Usability and Cleaning: Throughout the course of testing, we noted how easy or difficult it was to use each of the mixer’s features or parts, and also how easy the bowl and attachments were to clean.We also recorded how difficult it was to remove dough from the bowl. We noted whether or not the machine struggled to knead the tough dough, and if the dough rode up on the dough hook. Pizza Dough Test: We followed our recipe for Neapolitan pizza, using the app to set a timer, and the built-in scale to weigh ingredients.Of course, we ate the cake to see if it was well-aerated. We followed the directions for the guided recipe, measuring out ingredients using the built-in scale, mixing in ingredients when and how it told us to, and noting if it ever made “auto-sense” adjustments to timing and speed. Pound Cake Test: We used the “auto-sense” recipe for “Lemon Bliss Cake” in the app, which comes from King Arthur Baking, as all the other recipes do.We then noted how easy the bowl was to remove from the machine and to handle while emptying the whipped cream into a container. Whipping Cream Test: We used the built-in scale to weigh out heavy whipping cream into the bowl, set a timer, and whipped the cream at medium-high speed, stopping the timer when the cream was fluffy and thick.The app also provides guided recipes that send directions step-by-step to the mixer, as well as “auto-sense” recipes in which the mixer monitors changes in viscosity and adjusts mixing speeds and times accordingly. But the one feature that truly makes it “smart” is the app on your phone that sends directions, mixing speeds, and times to the mixer. The first is an internal scale that senses weight in two places: on the circular base of the mixer as well as with the arms that hold the bowl.

And with the GE Profile Smart Mixer, we are promised a stand mixer that streamlines the process with a few “smart” features. They’re big, they’re bulky, and they take up a lot of counter space, but for some crucial tasks, they are an irreplaceable tool in the kitchen. But its “smart” features got in the way more than they helped, and it might not be worth the $800 price tag. The GE Profile Smart Mixer is a powerful stand mixer that performs well at all the tasks a traditional mixer should be able to.

Kitchen aid artisan mixer bowl