Ankarsrum Assistent Original AKM6220 Stand Mixer

Many bread bakers consider the Ankarsrum Assistent superior to KitchenAid for heavy dough because its motor sits in the base and drives the tool from below, providing more torque with less strain. The belt-driven roller and dough hook system is specifically designed for kneading bread and can handle very large batches of stiff dough that would overload a typical KitchenAid.

The Ankarsrum Assistent Original is manufactured in Ankarsrum, Sweden, and has been produced in the same factory for decades. It was previously marketed under the Electrolux Assistent and Magic Mill names before being rebranded under the Ankarsrum label.

The AKM6220 package includes a 7-liter stainless steel bowl with handles, a plastic bowl for whisking, double whisks, a dough roller, a dough hook, and a spatula. The unique roller and scraper system is what makes it particularly effective for heavy bread dough, while the plastic bowl with whisks handles lighter tasks like whipped cream and meringue.

Unlike KitchenAid mixers where the motor is in the head and turns a vertical shaft from above, the Ankarsrum places its motor in the base and uses a belt to spin the bowl while the tool stays relatively stationary. This design keeps the motor cooler under load, provides more torque for heavy doughs, and is one of the reasons the Ankarsrum is known for exceptional longevity.