Are you confused about the KitchenAid Professional 6000 HD? Afraid you’ll waste money on something that might be a dud? Want the haziness cleared? Read on…
Concerns raised about this kitchen machine show that people are interested but confused.
Information is scant. You’ll find answers here and there. But none that gathered them in one place.
At least, none, until this review.
Let’s get to know this little-known KitchenAid…
In a hurry?
Is This a New Model That Replaces The Professional 600?
Big NO.
The 6000 HD mixer is a proprietary model released exclusively for a major retailer. But other retailers like Amazon offer it now. KitchenAid itself does not offer it in their stores.
It is not clear why, and that is if no interest to us.
We just want to know if it has enough power for BIG tasks….
As of 2023-12-09 at 12:24 (More info)
What Is The True Power Of the KitchenAid 6000 HD?
The advertised power rating is 1.0 HP. Then, those who bought it say that stamped at the bottom of their units is 350 watts.
As if two varying values aren’t enough, there’s a third.
…Others say that KitchenAid says it’s 1.3 HP. This added more confusion.
For clarification, I contacted KitchenAid via Live Chat so I have a record.
Here’s what I learned…
The motor is 1.0 HP. DC motors are rated in ‘horsepower’ rather than watts. But regulators require that wattage should be shown. That is the 350 watts rating printed on the motor base.
But, that did not end the confusion because 1 HP is 746 watts.
I deem it not necessary to delve into this further. It might sow even more confusion because the explanation is a bit technical.
The important value to look at is 350 watts. This is the output power or the power that will be used for a task. From this we can explain usage and capability.
But, this spawned another concern…350 watts is almost the same power as the 5-qt. Artisan mixer with a 325-watt AC motor. That is low. How come they say the KitchenAid 6000 mixer has the power for difficult tasks?
Again, it’s not a straightforward comparison. A 100-watt DC motor delivers more power than a 100-watt AC motor.
Compared to an AC motor, a DC motor consumes far less electrical power. Why?
…Because a DC motor is more efficient, thus, it generates more power per watt. It is much like a 10-watt LED bulb that generates the same light intensity as a 50-watt regular bulb.
That means lower power bill, especially if you bake often and in large amounts.
Wattage is not the important metric to look at in stand mixers. There are other components that determine a motor’s efficiency. One Hobart mixer has 1/6 HP but it will make any KitchenAid eat dust.
Torque which is an indicator of a mixer’s true power will tell you what a stand mixer is able to do. You can read more about AC and DC stand mixers in this article.
What the KitchenAid mixer Professional 6000 HD can do is what we will discuss in the next sections…
How Well Does It Tackle Dense Dough?
People often ask this of all stand mixers even of the small, low-powered and low capacity models. They are judged by how good they are able to work a heavy dough.
The 6000 HD KSM6573 is one tough mixer. It is a BEAST with most bread dough. No straining or stalling.
It plows through double batches of wheat dough or sourdough.
Prefer making your own fresh pasta? With other KitchenAid models, you have to rest the motor for one hour after one batch. No need to do that with this bad boy. Think of the time you’ll be able to save.
What’s the limit to this machine? Several recipes of a difficult mix like sourdough at once may cause it to overheat and shut down. Two loaves is the maximum that should be prepared in a batch.
What Else Can The KitchenAid Mixer 6000 HD Do?
Do you often prepare large quantities or several recipes in a batch? If so, you can rely on this mixer.
It’s a time saver if you can mix several recipes of cakes in one go and bake them in one cycle.
Then, of course, you will have to frost. What a chore if you have to stop several times to whip up another batch of frosting. Wouldn’t you love it if you can concentrate on decorating without interruption? That’s how I like to work.
The Pro 6000 HD has the heft to move 4 lbs of sugar plus butter effortlessly. It also blends triple batches of cookies well.
Do you love throwing huge dinner parties? This mixer can help you prepare food for 15-20 guests.
The big and broad-bottomed bowl is not so friendly with very small amounts. A cup of butter spreads and hugs the wall making it hard for the beater to pick it up. For this purpose, it is wise to get a smaller bowl.
Is it available?
We’ll get into it in the next topic…
What Accessories Are Available?
Lack of extra accessories or difficulty in finding replacements is the main beef of some disappointed customers.
How true is this opinion?
Partly true.
Why?
