Stand Mixer- Which Is Best?
Decorating By caryl Updated 28 Nov 2006 , 4:39am by ButtercreamCakeArtist
I'm soooo confused now about which stand mixer to get!
DH is getting me one for Christmas. Thought I wanted a KA, but now I'm reading about Viking, Delongi, Cooks, Hamilton Beach, ...
I THINK I want a larger bowl- maybe 5 1/2- 6 quart, and want a minimum of 450 watts. Don't know how much is too much.
Don't do real large projects often, but do on occasion do double batches of cake or cookies.
Want to be able to make MMF, and RI without bogging down the motor. Don't want to go too big because I do a lot of one recipe mixes too.
Not concerned with the color or asthetics- if it's too ugly I'll be more careful about covering it when not in use!
Want something I can get repaired if needed without too much $$ or trouble.
Want to be able to get attachments, extra bowl, etc. if desired at a later date.
Help!
I just wanted to say your kitten is beautiful!! I have 2 persians myself. Anyways at sams club they have 2 different ones for great prices. One is about $259 and is a 5 quart. The other is about $410 and is a 6 quart and you can use 14 cups of flour I think is what it said. They are both KA professionals. Good luck.
I would love to have a Delonghi but I'm so skeptical of ebay and scared someone will get my money without me getting my purchase...have you heard much about scams on ebay?? BTW I love my Kitchenaid but I do think that if you will be doing double batches or want to make larger batches of BC icing it may overwork the KA. Sometimes it seems as though my mixer is struggling/hesitating to mix the BC when I do 2 batches at a time and I have to be pretty careful. It's great otherwise though.
I highly recommend getting the biggest/best K-5 stand mixer you can afford. I got the model that is the highest one for home use (next model up is restaurant quality.) Those things will outlast the next ice age and you can pass them down to your kids, grandkids and great-grandkids! The stronger mixer will come in useful for heavy cookie doughs and things that an ordinary mixer can't handle.
I have the KA artisan 350 watts. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!! It can almost be turned into anything with all the attachments available. I have a can opener attachment I use all the time.
We also got a food grinder for it, and it works wonders!
I usually quadruple my recipe for BC, and it does just fine. Sometimes it will "bog down" some, but I am guessing this is just normal??
I read in my manuel that it is even normal for it to get hot enough that it is too hot to touch.
I got it at Kitchen Collections at a mall. I've had it almost a year. I think we paid around $250. for it.
It is part of the family. I will get another if this one dies on me. I would, however, get the bigger model with the bigger bowl--just for convenience.
I saw they have some artisans at some Wal-Mart stores now! seems like they were under $200!!!!!!! (white, but you said color didn't matter)
Do NOT be afraid of eBay. Make sure the seller has good feedback and more than a few feedbacks. Pay with PayPal and take the insurance offered from the seller on a bigger purchase such as a mixer! I don't buy anything from any seller with less than 98% positive feedback, but I usually don't go that low. If they have a lot of feedbacks, like hundreds, and 98%, I will go for it! 
HTH!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%