Standing Mixer - keep or return? What do you think?

[Miffy]

OP, if you are still following this thread . . . I vote to return it. You haven't needed this so far in your life and it's just another appliance that takes up room and that cost money. If you were often making things and wishing you had a mixer, that'd be different. But it sounds like that's not the case.

 

[china mom]

I think it depends on your counter space. I had one in my big kitchen and used it quite a bit. I moved to a house with limited counter space and could never be bothered to lug the heavy thing out. Back to a lot of counter space and it gets used quite a bit.

Mashed potatoes
Meatloaf
whipped cream
larger batches of dip (for parties)
cakes, cupcakes, cookies, icing
and more

 

[Selket]

Wow! Thanks to EVERYONE for those great replies. I've been reading and re-readiing them this morning. I did just purchase it late last week so it hasn't been setting here for long. Still in the box! I paid $230 for it I think - supposedly retailing at around $350 from Target. It is indeed the 4.5 QUART (not cup!) and the pic on the box shows the bowl has a handle. I cannot find it on the Target website anymore but the model is KSM96IC. If you google that- at least for me - it comes up with the exact mixer. It did not come with the splash shield so I think I might want that?

I don't bake as much as I used to and I do a recipe that required me to knead the dough and it killed my hands - I have some significant arthritis/carpel tunnel so I think that's one thing that prompted me to reconsider getting a stand mixer. I like making gyoza wrappers and I'm not sure II can use the stand mixer to knead that type of dough - but perhaps? I don't use a hand mixer often - perhaps a combo of not wanting to mix stuff using my hands at all cause of the hand issues - and also cause I'm older and if eat too many cookies/cakes/etc. I will weigh 4 billion pounds - haha! If I enjoyed making a dessert or bread once a month though it would be worth it - IMHO. There are some recipes we make (like sausage balls) that I just won't do cause it hurts my hands too much.

I can tell one big consideration seems to be that if I can keep it out on the counter it would be more useful. I agree for me as it's heavy and I'm sure I will not want to pull it out! I think I do have a space for it even tho our kitchen is small - it's a big deal adding something to our counter but I think if I cannot make it fit I wouldn't keep it.

I'm leaning towards keeping it and trying it out. My family says keep it - lol! Another question is - if I purchase another bowl does it need to be a 4.5 quart bowl or would 5 qt work?

 

[diznygirl]

I resisted the stand mixer for a long time because a hand mixer worked fine. Until we started making allergy friendly macaroons. Beating egg whites was time consuming. My daughter was doing it for me and I wanted to make it easier for her. Lol

Then I thought about the cheese grating attachment for homemade Mac n cheese.

The stand mixer has made both of these chores less of a chore. It’s amazing! For these two things alone I’m happy I bought it.

And then I bought the juicer attachment. Lol. My neighbor gives us fresh lemons. And my husband can have fresh squeezed orange juice.

We will continue to find things to use it for now that we have it. And for what we have used it for we know it’s such an improvement.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Wow! Thanks to EVERYONE for those great replies. I've been reading and re-readiing them this morning. I did just purchase it late last week so it hasn't been setting here for long. Still in the box! I paid $230 for it I think - supposedly retailing at around $350 from Target. It is indeed the 4.5 QUART (not cup!) and the pic on the box shows the bowl has a handle. I cannot find it on the Target website anymore but the model is KSM96IC. If you google that- at least for me - it comes up with the exact mixer. It did not come with the splash shield so I think I might want that?

I don't bake as much as I used to and I do a recipe that required me to knead the dough and it killed my hands - I have some significant arthritis/carpel tunnel so I think that's one thing that prompted me to reconsider getting a stand mixer. I like making gyoza wrappers and I'm not sure II can use the stand mixer to knead that type of dough - but perhaps? I don't use a hand mixer often - perhaps a combo of not wanting to mix stuff using my hands at all cause of the hand issues - and also cause I'm older and if eat too many cookies/cakes/etc. I will weigh 4 billion pounds - haha! If I enjoyed making a dessert or bread once a month though it would be worth it - IMHO. There are some recipes we make (like sausage balls) that I just won't do cause it hurts my hands too much.

I can tell one big consideration seems to be that if I can keep it out on the counter it would be more useful. I agree for me as it's heavy and I'm sure I will not want to pull it out! I think I do have a space for it even tho our kitchen is small - it's a big deal adding something to our counter but I think if I cannot make it fit I wouldn't keep it.

I'm leaning towards keeping it and trying it out. My family says keep it - lol! Another question is - if I purchase another bowl does it need to be a 4.5 quart bowl or would 5 qt work?

If you are going to keep it, I recommend you try using it before you buy attachments, even the extra bowl and the splash guard. Once you've used it a time or two, you'll know if you need these things.

