“The price is admittedly high, but I firmly believe that when you buy a mixer, you’re investing in baking, and when you buy an expensive (and pretty) mixer like this one, you’re taking that to the next level,” Bowie says. “Also, this isn’t your entry-level mixer—the Ankarsrum is designed for a slightly more experienced baker.”
That said, it was still easy to clean, store and learn—with a bit of patience. “Getting used to all the bells and whistles was a bit of an adjustment, but I was able to rely on YouTube tutorials to figure it all out,” she says. “If you’ve been baking for a while with a KitchenAid, it might take a bit of adjusting, especially with the dual whisks, but the results are so impressive: Meringues get made much quicker, kneading bread follows a different but improved method and you have clear visuals of it all the whole time.”
Speaking of the KitchenAid mixer, Bowie says the Ankarsrum is around the same size. “It’s not bulky at all and fits on the counter well. It’s also a bit easier to store because it doesn’t have an arm, which tends to take up a lot more pantry or cupboard space.”
In addition, the machine has a few noteworthy features you won’t find on your standard mixer and is much more powerful. “The engine is great and the timer is more helpful than I thought it would be,” Bowie admits. [Editor’s note: Better than your average timer, the Ankasrum lets you set the mixing to stop after a certain number of minutes.] “The mixer has been pretty consistent, and I’ve experimented with a variety of different flours as well. The engine is super powerful; I don’t ever see it struggling to mix anything. The design of the bowl is also helpful when it comes to seeing what you’re baking, as opposed to having to look in. It’s worth noting that my translucent bowl is plastic—I’ll likely invest in the stainless steel option, which is an add-on. I haven’t had a chance to test the ice cream maker yet, but the juicer is super easy and does the job well.”
