Cuisinart Precision Master

Should you buy the Cuisinart Precision Master?

The Cuisinart Precision Master is the stand mixer for someone who wants a bigger bowl and a longer warranty than a KitchenAid Artisan at a lower price. At $290.81 you get a 500 W motor, 12 speeds, a 5.5-qt bowl and a 3-year warranty in a die-cast metal housing. It ranks sixth in our blenders and stand mixers group. It is the standard KitchenAid alternative, and for cakes and cookies it does the job well. Where it falls short is stiff bread dough and refinement; if those matter, the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt is the better machine.

Where it earns its score

• Three-year warranty. Three times the KitchenAid Artisan's coverage, and Warranty scores 78.
• Bigger bowl and more watts on paper. 5.5 qt and 500 W against the Artisan's 5 qt and 325 W, plus 12 speeds.
• Full accessory kit. Chef's whisk, flat paddle, dough hook and a splash guard with a pour spout come in the box.
• Front power port. Optional pasta roller, meat grinder and ice-cream bowl attachments, and Satisfaction scores 94.

What to know first

• Bogs on bread dough. Despite the wattage, the motor can slow and smell hot on stiff dough. Features scores 65, and Quality 68 reflects the gap between spec sheet and feel.
• Louder than a KitchenAid. Noticeably so on higher speeds.
• Fewer attachments. The Cuisinart port takes Cuisinart accessories only, a much shorter list than KitchenAid's hub.
• Lighter, for better and worse. 18.1 lb makes it easier to move but a bit less planted.

Questions buyers ask