With your hand issues, you might actually find this a godsend. It sounds like something you'll just have to get used to enjoying. That is, the things you didn't make before, will now be options for you because they don't hurt.

As for "worth it", as long as you can afford it and it will be something you can use, even for only one or two things, it's worth it. If it means you enjoy cooking things you thought you had to give up, then it's worth it. In my opinion, value shouldn't be set by how often you use it, but by how much better it makes your life when you need it.

Definitely find a place on the counter for it, or a mobile cart. You don't want to have to lift it every time.

 

[RUDisney]

@Selket, you will need to buy the same size bowl if you want it to fit. I made the mistake of replacing my whisk with the wrong one. Happy thing is that it fits my parents’ KA and they hadn’t had a whisk. They do now and I bought the right one on my second try.

 

[mumto3girls]

OP—just saw your post mentioning sausage balls. I made sausage balls in mine yesterday. I always make a double batch and freeze some and mixing all that by hand makes my hands hurt too. The mixer makes it so much easier.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I can tell one big consideration seems to be that if I can keep it out on the counter it would be more useful. I agree for me as it's heavy and I'm sure I will not want to pull it out!

Yeah ours just sits there on the counter the whole time. It gets shifted forward when in use and then shifted backwards when not in use but that thing it way too heavy to be lifting up and down all the time no way! I hear ya on the weight of the appliance weighing in on your decision (okay pun sorta intended here )

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have 2 of them,

 

[HeatherC]

I use mine so much that I can’t imagine not having one. Love my KitchenAid mixer. Then again, I love kitchen appliances in general.

 

[3boymthr]

These are very simple manual tasks that I've been doing since I was a kid. I can't imagine going to the fuss of using an appliance. Or maybe I'm missing something - what are you all doing to your meatloaf that needs that kind of action?

For me it's because I can't stand touching raw meat. The less amount of time I have to touch raw meat the better. Also, I get a better blending of the ingredients, less clumps of bread crumbs, spices. For that reason I also use mine to mix my filling for lasagna, manicotti, etc.

I have both the standard bowl and the small bowl, which I love. I also have the splash shield. Mine has the spout for pouring ingredients, but I do find that I only use it for items that start out as primarily liquid; like whip cream, butter, etc. so never use the spout. My mixer lives on my counter and gets used several times a week.

 

[_19disnA]

The size of the bowl needs to be compatible with your mixer for it to work correctly. A bowl that is too large won't allow the mixer blade to reach whatever you are mixing. If you don't know if you will use your KitchenAid a lot, then I would wait to buy any of the pricey attachments. Most are things you will seldom use even if you do use the mixer a lot.

I have found the plastic splash shield hard to use and would not recommend someone buy it as an extra if not part of the original mixer package. It is far easier to add things like flour or powder sugar without the shield and if you run the mixer on the lowest speed, you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[mmouse37]

Wow! Thanks to EVERYONE for those great replies. I've been reading and re-readiing them this morning. I did just purchase it late last week so it hasn't been setting here for long. Still in the box! I paid $230 for it I think - supposedly retailing at around $350 from Target. It is indeed the 4.5 QUART (not cup!) and the pic on the box shows the bowl has a handle. I cannot find it on the Target website anymore but the model is KSM96IC. If you google that- at least for me - it comes up with the exact mixer. It did not come with the splash shield so I think I might want that?

I don't bake as much as I used to and I do a recipe that required me to knead the dough and it killed my hands - I have some significant arthritis/carpel tunnel so I think that's one thing that prompted me to reconsider getting a stand mixer. I like making gyoza wrappers and I'm not sure II can use the stand mixer to knead that type of dough - but perhaps? I don't use a hand mixer often - perhaps a combo of not wanting to mix stuff using my hands at all cause of the hand issues - and also cause I'm older and if eat too many cookies/cakes/etc. I will weigh 4 billion pounds - haha! If I enjoyed making a dessert or bread once a month though it would be worth it - IMHO. There are some recipes we make (like sausage balls) that I just won't do cause it hurts my hands too much.

I can tell one big consideration seems to be that if I can keep it out on the counter it would be more useful. I agree for me as it's heavy and I'm sure I will not want to pull it out! I think I do have a space for it even tho our kitchen is small - it's a big deal adding something to our counter but I think if I cannot make it fit I wouldn't keep it.

I'm leaning towards keeping it and trying it out. My family says keep it - lol! Another question is - if I purchase another bowl does it need to be a 4.5 quart bowl or would 5 qt work?

As I said up thread I use the mixer all the time and I wanted the splash guard.....got it but never use it. I also wanted a second bowl but the more I thought it about I knew I really didn't need it and it would just take up space. If you start the mixer on slow and gradually increase speed it keeps the flour from billowing out. Good luck with your mixer!!

