Product Comparison: Cuisinart SM-55 vs KitchenAid KF26M22SR

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Cuisinart SM-55 12-Speed Stand Mixer

General Specifications

Brand

Cuisinart

KitchenAid

Model

SM-55

KF26M22SR

Origin

China

USA

About the Product

Housed in durable die-cast metal, this stand mixer features a powerful 800-watt motor that can handle the heaviest mixing tasks. Its large, 5-1/2-quart, stainless-steel bowl accommodates big batches--even double recipes. The unit also provides 12 mixing speeds, along with a 15-minute countdown timer and automatic shutoff, for maximum precision. Choose the slow-start function to eliminate splatter or the ultra-gentle fold function to carefully blend in delicate ingredients. The mixer's tilt-back head allows for easy access to the mixing bowl and makes attaching accessories simple.

The F Series coated Flat Beater, coated Dough Hook, 6-wire whisk will help you mix, knead and whip ingredients into culinary masterpieces quickly and easily. And for even more versatility, the power hub fits optional attachments, from food grinders to pasta makers and more.

Key Specs

Number of Speed Settings

Number of Beaters Included

Wattage

800 Watts

550 Watts

Cuisinart SM-55

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Cuisinart SM-55 12-Speed Stand Mixer

Wish I had gotten this ages ago. It makes bread (and cake) making so much easier. I especially like the self-timer which shuts the mixer off at a time you preset for it, and the twelve mixing speeds.
Strong motor, digital speed control. Works as expected.
If you start the mixer on the highest setting it will cycle through every speed until it gets there and keeps you from throwing out of the bowl.
I love my mixer. It has a modern look and feel. It is more than powerful enough for my baking needs. It is loaded In features including the bowl shield and a timer.
I bought this mixer to replace one I had for many years. I am very satisfied with the Cuisinart SM-55. I mixed up the batter for a double recipe of chocolate cookies with no problem....plenty of power.
It's really loud. The motor is high powered so I guess it's to be expected. But it's still almost "clunky" in how it sounds.

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

The 6500 is almost more quiet on speed 10 than the 600 is on setting 1. I did at least get the feeling the 6500 was either more powerful in general or better at delivering torque.
More powerful motor, which allows you to do more with the mixer. Not just make larger batches, but also that the motor is put under less stress when making smaller batches of things.
I love love love my new Kitchenaid. I had one before but lost it in a fire. I decided to upgrade and glad that I did. Roarrrr More Power.
Motor has trouble starting on low speed
The motor is loud, and as other reviewers have mentioned, it seems to have a hard time starting up when it's on a low speed.

Size & Weight

Height

12.5 in.

16.4 in.

Width

15.5 in.

11.4 in.

Color

Brushed chrome (also available in 2 colors)

Sugar Pearl Silver (also available in 12 colors)

Material

Stainless steel/Plastic

Die-cast metal

Depth

10 in.

14.6 in.

Weight

23.2 lbs.

34 lbs.

Cuisinart SM-55

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

Cuisinart SM-55

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

Cuisinart SM-55

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

Cuisinart SM-55

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Cuisinart SM-55 12-Speed Stand Mixer

Very heavy machine that has an 800 watt motor that can handle anything.We love how the attachments come off so easily and how well they are built.
I love the fact that this mixer is heavy enough not to move when mixing a lot of ingredients but is still light weight enough for me to pick up easily for storage.
It is durable, actually very heavy in weight and is a big machine therefore it can be rather cumbersome and unwieldy to move about.
I'm concerned about the country of origin (you get three guesses), but it appears to be made of quality materials.
The large sized bowl makes it very easy to blend ingredients together without making a mess when it starts to mix.

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

So there are myriads of colors and you will get crazy good deals on it during the holidays. The 6500 at time of writing this review only comes in a handful of colors if you search around and the deals are not as great.
My girlfriend loves her new mixer. The quality craftsmanship and quality of materials is rare. It really is quite nice.
I love the color. I like that the bowl lifts up to the beaters and the top doesn't have to come down to meet the bowl.
OhhhhKKayyy... What can I say.... Amazing product! Our new appliances are Samsung "black stainless steel", which looks great with this color "Pearl Metallic".
This mixer has a basic design fault as even using the height adjustment to its full extent it is not possible to get the whisk close enough to the bottom of the bowl. This defect does not exist on the next size down mixer. This one fact makes this mixer a poor buy, not recommended.

