I need a new mixer. Suggestions?

[Longhorn]

I just have a cheap hand mixer that is okay for cake batter (as if I ever baked any cakes!) but not so great for mashed potatoes. I'd like to get a stand mixer but let's be frank -- I'm not a "foodie" as Warpy so cleverly put it! :D But I would like to get my money's worth.

Should I go ahead and get a KitchenAid factor-refurbished mixer? Amazon has a deal on them right now -- free shipping, $179.99 for the "professional series 5-quart model" and you get another $25 off.

I'm trying to do more cooking and baking and keep thinking that if it was a tad easier, I might do it more often. I don't plan to use it to make bread -- will probably stick to my bread maker for that. Right now, I use the hand mixer about six times a year so if I start using it twice as often -- well, you can do the math! ;) Is there another brand or model I should consider for my needs?

Thanks! :toast:

[The empressof all]

1. Go with a Kitchen Aid

They are the "Gold" standard as far as mixers go--plus you can eventually add on the cool attachments like an Ice Cream Maker!

My mixer is kept on the counter and I use it far more than I ever expected to!

The only problem I have with my mixer is that it's just too easy now to whip up a quick batch of cookie dough.....But that's another story.

[Shakespeare]

2. If you can afford it, I HIGHLY recommend the Kitchenaid.

In addition to being just about the best mixer around, the attachments can really expand its use. We use the meat grinder (and the sausage attachment) and the grain mill quite often, and I'm looking at the pasta attachment longingly, too.

I waited years to be able to afford it, and jumped on the massive Professional 6-quart model a few years back when Kitchenaid sold it on payments through an infomercial.

[wildeyed]

10. How is the grain mill working for you?

Can you actually make your own flour? I read somewhere that freshly ground flour was much more nutritious than flour that has been sitting for a while.

[Shakespeare]

12. It's working great.

We're still pretty much novices at it, but we're doing it more and more. Mother Earth News had a great issue about it (the one before last, I think), with great info and recipes.

I'd love to be able to afford one of the high-powered mills, but for now, the KA attachment mill is working great.

[wildeyed]

13. The mills I saw online were in the $200 range.

Gotta grind allot of flour to make that worth while. So maybe I will do either the KA, or a manual mill, just to get the hang of it.

[Warpy]

3. Kitchenaid, Kitchenaid, and Kitchenaid

You will NOT be happy with anything less. Only a Kitchenaid is stout enough to knead bread and whip egg whites and cream, cream cookie dough, and make pasta dough. Other mixers will do the job a few times and then burn their motors out, a real waste of money.

Go to any discount house. Lift the cheap Kitchenaid. Then lift a competitor's mixer with dough hooks. There is no comparison.

You don't need the commercial model. I've been giving my cheap discount house Kitchenaid hard use for 8 years, and it hasn't whimpered once. I bake bread at least once a week and use the mixer for all the kneading.

The Amazon deal sounds like a great one.

[housewolf]

4. You'll be happy with a KitchenAid

KitchenAid makes an excellent heavy-duty al-purpose home mixer - you almost can't go wrong with one unless you're going to be making large quantities of bread (and there are better choices for large bread quantity mixers - i.e. multiple loaves, whole wheat bread mixers).

You'll love the way it whips cream and egg whites. It's great for cookies and cake batter.

There are tons of attachments that add an incredible versitility to the machine.

KA always stands behind their products, they've had an excellent reputation for many, many years.

The price you mention is an excellent buy. You'll love it!

[Longhorn]

5. Thanks, Y'all! I knew I could count on you!

I went ahead and ordered it. I read through the comments at amazon and even those who had trouble with theirs reported that KitchenAid actually replaced their units with upgrades to a brand new 6-quart model! And I've always had good luck with amazon, too. I had to replace a microwave oven and a slow cooker because they arrived damaged and both times, all I had to do was fill out a form online, call UPS, and leave the damaged item on the porch to be picked up. I didn't even have to pay postage since it wasn't my fault. The replacement item was shipped the same or next day. If I bought something damaged at a brick-and-mortar, I'd be the one who would have to carry it back.

