Mixers... Stand Mixers

[mnewsham]

We just have a standard kitchen aid mixer, it gets used at least every week. Had it since I was born, so it's at least 20 years old.

Grandma has the larger kitchen aid mixer with the larger bowl and hand crank to raise/lower the bowl. She replaced her 30 year old mixer with it about 4 years ago. Both are solid, but I prefer the smaller one if I am being honest.

 

[notposting]

This is a problem with the newer Kitchen-Aid models. They have a plastic drive gear that can't handle using the dough hook at anything other than low speed.

Still good mixers, though.

They tried doing a plastic transmission housing several years back. It appears that they reverted back away from that, for obvious reasons.

However, they also throw a billion different combinations out there, many slightly tweaked for various retailers. If someone has to buy one now, aim for a well reviewed one.

The one I mentioned above, despite the smaller capacity and supposedly less power than some others, is a workhorse. Basically the same classic tip up model.

As for the bowl-lift models, those change a lot as well. I would just check out the CI recommendation and then look at Amazon reviews for some conformation.

 

[Howard]

Admins, what's the point of having an H&G subforum if you aren't going to move these threads?

 

[Howard]

This is a problem with the newer Kitchen-Aid models. They have a plastic drive gear that can't handle using the dough hook at anything other than low speed.

Still good mixers, though.

I believe the Pro series do not use a plastic gear.

 

[Tombstone1881]

If you are planning on any investment, you'd have to go with those Kitchen Aid mixers (which come in colors now!)

In the early 80's I worked in a "fix-it" shop and one of the things I fixed was the Kitchen Aid mixers. They are still the same design today as they were then. I guess if something works, why change it?

I swear those Kitchen Aid (old Hobart) mixers last forever. You would think nothing of it being 20 years old. You'll be able to hand it down to your kids. Tell them to give it to their kids.

 

[Crotulus]

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-Univers...F8&qid=1439841721&sr=1-1&keywords=bosch+mixer

I bought my wife a Bosch mixer for Christmas a few years ago. She loves it. There are some videos of people mixing mass amounts of bread dough in these things.

The Bosch is great to bake with small kids too. You add ingredients from the top without having to worry about getting caught in the mixer.

Anyways, I saw all the Kitchen Aid talk and thought I'd chime in with another option. There are not many after all.

 

[gus6464]

Kitchenaid Pro 600. Badass bitch.

 

[Childs]

Kitchenaid Pro 5. Badass bitch.

I originally had a Pro, but it was the kind that dropped down instead of tilted. I eventually gave it to an aunt and got one that tilted. The ones that tilt fit better under cabinets.

 

[Imp]

I bought my wife a Bosch mixer for Christmas a few years ago. She loves it. There are some videos of people mixing mass amounts of bread dough in these things.

The Bosch is great to bake with small kids too. You add ingredients from the top without having to worry about getting caught in the mixer.

Anyways, I saw all the Kitchen Aid talk and thought I'd chime in with another option. There are not many after all.

$530... And it's not even pretty. Interesting design though.

 

[DeathReborn]

I use either manual labor (good old fashioned British Elbow Grease) or a Morphy Richards Accents Plastic Stand Mixer Red (matches the kitchen theme).

I do most of the baking, was always a dab hand in the kitchen, just not keen on the heat.

 

[Crotulus]

$530... And it's not even pretty. Interesting design though.

$530? The link shows $389. Basically the same as the "pro" Kitchen Aids. As far as it looks... is it a tool or decoration?

 

[MrPickins]

I believe the Pro series do not use a plastic gear.

That may be the case, but the manual for our Pro 600 (bought refurbished at Fry's ~8 years ago) still says not to use the dough hook on anything but lowest speed.

I thought I had read at the time that it was one of the ones with a plastic gear, but I could have been mistaken.

Edit: Reading a bit more, it looks like it was a plastic drive housing that was the culprit, and has since been switched back to metal. I wonder if that was how they refurbished ours.

 

[sdifox]

I have a kitchenaid pro 600 series

 

[HomerJS]

Careful with low price stand mixers. Sometimes depends on what made instead of how often used. A couple of heavy pound cakes can burn out a cheap motor as well.

I've had a KA Artisen Series for almost 8 years. No problems.

 

[Imp]

$530? The link shows $389. Basically the same as the "pro" Kitchen Aids. As far as it looks... is it a tool or decoration?

Werd. I got redirected to the Canadian site... Ya, that price difference is pretty normal for us.

 

[skyking]

They are the tool of the debil I tell you. They are designed to assemble tasty carbs in mass quantities that go directly to my belly and stay there
We sold our kitchenaid. It was a great tool, just not for us.

 

[Kaido]

They are the tool of the debil I tell you. They are designed to assemble tasty carbs in mass quantities that go directly to my belly and stay there
We sold our kitchenaid. It was a great tool, just not for us.

Did you know you can shred meat in it?

https://youtu.be/FsdQettg10M?t=56

 

[nageov3t]

I've been using the same KitchenAid stand mixer for about 10 years and it's still going strong. even use it for stuff like grinding meat for chili or burgers.

I wouldn't use it for pancakes or waffles, though. I like to mix them by hand to make sure the batter isn't mixed too hard.

ditto for anything that requires ingredients to be folded in.

 

[Murloc]

I've seen weak hand mixer not being able to mix viscous stuff.

If you're not making cakes that often, maybe it's enough.
Just use an all-in-one bread machine for the bread unless you have lots of time on your hands.

 

[RagingBITCH]

KitchenAid. I bought a professional series from CL a while back, and sold it once my wife and I consolidated stuff. Her consumer level one has a lot weaker motor - I can tell mixing thicker dough. If you can find the pro series, get that. Still regret selling mine off vs hers.

 

[herm0016]

Kitchen Aid bowl lift. Its all you need to know.

 

[skyking]

Did you know you can shred meat in it?

https://youtu.be/FsdQettg10M?t=56

Big expensive tool for little functionality for me. I too can shred meat. But to each his/her own. I tend to go for "less is more" with these kinds of things.

 

[Ketchup]

My wife got a KitchenAid Artisan a year ago Christmas and she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES it!

And the kids and I love what she can make with it.

 

[Aikouka]

I'm not a huge fan of KitchenAid mixers. The biggest problem is that bowl-lift models are awful to use and they're the only ones with metal gears. So, do you want one that should last a lot longer and not be a pain in the ass to add ingredients or remove the bowl/adapter... you're out of luck!

As for what I use, I just use a normal hand mixer or a fork for something light. I especially prefer something like a fork or a whisk when I'm dealing with eggs as you don't normally want to aerate your eggs too much. Last time I made oatmeal raisin cookies, I decided to use the hand mixer anyway, and my cookies were ridiculously puffy (too much air in the eggs) and also not nearly as tasty. :hmm:

 

[Kaido]

Big expensive tool for little functionality for me. I too can shred meat. But to each his/her own. I tend to go for "less is more" with these kinds of things.

Yeah, unless I'm making a ton, I just use my Bear Claws. Ten bucks & you can make short work of half a dozen chicken breasts or a slab of pork shoulder. Or if it's just a couple, forks work fine too.