Ankarsrum Assistent review: brilliant! I’ve had this wonderful machine for months now and am elated with its capability and ease of use!
Have you ever heard of the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Mixer? Neither had I until earlier this year.
Disclosure: I was given an Ankarsrum Assistent to review, and compensated for the development of a recipe. All views and opinions are my own.
You may remember that I hosted a Komo Mill giveaway with Pleasant Hill Grain a few years ago. So I teamed up with PHG again to tell you all about the Ankarsrum Assistent this time.
Pleasant Hill Grain
First of all, you should know that Pleasant Hill Grain doesn’t just sell grains, but everything to do with grains, and baking and cooking. They sell a myriad of appliances, fruit presses, meat processing equipment, cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, and even items for the dining room!
Pleasant Hill Grain is based in Nebraska and is a wonderful, people-centered company with the most excellent customer service! They have a blog, “Helping you achieve your culinary dreams”, which is where you’ll find my recipe for Peaches and Cream Doughnuts. Now let me tell you about how I easily mixed a double batch of these doughnuts and so much more!
Ankarsrum Assistent Review
It’s hard to know where to start, but I’m going to give a completely personal review versus giving you the specs and telling you about the accessories. You can find that easily (although the basics are in the box below so you have some knowledge of the Ankarsum Assistent’s features). I also want you to know that I’ve only used KitchenAid mixers until this point, so it’s important to note that my baking experience and history is with KitchenAid.
First impression
I don’t recall having any expectations, to be honest. When I had first seen the mixer on Pleasant Hill Grain’s website, it practically jumped out at me. It was so unique, and then I saw it was made in Sweden, which to me, means quality.
I wondered what the difference would be in using this Swedish made gem of a mixer for which I’d seen so many glowing reviews. I made bread dough as my initial test. My first reaction was, “Wow!” because it mixed and kneaded the dough like it was nothing! As I said before, the only thing I have to compare bread making with in a mixer is with my KitchenAid, and the difference is phenomenal and almost unfair. It’s like a Mini Cooper going up against a tank!
To be completely fair in my Ankarsrum Assistent review, I will say that AA is approximately twice the price of my Artisan KitchenAid. However, I have also used the more expensive professional KitchenAid, and actually returned it. It was almost the same price, but still had nothing like the quality I’ve discovered in this Swedish made appliance. It also didn’t fit on my countertop as it was too tall. The Ankarsrum fits nicely.
At this point, I will say that this is truly a kitchen appliance for a serious baker or bread maker. If you bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies once every few months, and that’s the extent of your baking, you probably aren’t going to want to invest in an Ankarsum Assistent. However, for someone like me who is constantly baking, this machine is almost like a human assistant!
Use it to make anything you like, even just cookies.
Initially I thought it was going to be complicated to figure out how to put the kneading hook and scraper into the stainless steel bowl, but it couldn’t have been easier. It just looked like a lot of strange contraptions and parts, but like anything else, a little knowledge goes a long way. By the way, I love how the big bowl is easy to access when pouring in ingredients!
The ease of use goes for the clear bowl and mixing beaters, too. Although there are not many instructions in the manual, the illustrations are very easy to understand. Ankarsrum also has videos on YouTube which are very helpful.
Using my Ankarsrum Mixer
If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know that I often bake for my local firemen, just to say, “thank you.” Once I had to use my bread machine and my KitchenAid mixer because it was such a large batch of doughnuts. Well, to add to my Ankarsrum Assistent review, I made a double batch of doughnuts and it was a breeze!
As you can see, I could easily have made a quadruple batch! (Incidentally, you can make 11 lbs of dough in this baby! Is that incredible?) I just love how I don’t have to “babysit” while the dough is mixing as I’ve always had to do with my previous mixer.
There’s a ciabatta recipe which requires 18 minutes of mixing the dough. My KitchenAid would not only “walk” across the counter if I didn’t physically hold it, but the engine would get so hot, that I eventually stopped making the recipe. 😢 I’m elated that I can now make it again with my Ankarsrum Assistent, and especially because I can set the timer and leave it alone!
I’ve found myself using the Assistent for everything from the ciabatta roll recipe to cakes, to pasta dough, to chocolate chip cookies!