Control

Control Type

Dial / Buttons

Slider

Timer

15 minutes

No minutes

Whisk Function

Yes

"Pulse" Option

Yes

Whisk Function
"Pulse" Option

What customers say about "Control"

Cuisinart SM-55 12-Speed Stand Mixer

A nice readable 12 speed dial located where you can see it well and use it to determine speeds.
I love the timer and the slow start feature. It doesn't throw ingredients all over the counters as my kitchenaid does.
The mixer has push button switches and if the on button accidentally gets pushed the mixer will come on and the timer also stays lighted at all times. I just plugged it into the little multi plug and turn the power off at the multi switch.
It has a great 15 minute timer that automatically shuts it off, something that I use more than I thought I would.
Although I prefer analog controls, the digitals for this unit have preformed well, and have not given me any hassles.

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

The lift mechanism, which allows me to lower the bowl, add ingredients, then re-raise it without having to tilt the head back. This is helpful if you, like myself, put your mixer on the counter with cabinets directly above it.
I love the way the machine functions and I love the way it looks.
The problem is that the whisk & mixing blades don't go near the bottom of the bowl.
This mixer has a basic design fault as even using the height adjustment to its full extent it is not possible to get the whisk close enough to the bottom of the bowl.
The beater attachment is very rigid. This is good when beating things, but it also means it's brittle and will crack under too much stress. I managed to crack the attachment when making a big batch of scones. It happens.

Details

Bowl Material

Stainless Steel

Glass

Bowl Handle

Yes

Tilting Head

Yes

Type

Stand mixer

Bowl-Lift Design

Yes

Bowl Capacity

5.5 quarts

6 quarts

Flat Beaters

Yes

Dough Hooks

Yes

Accessories

Chef's Whisk, Flat Mixing Paddle, Dough Hook

Multipurpose attachment hub, Chef's Whisk, Beating Whisk, Wire Whip

Features

Display, Easy to use, 15-Minute Countdown Timer with Auto Shutoff

67-point planetary mixing action, 67-Point Planetary Mixing Action

BPA-Free

Yes

Detachable Mixer

Cuisinart SM-55

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

What customers say about "Details"

Cuisinart SM-55 12-Speed Stand Mixer

You can buy other attachments for this machine (and are sold seperately) as it already has the power outlets underneath the top and front covers.
Another greatly appreciated feature is that some clever person designed the bowl so that it's easy to remove, even after I've used the mixer to knead dough.
When purchasing a mixer, don't forget to get a good long-handled silicon spatula for it. Kitchen Aid makes a really nice one. Common bowl-spatulas aren't long enough and often won't form to the bowl's lower area very well. A spatula is vital to get sticky dough out.
The dough hook, paddle, and other tools are adjustable when it comes to clearance between them and the very nice SS mixing bowl.
The only negative is the 5.5qt. bowl, It's big. Have used the paddle and dough hook without issue. Haven't yet used the whisk.

KitchenAid KF26M22SR

This is a small thing but it's nice. The attachment cap on the front of the machine is chrome on the 6500 where the one on the 600 is matt. It is a matter of personal choice which you prefer. I thought the chrome looked classy.
Metal gear box. I've worked with gears and have played Airsoft in the past. In all these circumstances, metal gearboxes are preferable to nonmetal ones. Plastic/nylon gears work well, but they wear out faster in general.
Found a better value elsewhere. I find it to be very loud. Annoying, high pitched squeal at any speed above.
You almost need a forklift to move the glass bowl when its got dough in it very heavy even without any thing in it also very noisy not very good at mixing bread dough get the kp26m1x 575 watt mixer way better machine.
I got the onyx black model with the glass bowl and coated attachments. Note that the wire whisk is NOT coated.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

3 year(s)

1 year(s)

Certifications