Mixer Recommendations---No Ka Please
Decorating By dandelion56602 Updated 20 Jan 2010 , 9:59pm by Joyfull4444
I HATE my KA Pro600. I just replace the worm gear & have used it 3 times since (just RI & cookie dough) & now it's making horrific noises. I opened it yesterday & I'll be &$%^ if the worm gear isn't shredding already. I HATE my KA!!! Did I say I HATE my KA?!!
I'll probably keep it until it dies, but I'll be wanting to get an entirely differnt brand.
I would like to keep it between 5-8 qt, but could go up to a 10 qt, but would rather keep it smaller.
So, I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet & get a commercial grade. I know Hobart is the bomb, but so dang expensive. I've looked on ebay, Craigs List & Restaurant supplier. THey either only have floor models or they are sooooo over priced that I'd rather get a new one.
So, if I don't go w/ commercial I would like to know what I should go with too.
But here are some of the brands I've come across. Any input would be greatly appreciated. i would also like to know if they mix thoroughly---my KA always leaves flour in the bottom of the bowl even though it's been adjusted! Did I say I HATE my KA?
So, here are some of the ones I'm wondering about
American Eagle
Anvil,
Univex
Vollrath
Berkel
Varimixer
Then there's
Viking
Waring
DeLonghi
etc.
So, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
You didn't mention it in your list but my parents bought me the new Cuisinart stand mixer and I love it.
I'm sorry you are having such trouble with your KA. It is a little scary to me since I have the same machine(no trouble yet...knock on wood) My DH bought me a side swipe blade for christmas and that solved my problem of ingredients left in the bottom. I've heard good things about Cuisinart.
I think I might have picked up on the fact that you might possibly dislike your KitchenAid, but.....
I don't have one, but I have read on here a few times that when someone is having problems with their KA and they contact the company, they have been shipped an entirely new one. Not really helpful, I guess, if you want away from the brand, but it might be worth a try. Maybe you just got a bum machine and a brand new one would work better for ya. Or maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about...
Viking! All the way- you can even buy them refurbished and save a little $$. Beats the CRAP out of KA
I'm telling you they don't make KA mixers like they used to! My mom gave me hers that was WAY old and bought her a new one. She hates the new one and I LOVE her old one! I have a new one too that is so pretty!! But, that's all she is is eye candy in my kitchen....she is soooo loud and doesn't do have the job "Old Yeller" does for me!
I can't wait to one day get a commercial mixer!! Good luck with you quest!!
I love my KA, sorry to hear your having such bad luck with yours, it's sounds like you got a "lemon" from what I've heard, their pretty good about replacing ones that have problems. Good luck!
Well, thanks for the suggestions so far. I may have to ck out a refurb Viking. (does it handle s good load w/out struggling?).
I will say I had heard that about KA replacement. They must have replaced A LOT an got tired of doing that b/c I got the run around! Pretty much "sucks to be you". Then after much complaining they offered to pay shipping to have it looked at. Never received that prepaid label. Got the run around again, left messages no returned calls. Let's say I Hate CS at KA as much as I hate my KA. I think they make junk now (why else would the gear start chipping off after 3 easy uses?) and unwilling to admit it.
Anyway. I will not buy another KA nor will I recommend one! I think one at walmart would be better. Yet I'm still on the hunt
Wow, I've had my KA pro 600 since December 2002 and have never had a problem with it. That being said, if I had the money (or the room in my kitchen) I'd get a Hobart in a heartbeat. We used those at the bakery I used to work at and they rock.
American Eagle is a Hobart clone--parts are even interchangeable, I have a 20 qt. and it works great.
I have to go with the Cuisinart. After having my KA Pro600 replaced three times in 4 months (new one each time) I gave up. They just don't make them the way they used to!
But I love, love, love my Cuisinart and haven't had any problems. I've had it for almost 2 years now.
Good luck,
Kathi
Wow, I have 2 KAs, and love them both. Had 1st one for 3 years now, and the 2nd one for a few months. I use them both daily and have never had any problems at all. That SUCKS that you're having so much trouble! Yes, if I had the $$ and space, I'd go for a Hobart too...