MJ

 

[Selket]

Well...we got it out of the box and I used it for the first time today! I made a place for it on the counter where it will stay out. I was able to make the dough for the gyoza wrappers with it and I also used it to mix up the filling mix. It did a great job with both tasks and was super simple to use. My husband also likes to cook and is interested in using it for the things he likes to make (like meatloaf) so we decided to go ahead and start using it. I'm holding off on any extra pieces to see if I need them since they're not hard to find. I think I paid a decent price for it so it's worth taking the chance.

I was also watching another episode of this season's Great British Baking show on Netflix last night and I am pretty sure I saw the same or similar mixer in the same color - probably been looking at it on that show for years since I knew as soon as I saw it in the store that it was the color I liked best - haha!

 

[bethbuchall]

I do use a hand mixes for mashed potatoes. But for me, I don't understand food processers. For us, to use a knife to cut a few things is much easier than cleaning up a machine. I never thought to use a mixer for meatballs.

I guess a mixer would be good for meatballs if you don't like getting your hands in your ground meat. I rarely use my food processor. I use it to make pesto and a certain noodle dough. I tried it for pie crusts, but I didn't find it any easier and clean-up is definitely worse.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I hope you get good use out of it. I agree on holding off on the extras--get used to it, see what you would actually use (says the woman who begged for a spiralizer attachment, that's never been used...).

 

[tasha99]

Wow! Thanks to EVERYONE for those great replies. I've been reading and re-readiing them this morning. I did just purchase it late last week so it hasn't been setting here for long. Still in the box! I paid $230 for it I think - supposedly retailing at around $350 from Target. It is indeed the 4.5 QUART (not cup!) and the pic on the box shows the bowl has a handle. I cannot find it on the Target website anymore but the model is KSM96IC. If you google that- at least for me - it comes up with the exact mixer. It did not come with the splash shield so I think I might want that?

I don't bake as much as I used to and I do a recipe that required me to knead the dough and it killed my hands - I have some significant arthritis/carpel tunnel so I think that's one thing that prompted me to reconsider getting a stand mixer. I like making gyoza wrappers and I'm not sure II can use the stand mixer to knead that type of dough - but perhaps? I don't use a hand mixer often - perhaps a combo of not wanting to mix stuff using my hands at all cause of the hand issues - and also cause I'm older and if eat too many cookies/cakes/etc. I will weigh 4 billion pounds - haha! If I enjoyed making a dessert or bread once a month though it would be worth it - IMHO. There are some recipes we make (like sausage balls) that I just won't do cause it hurts my hands too much.

I can tell one big consideration seems to be that if I can keep it out on the counter it would be more useful. I agree for me as it's heavy and I'm sure I will not want to pull it out! I think I do have a space for it even tho our kitchen is small - it's a big deal adding something to our counter but I think if I cannot make it fit I wouldn't keep it.

I'm leaning towards keeping it and trying it out. My family says keep it - lol! Another question is - if I purchase another bowl does it need to be a 4.5 quart bowl or would 5 qt work?

I make pot stickers with homemade boiled water dough, and I never use the Kitchenaid for that. Not sure why--it's usually a smaller amount of dough and quite dense. Maybe someone who makes pasta could answer--it's denser than yeast doughs, so it seems like it would be hard on the motor. But maybe not--do people use the dough hook for pasta?

 

[aggiedog]

Late to the party, but I've had mine for 20 years and use it at least once a week. Like someone else listed - cookies, mashed potatoes, meatloaf/meatballs, muffins, bread dough, egg whites, whipping cream, dips. If it needs mixed, smashed, or kneaded, you can do it in the mixer. And KitchenAid is a good product. Mine works as well 20 years in as it did back when I got it. I have the 5 qt. I bought the 4.5 qt for dd on sale from Target last year and she uses hers all the time, and she's just in college. I think if you cook at all, it can come in very handy.

 

[Selket]

I make pot stickers with homemade boiled water dough, and I never use the Kitchenaid for that. Not sure why--it's usually a smaller amount of dough and quite dense. Maybe someone who makes pasta could answer--it's denser than yeast doughs, so it seems like it would be hard on the motor. But maybe not--do people use the dough hook for pasta?

I think the dough I was talking about could be the same as your pot sticker dough as it involves just boiled water, salt, and flour. I did make that dough with the mixer - I stirred it by hand a bit and when the dough ball formed I let the dough hook take it for 10 minutes. The mixer seemed fine to me - it didn't feel hot or sound like it was struggling. My dough ended up being softer than usual but worked fine. Not sure if I had too much water or it was something to do with the mixing of it. I googled making pasta dough and most recipes I saw had you kneading it by hand after the mixing so you're likely right.

 

[Selket]

Second thing I've made with it: Marshmallows. I never could have made them without it I think - took 12 mins on high speed and came out great!