Poll: New Kitchen Aid standmixer owners.

[Tiger]

With all the treads on the Kitchen Aid deals I was wondering how many of us are new owners. How do you like it? What color and kind?
I just love mine! :D It's a almond/cream 6qt epiqurean. I could never go without one now!

[pwrmom]

I gushed so much about my refurbished black 6 Qt. Kitchenaid that my twin went out and purchased a red one at Macy's with her Christmas money....now we gush together:D
Linda

[TLee4]

I can't vote (AOL), but I took my 6 qt Epicurian out of the box yesterday. It is a beautiful cobalt blue. I just made my first recipe--the pizza crust in the KA book. DELICIOUS! I think this mixer and I are in for a long and happy relationship!!

[JanetJ]

I am the very proud owner of a 5qt cobalt blue Artisian!! I just got it out of the box last night after returning home from the family gathering. Tonight when I get home I plan to gaze at it lovingly, while reading all about its features. This weekend I'll do the inaugural test. But, what to make first???

[wallycat]

I have a 6 qt. professional white from comforthouse.com

I love it for grinding my own flour and cornmeal....I need to start using it for mixing as well :rolleyes:

[Jasmine-Rose]

I bought myself a Professional 6 Qt a couple of weeks ago to celebrate my new job. I had never used one before and always thought it was something I didn't need. Then I used one in a class I took and I stumbled on a great deal for a brand new one on Amazon.com (first time I had ever gone looking for anything other than books there), and I ordered it. Now there's no going back. She puts out bread dough that is smoother and silkier and just all together more beautiful than anything I've been able to produce by hand. I made pizza dough in it last weekend and Sweetheart rolled it out and said it was much easier to work with than the dough either of us had made by hand.

BTW, she's almond and her name is Joy!

[HejazSunKat]

In that ancient Christmas shopping tradition - I bought myself one! I was shopping on Amazon for the kids in my life and looked in my 'gold box' and the first offer was a great deal on a KA 6-qt Professional. Since we had just been given a gift certificate to Amazon (that I applied to this purchase) it was obviously fated by the Gods. Mine is black (no choice about the color but I didn't care anyway) and I have have christened him DARTH VADER. Unfortunately, Darth and I will not be able to begin our adventures together until I return home to the States sometime in 2004 (or earlier if war breaks out and I get evacuated).

[Wendy w]

I received mine 2 years ago(a beautiful green) from my xBF
who is still a dear friend. It is a 4 1/2 qt. and I need a larger one mainly because of my Christmas gift requests.

Btw: I have just replaced my circa 1980 GE food processor that died earlier this year with an 11 cup KA processor that was on sale and
offered a rebate of $20 and a $40 knife by mail. So what if it is white, the colored ones are hard to come by and $$$$.

Have fun with your KA!! Btw: I met with our so very dear Lisa numbers today and we went to Sur La Table. More details on tomorrow's klatch!!:p ;)

PS Linda, I would love for you and Darth to be reunited on US soil very soon!!!

[Lauren]

I'm not a new KA owner, got it for a wedding present 14 years ago, but I do love it! It's the almond 4.5. Sure, I would love a bigger one and in one of the fun colors, but it continues to serve me well. My 12 year old DS has gotten in to cookie baking lately, complains he can't find anything to eat, so he's been putting the KA to good use, too!:D

[cangoss]

I got a cobalt blue refurb beauty from the KA site. I'm at my parents' this week, but received word from the house-sitter that it arrived. I can't wait to go home and use it - I'm trying to decide what to make first.

[Karen in VA]

I received a 5 qt Artisan in white as a combination Christmas/birthday present. It also came with a bonus grinder attachment, so I am looking forward to trying it out.

[TLee4]

I know this has been discussed on a prior thread. I got the 6 quart refurbished, and it looked clear from the accompanying book that the pouring shield was NOT included. However, I know some people DID get it, so I called. After sitting on hold forever, I was told that it is NOT included, but for "customer satisfaction", they would send me one at no charge. Yay!! :D

[badunnin]

I didn't vote, because I already had the mixer, but got attachements this year! I've already used the sausage maker - loving loving loving it! It was a gift from dad, and he also gave me some venison to use with it. He knows me so well!:D

[Gracie]

I got a refurbished white on white 6 qt Epicurean from KA. At first I ordered one from Kitchen Collection, but I had to pay shipping and no pouring shield so I cancelled that order and got one from KA. It arrived a bit before Christmas and since it was my Christmas present from my mom, I couldn't use it until afterward! However I haven't used it yet (it's only been 2 days).

BTW it also did not come with the pouring shield, but I had specifically asked about that when I ordered and they assured me that it did. So I called KA yesterday and they said they'd send one right out - no charge!

Loren

[TLee4]

Originally posted by Gracie
However I haven't used it yet (it's only been 2 days).


Try the pizza crust! Yummy!

[NancyR]

I have only had mine ~2 months but totally love it. I still find hand kneading to be a completely sensual almost Zen-like experience but getting the icky, nasty part done by my KA ia the greatest. Hey Jasmine-Rose...glad you explained the origin of "Joy"....now I get it....."Almond Joy":D . I think mine is becoming "Miss Piggy" Jr.

[Jasmine-Rose]

Originally posted by NancyR
...but getting the icky, nasty part done by my KA ia the greatest.

Nancy, I agree. I also find that because Joy handles the sticky part, I add less flour and end up with a better loaf of bread :) !

[MKSquared]

I'm giving mine an inaugural workout today! :) I've decided to do a double batch of cookies and something doughy - maybe that pizza crust, or some bread ...