It’s so easy to clean once I’ve finished baking.
So much more…
I will also mention that although I don’t have any of the other attachments, the Ankarsrum Assistent can turn on its side and with the appropriate accessories, it becomes a pasta maker, blender, citrus juicer, meat grinder, food processor and more.
I hope you’ve learned what you wanted to know on my Ankarsrum Assistent review! Please ask me any questions in the comment section below.
I’m sure you’ll be seeing much more of this red beauty on my site and on my Instagram stories in future, especially since baking weather is almost here! We’re a bit delayed in Los Angeles, unfortunately.
And speaking of Instagram, head over to my account where you can win a $50 gift card to Pleasant Hill Grain! CONTEST IS OVER.
Head over to Pleasant Hill Grain
for more information on this beauty!
Ankarsrum Assistent review
I’m trying to find out how noisy it is? We have an open plan downstairs and our kenwood is too noisy and trying to find something much quieter.
Many thanks
I love this mechine so much wandering if i can be a distibutor or a dealer
Contact the Ankarsrum company, Ebi. Good luck!
Hi Christina
I am thinking of buying a ankarsrum machine but was wondering if you could kindly answer a few questions:
1) there are plenty of cake recipes that require you to cream butter and sugar together first. Can you do this in this machine and what bowl and attachments would you use?
2) can you make in this machine for example a fruit cake for example Christmas cake? If so what bowl and attachments would you use?
Hello Omar, sorry for the delay in responding, but I’ve been traveling for 3 weeks and just got back. To answer your questions:
1. YES! I use the clear bowl with the stainless steel attachments as long as the butter is room temperature.
2. I haven’t used the Ank for a fruit cake, so I cannot say exactly what would be best, but I am positive this machine is capable of making any sort of cake or bread. It’s a professional quality machine. I will let you know when I use it for a fruit cake. :) Hope this helps!
I am considering buying either a Ankarsum or Bosch and read reviews way too many reviews and now I am thoroughly confused. I require a mixer for breads, cookies, mayo, the whole gamut. Which one would you suggest for a machine that does it all for home and retail.
Thanks,
Rob
The Ankarsrum is definitely a workhorse. I will never buy another Bosch product in my life, so you’re asking the wrong person for that brand. Good luck!
I owned a Bosch “Kitchen Machine” (UK version) back in the early 2000s. The main issue I had with it was that flour on the bottom of the bowl never got fully mixed in. I got an Ankarsrum this week, and having made my first batch of bread in it, I can’t see that happening in it. I’m delighted with my purple machine.
Oooh, and you got the purple one! I ordered red and right after that they came out with purple (my favorite color)! I know you will continue to love your Ankarsrum, Carol! Thanks for the note, I know it will help others in making their decision, too. Happy baking! CC
Adding the recipe liquid to the mixing bowl first will usually solve the problem of dry materials remaining on the bottom of the bowl.
Yes! Thanks for that!
Hi Christina, I found your page when looking for reviews on the AA. First, some background on me so you can advise better. I’ve never owned/used a stand mixer and did all my baking with a hand mixer. I bake once or twice a month, usually cookies, cakes and occasionally something fancy like mousse or macarons, while my partner is interested in bread making (but finds hand kneading time consuming). We’re moving to a new place and I’ve decided it’s time to invest in a stand mixer. I thought I’d get a KA because it’s a famous and well reviewed brand, however the AA recently came to my attention. Based on comments here and elsewhere, the general consensus on the AA is that it’s great for bread dough compared to the KA which tends to overheat. However, people say the plastic bowl and attachments for non-bread mixing aren’t durable, and there aren’t many reviews for the AA’s performance in mixing light doughs and whipping cream and egg whites. Given that you’ve used both the KA and AA, which do you think is a better all-rounder that can do a good job at both my desserts and his breads? It’s a choice I have to consider carefully as these mixers are extra expensive in my country (the KA retails for the equivalent of $500 while the AA is $950) and sadly we don’t have an option for returning the item once we buy it. Thanks!
