Trying to find a mixer for the wife

[Howard]

Does it really fucking matter? I seriously hope this isn't a gift for a special occasion.

If it didn't "fucking matter", why would he be asking? Alternatively, how much more do you know about stand mixers that you can authoritatively say that it doesn't matter what he gets?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I recommend getting the smallest 5 quart KA you can find. I think that's the 325 watt model. The reason is that the motors are almost bullet proof. Some folks have concerns over the transmissions but, I haven't experienced any problems myself. The best part of saving a few bucks with the smaller motor is when it does go bad in 20 or 30 years, you can have the motor rewound to a higher wattage motor. The artisan models typically wang you for the paint job and nothing else.

 

[Skillet49]

I have a the professional series 5 Qt bowl size. I love it and use it all the time. I also have the 3 set pasta attachments (roller, linguine, spaghetti) which I use whenever I am making anything with pasta.

On a side note, my husband looked at some reviews when we registered for it and said that a lot of reviews mentioned that the 6 Qt bowl was sometimes too big to accommodate single recipes.

 

[MagickMan]

I thought this was a different type of mixer. Pics of wife?

Pics of wife with mixer?

 

[BoomerD]

You just missed a pretty good deal...

QVC had this one:

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/v...eadStand-Mixer

for something like $249 over the weekend...PLUS it came with a "coupon" for a free food grinder attachment directly from Kitchen-Aid.

My wife considered buying one so she'd have a second KA mixer. She uses the hell out of the Artisan I bought her many years ago.
She's tried both tilt-style and crank-style and prefers the tilt for MOST things.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I have a the professional series 5 Qt bowl size. I love it and use it all the time. I also have the 3 set pasta attachments (roller, linguine, spaghetti) which I use whenever I am making anything with pasta.

On a side note, my husband looked at some reviews when we registered for it and said that a lot of reviews mentioned that the 6 Qt bowl was sometimes too big to accommodate single recipes.

In my opinion, the 6 quart just adds expense. While, it doesn't have any problems with "single" recipes, it's not large enough for larger batches. A 5 quart can easily make two good size loaves of bread but, a 6 quart can't make 3.

 

[mnewsham]

In my opinion, the 6 quart just adds expense. While, it doesn't have any problems with "single" recipes, it's not large enough for larger batches. A 5 quart can easily make two good size loaves of bread but, a 6 quart can't make 3.

yeah it seems to be in a gray area. I dont really see the use to it.

 

[flyboy84]

Did you inspect personally?

Nobody seems to know for sure what is going on with these KA mixers.

I did not inspect it, but the box clearly states "all metal gears and transmission" and has a nice little diagram