|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Stand Mixers
11/14/07 11:14 AM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I've decided that we need a stand mixer. I've also decided that it should be a KitchenAid.
The question is, which one?
There are two main types, the ones where the heads tilt up and back to remove or replace the bowl, and the kind where the bowl is cranked up and down to allow access. I believe the tilt kind is lower in price.
I'm more interested in the advantages and disadvantages of each.
They also come with different motor wattage ratings. The ones I've seen so far range from 275 watts to 325. The higher wattage motor should provide more power, or it could just be less efficient. 
Any ideas?
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/14/07 02:35 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Gary, they actually make them both more and less powerful than the 275 to 325 you mentioned. The cheapest ones are what Walmart and Sears sell; $200 and 250 watt. I'm not sure if they have any of the $240 and 300 watt ones or not. Those are 4.5 qt. bowls and tilt head. Bed Bath and Beyond sells ones that are a step or two up; the Artisan series; $300 and 325 watt; 5 qt. bowls and tilt head. Best Buy also sells some of the more powerful ones.
Earlier this year, I spent a lot of time researching these things and still can't claim to know a lot. I do know that the Artisan series comes in a wide variety (27) colors while many of the other models do not.
Now I have no experience with the bowl lift models so they might or might not be better. But what I did on 5/28/07 was to contact the company on the Internet and bought a "refurbished" Artisan mixer for $189 instead of the $250 they used to be and $300 now. It came with a 6 month warranty instead of the one year warranty, but otherwise, I cannot tell it isn't new. And I see they still have them at the $189 price at http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/product_list.asp?HDR=search&SEARCH=refurbished
I wouldn't say we use it a lot, but we have made quite a few loaves of bread, several batches of chocolate chip cookies while I was tweaking my recipe until I got just the texture and taste I was looking for, banana puddings, and lots of biscuits. I make up batches of biscuits, freeze them in pie pans, then put them into ziplock bags. My wife doesn't eat breakfast; only a banana, so I can get 2 frozen biscuits out of the bag, pop them in the toaster oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, and . . . . well, you get the idea.
And then your timing is interesting because I just went to Bed Bath and Beyond day before yesterday and bought the food grinder attachment, ground up some of the turkey leftovers and made myself a couple of turkey salad sandwiches.
The only thing I don't particularly like is the fact that you can only use their stainless steel bowls and those bowls are $50 at Bed Bath and Beyond (of course you hope you never need another one).
And yes, I rounded all dollar figures up one cent except the $189. 
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/14/07 02:55 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Thanks Bird, I looked at their web site and it appears that the bowl lift models are "heavy duty" and recommended for bread dough and stuff like that. It appears that the bowls are larger too.
I think the tilt top is what I'll end up with. Color will probably be white.
I saw some at Target last week. Tilt top and IIRC, a 300 watt rating. I think it was just under $200.
I could use the grinder attachment when I make my chili. I buy chuck or arm roast and grind it up.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/14/07 07:47 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Yep, Gary, I think the bowl lift models are supposed to be heavier duty, but also cost more. Sometimes bread or cookie dough will quite noticeably put a load on ours, but so far it handles it OK. I think their website shows retail of about $64.95 for the food grinder, but I paid $49.99 plus tax at Bed Bath and Beyond. I've only used it so far that one time. I ran a few pieces of onion, then a hard boiled egg, and then cooked turkey through it, but I read a number of "reviews" before I bought it and it seems that most folks have been happy with them.
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/15/07 09:24 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I currently use one of the old hand cranked grinders that clamps to the edge of a table. My dogs loved it when I used it because some of the meat never made it into the bowl but fell on the floor.
I think the mixer may wait until next month because I stopped by the local gun shop last night and plan to return tonight.
So maybe no rush on the mixer. 
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
egon
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 2995
|
|
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/15/07 10:38 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Gun shop ehh; does that mean fuel for the grinder?
Egon
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/15/07 12:15 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Gary, my youngest daughter still has my Mother's old hand cranked, clamp onto the table, food grinder that I grew up using from the time I was big enough to remember. I sure ran a lot of chickens, jack rabbits, and pears through that thing.
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/16/07 07:26 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Egon, I'm a shooter, but not a hunter. I have no objections of any kind regarding hunting, and have been know to take a rabbit or squrrel from time to time, but hunting as a sport holds no interest. My main interest is competitive pistol shooting, particularly International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). This shooting "game" involves shooting various scenarios based on possible defensive situations. Lots of fun! Scoring is based on elapsed time with time added for poor hits or misses. So lowest score is the winner. Kind of like golf only with more noise!
