KitchenAid 150 VS The 160
If you plan to buy a KitchenAid Mixer, you might find it challenging to choose between the KSM160 and KSM150. The two have many similarities, so it is essential to know what makes them unique.
For this reason, I have decided to take a closer look at both kitchen tools to help you choose the stand mixer that is best for your needs.
What is the difference between KitchenAid 150 and 160? The KSM160 comes with an additional 2.8-liter mixing bowl for preparing smaller dishes. So, the KSM160 is a little heavier when shipped, although both mixers weigh 10.6kg. The KSM160 is also available in 16 colors while the KSM150 is available in only 10.
Knowing the difference between these KitchenAid stand mixers will allow you to choose which one best suits you.
Read on to learn the key differences and similarities between the KSM150 and KSM160. You will definitely find it interesting to know what sets the two apart.
The Key Differences Between the KitchenAid 150 And KitchenAid 160
Mixing Bowls
The most apparent difference between the two mixers is the number of mixing bowls they come with.
The KSM160 comes with two different sized mixing bowls: a 4.8-liter stainless steel bowl with a handle and a 2.8-liter mixing bowl with a handle and pouring shield, also made with stainless steel.
The KSM150, on the other hand, includes only a stainless steel 4.8-liter bowl with a handle and pouring shield.
The 4.8-liter mixing bowl can mix up to 1.15 kg mixed weight of yeast dough, which is equivalent to two 450-gram loaves.
Simultaneously, some baking enthusiasts prefer using a glass bowl to mix ingredients; both KitchenAid Stand Mixer 150 and 160 come with stainless steel bowls.
It is quite evident that KitchenAid gave a lot of thought to this feature. Stainless steel bowls are lightweight compared to glass bowls, making them easier to move around.
Even a huge stainless steel bowl weighs less than a glass bowl of the same size. To top it all off, stainless steel bowls are more comfortable to hold, and stacking them in one place is a great way to store them.
If I were to choose between glass and stainless steel, my answer would be obvious: I would go for stainless steel.
Unlike glass, stainless steel bowls are durable. In fact, I won’t worry about them breaking or chipping when mishandled. But when handled very roughly, they could become dented.
Color Range
The first difference that you can tell between the KSM150 and KSM160 is their color.
This factor might not affect the mixer’s performance, but for some people, the appliance aesthetics play an important role, especially in terms of the appliance’s color.
People sometimes have a habit of shopping according to their favorite colors.
While most people turn to neutral-colored appliances like white, black, silver, or gray, others love to explore bright colors to make sure they will stand out in their kitchens.
The KSM160 comes in 16 colors, which will allow you to choose the color that best suits your existing kitchen design.
Meanwhile, the KSM150 is accessible in only 10 color variants. Of course, having 10 different colors to choose from is still good, but there are no available options.
Dimensions and Shipping
In terms of product dimensions, both the KSM150 and KSM160 are 35.3cm X 35.8cm X 22.1cm. Aside from that, these mixers have the same weight of 10.6kg.
What makes them different is that the KSM160 weighs more during shipping due to its extra bowl. When the bowls are included, the KSM160 weighs about 12.4kg while the KSM150 weighs 12.0kg.
Price
Among the most important factors, you need to look at in these two mixers is their price. As of this date, you can buy the KSM150 for $630 to $700, while the KSM160 is significantly costlier, with a price range of $779 to $800.
The reason for their price difference is quite obvious. The KSM160 comes with an additional 2.8-liter mixing bowl with a pouring shield and handle. If you are on a budget, the KSM150 is not a bad investment.
Characteristics That Make These KitchenAid Stand Mixers Similar
Dimensions
As mentioned earlier, the KSM150 and KSM160 have the same dimensions. These mixers measure 35.3cm in height, 35.8cm in-depth, and 22.1cm in width, which will definitely look good on your kitchen’s countertop.
10 Speed Variable
Among the similar characteristics of this KitchenAid stand, mixers are their 10-speed options.
When baking, choosing from a wide range of speeds can significantly help in getting the right consistency. The maximum speed of both mixers is powerful enough to handle wet and dry ingredients.
Aside from that, they can knead dough and whip cream without being too weak or too powerful.
Full Metal Construction
To ensure excellent stability and durability, KitchenAid designed both the KSM150 and KSM160 to feature full metal construction. This way, users can enjoy these tools for a long time and without fail.
Here are some of the advantages of appliances with a full metal construction:
- Durable – Appliances that are made of a full metal construction are resistant to the bad stuff. Their sturdy surfaces ward off rust, heat, and fire, which makes them an excellent choice for those who aim to buy an appliance that will last for a long time.
- Aesthetics – No one can deny that a stainless steel appliance looks pretty spectacular in any kitchen. It is a go-to option if you are into a modern kitchen look, something that is sleek and trendy. For this reason, appliances made out of stainless steel are still the top choice of most kitchen designers.
Planetary Mixing Action
Stand mixers can fall under one of these two mixing actions: planetary mixing action or bowl-lift mixing action. Both the KSM160 and KSM150 utilize planetary mixing action, meaning they rotate on an axis.
Mixers with planetary mixing action are quite advantageous, as most bakers say they are highly efficient in the kitchen.
They are also versatile because you can effectively use them to mix a wide range of liquid and solid ingredients such as cookie dough, egg whites, cream, and many more.
Because you don’t have to lift the bowl from time to time, just like how you would do it with bowl-lift stand mixers, it is more convenient, and it helps you save time.
Tilt-Head
Another similarity between these two KitchenAid stand mixers is their tilt-head design.
This allows you to switch from flat beater to dough hook with minimal effort, and the head locks automatically into place to avoid accidents and messes.
Aside from that, the tilt-head design paves the way for a more compact overall look of the mixer. You can actually use these stand mixers with ease underneath standard kitchen cabinets and in limited kitchen space.
Standard Whisk Inclusions
It is worth noting that both stand mixers include a stainless steel wire whisk, flat beater, and dough hook. Aside from that, each of the two mixers includes a pouring shield.
This stand mixer accessory allows for more effortless adding of ingredients by removing the possibility of splashing. If you want to do more with your stand mixers, you can also buy additional attachments for each.
5 Year Warranty
Because KitchenAid stand mixers are quite costly investments, they both come with a five-year warranty to cover any manufacturer damage or error.
This warranty will cover both labor and parts required to repair the appliance only when its manufacturing process imposes the damage.
In the U.S., the warranty includes cosmetic issues for new products and the accessories it arrives with, which might occur during the warranty period and not caused by the buyer.
Among these cosmetic issues are paint peeling, imperfections, flaking, loose trim bands, and many more.
The warranty also covers the accessories that come with your KitchenAid stand mixer. Among these accessories are beaters, bowls, whisks, and others.
Using a product warranty to have your appliance fixed can help you save money and avoid a hassle in the future.
If you do not cause damage to the stand mixer you bought, report it to the manufacturer; they will give you the necessary actions to take to have your appliance repaired or replaced.
Conclusion
The KitchenAid KSM150 and KSM160 have a lot of similarities. But now that you have taken a closer look at each of their characteristics, you have learned that the KSM160 has the upper hand in terms of the number of bowls, as it comes with an additional 2.8-liter bowl that can allow you to prepare smaller dishes.
This is also why shipping this appliance will require an additional .4kg compared to the KSM150, although both stand mixers weigh 10.6kg.
Overall, both of these KitchenAid stand mixers are identical in terms of power, speed variables, and function. Although the KSM160 is available in more colors than the KSM150, being available in 10 color variants is not bad for an appliance.
