid any issues.
Wobbled on Counter Top
A few users also mentioned that the mixer wobbled and moved on the countertop when they were mixing at higher speeds.
This could be potentially dangerous if you’re not paying attention to the mixer or you walk away for a moment.
It wouldn’t be difficult to imagine how the mixer could fall off a countertop and cause some real damage. To avoid any issues, keep this mixer in a secure place on your counter and avoid keeping it near the edge.
Here’s a video showing the KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer in action.
Overall Verdict
After looking at all the pros and the cons, we are recommending the KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Ultra Power Stand Mixer.
The residue coming off the bowl and the attachments is definitely an issue, but if you are willing to do a little cleaning before using the mixer, you shouldn’t have much of a problem after that.
The tilt-head design, the 10 speeds, and the capacity make this KitchenAid stand out from the other mixers on the market, and it just might be the one for you.
Where to Buy the KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer
KitchenAid is a brand commonly seen on the shelves of department and home appliance stores thanks to their reputation for making solid machines backed by a great warranty.
The KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer is no different, available both in-store and online.
To start your search, check out the following online retailers.
And of course, you can also find this stand mixer on Amazon.
That’s it for our KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer review. Tempted to give it a go?
KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer Rated
MBAH Verdict
The KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer is a powerful yet affordable machine backed by a company and warranty that allows you to worry less.
Take care to clean it upon arrival, and place it away from counter edges in case it wobbles and you’ll have a long-lasting mixer to take you through a variety of recipes.
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Mix Quality
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Variety of Settings
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Ease of Use
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Design
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Value for Money