By R D
Unlike galore of the reviewers, I’ve only had this mixer for with regards 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 in regards to 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 exceptionally good for baking, and once you start out using it, you’ll have your oven running a lot more than you used to.
The big divergence amid this mixer and the popular “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 also 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 also requires no scraping of the sides with the spatula. IE: when it’s mixing, you may ignore it and work on other stuff.
The introductory 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 ordinarily 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 great 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 finelooking much any “normal” home recipes. It’s a “standard mixer”. It will without apparent effort 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 now and then 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 a good deal of heavy kneading, and I think a lot of adhesive got soft. It’s kept in place well by something else, but occasionally it will slip when I’m wiping the machine off. It’s strictly cosmetic from what I may tell, and it’s the only thing that feels cheap in any way when it comes to this machine. Other than that, I frankly haven’t had a single complaint.
In summary: this is an costly 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 crusade involved.
79 of 80 people 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 introductory time on he christmas cookies that are a tradition in my family. In the past years, I’ve applied my mother’s old stand-mixer, and I’ve also employed a hand mixer, which is near inconceivable to do with this recipe. This year, I used my new mixer and I am blown away! These cookies, that commonly take forever, were done in no time! And even altho I didn’t think the 4 1/2 quart bowl would be big sufficient for the whole recipe, I had no problem and room to spare! It’s astoundingly deep. It likewise stayed comparatively cool through the three batches of cookies I made (I’m employed to beginning to smell smoke from my mothers!)
I only employed the flat beater yesterday, but have numerous 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 employed 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.
80 of 82 humans found the following review helpful.
buy the right kitchenaid
By A
Have never heard a bad word regarding Kitchenaid stand mixers until I read one here from someone using the smallest mixer for big 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 must 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 must buy a mixer with a heavy responsibility motor. This info is found on the Kitchenaid website. The company without doubt or question tells you what each mixer is competent of doing. I recognise 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 ought to be without one, but will have to 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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