Mixers..... Which One Do You Prefer

Decorating By Rhonda19 Updated 20 Jan 2010 , 8:54pm by mireillea

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Rhonda19 Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 4:58am
post #1 of 32

Hi !
I wasn't sure where to put this question, but I would to get everyone's opinion about their mixers?? I have always wanted a Kitchenaid, but never got one because of the expense. My mixer broke about 2 weeks ago, so I have to get a new one. But now I am undecided....

My question is which mixer do you prefer??

Thanks alot!!

31 replies
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Jeep_girl816 Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 5:30am
post #2 of 32

I've only used a KA and really wouldn't try anything else. I've been borrowing my mom's for the past year(so bad, I know!)and she's had it for over ten years and it's still kicking like new. I want a Pro 600 one that runs about $400, so yeah I feel your pain about expense. I'd rather pay it out now and have the thing for ten fifteen years than buy a cheapy and have to replace every couple years. They're an investment. I know KA's have a ton of attachments too that you can use for way more besides baking so they really try to make them worth your while. Maybe someone else can give you their opinion on some othersicon_smile.gif

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Rhonda19 Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 3:39pm
post #3 of 32

Thank you for your opinion!! I had another brand of mixer and I paid about $150 for it. It was a pretty good one, and I had it for 3 years. Then 2 weeks ago, the beaters just stopped turning.

I got online to see how I might possibly get it fixed, and what I found was.....This mixer had plastic parts in it to make the beaters turn, so once these parts break, there is NO replacing them!!! I was furious!!

So I have to have another mixer, and wanted some feed back on KA....

Thanks so much!!

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Mme_K Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 4:22pm
post #4 of 32

I've had my KA for about 2 years now. I absolutely love it. I don't know how I'd manage my BC icing without it. My only regret is that I bought a 5 qt. If I had to do it over again, I'd get the 6 qt Pro. I know what you mean about the cost, but I think in the long run it's worth it.
HTH thumbs_up.gif Good luck. Watch the sales..... They have some really good ones, sometimes.

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dsilbern Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 4:28pm
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Kitchen Aid is the home line of a company called Hobart. Hobart mixers are what the industrial kitchens use. They last FOREVER! The Kitchen Aid versions are no different inside than the Hobarts, they just have prettier outsides. Inside it's a bunch of metal gears. Once in a really long while the machine gets opened up and the gears get re-greased. They never break (unlike other equipment in my kitchen!)

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dandelion56602 Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 4:56pm
post #6 of 32

Well, sorry to rain on your parades, but KA's DO break. I have a Pro 600 & had to replace the worm gear just a few months ago. And I'm still terrified to use it. I made my 1st batch of BC a few nights ago (since being fixed) and it still sounded like it was having issues & struggling. And KA wasn't as helpful as I think they should have been being that I spent over $400 on that baby. As soon as I can afford it I WILL get a Hobart & there is no way in this world KA is the same as Hobart. KA is meant for non-commercial use but you would still think it could hold it's own, but that's not always the case.

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-656055-60.html

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FleurDeCake Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 4:58pm
post #7 of 32

I've ben looking at the new Cuisinart 7QT mixer... it is quite impressive,mostly because of te bwl size. Does anyone have this mixer. I would love to know what youthink about it

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LaBellaFlor Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 5:16pm
post #8 of 32

Kitchenaid.

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SandiOh Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 5:21pm
post #9 of 32

I have a Bosch and a KA, I bought my Bosch about 10 years ago, and I love it, especially when I make buttercreams....however, I love my KA too.

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Loucinda Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 7:34pm
post #10 of 32

I have 4 mixers. A little hand mixer, a 4.5 qt. KA, a 6 qt. KA Pro, and a 20 qt. Hobart. The 6 qt. KA Pro is the most used, the 20 qt. Hobart is the 2nd in line. I have had NO trouble with my KA brand ones (the smaller one is over 20 years old, the other is just 3)

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Zamode Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 8:05pm
post #11 of 32

You can get a KA refurbished, they won't cost as much. I love mine and can't imagine doing cakes now without it, especially with mousseline and the white whipping, etc. Do yourself a favor and get an extra bowl, it makes a big difference.