Bird, that sounds a lot like the one I have. Used to belong to my Mother in Law. Keen Kutter is the brand name I think. I use the coursest plate to grind meat for chili. Works really nice. If I'm in no hurry I usually just cut the meat into pieces about the size of the end of your pinky finger.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Pat
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/15/02
|
|
Posts: 4865
|
|
Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/17/07 11:41 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I have inherited the Sunbeam Mixmaster that my mom had from as far back as I can remember. It is a tiltback with a selection of bowls and accessories. It has a meat grinder accessory and a citrus juicer accessory. This thing is a getting to be a real antique but works fine. It must be about 60 years old or thereabouts. I too look at the HD Kitchen Aid versions and think, gee, one of those would be nice but so far my HD bread machine and old Sunbeam Mixmaster are taking care of business. Hopefully, if I succumb to the attraction of the Kitchen Aid I will be able to understand how to operate it or the instruction manual will actually instruct.
I have a food processor that has never been plugged in. The manual is NOT INFORMATIVE and never having had one before it isn't obvious to this casual observer how to use it. I might just gift wrap it and give it so someone who could use it. Then if I find one with a REALLY GOOD manual, I could get that and be ahead of the game.
Although it is possible that more Watts is just due to less efficiency, in the same brand it is more likely to be a more powerful motor. If I do get one it will NOT be one of the lowest powered units. If low power was good enough my old Sunbeam would get 'er done and I wouldn't need the Kitchen Aid.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/17/07 01:48 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Gary, the food grinder attachment for the KitchenAid stand mixers has two grinding plates that, as you would expect, are called "fine" and "coarse". In my opinion, it would be more accurate to call them "fine" and "super fine".  I wish there was another much more coarse plate.
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Pat]
11/17/07 01:56 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Pat, we sure don't have one, but the best I can remember, those old Sunbeam Mixmasters were fine machines, and a bit expensive for us poor folks.
And we used to have a big food processor that got used quite a bit, but we gave it away when I retired and we became full time RVers. So for just the two of us in an RV, we bought a "Black & Decker Handy Shortcut Micro-Processor". We've had it now for over 17 years and it still works very well, but there are sure times I wish we had a bigger one. The trouble is that we're limited on the amount of cabinet space, so I haven't bought a bigger one because it would take up too much space when not in use.
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/18/07 11:59 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
We have a food processor that we use on a semi regular basis. Slices, dices all that stuff. But if you only need a little bit of stuff it's not worth getting out. A small one like Bird has might be better.
My wife didn't like any of the pistols we looked at on Thursday, so maybe I'll get a mixer after all. 
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Pat
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/15/02
|
|
Posts: 4865
|
|
Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/18/07 02:53 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Bird, I didn't realize the Sunbeam was so "upscale", maybe that is why my mom had the same one for over 40 years. My family was not known for extravagance or waste.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Pat]
11/18/07 05:26 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Pat, KitchenAid seems to be the big name now, but I'm not so sure but what the current Sunbeam Mixmaster wouldn't be just as good, or maybe even better. In addition to the above website saying the first one was introduced in 1930, this website also says "In 1930 Ivar Jepson designed and built dozens of kitchen appliances, including the indomitable Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer." I'd say it's kind of a tried and proven design to say the least.
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/19/07 03:07 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
One thing I notice about the Sunbeam is that it has two beaters. So it's a stand version of a hand held mixer. More powerful I'm sure with a 350 Watt motor.
The KitchenAids, and commercial floor mounted units I've seen, pretty much all use a single whisk and a planetary drive to cover the entire bowl. They also come with a big single beater that kind of looks like a skeletanized spade shape. And a dough hook of course.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/19/07 04:22 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
That's right, Gary. As far as I know, all the KitchenAids now come with all three "beaters". I've not used the whisk yet (they call it a "wire whip"), but the other two; that is the "dough hook" and "flat beater" have sure been used. And I learned pretty quickly not to turn it on more than the slowest speed when you only have the dry ingredients; i.e., flour and such in it unless you want those ingredients spread all over the kitchen. 
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/20/07 08:23 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Food network is one of my favorites, and Alton Brown has this cool black KitchenAid mixer with a flame paint job.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Pat]
11/20/07 01:31 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Pat, I just happened to notice just inside the door at our local Walmart today, they have a whole stack of the "Sunbeam Heritage Mixmasters", 325 watt models for $98.72. Of course if you look at Sunbeam's website, they also made 450 watt models.
