Kitchen Aid Mixer or cheaper model?

[hastrobb]

I love my Kitchenaid. I got it as a wedding present from my parents in 1987. It is still going strong and with all the great attachments you can get for it it is a great appliance. I have never had a single problem with it.

 

[RNMOM]

We got a Kitchenaid last year and have trouble with it hitting the side of the bowl. I have discussed it, made adjustments, etc and guess I will have to arrange for service.

My Dsis bought the Cooks 5qt Stand Mixer from JCPenney this Xmas for $150 and it runs rings around my mixer, even on a good day. The motor is 2x more powerful and it is much quieter. I would suggest looking at it too. I got my Kitchenaid Artisan on sale for about $199.

I had an old Sunbeam passed on through family and it never did much better than my handhelds. At least the dough hooks on the Kitchenaid work well.

 

[ducklite]

My mom has a Sunbeam that she's had for fifty years, and it still works. That said, the thickest thing she ever used it on was mashed potatos.

There's no way it would work to make gingerbread cookies.

If you truly think you'll be using it for cake batters and whipped cream, I'd buy a cheap hald held for $20. They take no space to store and if you need to replace it every five-ten years, it's not biggie.

But if you think you'll ever use it for anything heavier duty, try to figure out a way to get a Kichenaid. I LOVE my Artisan, and so far it hasn't let me down on ANYTHING!

Anne

 

[rcraw45425]

I used mine over Christmas to make tons of cookies, the kind with the really stiff batter. It did such a good job, turned it practically into a dough ball, then I just used a melon baller to scoop out my cookie. I had struggled with a wooden spoon for soooo long before I had the to put it to use. Now I find it indispensible.

 

[renessa]

I also have the Artisan...keep an eye on Amazon. After Amazon "rebate" it was $89. Free Super Saver Shipping. It is a refurbished model but it looks and runs perfectly. I've had it for 4 years and the only issue is storage. The house we bought has lots of cabinets, but none tall enough to accomodate the mixer. It's a good thing it looks nice, because it sets in the corner of my counter all the time.
Don't know where you're from, but I have heard that the factory shop is in Michigan and there are good deals to be found at their outlet.

 

[rcraw45425]

Everyone is right about the storage issue. I used to think that people kept theirs on the counter for the cache' of having one, you know, "look what I can afford". Now I realize it's 'cause the dang things are so heavy and take up so much room! Mine now sits in one corner of my counter, simply because I got tired of straining my back pulling it out from under the counter!

 

[ducklite]

I've got a deep corner on my counter which is pretty much useless for anything else--it's that deep. So I keep my Kitchenaid tucked back there, with the black cover over it you barely notice it.

I never really thought of any kitchen appliance as a status symbol, we'll, maybe a $3000 expresso machine or a Wolfe Sub-Zero...

Anne

 

[ncbyrne]

I have three mixers. My Mixmaster is 30 years old and still works well, and I use it the most. Ten years ago, my DH bought me the top of the line Kitchen Aid professional model and ever gizmo attachment you can buy. I also have a cheapy hand mixer which I use mainly for mashed potatoes. Storage isn't a problem because I am fortunate to have a very large walk-in pantry. I don't like the Kitchen Aid model that I have. The beaters don't tilt - they lift up and down, but you can't remove them without pushing them back down into the batter. I do like the grinder attachment, but that alone is hardly worth the expense of this mixer. If you purchase a Kitchen Aid mixer, be sure you get the kind with the tilt top.

 

[DawnM]

I burned out a KA and it kept shutting off (overheating) making bread. I ended up getting a Bosch (for around the same $$). It is much more durable (IMHO). Maybe for cake it wouldn't make such a difference, but for whole wheat breads I needed something else.

Dawn

 

[T. Lynn]

Which is better, the tilt head or bowl lifter?

Also, can the 3 quart bowl be used as an accessorie for the 5 qrt and/or 6 qrt mixer?

 

[tinkamom]

I have wanted to buy a kitchen stand mixer for a long time, but don't really have the room in my kitchen, or the money. If I do splurge on one, is there really that much of a difference if I buy a kitchen aid for about $199,
or if I go cheap and get a sunbeam mixmaster for about $69.
It is for mainly mixing cake batters.