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gramofgwen Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 8:25pm
post #12 of 32

When my 5 qt.KA expired while mixing up batter for a wedding cake, I was going to get the 6 qt. But then I saw the Cuisinart 7 qt. and fell in love! I've had it for a few months and love it - no more draping the mixer with a wet towel to catch flying sugar, etc. I'm really glad I have it - it can mix up 3 batches of the extended cake recipe at once.

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MizRed Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 8:51pm
post #13 of 32

What size KA is best for the hobbyist baker? Currently, I make mostly 10" round and small sheet cakes. 4.5 quart, 5 quart, 6 quart? Is bigger always better?

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leahk Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 9:00pm
post #14 of 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandiOh

I have a Bosch and a KA, I bought my Bosch about 10 years ago, and I love it, especially when I make buttercreams....however, I love my KA too.




How do you make buttercream with your Bosch? Which attachment do you use?

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Rhonda19 Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 9:02pm
post #15 of 32

Well.... I splurged! I just purchased the 4 1/2 quart Kitchenaid!!! But, I got a really good deal!!

Our Walmart had them for about $249 before X-mas. Then about 2 weeks before X-mas they marked them down to $199.98. I went out there this morning to get one, and there were none on the shelves. I asked someone about them, and the sales girl found 2 of them in the back. When she scanned them for me, it rang up $139!!!! SO.... I got a KA, brand new for $139!!! I am soooooo excited!!!

Thank you for the help!

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snarkybaker Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 9:13pm
post #16 of 32

Kitchenaids are CRAP!! The used to be made in the US with US made parts and they were awesome. Now they are assembled with Chinese parts and they are absolutely useless to a serious baker. And, I should add, we have 5 of them becasue we need to have two working at all times, so we have two for the kitchen, two for the repair shop, and one just in case. Every one of them has been repaired at least twice ( none of them are more than 2 1/2 years old). I have bought two of the Cuisinart 7 qts, and I like them MUCH better. They are quieter and more powerful. We keep fixing the Kitchenaids because I have about 15 extra bowls and that makes the day go much faster.

Buy a Cuisinart, buy a Viking, buy a Bosch, but for the love of all that is holy, don't get a Kitchenaid unless you can afford two. One for the counter and one for the shop.

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Abbiedal Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 9:55pm
post #17 of 32

My husband bought me the 5qt KA about 4 years ago and I never really used it until about a year ago and now I only have 3 speeds instead of 10, soooo after much whining he just bought me a Waring 7qt. commercial mixer w/12 speeds 800 watts I've never heard of these one but I hope it works really good!!!!

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millermom Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 10:56pm
post #18 of 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by leahk

Quote:
Originally Posted by SandiOh

I have a Bosch and a KA, I bought my Bosch about 10 years ago, and I love it, especially when I make buttercreams....however, I love my KA too.



How do you make buttercream with your Bosch? Which attachment do you use?




I have always just used my wire whisk beaters. My mom had a Bosch, and so that's what I got. Haven't really used a KA, so I can't comment on them, but I love my Bosch, and DH surprised me yesterday (Christmas) with the stainless steel bowl! I've already used it! (wedding the day after Christmas) I've also made MMF and rolled BC in it many times with the kneading blade.

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lilthorner Posted 26 Dec 2009 , 11:51pm
post #19 of 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsilbern

Kitchen Aid is the home line of a company called Hobart. Hobart mixers are what the industrial kitchens use. They last FOREVER! The Kitchen Aid versions are no different inside than the Hobarts, they just have prettier outsides. Inside it's a bunch of metal gears. Once in a really long while the machine gets opened up and the gears get re-greased. They never break (unlike other equipment in my kitchen!)




KA actually USED to be made by hobart.. they are now made by Whirlpool and yes the OLDER ones (I have a 10 year old 4.5qt) are great.. I had a 5q costco model that I got in 2006.. it leaked grease all the time. the thing that held the attachments got loose so even doing the adjustment on the bowl didn't work.. the head wobbles (this was the bowl lift one) I took it back and went to Bed bath beyond and got a 6q on the 13th of December.. the bowl clips on to the clamp, but is not secure so if I am making something stiff like buttercream it wobbles even though I make SURE it is clipped onto the lil thing.. I sent it with hubby today so he could exchange it at the ONE BBB in the bay area that carries the Cuisinart 7 quarts.. (well out of the 4 stores that I contacted LOL

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leah_s Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 3:31am
post #20 of 32

Old KAs were great. The newer ones are crap unless you are only an occasional caker. If you think you're getting into the habit of caking on a weekly basis, then please get something better than a KA.