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/20/07 01:38 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Gary, I'm not much of an interior decorator and don't generally care what color things are, but . . . when we bought this house, it already had a black and stainless steel KitchenAid dishwasher, a black and stainless steel KitchenAid range, and a black Kenmore microwave oven. It just so happened that we already had a black and stainless GE toaster oven (bought originally because of the style, not the color). So, as my wife wanted, we bought a black Kenmore refrigerator. Naturally, when I ordered the KitchenAid stand mixer, I got the onyx black.  But I've never seen Alton Brown and I don't have a flame paint job on my mixer. 
Post Extras:
|
|
Pat
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/15/02
|
|
Posts: 4865
|
|
Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/25/07 07:21 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Bidr, Yes, and Wally World has a $50 Sunbeam Mixmaster also in addition to the $100 version.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Pat]
11/26/07 07:34 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Well, we were at Costco on Saturday and bought the KitchenAid with the 450 watt motor and the crank up bowl. They had it in Red, Black, White and Silver. So bought white as it never goes out of style. It's a heavy thing too. So far all we made was a Date Pudding/cake. Worked fine though. Might try some brownies next.
I believe we'll be able to pass it down to our Grand Niece who's three years old.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Pat
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/15/02
|
|
Posts: 4865
|
|
Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/26/07 08:09 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Try it on a variety of pastry and breads and send me samples so I can help you through independent QA activities! I promise to provide penetrating and insightful commentary applicable to the various test subjects.
What they gettin' for that version?
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/26/07 09:45 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
In reply to:
I learned pretty quickly not to turn it on more than the slowest speed when you only have the dry ingredients; i.e., flour and such in it unless you want those ingredients spread all over the kitchen.
Yesterday I was watching an episode of America's Favorite Home Videos and one of the things they showed was a young fellow (under the age of 10, I'm sure) who learned the same thing. Nothing like experience for a good teacher.
Gary, it sounds like you got the Professional 5 Plus Series or larger. And yes, I'd expect it to last a lifetime.
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/27/07 09:56 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Bird, I think that's the one. It has the right motor rating anyway. It was, IIRC, $279 and it included a set of four prep bowls amd a digital kitchen timer. Not a fantastic price, but reasonable.
I love the smell of a new electric motor in the morning!
Pat , I plan to stop at the store tonight and buy some cake flour and unsweetened chocolate. I found a brownie recipe in Cooks Illustrated that's supposed to be really good. So maybe I'll get to use the mixer some more.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
egon
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 2995
|
|
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/27/07 01:42 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Uhh - you guy's do anything but cook??
Egon
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: egon]
11/27/07 02:45 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
We don't have all that good salted cod you live on up there in the Great White North! We have to cook our food.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
Bird
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1671
|
|
Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: egon]
11/27/07 04:29 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
One look at my belly and you'd think I didn't do anything but cook and eat.
Post Extras:
|
|
egon
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 2995
|
|
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: Bird]
11/27/07 08:05 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Sight of my toes is only a distant memory but I don't cook well and don't eat much at any one time.
Garry; salt cod is only a memory! The fisheries are a thing of the past! Besides my Doctor has said "No Salt"!
Egon
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: egon]
11/28/07 08:22 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
So then where did the cod tongues I ate when I was in New Foundland come from?
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
egon
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 2995
|
|
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/28/07 02:17 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Imported from china!
Post Extras:
|
|
GaryM
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 1210
|
|
Loc: Warrenton, MO
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: egon]
11/29/07 07:29 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I thought they tasted of lead!
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Post Extras:
|
|
egon
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 2995
|
|
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: GaryM]
11/30/07 04:49 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Gary, I believe we have a local fish plant processing fish imported from China!
Egon
Post Extras:
|
|
Pat
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/15/02
|
|
Posts: 4865
|
|
Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: egon]
12/02/07 08:36 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I think I saw that on the news, something about maybe shutting it down due to the effluent water being lead contaminated.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Post Extras:
|
|
midlifecrisis
|
|
New Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 01/18/04
|
|
Posts: 24
|
|
Loc: northern Minn.
|
|
Re: Stand Mixers
[re: egon]
02/08/08 06:06 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
We planned on getting a Kitchen Aid when we moved into our new house, so we had an 18' base cabinet installed with a spring-assist swing-out shelf so now the Artisan 325 and all components can live there nice and happy. No lugging that heavy thing around.
Post Extras:
|
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Threaded