Hello Lovely cake ladies and gents 
I resently won a contest, landing me a $500 gift certiciate to my choice of stores. I know I will be getting myself a Cuisinart mixer but am torn between the 5.5 quart and the 7 quart.
Please ignore the size difference for a moment, I would love to know if any of you have any insight as to the performance differences between the mixers. Is there a big difference between the 1000wts and 800wts? Any defects more prevelent in one model over the other?
I defer to your excellent judgement. Thank you! 
Great Question...I've been looking into and wondering about that. Only I've been looking at KitchenAid Mixers...Do you know the difference between the two?
I will be following this post closely ... Thanks for the question
There are several great posts about the merits between Kitchenaid and Cuisinart, that's what lead me to decide on Cuisinart. I would like to know though about people's thoughts on my question...
I have both. There are no defects on any of the two. I'm only a hobby baker but I research my stuff to death...lol. First I got a 7 qt, then I sent a 5.5 qt to my sister (in another country), then I got myself a 5.5 qt to leave at my aunt's house when I go visit and want to bake with the kids there.
I can't make a double batch of IMBC on the 5.5 qt like I do on the 7 qt. (it overflows) but I don't notice much difference on power or speed. I've used both to make bread successfully, too. My sister has a small cake business and she uses her 5.5 qt all the time.
I got the 7 qt about 3 years ago, the 5.5 qt a few months ago. My sister has been using hers for 2 years, no problems.
Wonderfully helpful, thank you imaginethatnj. I can't see spending more of my $500.
Cab333-Thanks! I was thrilled. I had just finished a lovely book called something like "How my mother raise ten kids on twenty-five words or less"
It was about a woman who entered contests in the 1950s to keep her family afloat with her prize winnings. I loved it, cried at the end. I was so inspired! The NEXT day our local paper was looking for jingles so I entered. (I'm a music teacher too so I imagine that that helped.) I told my friends, you watch, I'll win. And I did
Cuisinart, here I come!
I would love to hear more responses from other satisfied owners of the 5.5 and 7 quart models. Thank you!
Anyone else able to comment on their experience with the 5.5 vs 7.0?
I am a retired cake baker/cake decorator and now a hobby baker. I make cakes for family only now and bake a lot of bread. This past Christmas my wonderful wife gave me the 7 qt. Cuisinart and its a fantastic machine. I can do big batches of cake batter, buttercreme, and dough-mix up to 6 loaves. You wouldn't be sorry with the larger, in my opinion!
Minstrelmiss, will your choice of stores include Bed Bath & Beyond? I waited for a 20% off certificate and bought them there. I definitely think you should get the 7 qt. I'm a believer of always getting the best you can afford.
Well, I was hoping to use my handy-dandy family owned restaurant supply store but they have not been willing to price their machines as competitive as BB&B. Also, BB&B is on back order for the 7 quart. I was hoping some of the answers I received would reassure me that i would not regret getting the smaller machine. However, BB&B is selling the 5.5 for $299-20%=$239. I would still have half of my prize to play with on other toys 
I have the 5.5qt and I like it, except for the noise. Its too loud (to me), but other than that, it was a great buy.
I can't speak for the 5.5 quart, but I know I love my 7 quart! You may not always need that larger bowl, but when you do, it's nice to know it's there. I know what you're saying about being able to purchase some other "toys" if you got the 5.5, but IMHO I think you're better of going for the bigger one now. As prices go up on things, you may not be able to afford it later if/when you decide you need the larger bowl, and right now it's almost a freebie for you. I, too, purchased mine through BB&B with the 20% off coupon.
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