Cuisinart, Viking, etc.

They've become the Wilton of mixers. Great name recognition, low quality.

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leahk Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 3:58am
post #21 of 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by millermom

Quote:
Originally Posted by leahk

Quote:
Originally Posted by SandiOh

I have a Bosch and a KA, I bought my Bosch about 10 years ago, and I love it, especially when I make buttercreams....however, I love my KA too.



How do you make buttercream with your Bosch? Which attachment do you use?



I have always just used my wire whisk beaters. My mom had a Bosch, and so that's what I got. Haven't really used a KA, so I can't comment on them, but I love my Bosch, and DH surprised me yesterday (Christmas) with the stainless steel bowl! I've already used it! (wedding the day after Christmas) I've also made MMF and rolled BC in it many times with the kneading blade.




Don't you find that a lot of air gets mixed in?

I also have issues making cookies- I beat the butter and sugar with the wisk and then switch to the dough hook- big pain!

My last complaint is that there is no really slow speed.

They are strong machines, and I bake a lot of bread, I love that I can make 3 kilo of dough at a time in the big bowl, but I find that it isn't so great for my baking needs.

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BethHansen Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 4:39am
post #22 of 32

I have a Kenwood mixer that I absolutely love!! I have had it for 4 years and I use it almost everyday! It handles everything from cakes and buttercream to bread dough like a dream. The speeds are easily adjustable from barely on to super fast. You can also purchase additional attachments for it. The only regret I have is not getting the model with the larger bowl. It is hard to find - I had to get mine online - but well worth the effort!

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millermom Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 4:50am
post #23 of 32

leahk,

I have never had a problem with too much air, and I mix cookies with the whisk as well. However, I have wished for a lower speed from time to time; especially when mixing cakes. From time to time things will slosh WAY up the side. The lid stops it, but it makes a mess when I take the lid off.

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Love2BakeCakes Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 5:16am
post #24 of 32

Blessings

I have had my KA for about 6 years and it is still going strong. Thankfully I have never had a problem with it. It is 300 watts and the bowl is the 4.5 quart. I love it.

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Bluehue Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 5:19am
post #25 of 32

Wouldn't swap my KA's -
Have 2 large 10 speed ones and they both get a *good* workout every week.
Mine were totally made in the USA

Someone i know ued to rip through her speeds - and more or less stripped the little gear inside -
Repair man said that is the most common reason why they fail - people not taking their time to lower the speed correctly.
Like driving a car i guess - rip through the gears and your car is crap.
Plus people not dusting the dry ingrediants out of the speed control area.
Only takes 1 minute with a fine paint or pastry brush.
But then some peole are just way too busy to even do that icon_wink.gif

So like anything we own i guess - taking proper care of things keeps them in good working order.

Bluehue.

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leahk Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 5:56am
post #26 of 32

Thanks millermom!

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suzylynn58 Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 1:25pm
post #27 of 32

I have a Cuisinart 7 qt that I've had for about 1 1/2 years. I use it primarily for making frosting. At first I really loved it. Now it overheats before my icing is thoroughly mixed. I use sugarshack's recipe.

Any thoughts on that?

I also have KA 5 qt and a 6 qt. Love them both.

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zdebssweetsj Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 1:44pm
post #28 of 32

Love my KA"s

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CookieMakinMomma Posted 27 Dec 2009 , 3:26pm
post #29 of 32

Any opinions on viking vs. cuisinart? I make a lot of heavy cookie doughs and need something with a pair of icon_surprised.gif that can handle hard and constant use. Both of these brands sound very good but I'm curious to hear of any notable features or flaws. Thoughts?

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cakesweetiecake Posted 20 Jan 2010 , 8:10pm
post #30 of 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakemeasurprise

I've ben looking at the new Cuisinart 7QT mixer... it is quite impressive,mostly because of te bwl size. Does anyone have this mixer. I would love to know what youthink about it




I've always wondered about cuisinart, too.

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