Replacements are available from KitchenAid. I got the following information from the KitchenAid agent I chatted with.
| Accessory | Part Number | Price ($) |
|---|---|---|
| KSM6573 Tulip Shaped Bowl | W10177650G | 59.99 |
| Coated Flat Beater | W10401173G | 14.99 |
| Coated Spiral Dough Hook | W10335442G | 19.99 |
| Wire Whip | K5AWW | 19.99 |
You won’t find these accessories listed on the KitchenAid website. To order, give them a call at 800-541-6390, 8 a.m to 8 p.m, Mondays thru Fridays ET.
Want a smaller bowl? Get the 5-quart stainless steel bowl with handle, Model KN25PBH. Pouring shield for this bowl is Model KN1PS.
There is no pouring shield that fits the Tulip bowl. But, a lot of folks do not use one with their KitchenAids. It affords convenience, yes, but not having it won’t cause you suffering.
You can always stop the machine or go to the lowest speed when you add ingredients to the mix. Let it blend a bit before going to a higher speed to lessen splatter.
There is a beater with flexible edges that fits the 6-quart flared bowl. It is SideSwipe KLN-1, and you can find it at Amazon.
Having a handle with which to grip the bowl is more important. It’s convenient and prevents fatigued hand and wrist.
Unlike the burnished finish, coated beater and dough hook do not oxidize. But it has a tendency to chip off in the long run.
Done with accessories, let’s move on to how well this machine mixes…
How Efficient Is The KitchenAid 6000 HD Mixer?
A planetary mixing action is the biggest benefit of this type of mixer. The beater moves around and touches several points in the bowl.
Result? …Thorough and even mixing.
But, sorry to disappoint you…
… it’s not perfect. You will have to scrape a bit. A couple of times is enough. I haven’t come across a stand mixer that eliminates this, except if you use a Flex beater.
One more thing before you switch on your kitchenaid professional 6000 HD stand mixer…
Make sure the clearance between bowl and beater is set correctly so that almost all content is picked up. The procedure is simple. See the manual.
Once you use it, you’ll be pleased with how smooth and quiet it is. It beats KitchenAid standing mixers with AC motors hands-down.
What Is The Reported Black Stuff In The Bowl?
The most oft-repeated complaint of customers is black residue in the bowl. They say it is hard to remove even after repeated washing with soap and water. And, they ended up with wasted dough and batters.
That black stuff is a special coating. How do you deal with this?
First, wipe the inside of the bowl with tissue paper. Then, try one of the following methods once you’ve confirmed that black residue is present:
- Rinse with vinegar after washing with soap and water. Wash again.
- Use a mixture of lemon and salt.
- Use Bar Keepers Friend.
- Rub with baking soda paste.
What Attachments Will Work With This Mixer?
All KitchenAid mixer attachments will work fine with the 6000 HD. They operate via the power hub in front of the mixer. Look for the cover and lift it, then couple the attachment to it.
Attachments are not included in a package of KitchenAid 6000 mixer. You have the freedom to choose which of them you want.
This mixer is perfect for frequent attachment use. You won’t be disappointed if you plan to use it for other purposes other than mixing.
My friend’s first KitchenAid attachments are the pasta maker and cutter set. She loves pasta and she wants them fresh. And, she refuses to feed her family with the store-bought kind.
Actually, this friend is a stickler for fresh and healthy. She also has the sausage maker and the juicer.
How Tall And Heavy Is The Professional 6000 HD?
You’d expect a mixer this strong to be hefty and sizable, and it is.
It tips the scale at approximately 27 pounds and stands around 17 inches tall. Since the head does not tilt you don’t have to worry about extra space overhead.
This a Tilt-Head?
It’s a bowl-lift model. Stand mixers this big can’t be tilt-heads because the motor head is heavy it has to be kept fixed.
A bow-lift design also provides sturdy support because the bowl hinges on safety screws.
This article compares a bowl-lift and a tilt-head mixer.
How Many Speed Settings Are There?
It runs with ten (10) working speeds ranging from very slow to very fast.
It has a ‘STIR’ function which slowly blends ingredients at the start. What for?…To reduce splashes.
A SLOW START function starts the mixer on SLOW no matter if you happen to pull the speed lever to a higher speed. I did that a few times by accident.
A heads up…
There are only 6 speeds, including STIR, printed on the mixer head. It is labeled in even numbers from 2 to 10. That’s only five settings.
Where’s the other five?