Mine's a custom editiom: 6 qt, chrome, 500-watt. It's gorgeous! It seems everything I got this year was brushed stainless steel, so my countertop is simply glowing now. :) I've initially dubbed the KA Montclair because I grew very attached to it, very quickly (much like a certain commode in Scavenger Hunt) - and I'm sure it can help with making a killer souffle. ;)


Here's a photo!
http://store5.yimg.com/I/kkapers2_1721_42268128

[TLee4]

Ooooh--I LIKE the chrome!!!!

[Missi]

I couldn't vote either (is this an AOL thing??!?!?), but got one under the Christmas tree from DH. I have the 4 1/2 quart classic in white. She doesn't have a name yet. I made my grandma's famous (in our family anyway :)) sugar cookies, and yesterday I made cinnamon rolls. The kneading I know is going to be my favorite part. I plan to make pizza crust for homemade pizza on New Year's Eve. My family has all been put on alert that for any birthdays, anniversarys, etc. I'll be wanting attachments!

[AnnaC]

MKSquared, do you mind me asking where you got yours and for how much? I love the chrome ones but not everyone has them.
Thanks,
Anna

[MKSquared]

Originally posted by AnnaC
MKSquared, do you mind me asking where you got yours and for how much? I love the chrome ones but not everyone has them.
Thanks,
Anna

Anna, I got it as a gift ... but I know the details. :) My parents found it at a 'discount' store that often has great closeout buys. It was a special edition, and the KA website doesn't even mention it in their rundown of mixers! They picked the mixer up for a mere $199 - can you believe it? I think it was back in October.

[ksrb]

I have got to ask: What is the deal with buying "refurbished" models? Why? Is it cheaper? Better quality?

What model do people like best? I am in the market for one, and am confused at the variety. Some say the "Professional" model is less than satisfactory because it doesn't "hinge back" to allow easy insertion of the beaters. Is this true?

Love,
K

[Curleytop]

HAD MINE SINCE 1972! It is a K45, not as high power as the newer models, my mixer was still made by HOBART which now only makes commercial mixers. I use it at least 4 times a week!It is a gold color and I have the meat grinder and all the shredder attachments. Never use the shredders but the meat grinder is great!Also have the pasta attachments (never used), but I buy my pasta in TJ's made in Italy and the price is right! For the two of us I divide the #pkg into three for three different meals!
I do have a second bowl which is great, the newer bowl is not the same heavy quality as the original. I have the pouring shield, but hardly ever mess with it, find it an overkill.
Don't use it much for yeast dough except for Stollen. For all of my other yeast breads I use my breadmachine for mixing (dough method)and then shape it.

[ksrb]

After spending an HOUR reading through all KA standmixer threads (fascinating), I have decided that the only two eternal verities are (1) get an extra bowl and (2) get a motor powerful enough for bread dough.

All the other features (tilt head or non-tilt head, bowl lift or not, etc.) seem to be liked or not liked in equal measure. It is just a personal decision, and what you are used to, I guess.

It was fun reading about how much people like (love? adore? worship?) their mixers!

K

[Jill123]

Got mine for Christmas last year after drooling over them for years. It's a white 5-qt. Artisan. I also got a pouring shield and lids for the mixing bowls. Isn't DH the greatest?

PS -- I got him a Craftsman rolling tool chest for the garage. It's one of the huge shiny red ones with all the drawers. Aren't we just made for each other? (And terribly stereotypical!?!) :o

[susan_foster]

Got one for Christmas when I was in high school - even then I was majorly into cooking! It was what we used in cooking class, and I loved it - so I was so happy to get it! I actually have to get a new wire whisk for mine - I can't find mine.

Susan

[jmarie]

Purchased mine at Williams-Sonoma jade-ite green to match my jade-ite collection! I also found a cute little juicer to match! Myhusband has the Mix-Master. We are COMPLETE!

[topcakes]

Well, I thought I would add my experiences as, dare I say it, I have three KA mixers. That's addiction for you!!

I have
1) 20-year old K5SS , 325W, 5qt - made by Hobart
2) 10-year old Ultra Power KSM90, 300W, 4.5qt
3) 5-year old Professional 6, 525W, 6qt

I own 3 because I make wedding cakes as a side business, so I will sometimes have my three soldiers (that's what they look like all lined up on my countertop) working in unison. I also make a tremendous amount of bread.

I bought No.3 to handle multiple cake batches - and yes it has 525W of power. But the machine is way too light to manage that amount of power, and actually moves on the counter. It also makes an incredible screeching noise and I don't find that it mixes all that well. It is also very difficult at times to move the lever that controls the speed - sometimes I just have to unplug it. I was so excited when this machine first came out because of the larger size and more power and bought it the day it came out. Now I would NEVER recommend this machine to anyone. If you need a professional lever appliance, go to a real commercial mixer.

No.2 I got to help out No.1, and it works well.

But guess which I like best - my 20-year old No.1 - it can't be beat. I think Hobart made a much higher quality machine. I was concerned when I bought it because it was a floor model at a catalog store closing out and was afraid it may have been played with too much. But it has never skipped a beat. I LOVE this mixer.

As attachments I have the can opener (very handy), pasta maker (not overly impressed), meat grinder (works well), juicer (never used), slicer (works very well with some stuff, but not all). I don't like working with the pouring shields - they get in my way. I didn't get the pasta roller because it seemed the pasta would be too high up to work with. I have a hand-cranked roller which I use on the counter - I flour the counter and the pasta just rolls out. You can also get extruders to make macaroni, etc., if you prefer formed pasta.

That's my experience.

Happy mixing!!
Denise