kitchenaid mixes?

[chel]

my old sumbeam just died (after 40+ years)

what's the latest on kitchenaid mixers?

[Sharon, RN]

Holy crap, 40 years?!?!  That's really impressive!

I received a Kitchenaid mixer for Christmas- the most basic one, in case I never used it I didn't want to feel like we wasted $ on it.  The Kitchenaid classic. ( http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-K45SS-Classic-250-Watt-2-Quart/dp/B00004SGFW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298949947&sr=8-1 )

I will say that this is actually a replacement- for some reason, the motor died on the original after a few uses.    But, I called Kitchenaid and they fedexed me a replacement that arrived in a few days, with a return label so I could send the old one back.  

That being said, I do really love my stand mixer.    I'm a novice cook, and I've only used it for basic baking so far (so no bread or anything like that- think cookies, cake, brownies) but I have really enjoyed it so far.  And the baby loves watching it go!  LOL  I don't know if a higher-end model with a stronger motor may be a must for a more serious cook.  

[tightwaderin]

I liked my Kitchenaid.  When it was working properly it did everything I needed it to, including mixing bread dough wonderfully.  My understanding is that the new ones have a lot of plastic in the motor which is why they don't last like the old ones did.  I had one replaced under warranty then sold the replacement (telling the buyer of its issues) when it started doing the same thing (wobbling, slight burning smell).  If I could have found an old Kitchenaid on Craigslist or at a yardsale I would have bought it in a heartbeat.  I now own a Bosch though it was pricey.  I really like my Bosch although it doesn't mix thick cookie dough as well as the Kitchenaid did.

[Arduinna]

My mom has had her original KA and it still works for probably 40 years now. I've had mine for almost 20 years. But I replaced it last year with the Cuisinart stand mixer. Supposedly after many many complaints KA has gone back to the metal gear housing after having major problems when they switched to a plastic one. I like my Cuisinart stand mixer better than the KA. I like the speed controls better, I like that it has single button press fold feature which gives you one turn of the beater and then it stops. I like the built in timer for kneading or whipping for a specific time. I also love the fact that the meat grinder attachment has a metal housing instead of the plastic housing that my KA meat grinder attachment had which ended up cracking on me eventually. BTW, the highest watt KA is 575 watts and the Cuisinart is 800 watts.

[ChristyMarie]

I have a KA - just the basic one.  I've had it 5 years and love it so far.  ***knock on wood***

I would love a second one.  I use it that much and there are lots of times I really need to have 2 going.

[Ola_]

oops, browser issues, double post

[Ola_]

I love my KitchenAid mixer.  I use it probably twice on an average week and I don't cook everyday.  Usually it's for pizza dough and whipped cream for weekend breakfasts.  For batter-type doughs (banana bread or muffins) I usually mix by hand cause it's easy and I find it therapeutic (yes, I know, I'm a weirdo).  We've had it about 3 years now with no issues, oh we have the bowl-lift model (which is a step up from the basic one with the screw down bowl), in case that makes a difference.  We got it on sale at Costco so that saved us some money too.  And it's a pretty red colour which is the accent colour in our kitchen - makes me smile.

I did some reading about wattage and appliances once and basically what it seemed to say is that the number of watts the appliance takes in doesn't tell you anything about the power of the motor, only how much electricity it's rated to take in.  Not sure if that applies to mixers too, but I thought it kinda made sense.

Oh, I believe KA mixers used to be made by Hobart, so if you manage to get one of those they are super durable.  You can actually get Hobart ones but they are definitely more expensive.

[chel]

thanks, yes the sunbeam belonged to my mother.  i know it went to the shop atleast once, but overall i can't complain.

yes, i remember a few years back hearing not so great reviews of ka.

i'll try to see if i can find an all metal one

[cristeen]

Yeah, i just cant place the trust in KA that others seem to. Too many problems over too long a time w inadequate response from the company.

I got a Viking stand mixer instead. And i love it.

[beebalmmama]

I like mine but then I got the 6 Qt bowl for $99 at at a consignment shop, it was basically brand new.  The only complaint I have is that it's not great for mixing yeast bread dough. I do two loave at a time and it definitely 'works' the motor, gets really warm by the end and wobble around the counter. I do like it for other uses like cookie dough, cheesecake, whipping eggs or cream etc. Eventually I'd like a Bosch for bread making that is what my familly had growing up.

[KristyDi]

I got my KA as a shower gift before my wedding nearly 9 years ago.  I use it at least once a week and I've never had any problems with it.

[peainthepod]

I've had two KA's and never had a problem with either. The only reason I've had two was I bake a lot and wanted the larger 6qt professional size so I could make bigger batches of dough at once. We gave the slightly older, smaller one to our ILs and they adore it.

My mixers have just worked really well and they're very solid pieces of equipment. And this is so, so shallow, but I love the faux-retro way they look and the purty colors they come in. 

[Drummer's Wife]

I bought an orange Kitchenaid stand mixer a couple weeks ago and so far it's been great. Hopefully it lasts for many years.

[swd12422]

I love my 6 qt Professional! I've had it for 7 years and never had a problem, although it does start to overheat a bit when kneading large batches of bread dough...

It's much better than my mom's Artisan, though. She HATES hers, and wants her old Sunbeam back! The bowl is small, and the two-piece plastic splash guard is nearly impossible to get on and off.

[redvlagrl]

Originally Posted by Arduinna  BTW, the highest watt KA is 575 watts and the Cuisinart is 800 watts.

This.

I bought the Viking 800 watt model and love it. I was using a KA HD 325watts and it had trouble kneading my bread.

The attachments are far better on the Viking, too.

I blogged about my choice and am posting my review next week. I don't know if I am allowed to post my own link, but here it is - mods, please remove the link if it's not ok.

http://www.rookblog.com/2011/03/stand-mixers-viking-vs-kitchenaid.html

[livacreature]

I love my kitchenaid.  I have gotten very in to french baking and don't see how I could do some of this stuff without it.  I typically use it a few times a week, I've had it for three years and it runs just like it did out of the box.