Between those even-numbered speeds are the odd-numbered ones for finer adjustments. But you won’t need it for most mixing tasks.
Care and Cleaning
You’d be glad if you’re someone who hates hand washing dishes. All accessories…bowl, beater, whisk, and dough hook…are dishwasher safe.
The coating on the beater and Spiral dough hook can chip-off in the long run.
Don’t forget the main unit. But make sure to unplug it from the power outlet before you start tidying it up.
Wipe the body with a damp cloth. Also, clean the beater shaft making sure no residue is left.
Let’s move on to an important part of any product research…
KitchenAid Professional 6000 HD Reviews
The biggest complaints of those who bought the KitchenAid HD 6000 are:
- Accessories are either hard to find or not available.
- Black residue on the bowl surface.
See the section: “What Accessories Are Available”.
A few pointed out that it lacks power, which is apparently due to lack of information. It’s not their fault if they have the wrong impression because information is hard to find.
But, it’s telling that most reviewers gave it 5 stars or 4 stars. And, a minority are utterly disappointed. True enough, a large majority praises its strength, efficiency, and performance.
Several people confuse the 6000 HD mixer with another closely related model. We will discuss that next…
KitchenAid Professional 6000 HD vs Pro 600: Which Is More Powerful?
What is the most important difference between these two KitchenAid mixers?
…One has a DC motor, the other an AC motor.
Hmmm. What’s to it?
It affects output. It determines their efficiency, performance, and durability.
Yes, both of them are comparable in types of tasks they can do. But, a DC motor is more efficient. Thus, the Professional HD 6000 can operate with less wattage because it consumes less power.
Table 2: KitchenAid 6000 HD vs. Professional 600
As of 2023-12-09 at 12:24 (More info)
[yellowbox]With dense mixtures, the Professional 600 stalls a bit vs the Pro 6000 HD which runs smoothly. The DC motor is comfortably quiet while the AC motor is loud.[/yellowbox]
Which is more powerful and muscular? Scroll down for some action…
We can compare the Professional 600 to this:
The KitchenAid 6000 HD to this:
Let me stress that the Professional 600 is a powerful machine, only, less powerful compared to the 6000 HD KitchenAid mixer.
It is easier to get replacements and extra accessories for the Professional 600 series. Several retailers offer them. It also has a wider selection of attractive colors.
The price of the Pro 600 series depends on color. Some shades are expensive.
Which should you pick?
Which is more important to you?
… If it’s muscle and durability and the best value-for-money, go for the Professional 6000 HD.
…If it’s accessories, ease of finding them and color choices, choose the Professional 600.
Conclusion
Here are the essential points to remember from this KitchenAid 6000 HD review…
- It is a powerful stand mixer.
- It has a durable and efficient DC motor that consumes less electrical power. Thus, it runs on 350 watts but provides more power and torque that beats AC stand mixers with higher wattage.
- You have to exert a little extra effort to find accessories.
- It is top value-for-money for a stand mixer with a DC motor.
Should you grab it?
- Yes, if bread making is your primary use of a stand mixer.
- Yes, if you frequently prepare huge quantities.
- Yes, if you are looking for a low-priced workhorse stand mixer with a DC motor.
I have the 6000 HD mixer and love it EXCEPT that the switch controlling the various speeds often doesn’t work (has a short). That is, it will not turn on and I have to flick it several times or get my husband to use his magic touch. Anyone else have this problem??
I do bake sourdough bread often, and as noted it’s great for this use. Thanks, host, for your thoughtful review.
Hi!
My sweet husband bought the Professional 6000 HD for me as a gift five years ago. It’s been great but when I made some whipped cream a few weeks ago, there were black balls of goo in the whipped cream. It’s still up for debate whether it was old grease from the motor or bad vanilla. Anyway, it led me to open up my machine and after some research, it seems like it would be good to replace the old grease with new grease. Here’s the problem. I cannot find an iota of information on the internet on how to disassemble the gear area to refresh the grease. I have taken off the top cover but can only reach a small area and the gears aren’t manually turning for me to reach the other sides.
I’m wondering, since you have the best resource I’ve seen online for the Pro 6000 HD, if you have come across any resources (websites, manuals, videos, etc.) That could lead me in the right direction.
I just want to add fresh grease and make sure all my gears look okay! Gah! Haha… dang thing.
Thanks for this informative post.
