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Stand Mixers
Tell me about your stand mixer - which one do you have? Pros? Cons?
My current mixer (which is 40 years old and shocks me when I unplug it) accommodates 2 different size bowls and can run with the bowls in 2 positions (center and offset.) I'd like to keep these features in my next stand mixer.
Mike gave me a Kitchen Aid for Mother's day. I didn't think I wanted that one. I had heard negative things about the motor but it has such cool colors. Ha - the least important aspect but I have been seduced by the idea of an orange or blue or yellow cheery stand mixer in my kitchen. Plus since it is the one Mike gave me, it has an edge. Though he did say he gave it to me knowing I wasn't entirely sold on that model - just that he wanted to make sure I got a mixer and could get whatever kind I thought best.
So - what do you use?
Re: Stand Mixers
I have the KitchenAid Artisan series. It's not the base model, but doesn't have any super fancy features (like running in two different positions) either. I really like it. No complaints.
I spent so much time trying to decide between the 15 or so color options! But I ended up chickening out and just going with boring black.
I also have a KA Artisan mixer (probably the same one Kasa has). No complaints at all. I've had mine for about 3 years. I use it all the time, I don't know what I would do without out it. It's great for making pizza dough!
This. My only complaint would be storing it. It just sits on our counter taking up valuable space. It is too heavy to lug it from the lower level or out of a closet. But, when I'm using it, love it! I got the silver to match the rest of the stainless appliances. Suprisingly, the mixing speed guage on our first Kitchen Aid mixer from our wedding gift broke and it was going to cost $100 to fix it. It was either off or on super speed. I suspect it might have had to do with tiny hands "helping" me bake and switching the speeds way too fast. But, I had been wanting a silver one so we ditched it and got the new one which also has a bigger bowl...
I agree with this. When I ordered my mixer, I had every intention of storing it in the cabinet and pulling it out when needed. I didn't realize how crazy heavy it is. So, it's on our counter, shoved back in the corner, which works.
My mom has had her KA for 25+ years, maybe longer than I keep to admit since I pretty much remember her always having it.
My mom got all of us girls one for our wedding present. I just told my mom that I would be interested in having one too - I didn't do any research. I got one that the head slides up and down, rather than back (does that make sense - it doesn't flip back). I HATE that feature. I didn't even realize it was an option. I hate trying to get the mixer part in and out.
I keep my KA store in the pantry and pull it out when I need it...but then again, I did take an Awesome Arms class. ha ha!!!
Awesome Arms, indeed!
Just to be clear - you would prefer the tilt-back head?
I have the KA Artisan. I wanted to go with a happy color, but went with Red. I change colors in my house too much, and to me, red is classic with kitchenaid products.
I leave mine on the counter, but keep the attachments in the cabinets. I wish it had a stronger motor when i use the meat grinder attachment. Otherthan that, I haven't had any problems with it. I use it all the time for breads, more so than my bread maker.
Before being forced to go gluten free I did a lot of baking and in bigger batches. I made all of our bread. When we got married I finally got a mixer. I did NOT choose the kitchen aid because I wanted big capacity but hated the bowl lifting mechanism in the KA Pro model. Also, since KA was bought out in 2000, the gears in the motor have been made cheaply and can burn out or strip very easily if you accidentally use the wrong setting, especially for kneading.
Instead I got a Cuisinart 7 quart mixer. It has a built in timer with auto shut off which is AWESOME, especially if you have a recipe that needs to knead for 10 minutes and then rest. I can just turn it on with the timer and then walk away. It is more durable, has higher speeds, has most of the same attachments, has a better motor, and has a lift up head, even for the big model that I got (they have a 5 quart model as well).
My mom had my Grandma's 30+ year old KA for a while and it was great until the day the motor just died enough my dad could no longer fix it. She replaced it with the equivalent KA from this era and it is so much more shoddy and she's had constant troubles with it. Seeing the difference in craftsmanship, plus the hassles I had every time I tried to use it, made me decide to look into other brands. That's what ultimately led me to the Cuisinart.
Very interesting - thanks for suggesting another maker. I like variety