That’s a difficult one simply because of the cost difference and the fact that you can’t give either one a “test drive”. For bread, hands down the AA is by far the best, but it also depends on how much you’re going to be using it for baking and for bread. The thing is too, you may love making bread in the AA so much, that you will end up using it much more often than you think. I can’t tell you longetivity on the plastic bowl and attachments because I haven’t owned it for years and years, however, they’ve been absolutely fine so far. I hope this helps a bit, but ultimately, if you could see both of these machines in action at the bare minimum, it might help you to decide. Do you know anyone who owns a KA or AA?
Thanks for the quick response. Yes I have a friend who makes amazing cakes and macarons with her KA and loves it. However, she doesn’t make bread, so the KA is the suitable choice for her. I don’t know anyone who owns the AA as it’s fairly new here and very costly. And you’re right, we’ll probably end up making bread more often given the AA’s ease of use. I’m willing to save up for the AA and spend time learning to use it. My main concern is whether my cakes and cookies will turn out as nicely with the AA. Most videos only review the mixing part and don’t comment on the final result. Since you’ve used your AA for cakes and cookies that I assume you’ve made previously with the KA, did you find any difference in the end product? Perhaps you can consider doing a KA vs AA battle and make the same recipe(s) in both mixers to see if there’s any difference in how it turns out.
That, I can answer and they both turn out the same. If you’re concerned about the AA not making cakes and cookies well, that should not be a worry! I have made the same recipe in both (several recipes) and same results. Hope that helps you! Good luck! CC
I also had a similar experience with my classic Kitchenaid: overheating, moving all over, motor really churning. I bought the bigger, more powerful Kitchenaid when it went on sale, but find the beaters don’t reach the bottom, no matter how many times I re-adjust it as per the instructions. This is a problem when making smaller quantities. I have been looking at the Ankarsrum and the Bosch and thinking about purchasing one of them. The only comment which I saw on a video about the Ankarsrum is that the plastic piece which the beaters attach to tends to break and disappointing that it is not metal or there is not a metal one that can be purchased. The Bosch does have this piece in metal as an option. I would be more likely to buy the Ankarsrum if they changed that piece to metal. What is your experience with this plastic piece?
So far so good, Sharon. I also had a professional KitchenAid and got rid of it as it was unwieldy to use. I haven’t had a problem with the plastic, but would guess someone’s using it when they shouldn’t be and that’s what is causing it to break (should be using the metal bowl and mixing arm). You’re asking the wrong person about a Bosch product, though. I will NEVER buy a Bosch anything again. Had a Bosch dishwasher and cooktop and BOTH were defective. Horrible customer service to boot. :( Good luck.
Many thanks for your feedback. Perhaps it will be my next investment. Yes very disappointed with the KitchenAid. I was so excited to finally buy it and two years passed before I set it up as it is too tall to go in the same place as the smaller model, so can’t return it. There is a store not too far from me that allows you to go to their demo kitchen to try out products before purchasing them, so perhaps I will go and try out this mixer.
Sounds like a good idea, good luck, Sharon!
I have an Ankarsrum and was also concerned about the plastic housing. You should only be processing liquids (including batters) and soft doughs, e.g. biscuit dough and cookie dough in the plastic bowl, so the plastic housing suffices (although I agree, metal would be nice). Be aware that you can accomplish any of the aforementioned tasks in the stainless bowl with the roller and scraper; however, whipped cream and meringue are going to take a lot longer. Cookies and cakes, in addition to bread dough, turn out beautifully using the roller and scraper. Just make sure, if you’re creaming butter, to have it at room temperature. A nice feature of both bowls is that you can unwrap your cold butter, dump it into either bowl, cover (flipping the cover fits perfectly on the plastic bowl), and forget about it until you start baking.
If the plastic housing is your only concern, it’s a trivial one. You’ll LOVE this mixer. Just be sure to watch AnkarsrumUSA videos to understand the machine’s concept.
Thank you for this review.
Could you please advise if its possible to pour the flower first to the bowl before the other elements as I do when
I am making hand made bread?