Hi Audrey,
Indeed, there are very few resources about the Pro 6000 HD. I’m guessing it’s because it’s not as popular as the other Kitchenaid models.
i found this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STXKZEt0Jis. It’s a different KitchenAid model, but it’s also a bowl lift mixer. I hope it helps.
Thank you for visiting our website.
Cheers,
Renee
I am thinking of buying this mixer but when I looking for online also appears pro 6000 hd. Is it the same stand mixer the KitchenAid Pro 6000 HD and KitchenAid Professional 6000 HD KSM6573CER?
Hi Chantal,
Yes it’s the same mixer.
Cheers,
Renee
I bought the 6000 professional mixer and I love it. Does a good size batch of bread dough. The unit is a real workhorse.
Renee, have you reviewed the Ankarsrum mixer from Sweden? It gets very little attention here, but I have heard that it is a better choice than any Kitchen Aid for the frequent bread baker. I’d be interested in your assessment.
I would like to warn people from European countries not to buy from USA OR CANADA as the voltage and hertz there are 110 V and 60 Hertz whereas in Europe it is 220 V and 50 Hertz . This difference is
incompatible and will not work. It deceptively states that they ship to Ireland so one would assume it would be fine.
I bought a Kitchen Aid mixer from Amazon USA and I now have to return it which is costing me over €100
Jordan
Thanks so much for this info. I purchased the 6000 HD from amazons warehouse. Arrived defective. Ran for 5 seconds and turned off…sent back, waiting for my refund so I can buy another (no, I won’t buy from the warehouse again, not for the mixer anyway). Been looking around and wasn’t sure if I should get the same one again. I make bread weekly, and I usually make a double batch that calls for 9 cups of flour. This article helped me realize that the 6000 is indeed the machine for me! I had a black one originally but may have to settle for red to save a few bucks, not a deal breaker! Thx again, Debbie in NY!
There is a 3 qt bowel that will work with this mixer. It comes with a whip since the larger one that comes with mixer is too big. The part number is KN3CW. Its available on Amazon.
Two VERY important things to note:
First and foremost: The 600 uses the same gearbox as the lower models. A design which is well known for breaking over time and causing the accessory port to no longer function, or even worse the whole mixer to not funciton. The 6000 has a VERY heavily upgraded gearbox, using all metal gears and a much more robust and tough design. HUGE beefy sintered metal gears, large drive shaft, etc. It will make a HUGE difference in the longevity of the device.
Secondly: The issue with not finding accessories is due to the bowl. The 6000 started as a Costco specific model and they wanted the increased volume. To get that without drastic changes, the bowl is basically a 5qt bowl with extra tall sides to get the 6qt rating. If you want ot use all of the accessories, you can replace the bowl with a standard 5qt bowl and use all of the extras across all of the models.
Hope that this helps!
Hello Jeff,
Thank you for sharing this information. These will help those who are considering a KA 6000HD.
Cheers,
Renee
If you replace the 6 qt with the 5 qt, will you need to purchase new accessories to use with it? Just want to make sure I’m reading this correctly. I have the pro 6000 hd and really hate the bowl design.
I would like to ask the same thing. I boilught the 6000 HD because of this article and I’m very happy with it. But for smaller batches, I need a smaller bowl.
The short answer about the power rating is that Kitchenaid, like most consumer appliance makers, has always been dishonest with their power ratings. Now they’re just using different standards, which means their fake numbers are fake in a different way, and can’t be compared to their old numbers.
Nevertheless, this mixer is very, very powerful. That motor crushes what’s available in any other consumer mixer. I have a Pro 600, and the 6000HD is dramatically more powerful. I don’t have any complaints about the 600, but it’s clear that the 6000 produces much more torque, while running much more quietly. It also has a beefier transmission.
This doesn’t have anything to do with AC vs. DC. If you were to measure these mixers the way a commercial appliance company (like Hobart) does, the Pro 600 would probably be about 1/10 horsepower. The 6000HD would probably be about double that. This sounds wimpy, but it’s not. A mixer with a real 1HP motor stands on the floor and weighs over 200lbs.
My only concern about the 6000HD is the availability of replacement parts. I use mixers hard and like to be able to fix and rebuild them. So far I haven’t seen parts available for the innards of this new design—if you break the transmission out of waranty, you have to replace the whole motor/transmission as a unit.
Great input, PaulR. Thank you for dropping by and taking time to share what you know.
Cheers,
Renee