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Topic: Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer

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MarilynW
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 1:37pm \| IP Logged

Hi everyone - someone offered me one for Christmas - and I am trying to figure out whether I really need it. Right now I do all my baking without even an electric hand mixer - just the help of my 4 "kitchen aides" I do not have a big kitchen and I do not want to get another appliance which goes into the basement. Please let me know if this is an appliance which would really make my life easier - I do bake a lot as my kids have food allergies so we have to make our own goodies.

Thanks!

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JodieLyn
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 2:06pm \| IP Logged

Only if you have somewhere to leave it setting out. It's very heavy and I would never use mine if I had to get it out to use it. BUT I use very VERY few "gadgets" and still find myself using the mixer..

BUT I haven't had very good luck with KA.. I'm on my 3rd or 4th mixer in 3 years. The customer service is great.. they've paid shipping and replaced each one that stopped working.. but it is tiring to have to keep getting it replaced. And I do follow the directions for the amounts of things to use.. it's not operator error.

I have the 6 qt lift stand mixer. I would not want smaller or I wouldn't be able to double recipes in it (like cookies)

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lapazfarm
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 2:06pm \| IP Logged

Great question. I was wondering about that myself.

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Martha in VA
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 2:45pm \| IP Logged

I think it depends on what type of baking you do. I bake all our bread and I wouldn't do that if not for my KA - 6 qt. stand. I would be too lazy otherwise!

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5athome
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 4:18pm \| IP Logged

I love my 6 qt KA - I have had mine 7 yrs and never had problems with it. I really think it saves me time.

mavmama
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 5:05pm \| IP Logged

I bought mine to help with bread making. Since I have fibromyalgia, kneading can be very difficult. Since we bought "Gertrude" we have fallen in love with her! My son loves her because she "helps Mama make goooood food!" So, I guess since we named "her" you could say we are really happy with our mixer!

Liz

stefoodie
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 5:55pm \| IP Logged

If you're going to do a lot of bread baking, especially whole grain bread, consider getting a Bosch or a DLX mixer. Yes, they're pricey, but I killed 2 KAs doing whole-grain bread, and then I got the DLX.

Here's another helpful thread

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Jeanna
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 5:58pm \| IP Logged

We've had ours for at least 6 years now with no problems. Dh's only complaints were that the bowl didn't go around and around like his mom's mixer did growing up (he's a bit sentimental) and that it looked too industrial. He likes it well enough now, and I LOVE it! I also make breads and pizza dough with it not to mention just about everything else. We keep ours on the counter and I would not want to have to get it out every time I wanted to use it. My mom has one too, but has a neat cupboard that my uncle made for her. You open the door and the mixer is on a tray that comes out and rises up to one of two levels. If we ever live close to home again, I will have to commission him to build me one too!
We have the artesian series. I personally would not want the classic series as the bowl doesn't have a handle (which doesn't seem like a big deal but IMO it makes a huge difference), and the wattage isn't as high, plus it comes with the 4 1/2 qt bowl. You can compare the different mixers at Kitchen Aid's website

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Mary Chris
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 6:10pm \| IP Logged

I have had my Kitchen Aide going on 15 years. I don't use it for baking whole wheat bread, I use my Zo for that. My mixer does get a lot of use.

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JennGM
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 6:18pm \| IP Logged

Marilyn,

I have one, it's a 5 1/2 quart heavy duty. I don't keep it on the counter, but mainly because I don't use it as often. It's a great tool to have, and I don't think I use it to its full capacity.

I forget what allergies your family has, but I have to admit, once we found out my son's allergies, my use of the Kitchen Aid went way down. I have rarely used it for any recipes for him....in fact, my failed mixture of St. Nick cookies was the first time I made something on them (I was so worried there would be cross-contamination, too).

But we have wheat, eggs and milk to contend with. If I didn't have wheat I think I would be using it much more. Now I only make things that dh wants. Baking is bittersweet now, because our son can't share in all the things that are family traditions.

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hylabrook1
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 7:40pm \| IP Logged

Liz -

I'm with you on the fibromyalgia/bread kneading deal. I sooo appreciate the KA because it allows me to make yummy bread, which is something I would otherwise have to give up.

I also love the way it whips cream -- very quick and just perfect with the wire whip thingy.

Peace,
Nancy

MaryM
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 7:44pm \| IP Logged

I have a 6 qt. and really like it. We use it a lot - no problems (but I don't do lots of breads).

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missyc
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Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 10:09pm \| IP Logged

These things are HEAVY but worth it . I have a 6qt mixer and I can replace the metal bowl it comes with and hold my large 46 cup bowl under the mixer and it works great! Because of that, I can quadruple recipes and easily stock my freezer. If you check their website, there are different attachments you can buy ( one to make pasta, one to grind meat ,etc). Hope this info. helps!

MarilynW
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Posted: Dec 18 2006 at 6:33am \| IP Logged

Thanks for all the advice and replies.
I think I am going to hold on the mixer - the one I was getting was the 4.5 quart I think - and all of you seem to think the 6Q is better. Also with this horrible morning sickness I feel like I do not want to have to work out how to use a new appliance - and how to adapt it to allergy recipes. I would use it more for cakes, cookies and pizza dough. Re: bread - I want to start making spelt sourdough - just need to feel better to do this - I want to cut down on yeast and the sourdough uses natural leavening - I am not sure if the Kitchen Aid would be able to help with the dough.

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BrendaPeter
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Posted: Dec 19 2006 at 7:14pm \| IP Logged

Dear Marilyn,

I'm somewhat late in replying but I also killed a KA with whole wheat bread kneading. I did love it while it worked though but I found it couldn't hold up to anything too heavy-duty. If you search on-line, you'll find a ton of negative comments on the KA for the same reason. They switched manufacturers on their motors and apparently they are not nearly as sturdy as they used to be. Sorry to be so negative...

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