Is the KitchenAid stand mixer worth it?? $$$$

[jam217]

Another KA lover here!!

 

[mom of 3G's]

Does it really matter which Kitchenaid model I get? Are they all the same, except for colors?

 

[cjackearl]

Another happy KA owner here. I bought my artisan 3 years ago at Bed Bath and Beyond using a 20% coupon.

 

[3boymthr]

Love, Love Love my KA. I had a Sunbeam before and it just doesn't compare.

However, my DM has had her Sunbeam for almost 50 years and that one is comparable to the KA. Just goes to show how some products have seriously gone down hill since the manufacture was sent overseas.

The big difference I find between the KA and the new Sunbeams is the weight. There is a reason the Sunbeam doesn't come with a dough hook. It would be bouncing all over the counter because the base is made of plastic while the KA is made of metal - even the base model which is what I have. HUGE difference in what it can do as compared to the Sunbeam.

BTW - my DM's Sunbeam has the metal base and the dough hook and also has the meat grinding accessories and all that. The difference between the old and new models is amazing.

Save your pennies and buy a new KA - even the base model is worth the extra. Try Amazon - I got mine there and it cost $50 less than anywhere else after factoring in the lack of taxes.

For your Birthday or Valentines or Anniversary or whatever comes first ask DH for the extra bowl - totally worth it when you are making more than one thing at once.

 

[Judy0304]

Completely worth it!! However, watch for sales!! I got mine at Kohls, 30% off, Kohls cash back and a $40 rebate!! That was a sweet deal!! Best of luck!

 

[dex08]

Does it really matter which Kitchenaid model I get? Are they all the same, except for colors?

The models vary in motor wattages, bowl capacity and also if the motor flips up or if the bowl moves up and down.

If you are going to be using it to make stiff doughs like for bread then you'll want one with higher wattage motor.

 

[Pigeon]

Get the best KitchenAid you can afford.

I was going to buy another Sunbeam or equivalent after burning one out and dh insisted that we buy a KitchenAid. I've had it for at least 15 years. It's worth every penny.

 

[dawson5]

I just wanted to add my 2c. My grandparents own a Dairy Queen. They've owned it since the mid-70's. I think they started making cakes in the early 80's. They have had their KA mixer since then. As the business grew, they added another mixer and both are used several times a day. They just have the basic ones where the top flips up. I have the one that is a step above and I love it very much. I will say that I have had problems with mine, it was actually sent in three times for issues and each time (within the first year) it was replaced quickly. I have had this one for at least 7 years and use it a few times a month, have not had an issue with it. (I don't know why but the others just suddenly stopped.) I used to have the older Sunbeam, my mom gave it to me when I first went to housekeeping. It was nice, probably more heavy duty than what is out there now, but it does not compare to my KA mixer. When I received my mixer, I gave that one to my mother in law, who bakes quite a bit (cookies & cakes), and it is still going strong.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Another Kohl's with the 30% off. You can buy it on-line for 30% off whenever they run 30% off by using the code found on this board.

I love the Artisan - it is the one that is usually pictured in all the ads in all the different colors. The next one up was too tall to get under my cabinets anyway.

 

[sherry7]

I don't use mine a whole lot, but I do like it. I got a steal of a deal on it...$129 for a 5 quart Commercial model. Amazon (and the ShopKitchenAid.com website) sometimes has refurbs for sale, and you can get a good deal. For an example, see this one: http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/product_detail.asp?T1=KTA+RKP26M1XNP&HDR=outlet&. ($239 for a refurb, but retails new for $999).

Don't be scared off by the word refurbished. Kitchen Aid policy is a bit different than most companies. Let's say that a person receives a Kitchen Aid mixer as a gift, doesn't want it, and returns it to the store. Regardless of whether the box has even been opened, Kitchen Aid requests that the store return the item to the factory. Once there, it's opened up, fully tested, and repackaged as a refurb unit. Of course, some of the units probably had legitimate problems too, but everything is checked out and fixed.

If you like to make bread dough in double batches, you might want to consider the 5 or 6-quart Professional model with all steel gears and a circuit breaker...it's considered the toughest model, although it is more expensive. FYI, some of the colors have a $50 rebate at Amazon right now, if you prefer to buy new instead of refurbed.

 

[finz2left]

ABSOLUTELY!

I make my own pizza dough or bread dough at least 2x a week, cookies weekly, and it makes it so easy and clean up is a snap.

I use the meat grinder attachment 1 or 2 times a month to grind our own hamburger and it is amazing. I make my own pasta, etc... about 1x a month and dry it. I buy the huge bags of flour (50 lbs) from Costco for 15.00 and save so much money!

I love it!

 

[tommya60]

I love mine, watch for a sale, Kohls with extra off is great. I use the shredder attachment a LOT (I do a potato casserole for holidays--for Christmas it was 20 lbs of potatoes). Love the mixer, love the attachments.

 

[MonkersMama]

LOVE my KA mixer - best appliance I've ever purchased! I use it several times/week.

 

[OffToTheMouseHouse]

Love love love my artisan! It was my favorite Christmas present last year and I use it weekly. Definitely worth the money

 

[BabyTigger99]

I have the Pro 600 model. Won the opportunity to buy it off of Amazon for a VERY low price 2 years ago. I probably only use mine once a month, but every time I do take it out and use it, I am reminded how happy I am with it!

 

[akcire]

Everyone in my family has a KA some for nearly 40 years--no one has ever had to replace one.

I don't know if this is true or not, but a KA rep. told me this when I was shopping 10+ years ago. At that time I was advised, if I could afford, to buy one where the bowl moves not the mixer. The rational is that it is less stress on the wiring, which I was told is the point with the highest incidence of failure. I don't know if it is true or not. It makes sense to me. I have one where the bowl moves, and have had zero problems.

One of my cousins has even taken to buying them at garage sales, etc and reselling them. She will clean functional ones and sell them. If she buys a broken one she uses instructions from the internet and parts she buys to fix them and resell.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have had mine for over 15 years without a single problem. I love it, and couldn't ever go back to a hand held mixer. I mostly use it to make bread dough with the dough hook, since my breadmaker died. I use it to make dinner or cinnamon rolls, it's a breeze.

Mine cost $200 way back when. It has certainly been worth it! I got it one year from my DH as a birthday gift, which was great for me. I'll never forget my good friend saying that if her DH ever brought home an appliance as a birthday gift, she would kill him.

 

[CTdiznymom]

Love my KA. I keep it tucked into the kitchen counter in the corner. I put chair pads on the bottom so I can slide it back and forth easily.

I think with all the rave reviews you're getting on the KA the only decision you need to make is whether to get the one with the motor that flips up or the one with the lever that raises and lowers the bowl. I would check your cabinet clearance before deciding.

 

[mom of 3G's]

Oh now the dilemma of which one to get. The Artisan has a 325 watt motor and the professional has more. The Professional is on sale at Kohls for $400 and I went to retailmenot and found a 20% code, plus there is a $50 rebate being offered by Kitchenaid for this model. This brings the cost down to $270 (not including tax and the shipping surcharge of $7.50). The Artisan is about $285 on various web sites. (Kohl's is out of stock on this one). Somebody tell me what to do...

 

[niklynn1]

I love my KA! I have the Artisan and have found that I use it even more than I thought I would. It makes it so simple to mix up a batch of cookies for the kids rather than buying packaged ones! I got mine last year at Bed, Bath and Beyond using one of their 20% coupons and it brought the price down to like $240 or something close to that. They carry it in silver (like mine), white, black and red, but they will order it for you in about a million other colors. You won't regret buying one.