Stand Mixer Advice

[mnasf]

I don't think this is exactly a budget item, but I want to use my money wisely. I've been married 20 years and have always wanted a powerful stand mixer. They are pricey and I thought I'd wait until we were done moving and then I was waiting to remodel. I don't see a kitchen remodel happening anytime soon. So I'd like recommendations on a powerful mixer that can easily handle bread dough and thick battered cookies. I think attachment possibilities would be an added plus. Any suggestions on brand or where to buy?

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Kitchen-aid

 

[3goofyboys]

KitchenAid all the way! I've had mine for 7 years and used it literally hundreds it not thousands of times. It recently started smoking and siezed up so I called KitcheAid about getting it repaired and even though it was 6 years past the 1 year standard warranty, they sent out a new mixer. You have to love a company that stands behind their products like that.

I have several attachments. I have the ice cream maker, the meat grinder, and the sausage caser. For the most part, I just use the mixer, so you might try it out first and decide if you want additional attachments or not.

 

[cjnix29]

another kitchen aid fan! They have great customer service. They have refurbs on their site, and probably once every couple of weeks there is a deal I see on gottadeal.com or slickdeals.net on them. They are work horses. Watch food network, and they always have them in their kitchens.

 

[Cjmuma]

I have had my KitchenAid for 7 years and LOVE IT!!!!!!! Watch Kohls and Sales, and get a KitchenAid Pro... I adore mine...

Cj

 

[tonilea]

I would love to have a Kitchen Aid, but I got a very good deal on a Cook's brand from JCP. I don't have any complaints. I make homemade wheat bread regularly and it does a great job.

 

[pezaddict231]

Definitely go with the Kitchenaid, it is very powerful. I have wanted one for years, I have been into baking since I was a teenager, and now that I have one, I wonder how I baked all these years without it!

You can get them at BB&B with a 20% coupon, Kohl's often has sales and if you have the credit card you can get up to 30% off and sometimes you get Kohl's cash. I have also seen them at Costco / BJ's.

 

[Carlyzmom]

I my Kitchen Aid!! They are pricey, but WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!

 

[Gigi22]

Kitchenaid. Julia Child had one. I can make my grandmother's Christmas cake recipe in my Kitchenaid, and it doesn't poop out--mixing that recipe blew the motor on my mother's old GE stand mixer.

 

[J&BDisney]

Kitchen Aid Professional model. Right now Amazon has some good prices along with a $40 rebate on some colors.

 

[Sadie22]

Kitchen Aid Professional model. Right now Amazon has some good prices along with a $40 rebate on some colors.

The older models with metal gears would last virtually forever, but some of the newer consumer models have plastic inside. I got my Kitchen Aid mixer from Amazon. I've been able to made quadruple batches of oatmeal cookies with it. I haven't tried to make bread but all the reviews I saw convinced me only Kitchen Aid would do to replace the 35-year-old Sunbeam Mixmaster that we keep around just for whipping potatoes.

 

[Fyrefly]

Kitchenaid. All the pros use it, (Julia Child as pp mentioned, Emeril, Alton Brown, etc.) Lots of attachments, and you can't kill them. We make multibatches of thick cookies, cheesecake, you name it. Plus I saw a feature about how they are made, they are still made in the USA from cast iron so you can feel good about buying it, too.

 

[sherry7]

Definitely KitchenAid.

But, do your research first. Some models of KitchenAid's have nylon gears, and some have metal gears. If you're planning on mixing bread dough, you definitely want metal gears.

 

[jam217]

Another KitchenAid fan here. I've had mine for over 20 years and it's still going strong. Well worth the money.

 

[Cindy B]

Kitchenaid-- but I will give you a better source. Kitchenaid.com Refurb section.

We researched prices for a good part of a year-- comparing Kohl's, Amazon, JCPenney, Bed Bath and Beyond, even some of the outlet stores.

Then we decided to look online directly from kitchenaid. My artisan was only $159. Yes, $159. Looks brand new, strong warranty, same customer service, but cheap in price. Shipping was quick and pretty reasonable for the weight of the item. We've had no problems whatsoever.

If you look you would be eligible for rebates as well.

We are strong refurb purchasers: electronics, appliances, Ipods, etc. We have not ever had a problem and it makes sense for us.

 

[dyna]

I wanted a Kitchen aid for about 20 yrs never got 1. Now that it's just DH an I smaller house not so much cooking or baking I no longer even want 1. In fact when I moved a couple months ago I did not even bring my stand mixer with me. I have a hand mixer that is close to 40 yrs old if not 40 yrs old an it will do any job I need done.

A stand mixer just isn't something I'd use enough to have in the way. I only bake cakes maybe once or twice a year. Mashed taters I use tater masher. Very rarely make cookies which I've creamed the butter an sugar with the hand mixer many times.

At the time I really wanted the Kitchen Aid I was making lot of birthday cakes an some wedding cakes it would have came in very handy for the butter creme icing I was making at the time. I not done cakes in many years tho.

 

[pam95]

KitchenAid - I got mine during Kohl's Black Friday sale. I combined the sale with a % off coupon, and I got Kohl's cash!

 

[rbork]

Kitchen Aid Professional 6 series bowl- lift with 6 qrt bowl.

Re-furbs are an option too. Mine's a refurb because the Hobart finally died after 25 years. Yes, really said 25 years.

 

[sparkyboy]

Another Kitchen Aid fan

 

[dex08]

I love my KitchenAid! My DH gave it to me for Valentine's Day when we were dating about 9 years ago and it's still like new! Only thing is that I wish Kitchen Aid didn't make so many colors. I want several of them!