My poor old hand mixer finally gave out on me today in the middle of a batch of RI. I'm thinking of replacing it with a Kitchenaid stand mixer but don't know which one to buy. I'm not in business or anything, but I do mix up lots of cookie dough, cake mixes and frostings. I definitely want a mixer that can handle stiff dough and frosting. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

I have the 4qt Kitchenaid and it holds up really well! I use it for everything!

I have a Wolfgang Puck stand mixer that is 700watts. I got it from Sam's Club store for $179, but saw yesterday it is now $159. It came with 2 bowls, paddle, whisk, hook, splatter lid, and blender. I really like it, and best part is not as pricey as KA.

I have KA Pro600.
bought it for capacity and metal gearing instead of plastic. Definately very heavy duty and can take the really heavy stuff.

(tho' at full speed sounds like I'm standing at the end of a runway as a jet takes off!)

If you need one pronto, you'll likely have to pay whatever the best price you can find locally happens to be. Fortunately, at this time of the season, there seems to be a fairly good competition between the stores to sell KA mixers of all sorts so you can probably get a decent deal. Get the biggest you can afford. If you're eyeing that $300 one but can afford the extra $45 for the next level up, get that instead.

If it's NOT an emergency, then take the time to do some shopping. Look at liquidation centers, refurbished models and just plain ol' eBay sell offs (keep an eye on shipping costs, though) or wait until January and see if some stores have extra stock they didn't sell over xmas and give a good discount to move 'em.

Also, if you see one in a store that has a busted box (but not "dropped off the back of the truck" busted) or perhaps has a chip or some minor visual ding on it, you may be able to barter a decent price off a floor model.

I got mine, brand new, at a local Liquidation center for about 40% of regular retail price. It was pink (seems the "Cook for The Cure" models didn't fly off the shelves) and had a tiny chip on the underside. It doesn't go with my kitchen colour in the least but I got it so cheap that this is highly irrelevant. Besides, I can always repaint the kitchen

My mom gave me the KA 4.5 and then Hecht's had a fantastic sale on the PRO600 with xtra bowl so I brought that one also.

The PRO600 is really powerful. I make 4 batches of icing together with no problem.

The noise drives me crazy sometimes but other than that, it's worth the money

If you are going to be baking lots of cakes I recommend KA you will not regret sending your money .

Thanks for the suggestions. You all are such a GREAT resource!

I got my 5qt 475 watt KA at Sam's for about $250. I love it!

I have the 5qt 475 w KA with the wide bowl. I love the wide bowl much more than the regular bowl. I had the regular bowl 5qt and this is so much better.

I would recommend getting the best you can afford. Do a little research online to determine which one you want as far as power goes. I got my KA 325watt as a gift one year I wasnt able to spec out all of the details I wanted but 5 years ago it was at lest the brand I had wanted. Mine has done very well I dont push it often but I have done a double batch of BC icing. Whatever mixer you choose learn how it sounds and listen to it while its running, if it starts to sound like it is slowing down you may be asking too much of it.

I'm going to have to investigate the wide bowl-that sounds great!!!

I got a special edition KitchenAid that was made for QVC off of Ebay brand new...last year. Its 450 watts and has a 6 qt bowl (I strongly recommend the largest bowl you can find....it doubles what you can do with it!) and it also has the metal paddle and dough hook coated with a white coating so that it is dishwashwer safe. (The whisk is still the burnished kind you have to hand wash.)

I love it so far! I can be abusive to mixers and so far it has even handled my marshmallow fondant.