Doing so, could it be bland properly? as I see in all reviews that water is entered first.
thanks,
Yossi
Hi Yossi, I would follow directions. Bread machines follow the liquid first rule also. :)
Great article, thank you! You’ve answered all of my questions. I’ve loved the Ankarsrum for quite a while now. I’ve only used KitchenAid before, but it can’t handle large batches of bread dough, the gears have failed twice in 3 years..I also stopped making Ciabbata dough because my KitchenAid became so hot after 10 mins of kneading.
I bake bread several times each week and I’m looking for a machine that can handle large quantities so that I can batch bake. I love how my KitchenAid makes such soft bread rolls, I only hope the Ankarsrum can do the same. I do think the Ankarsrum will last for many years to come, unlike my KitchenAid.
Your Doughnut recipe looks amazing by the way!
Sooz x
Thanks, Sooz! I do believe it will last and last, too (our Ankarsrum mixers). I hope you try the doughnut recipe as it is really awesome! :)
Thank you! x
I have had the AA for two years now and I LOVE it!!! I have a KA in my home in the US (I live in MX now for work) and haven’t used it much. I did hear that it is very easy to burn out the motor. I was new to baking when I bought the AA and first tested it out with BAGELS!!! How is that for being daring? They turned out amazing. I was so happy to see you use the dough hook. For some reason many think the roller is best for dough but I don’t agree. With the dough hook you can see the gluten development happening and it reminds me of stretching mozzarella cheese. My AA barely gets warm while kneading double and triple batches of bread for 20 minutes. I think the KA is better for whipping things like egg whites and cream, though. I am not a fan of the plastic bowl of the AA. But for anyone who wants to knead dough, the AA is unparalleled in the home kitchen.
Wow, bagels! That’s great Anneliese. Sounds like you know the best of both products! I do love the AA, too, especially for doughs. Thanks so much for the lovely comment! :)
I was wondering how well the Ankarsrum Assistent does with small batches of dough, cake batter, cookie dough etc.? I am an empty nester & tend to just do single batches at a time (ie: one bread loaf or a couple dozen cookies) of most things I bake nowadays. I know smaller batches sometime don’t get mixed properly in mixers designed for larger batches.
Good question! There are only two of us now in my household and so I’m rarely making anything doubled. Love it, it works fine on single batches of cakes and cookies. Truly so much more enjoyable to use than my KitchenAid. Hope this helps.
How would you compare the AA to the Bosch Universal?
AA to something commercial like Adcraft?
I do a lot of bread and challah making.
What can you tell me about the blender, food processor? Does this work well? Will it work with hot liquids?
Hi Sandra, I don’t have the blender or food processor, but I’m sure it would work with hot liquids. The only problem with hot liquids in blenders is the risk of getting burned. Here’s the blender on the PHG site: https://pleasanthillgrain.com/blender-ankarsrum-ankarsrum-mixers. There are no reviews on the food processor, though. I would call PHG directly to ask them any questions you might have. They are based in the US and are super friendly! (866) 467-6123
I’m so over my Kitchenaid! I wish I’d seen this earlier! I love the top loading aspect and the fact that the flour/ingredients won’t fly everywhere.
That looks like a real beauty for someone who regularly bakes loaves of bread, etc. I had never previously heard of this brand. Thanks!
Definitely a bread baker’s dream come true, Peggy! You’re welcome!
This is good looking piece of kitchen equipment! One I’d be proud to display on my counter, for sure. Heading over to your Insta acct now. :-D
Oh that’s exactly where this baby is! Everyone asks about it when they see it. Can’t wait for baking weather to kick in. I can see myself using it daily!
That looks like the mother of all mixers! I’d love something like that in my kitchen. Going to check to see if they sell them in the UK
It’s an incredible piece of equipment, Suzanne! I would guess they do, good luck. ;)
I burned out two K-5s making bread, I’ve hand needed bread ever since. This looks like a dream come true!! Lucky you!! Can’t wait to see more of it on your blog!!
I can understand why. Was scared to do that to mine too. The Ankarsrum Assistent really is a dream for a serious home baker. :) Thanks, Katie.
Oh I do know what you are talking about when your kitchen aid mixer wants to take a walk and you have to hold it back!😂 I love how small and powerful this machine is.
Yep, not a fun thing to deal with! You’d love this mixer, Cathy!
Those look delicious! And the mixer is wonderful!
It’s fantastic!