It isn't "The Beast," like AZDemDist6 got, but it sounds like more than enough for me. I also ordered a Pyrex mixing set (glass measuring cups, spoons, mixing bowls, etc.,) an OXO flour sifter, and a Cuisinart can opener. I hope I don't end up being all credit card and no action! ;)

[Neecy]

6. Congrats! You'll love it.

An excellent choice - I fire up my Kitchenaid almost daily. It's worked like a champ for years - the only service I've had done to it is when it was leaking a small amount of lubricating oil.

When I first bought it, I wondered how often I'd use it. Now I wouldn't be without one. I think you'll really enjoy it, and be surprised at how much you can do with it.

[NMDemDist2]

7. Longhorn, I'da bought a KA if it was my decision

hubby got the Beast for me (and I will never say another word on the subject)

Enjoy your new beauty!

[Longhorn]

8. He sounds like my husband

"More power!" like Tim Allen's character on "Home Improvement!"

[NMDemDist2]

17. i think he just saw me examing it closely when I thought the $300 KA

on display was out of my price range

he's a sweetie and got me what he thought I had "landed" on

I'm grateful for him and love the Beast! That's my story and I'm sticking too it :evilgrin:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

9. oh man.

You mean if I had had trouble with mine I might have got a bigger one? Drat. It's never caused me a bit of trouble. And here I thought that was a good thing. I want it to break so I can have the 6 quart.:)

edited to add you'll love it. It is so handy & does so much. Even a non-baker like me uses it a lot!

[wildeyed]

11. This is a very dangerous forum.

At least for my budget! :scared:

Oh well, at least I never get flamed here......

[Stinky The Clown]

14. You made an excellent decision. Now its accessory time!!!!

You will not be disappointed with your Kitchenaid ... no matter which size you get. $179 for a factory refurbished 5 qt is a good deal. As so many here have posted, it can do a ton for you. But like anything else, you have to actually use it.

So now its accessory time!

I see in a post upthread by you that you're thinking of a pasta maker. KA makes two. One is an accessory to an accessory ...... it fits on the front of the meat grinder. I have one of these and am not too happy with it. I also have the one that is all metal and looks just like the hand crank ones. **That** one I use. A lot.

This is the KA pasta roller. It comes with three heads - one to roll out the dough into sheets, one to cut fettuccine, and one to cut linguine. Its pricey, though ...... in the hunnert bux neighborhood, but probably less online.


This is the extruder they offer:


Here's a thread about pasta makers in general. It also addresses the KA extruder ... and why I don't like mine.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=5419#5426

By the way, if you wanna make ravioli, forgo the machines and just get one of these. They're available in several sizes and are about five bux a pop. I have one similar to it and it turns out to be the easiest, fastest way to make ravs.


I also have the meat grinder and a sausage stuffing tube. I love that! (Cuz I'm a sausage nut.) This is also very useful for a variety of tasks .... steak tartare, cranberry relish, lobster or shrimp pate, etc., etc., etc.

I have one of their shredder thingies. That was bought back maybe 30 years ago. I never really used it much. A food processor does pretty much the same thing, only better.

I just got an ice cream bowl for it (Christmas). No ice cream so far, but lots of fresh fruit sorbets!

Go here to see all they offer. It is, without a doubt, a kitchen workhorse.
http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/product_list.asp?HDR=5%20Quart%20Artisan&SKW=5ARTTILT&SEARCH=&PGN=1

[Longhorn]

15. Wow, what am I getting myself into???

Actually, that was someone else who mentioned making pasta but who knows what I'll get into once I get this baby home!

Thanks for the link and comments. I'm getting excited about getting to know this new marvel! :D

[Warpy]

16. Guilty...

I use it to mix the pasta dough. I have a hand crank pasta machine for noodles, lasagna, ravioli, egg roll wrappers and fettucini. I do potsticker pasta by hand.

