Desperately Need Help Picking A New Stand Mixer
Decorating By CarolinaGirlAsh Updated 14 Nov 2011 , 12:41am by Evoir
My in-laws are giving me a new stand mixer for christmas, but obviously want to know exactly which one I want. I have been reading all the reviews and they are mixed (ha ha)! I currently use a classic series KA 4.5 qt and use it primarily for cake batter, frostings, and cookie dough. I would like to have at least a 5.5/6 qt capacity in this new mixer. What mixer (brand and series) would everyone reccommend?
I did a video comparing the KA 6 qt and Cuisinart 7 qt, but now I want the new KA 7 quart they sell at Williams Sonoma. It looks like it's better than the Cuisinart.
I have a 6 qt KA and I love it! I use it all the time and it works like a dream. I have purchased extra bowls and attachments just so I can keep it going...
Personally, I'd go with the 7 qt Cuisinart. I've had it for a year now and it's been wonderful! I love the timer on it and use it often, and I have plenty of room for those extra large batches of buttercream or cake batter. I read a bunch of reviews on KA before purchasing last year, and after reading all I did and hearing some comments from others on CC who had bad experiences with KA, I decided to go with the Cuisinart and haven't regretted it yet. I have one of the older KA models and it's still working and I love it, but I wouldn't have one of the newer models. I also purchased the beater blade for the Cuisinart as you don't have to scrape down the sides of the bowl as often. I am very, very, very happy with my Cuisinart. (They do make a smaller model, too.)
Cuisinart 7qt. or Cuisinart 5.5qt. I have both. They work.
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=6379992&sid=7ce876e4a4406fa1eed14d7d953c7de0
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-647213-.html&sid=c11e97be7cd68fe615c3293be4fe7891
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/kitchenaid_mixers.html
I have a Cuisinart, and LOVE it! My sister had a KA and then bought a Cuisinart and she likes it much, much better.
Kitchen Aids leak oil into the batter...yucky. Such a big common problem, there's even video solutions for it.
I have the 5.5 qt. Cuisinart and love it. Although, now wish I had gotten the 7 qt.
Why I love it: Plenty of power; built in timer; NOT a lift bowl; attachments (though I don't have any yet! LOL)
I've had 6 KA's over the years, and I've NEVER had one leak oil anywhere. Just saying that it's not like it's so common a problem that everyone experiences that.
They are alot of money so it's a big decision to make. Before I bought my Kitchenaid Pro 600 I did so much research and ended up buying mine from the KA online outlet. It was a refurbished one but I have bought many refurbished items over the years with no problems whatsoever. Sure, KA's will have some bad feedback. they have sold so many more mixers over the years than other manufacturers. Someone is bound to get a lemon with any appliance. Also, people need to read the limits of their mixer so they don't overload it. I have had mine about 5 years now and love love love it. Never had a problem or oil. I wanted and needed more power and a bigger bowl. If I had to buy one today, I'd still get a KA, just maybe check into the 7 qt now. I'm not saying anything bad about the other manufacturers mixers, they are probably great too, I just am not familiar with them. Good luck. That's a nice gift to get. Here's a link to the KA online store. They often have specials running where you can get a free attachment. http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/more-ways-to-shop-1/outlet-2/102020032/
I have a KA and have never had oil leaking into my batter. I would highly recommend KA. I have owned 2 in my lifetime (I'm 4. The first was given to me used from my grandmother. She had used it for years. The second was from my husband and few years ago to replace the one my grandmother gave me. Sadly, my grandmother's KA finally bit the dust. If something lasts through generations, I think that speaks for itself. On a equal note, I have heard good things about CuisinArt too.
I got the 7 qt. Cuisinart as a replacement for my 3 year old KA, and I'm very happy with it.
I've had 6 KA's over the years, and I've NEVER had one leak oil anywhere. Just saying that it's not like it's so common a problem that everyone experiences that.
I have to say mine does and it always has. I called KA about it and they said it was a vegetable based lubricant for the gears and was food safe. I told them,"Food safe or not, I really don't want brown grease dropping into my white buttercream". She had no response for that. Now my buttercream is not white, cause of the butter, but you get my meaning. And no, it doesn't happen all the whole time, but it happens at least once during use. So during mixing several batches of whatever, it eventually starts to leak.
I have the KA pro 600, bought it refurbished in '06 and it has never leaked oil anywhere. Is this a tilt head issue?
Most people would buy the Classic or one of the cheaper tilt head ones. Not everyone will have the money to buy the lift bowl ones, which I think are the only ones safe. Kitchen Aid knows about the problem. There are thousands of entries on google when you do a search. But all they will tell you is that the grease is food safe and that if you run the mixer at a high speed (10) for 10 min. it might fix it.
Here's an entry where a guy explains what happens. His name is Jim262.
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/ibb/posts.aspx?postID=287481
Kitchen Aid now has a 7 qt. model out. Here is a link to it; OOPS, the link did not work but if you use google just type in kitchen aid stand mixers and when you get on the site use the drop down of products. Alick on stand mixers and then it has a side category. Click on stand in the side category and it will down load. It is KSM7990WH and it will make cookie batter for 14 dozen cookies, has a 1.3 horsepower motor but, it is 899.99, yikes!
evelyn
Carolinagirl--whatever you decide, I'd suggest you find out BEFORE the Black Friday sales so your in-laws can get the best possible price. Typically the best prices on stand mixers are Black Friday and pre-Mother's Day sales.
Additionally, learn NOW what the average prices are for the products you may wish to have. A trick used by MANY retailers is to artificially inflate the "regular" price so the "sale" price can look like a real deal.
Example: If you see a KA Artisan on sale for "50% off the suggested retail of $600!" That is NOT a sale price. Most KA Artisans are suggested retail of $300 (more or less). (Don't hold me to these examples! They are examples.)
Kitchen Aid now has a 7 qt. model out. Here is a link to it; OOPS, the link did not work but if you use google just type in kitchen aid stand mixers and when you get on the site use the drop down of products. Alick on stand mixers and then it has a side category. Click on stand in the side category and it will down load. It is KSM7990WH and it will make cookie batter for 14 dozen cookies, has a 1.3 horsepower motor but, it is 899.99, yikes!
evelyn
899.99 in the USA? That means they'll be sold for $2K here in Oz
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