The Hobart N50 5 Quart: Big Results for Big Expectations

As many will know, the Hobart Corporation is the original manufacturer of one of the most recognized pieces of American innovation from the 20th century – the KitchenAid stand mixer.

Hobart N50 Commercial Mixer, Gear-Driven, 3-Speed, 5 Quart, Gray available on Amazon

Hobart’s initial stand mixers were commercial in nature, designed for high volume capacities and heavy workloads.

They were so successful in reducing the time and labor for onerous tasks like mixing batters and kneading doughs, in 1917 they became standard equipment aboard all ships in the US Navy. A fairly demanding environment…

Hobart and KitchenAid went their separate ways in the 1980’s, but today, Hobart still continues in the production of industrial restaurant kitchenware.

And the N50 5 Quart, 3 Speed Counter Mixer has found its way into the kitchens of many home chefs who are serious about their baking, tools and equipment.

The Bottom Line Up Front

The smallest in Hobart’s line of mixers, the N50 delivers big results for big expectations. And the size makes it ideal for at-home use. It brings the quality and durability that you’d expect of an all-metal commercial unit, with a motor that meets the most demanding of tasks.

The gear-driven transmission provides consistent performance with positive drive, even under the duress of heavy use, so there’s no downtime waiting for it to ‘cool off’ – a common trait with many home stand mixers when put through strident paces.

Quiet and powerful, this 5 quart mixer is truly built to last a lifetime, and can handle any workload you put to it.

An investment in the N50 will initially cost more, much more, than pretty well any home mixer on the market.

But it will still be handling that same heavy workload when your kids (and probably theirs too) are haggling over who gets dibs on it when you’re gone.

The Nuts and Bolts

Roughly the same size as most upper-end home mixers, the N50 is about double their weight. That’s in large part thanks to the hulking 1/6 horsepower, Hobart designed fixed-speed motor. This means you get full power all the time, even on low speed – full power isn’t reserved for only high speeds.

Plus, gear-driven transmission with three positive speeds of low, intermediate and high adds considerable heft to its overall weight as well.

Designed for high usage in the food service market, it’s a lift-bowl style that’s easily raised and lowered with a convenient hand lever.

The bowl is held over the lift-arm pins with sturdy flanges riveted to the bowl sides, and safety latches on the arms hold the bowl securely in place.

The Hobart manufactured agitators are designed for long-term usage under heavy-duty conditions, and the attachment hub will accommodate all standard #10 attachments, including KitchenAid’s.

And the Hobart line is still made in the US to very high standards.

The Numbers

The Hobart N50 comes with a 5 quart stainless steel bowl with a large loop handle securely riveted to the side. It locks securely at the top and bottom of the lift travel and is controlled by a convenient hand lever.

It comes with 3 standard attachments: a cast aluminum flat beater, a cast aluminum dough hook, and a stainless steel, balloon-shaped wire whip.

The all-metal gear driven transmission provides optimal power for the 3 speeds of low, intermediate and high; so not matter what speed is selected, you get full power for that setting.

Easy to operate, the stick-shift handle is located right next to the extra-large On/Off switch on the motor head.

It also features Hobart’s exclusive planetary action that’s been designed for exceptional strength and consistent mixing.

Hobart manufactures a large number of accessory attachments, from bowl guards and scrapers to ingredient chutes – there’s something for every mixing job.

And the front mounted attachment head will take any standard #10 attachment.

The N50 has a powder coated paint job for a rugged and durable finish.

It measures approximately 11 x 17 x 15”, weighs a very substantial 50 pounds and draws 400 watts of power.

This unit also has Hobart’s full one-year warranty on parts and labor against manufacturer’s defects.

What Others Are Saying

The following notes are a compilation of the most frequently commented-on favorite features and critical points from all reviewers at Amazon.

As you might expect, there aren’t large numbers of reviews for the Hobart N50, given the high-end price tag. But for those who do own one, it is universally loved. There were no critical comments at the time of writing.

What owners particularly appreciate is the constant speeds generated by the gear transmission, as the motor always runs at full power. The precision of the power mixing produces exceptional results, and it ‘ploughs’ through bread dough like its air…

The 3 speed transmission provides all the settings necessary for any mixing, whipping or kneading tasks and is very easy to operate. Although it’s a commercial unit, operation is simple and intuitive if you’ve ever used any home stand mixer.

The N50 is also very quiet – it ‘purrs’ and ‘hums’ and overall, is ‘a dream’ to work with.

The only remotely negative aspect to the Hobart bench mixer is that it’s very heavy. You’ll want to find a permanent home on the countertop, because at 50 pounds it’s too heavy to put away and take out each time you want to use it.

Conclusion

Without question, the Hobart N50 stand mixer is a heavy-duty machine that will handle any mixing task with ease. Ideal for those dedicated home chefs who like to bake all of their own bread or need a mixer that can handle daily use, it’s also well suited for a small home-based baking business.

The only drawback is the very steep price tag (check prices now).

However, as most home stand mixers don’t have the same longevity as a generation ago and only last about 10 years, it’s an investment that will truly last a lifetime.

Read all of the customer reviews and check prices on Amazon now!

It’s extreme durability and consistently high levels of performance ensure that if you do shell out the big bucks for the N50, you’ll never look back with buyer’s remorse.

Want more options? Read our buying guide or check out our best reviewed models.