I haven't gotten any attachments for my mixer, and use parchment instead of a pouring shield when I have to add dry ingredients.

[NMDemDist2]

18. parchment? oh lala !! I use waxed paper LOL

:evilgrin:

[Stinky The Clown]

19. The only use I've found for the pouring shield

is to keep dust off the accessories I store in the bowl :)

[NMDemDist2]

20. that's what I use it for too LOL n/t

[Warpy]

21. Thank you!

I love knowing I've saved myself a few bucks here and there.

[NMDemDist2]

22. just kidding you

i'll have to start a thread on parchment paper and get educated

i've read I can use it on my baking stone for pizza ect and to line cake pans instead of grease and flour, there must be lots of uses i don't know about

:pals:

[Warpy]

23. I use it for a lot of baking

it's the one thing that meringues and macaroons won't stick to. When I do a flourless cake, I line the bottom of the spring form pan with it. Again, it's the one thing the cake won't stick to.

As for your pizza stone, don't you just sprinkle some cornmeal on it? That works for me.

[NMDemDist2]

24. yes, I do that for my pizzas and I really was just teasing you about

the parchment paper

i expect I'll get some next winter when baking season rolls around again

[yellowdogintexas]

25. I love parchment paper

[Longhorn]

26. My mixer has arrived! (Picture)

Here it is. Unfortunatekly, the "Idiot Who Built Our House" did not install the cabinets with the standard clearance so I have to tilt the mixer to get it under the upper cabinet -- at least till we get around to remodeling the kitchen.

Now I've got think of something to make so I can try it out!

[NMDemDist2]

27. excellent! make bread or if that is too ambitious have mashed

potatoes with dinner :)

or you could just try out your favorite refrigerator cookie recipe

have fun!

[Longhorn]

30. I noticed the owner's manual includes several recipes

including some for bread with directions on how to use the mixer. I'll have to give them a try when I have a chance. Unfortunately, spring break is over so it's back to teaching and grading, including about 25 projects after Tuesday. But maybe next weekend, I can get busy in the kitchen.

[housewolf]

28. It's gorgeous!

You could make a cake for dessert tonight, or chocolate mousse, or cookies, or just whip up some cream, or as Azdem suggested - mashed potatoes, or???? You have unlimited choices!

[Longhorn]

31. I might be able to make some mashed potatoes sometimes this week.

I'll tell you what, though -- I didn't buy it just for decoration but it sure looks cool! :D

[wildeyed]

29. Niiiiiiice!

Let us know what you whip up.

[Longhorn]

32. I'll definitely report back in!

I went to a friend's house last night and she has one, too, only it's the tilting kind. As a result, it's shorter and would have fit under my cabinets. I didn't even think about different model possibilities when I bought it but then I didn't know that my cabinet clearances weren't standard. Live and learn, huh? :D

[Longhorn]

37. Inaugural batch of mashed potatoes --

perfect! Whipped those babies up and never went higher than speed 3! Amazing! :D

[eleny]

36. Nice!

And it looks pretty happy tucked in there all ready to go. If nothing else, you can whip up some egg whites, add some sugar and find yourself a spoon!

[wryter2000]

33. Ohmigosh!

Now I have to have one.

Did I understand several of you right that the 5 quart is adequate for most folks' use? I guess the largest job I'd do is dough for two loaves of bread.

[Stinky The Clown]

35. 5 qt is *very* adequate for most anyone

I had a 4.5 qt model for decades and it never failed to meet my needs except for one .... a double batch of pizza dough (8 cups of flour). It handled the load okay, but the dough mixed itself out and over the top of the bowl! I now have a 6 qt and it barely fits, and so far has nottried to excape the bowl.

These things are real workhorses. Even the smallest is just fine for almost anyone.

[wryter2000]

34. Factory refurbished 5QT mixer on Ebay -- $145 + s/h

Ooops. I somehow got some personal information in there.

Let me just say that someone is selling refurbished 5QT mixers on Ebay.