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

[sherry7]

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...

I'd definitely go for the Professional...especially if you plan to do heavy duty mixing like bread dough, etc. Just check the dimensions and the clearance between your countertop and upper cabinets. FYI...Amazon has some colors of that model on sale too, also with the $50 rebate.

 

[salleys]

I've had mine since 1972 and I still LOVE it. Well worth the money.
Salley

 

[Sgt Mickey]

2 years later and I still LOVE LOVE LOVE my kitchen aid.

 

[cjackearl]

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...

If you check out Bed Bath and Beyond, the Artisan is priced at $299, and the Professional w/5 quart bowl is $319. The Pro w/6 quart bowl is $399. You can get a 20% off coupon easily but it has to be used in the store. I do a lot of baking and have never found my Artisan to be inadequate. If I were you, I'd go with the Artisan and spend any "extra" on an extra bowl.

 

[leamom2princesses]

You all are making me really excited to try out the KA that DH bought me for Christmas this year. I make and decorate cakes. I have been crutching along with a cheaper Sunbeam for two years. Thanks for all the great feedback..I think I'll go get it out of the box now.

 

[MBKELmom]

We are a family of 5 and I would say I do more than average baking; not a lot of cakes and cookies, but a lot of bars. I make my own pizza dough and pretzels and I was really looking forward to the dough hooks!

I haven't read the other threads, but just wanted to say, my dh did the same thing as yours and bought me a Sunbeam. Since it was gifted from him, I used it for a while and eventually sold it at a yard sale AFTER I bought my beloved KitchenAid. Best kitchen appliance ev-ah imo. And he uses it a crap ton too (I cannot for the life of me make cookies, so he is the family cookie maker). He's even admitted that he erred in the Sunbeam purchase. Heh!

 

[Stellaluna]

I received a Sunbeam stand mixer as a wedding present. A year and a half later, in the middle of making my Christmas Cookies, it died on me. Just completely stopped, dough in the bowl. I cried. DH snuck out while I was tyring to clean up the mess and bought me a Kitchen-Aid. He's still coasting on the brownie points from that one, lol. Ditch the Sunbeam.

 

[design_mom]

Looks like you've got a resounding answer.

I got a KA as a wedding gift (from my MIL who has one and loves it). It's 14 years old now and still going strong.

My mother uses her mixer a lot. She used to get cheap ones and replace them every 2 years or so (when they'd die). About 10 years ago, my sister and I got her a KA for Christmas. It's still going strong for her. She's a "snowbird" and carts the thing back and forth to Florida every year because she can't stand to be without.

Enjoy your new mixer.

 

[Mamatoaprincess]

I have had my KA for 5 years now and it is still going strong. I really love it. My grandmother had one for decades and it worked great.

 

[thewesterberg]

I was given a Sunbeam by an aunt who no longer wanted it. Then a few years ago my parents gave me and my sister each a Kitchen Aid. While the Sunbeam seemed to be okay, once I got the Kitchen Aid it was a whole 'nother world! It's great!! The Sunbeam went bye-bye real quick!

 

[Karlzmom]

Considering the relative durability, and the fact the feature that made you want the stand mixer is only on the Kitchen-aid...I'd change. In a heartbeat.

 

[Gigi22]

Yes. Definitely. Get the KA. I just used mine to make DH's birthday cake--Angel Food. It was just wonderful in whipping all those egg whites up! And, you *do* know, Julia Child had a KA!
There are wonderful accessories too--the pasta maker is great!

 

[MickQuinn]

I have had my kitchen aid mixer for about 10 years and use it several times a week. If you like homemade pasta, the attachment is definitely worth it. We also use the meat grinder to make creton during the holidays.

If you do a lot of baking in batches, having an extra mixing bowl is really handy too.

I had an older sunbeam that belonged to my dh's grandmother. It worked ok for small batches of cake batter, etc, but made whining noises and smelled hot if you ran it too long.

Happy cooking.

 

[camlace]

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...

The White and Empire Red 6 Qt Professional are on sale at Amazon with Free Shipping for $357, then the $50 rebate. I just got this mixer last month and LOVE IT. $300 for a $500 mixer is a pretty good deal!

 

[Kathy C]

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.

I just bought a new one from Kohl's with the 30% coupon and got the 6 qt professional for $230. It was $399 - came down to $280 after the coupon and am getting a $50 rebate. I don't use it much but couldn't pass up the deal. Gave my old (which was like new) one to my DIL.

 

[Cdn Gal]

My DH bought ours last year Black Friday- $129 I absolutely LOVE it. My DS used it and then got one of her own. Definitely worth the extra $$$

 

[mominwestlake]

I am another KA lover. I have the red artisan and it sits on my counter all year long. I never thought of buying an extra bowl but that is a great idea. I think this mixer is super safe for kids to use since it mixes itself and you don't need to stick a spatula in while the beater is turning. It is also easy for them to pour batter into a pan since there is a handle on the bowl.

I am now interested in getting attachments. Is it easy to make your own pasta with the pasta attachment? Where can I find healthy recipes for pasta? Any other attachments that people love? I don't think I want to grind my own meat although the idea intrigues me.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I'm another one who LOVES my Kitchen Aid. My dad received one as a retirement gift - odd, I know, but exactly what he wanted! and I got to use it several times. I had always coveted one, but after using it knew I needed to own one myself. A month later DH stood in line at BestBuy on Black Friday and bypassed all the computer/electronics deals to buy me a KA mixer. 10 years later this baby is still going strong. I will replace it the same day it dies, if it ever does.

I have a 5Q artisan, my dad has the 6Q pro. I'll be getting a pro model for the next one...

right now - Costco has a 5Q pro for $249. I haven't looked anywhere else for a deal, just walked by them in Costco the other day. I would not recommend the low end basic 4Q model sold at Target and other places. If you are going to do dough - you need the extra hp in the motor.

Artisan and basic models have a hinge at the top - tilting up the head of the mixer. Pro models have the rings on the edge of the bowl and you raise/lower the bowl to use the mixer. Pay more attention to the size of the motor and bowl capacity.

As for attachments - dad grinds meat on a regular basis - makes his own sausage from lean pork roasts, makes hamburger from roasts on sale, etc. He has the time, and wants to do it to save money for healthy eating. But 99.9% of the world would not do this....

 

[lovesmurfs]

YES! My mom bought one for my 40th birthday, and it sat on the counter for 6 months before I started to use it. I now use it nearly everyday! I can double (sometimes triple) my cookie dough recipes, make biscuits, etc. Even a silly thing like pudding. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[amamax2]

And if so, which model would you recommend? I read a lot of negative reviews on Amazon from people trying to make bread and having the machine break rather quickly....