Stand mixer

Low these many years I have made do with a hand mixer. Now I want a stand mixer. Before I plunk down a bunch of money, I need advice.
 
What brands do you like? What featuresd are important? Which attachments do you actually use?
 
Thanks for your help.

I'm gonna recommend KITCHEN AID. That kitchen tool is reliable, versatile and long lasting. My in-laws have owned and used the same one for 59 years! Wife and I have a much newer KA. That sucker performs upon request. Buying one comes basic which accomplishes most needs. You can order, at anytime,  several different attachments. We have a juicer, pasta maker, sausage grinder and stuffer, maybe others Nancy uses. I suggest you Google Kitchen Aid and give a look see.  

Hobart makes commercial-grade mixers that are small enough to use in a home kitchen.  Hobarts, when taken care of properly, will last 50 years.  Granted, they are not cheap, but the quality is there.  I have no idea about attachments, though.

I've had a 5 qt. Kitchen Aid since 1984. I keep waiting for it to bite the dust so I can upgrade to a 6qt, but it just keeps going and going. I use it for catering and large bread production. The smallest commercial Hobart I've seen for sale is a 10qt. Most people don't need anything that large for home use. It is actually more difficult to use the larger size mixers for small batches. It doesn't mix well, even with the paddle extension. 

Lowes.com has KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Cook for the Cure Ultra Power Stand Mixer (white) for $149.99 with free shipping. Next lowest on Google Products is $200 with shipping.

KitchenAid donates 10% of the retail sales price for each pink item purchased and registered to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Buy the best Kitchen Aid you can afford. It will be around after you are gone...Russ

I have a Kitchen Aid that was my aunt's, manufactured in 1925.  I've only had one minor repair since I've had it.  The attachments they make for today's KA fit mine also.  It is a true workhorse.  I'd advise you to get the one with the highest horsepower, as I know they come in different powers.

Kitchen Aid!!!  After you use it you will wonder where it had been all of your life.

Thanks, all of you. Now I know I want a 4.5 or 5 qt Kitchen Aide. The price search is all that's left. I really appreciate the information

I have a beautiful Kitchen Aid and never use it.  I bought it in 1986. I use a hand mixer for all my cakes and have a bread machine for bread.  I have a 7 cup food processor too.   I only used to use if for the chopped liver attachment, but I don't even make that anymore.  I also have a salad shooter for grating carrots, potatoes, cabbage.

The Kitchen Aid is probably the best overall choice for most folks, although I understand that the quality of the new ones isn't as good as those from years ago.  Mine is 30 years old and has had one repair -- otherwise no problems and solid as a rock.

If you're particularly into bread baking, take a look at the Electrolux Assistant, which is considerably better for yeast dough than the Kitchen Aid, especially if if you make volume.  It also has a meat grinder attachment that is worlds better than the Kitchen Aid.  Its tough to find, but available here:

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/magic_mill_dlx_mixer.aspx

Big_Ted


Hobart makes commercial-grade mixers that are small enough to use in a home kitchen.  Hobarts, when taken care of properly, will last 50 years.  Granted, they are not cheap, but the quality is there.  I have no idea about attachments, though.

 
Amen to your post, Hobart has all the needed attachments. Hobart is one of the best manufacturers in the country IMHO, their products last forever.

Keep an eye on Bed Bath and Beyond. Last year, I got a Professional 600 (6qt 575 watt) for around the same price as an Artisan. Their advert had a 20% off coupon, and KitchenAid had an instant rebate. The thing is a freaking horse. 

Here's a link to Hobart's online catalogue in PDF format.  They have a 5-qt mixer.  I'm excited. 
 
<A href="http://www.hobartcorp.com/assets/brochures/F8005(01-08).pdf">http://www.hobartcorp.com/assets/brochures/F8005(01-08).pdf</A>

Oyster,

I'd be happy to store your mixer in my garage for a few years if you don't mind if I use it once in a while.

Joe

Big_Ted


Here's a link to Hobart's online catalogue in PDF format.  They have a 5-qt mixer.  I'm excited. 
 
<A href="http://www.hobartcorp.com/assets/brochures/F8005(01-08).pdf">http://www.hobartcorp.com/assets/brochures/F8005(01-08).pdf</A>

The link didn't work for me, Ted, but I found the site. That is very cool that a 5 qt. commercial is available. I have never seen on that small. It is something I would consider. It would pay for itself in less than a year and make my bread production much easier. 
The rest of the site is full of great accessories. 

 

I have an Oster Kitchen Center with a Mixer (with dough hooks included) a slicer, shredder, food processor, & blendar attachments and it has worked very well for me.  I have used my sister's Kitchen Aid and found that the sides of the bowl are quite deep and very difficult to scrape the insides to get everything mixed well.  The bowl is also hard to get off of the mixer stand (imho)  The Kitchen Aid definitely has power and has a good motor though.  My Oster is a standard mixer with 4 different size mixing bowls.  Easy to scrape the mixture down on the inside of the bowls and lift right off, there is nothing you have to attach the bowl to, you just place it on the mixer.  I have had it for about 13 years now, and have not had any problems with it. 

I have to add my vote to the Kitchen Aid brigade.  I have my mom's Kitchen Aid -- it is at least 35 years old, probably closer to 40, and it is still going strong.  Granted, I don't use it every day, but it is great for batches and batches of cookies at Christmas.  I have even used the meat grinder to make my own ground chicken and sausage patties.

Would like to get one of the new pretty colors, but I can't justify getting rid of the old one when it is still working so well.