Thanks

I would get the kitchen aid mixer, once you see how easy it is to make bread you will not regret your choice! The honey oatmeal bread in the little recipe book that comes with it is great!

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

I've come to the realization in the past few years that I have wasted a lot of money being cheap, not frugal in the past.
Some things it's really better to buy quality as soon as you can so that you can stop replacing it.
That said, I would spend the money on the Kitchen Aid.

 

[rcraw45425]

I have the tilt head and like it. That being said it does tend to come down quick, so be ready.

 

[gina2000]

If you are making cakes, a Sunbeam mixmaster works just fine. If you intend to use it for stiff doughs (such as gingerbread) or bread, you should go with a stronger machine.

I've had both. The Sunbeam worked fine but I had to use doughhooks for gingerbread. The KitchenAid is easier to use with heavy doughs. My Sunbeam is 24 years old, though, and may be heavier duty than the ones currently produced

I prefer the bowl rotating rather than the beaters. I hate the way the KitchenAid separates heavy doughs. I have to stop it and scrape down the bowl anyhow.

 

[clownchk]

oooh! All this talk aobut kitchen aid has inspired me to find a permanent home for mine on my countertop! I have one and love it, but we store it in the basment. ANd since I have recently taken to baking fresh bread daily, I can let it help me!

Thanks, Disers!

 

[lsg1]

Hi...I am the original poster on this topic. By accident I originally posted on my daughter's account.
I want to thank everyone for their input. I think you have convinced me to get the Kitchen Aid.

Now to decide on which one.

There is one on Amazon.com that is $229 (was $199 2 days ago), and it is a 6 quart 450 watt but the head does not tilt back - the bowl comes up,
or the 5 quart artisian model which is 325 watt on sale for $199.

Hmmmm....

 

[JandJ]

I have to give another vote for the Kitchen Aid I LOVE mine! I use it a lot for cookie doughs, cakes, mashed potatoes (I have a breadmaker so I use that for breads). DH got me mine for my birthday a few years ago when we were dating and he found it on the Amazon deal of the day (or whatever it's called). Of course I don't know what he paid since it was my birthday gift, but we've been to outlets and have seen rebuilt ones for $199 and he said mine, which was brand new, cost less than that. So deals are out there if you look. It's worth it!

Edited to add - I have the Artisan where the head tilts back. I've seen the one where the bowl comes up. Personally, I like mine better, but both are really nice.

 

[PoohNPiglet]

I have my great grandmother's Kitchenaid. My dad took the cloth cord off it and put a new cord on it for safety. It still runs great. My husband got me a new artisian a couple years back and I love it! Both run great. I would go kitchenaid all the way. Maybe look for a refurbished item to help with the cost.

 

[rockyroad]

I have three mixers. My Mixmaster is 30 years old and still works well, and I use it the most. Ten years ago, my DH bought me the top of the line Kitchen Aid professional model and ever gizmo attachment you can buy. I also have a cheapy hand mixer which I use mainly for mashed potatoes. Storage isn't a problem because I am fortunate to have a very large walk-in pantry. I don't like the Kitchen Aid model that I have. The beaters don't tilt - they lift up and down, but you can't remove them without pushing them back down into the batter. I do like the grinder attachment, but that alone is hardly worth the expense of this mixer. If you purchase a Kitchen Aid mixer, be sure you get the kind with the tilt top.

I also have the Heavy Duty on that lifts the bowl.
I think you just have to get used to it.
My DH bought it for me for Christmas about 10 years ago.
It was expensive then, over $300, but it is wonderful.
At Thanksgiving I have done 5 pounds of mashed potatoes at one time with no problem.

My mom got me the meat grinder last year.
When I have time I grind up a bunch of chicken breasts as they are way lower in fat and ground chicken is fairly expensive. I am planning to do a turkey breast when they come on sale too.

 

[ducklite]

oooh! All this talk aobut kitchen aid has inspired me to find a permanent home for mine on my countertop! I have one and love it, but we store it in the basment. ANd since I have recently taken to baking fresh bread daily, I can let it help me!

Thanks, Disers!

Seriously, if you are making your own bread daily, invest in a bread machine. It's a HUGE time saver, you dump everything in and start it, and 2-6 hours later it's done.

Anne