By R D
Unlike a good deal of of the reviewers, I’ve only had this mixer for when it comes to a year, and it’s this specific model, the 250W 4.5 quart mixer (the bottom of the Kitchenaid line). It was a real splurge at the time we purchased it, but it has turned out to be well worth it.
Before the Kitchenaid, I didn’t do much baking. I tend towards more “manly” cooking techniques: the hotter the fire, the spicier the recipe, the better as far as I’m concerned. But this machine is as satisfying to use as any power tool in the garage — there is something regarding using the *right* tool for the job, and I’ve found no tasks that one might consider using a mixer for that the Kitchenaid doesn’t excel at. But it’s specially good for baking, and once you begin using it, you’ll have your oven running a lot more than you used to.
The big divergence amongst this mixer and the frequent “two beater” models you may be intimate with is that it uses a single mixing attachment that rotates in two motions- it not only spins on it is own axis, it likewise is rotated around the edge of the bowl. This does an exceedingly effective occupation of mixing ingredients without need for the bowl rotating, since the mixing motion covers the entire bowl. For most mixing jobs, it likewise requires no scraping of the sides with the spatula. IE: when it’s mixing, you may ignore it and work on other stuff.
The initial attachment I’ll mention is the dough hook, which is a godsend for kneading. In the last day, I’ve made pizza dough, bagels, and whole wheat bread. Although this is the least powerful machine Kitchenaid makes, it kneads stiff dough (like the aforementioned bagels made with high-gluten flour) that would turn your mother’s mixmaster into a smoking, stinking heap of fried motor components. Machine kneading takes a *lot* of the effort and variability out of making bread… you never “knead in” too much flour to keep it from sticking to your hands, and the 20 minutes you commonly spend working the dough turns into 10 minutes you may use to clean up the kitchen.
The other two affixations are the paddle and the whisk. The paddle is the all-purpose “workhorse” beater, and works exceedingly well for creaming sugar and butter together, mixing cookie dough or cake batter, or any other general-purpose mixing job. With the orbital motion, it comes right up to the edge of the bowl, so it is efficaciously scraping as it goes. The whisk is outstanding for egg whites and making whipped cream. I’m sure it’s good for something else, but that’s what I’ve applied it for.
As for capacity, the 4.5 quart model is suitable for pretty much any “normal” home recipes. It’s a “standard mixer”. It will effortlessly knead sufficient dough at once for two loaves of bread, or mix a double-batch of cookies.
As for downsides: this thing is HEAVY. You won’t be moving it once it’s in place. If you knead very stiff dough, the bowl once in a while will get tightened to the extent that it is very difficult to remove from the base. It’s OK if you do not forget to leave it a little loose beforehand, but I always forget and I end up wrestling with the machine to twist it out. The metal trim band on the mixer right above the bowl has come a little loose on my model- the machine got a bit hot after numerous heavy kneading, and I think a lot of adhesive got soft. It’s held in place well by something else, but now and again it will slip when I’m wiping the machine off. It’s rigorously cosmetic from what I may tell, and it’s the only thing that feels cheap in any way in regards to this machine. Other than that, I candidly haven’t had a single complaint.
In summary: this is an pricey mixer, but it is very well worth it. Even novice cooks will find it’s use enjoyable, and it will inspire you to explore new things that you in all likelihood didn’t do before because of the time and venture involved.
79 of 80 persons found the following review helpful.
I’m in love and his name is KitchenAid!
By Aiacha
I received a white one for an early christmas gift and just employed it for the original time on he christmas cookies that are a tradition in my family. In the past years, I’ve used my mother’s old stand-mixer, and I’ve likewise used a hand mixer, which is near totally unlikely to do with this recipe. This year, I employed my new mixer and I am blown away! These cookies, that ordinarily take forever, were done in no time! And even altho I didn’t think the 4 1/2 quart bowl would be huge sufficient for the whole recipe, I had no problem and room to spare! It’s breathtakingly deep. It also stayed comparatively cool through the three batches of cookies I made (I’m employed to beginning to smell smoke from my mothers!)
I only used the flat beater yesterday, but have a lot of bread recpies that I’m dying to use the dough hook on.
Just a few concerns…The dough sticks to the side of the bowl, so I did have to stop from time to time and scrape it off, but that was not one thing that I wasn’t used to. And you can not attach a more spectacular bowl to this mixer…the only other bowl you may attach is one of the same size with a handle.
And definately invest in a splash guard. You only get lemon extract in your eyes once to make that decision.
78 of 80 humans found the following review helpful.
buy the right kitchenaid
By A
Have never heard a bad word with regards to Kitchenaid stand mixers until I read one here from somebody using the smallest mixer for huge chores. In the last two years I have purchased a total of 14 Kitchenaid mixers, from the classic to the 6 quart professional model…all on sale. They were purchased for gifts for my daughters, church members, choir conductor and friends. I purchased 7 Classic models, 4 Heavy Duty models 2 Artisans and the 6 quart professional for myself. I have not received one negative comment. When you buy a Kitchenaid, do not buy it by bowl size…you will have to buy it based on the motor size for the jobs you do. If you are perpetually mixing bread and double batches of very heavy dough, you will have to buy a mixer with a heavy responsibility motor. This selective information is found on the Kitchenaid website. The company distinctly tells you what each mixer is competent of doing. I know women who have had these mixers since they were brides 25 years or more ago…they are still up and running. They are an investment like good knives and heavy cookware…no real cook must be without one, but must be smart sufficient to buy the right one. I only wish I had one when I started baking 43 years ago, perhaps I wouldn’t have tendonitis from mixing all those cookies by hand with a wooden spoon!!! They are worth each penny.
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