Mike, that's the link I found when searching earlier. But poodoole, I've read many reviews & from different sites & the 7qt Viking didn't get very good reviews. So, now I'm at a standstill yet again.
I have had my KA Artisan for 5 years and my PRO 600 for 4 and not had a problem with either. I even have a hand mixer by Kitchen Aid and they sent me a new beater when I called with a problem. Hobart makes Kitchen Aid if anyone is interested so it is funny that they don't make them to hold up like they used to.
evelyn
I have a Bosch Universal and LOVE it. Can't say enough good things. May not be big enough for you, though. Mine holds about 20 cups of cake batter. Thoroughly mixes - no lumps or stuff on the bottom of the bowl. 800 watts of power - so it easily mixes 3 recipes of MMF w/o any problem.
I have the Cuisinart 7 qt. and I love it. I had a KA 5qt. that died in the middle of mixing a wedding cake, and I was going to get a KA 6qt. but when I saw the Cuisinart, I had to have it. Plus, it's a little shorter than the old KA was, so it fits on the counter under my overhead cabinets, which the KA did not.
I also have the Bosch and highly recommend it! I have it since 02 and have not had any problems with it!
I have a Kenwood mixer that I absolutely love! I believe Kenwood has been bought out and is now DeLongi. I don't know how great the new DeLongi models are, but if you can get your hands on a Kenwood, I highly recommend it! My husband makes heavy whole wheat bread dough in it, letting it knead for 20 minutes at a time without any problems, not to mention all the caking I do with it.
I saw the Bosch. Is it me or does it look weird? It just looks squatty & that it couldn't hold up to it's job. But I know (as my 2 yr old shows every day ) that looks can be decieving
Mike, that's the link I found when searching earlier. But poodoole, I've read many reviews & from different sites & the 7qt Viking didn't get very good reviews. So, now I'm at a standstill yet again.
I've had mine for over 2 yrs. It will mix everything from bread dough to puff dough to cake batter. the only issue I've had is when I over loaded it with 5#s of high gluten BF. I blew an internal fuse. they fixed it no cost, no issue. I haven't had any other problems.
Mike
Just wanted to throw one more thing out there....
Since I started adding a little bit of the liquid to the bowl first, then dry ingredients, then the rest of the liquid...I've never had a problem with unmixed lumps being at the bottom of the bowl.
I got a Viking early about March 2009. Up to November 2009 I would have said get a Viking. Right now Viking = crap.
I have 2 KA - 4.5 qt, pro 600 and love them both.
I also needed a larger mixer (ideally a 20 qt, but no room for one), so I researched a 10qt. I bought the Anvil 10 qt. about 1 1/2 years ago and I love it. Some places offer free shipping which is great. I think they've change it to Vollrath now. Here's the link to where I bought mine:
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/vollrath-40756-10-qt-commercial-mixer-with-guard-110v-anvil-mix1010/120MIX1010.html
It's about 1/4 of the price of a Hobart and I think it works just as well. Has 5 speeds instead of 3 (like a HB) and handles a double batch of icing perfectly.
Hope this helps!
I have a Bosch Universal, as well. This is just me, but I wouldnt recommend it for cakes. It has 3 speeds- fast, faster, and warp speed. It is FABULOUS for bread making (the KA dough hook is a joke!) and homemade marshmallows, but I feel like it ALWAYS over mixes my cake batter.
I have had my KA Artisan for 5 years and my PRO 600 for 4 and not had a problem with either. I even have a hand mixer by Kitchen Aid and they sent me a new beater when I called with a problem. Hobart makes Kitchen Aid if anyone is interested so it is funny that they don't make them to hold up like they used to.
evelyn
I'm about to do something I hate to see others do! I'm going to through this out here, even though I really have no idea what I'm talking about....I read a year or so ago that Hobart does NOT make KA anymore. What I read said the gears used to be steel and now they are not. I believe it because my very old KA from my mom says manuf. by Hobart and I love that mixer! But, my 2 year old KA, that I can't stand and is soooo loud, does not say Hobart.
I'm not trying to "correct" you.....I just wonder.....
lardbutt (LOL!), you're 100% correct. Hobart has not made KAs since the 80's (when whirlpool took over)
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