Hi everyone!

Warning!!!! Warning!!!! Warning!!!!

I did something stupid. After I melted my shortening, water, flavoring and marshmallows, I put the whole mixture into my Kitchen Aid. I know, I know......I've heard it many many times!!!! "Don't mix MMF in your KA mixer!....You don't want to take the chance of it messing up your KA!!!!". So, did I listen????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Should I have? OHHHHHHH YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Totally stripped the gears! So, I can get it fixed for about $100 or I can buy a new one. I'm just going to buy a new one, then get the old fixed for a back-up. So now I go shopping tomorrow to pick up my new KA mixer and danged if I don't have to buy a plain old WHITE one again. I wanted the ice blue one sooooo bad. Oh well, it's not worth $100 for the color!!!! Anyway, you've been warned!!!! Even if you think it will work....JUST SAY NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and by the way, the next time I made it, I just did it by hand and then kneaded it by hand and it actually turned out better (and got my frustrations out from breaking my mixer!!!!!) hehehe

Kris

Quick ?--How big of a batch are you doing? I do a double batch(total 2c marshmallows) and it doesn't labor the engine.

Thanks for the warning--I will be careful!

Thanks for the warning, I have always mixed in my KA. I guess I won't be doing that anymore.

I actually just mentioned this in another post...weird.
I made bread dough and stripped my one plastic gear that was inside it. We called KA, and they sent the peice, my husband fixed it, and it was not too expensive-just the price of the gear (maybe $5) and shipping I think. If you know someone who could work on it, that maybe a shot...
I have had mine for more that 10 years now with no problems.

Irish245 - I feel your pain!!!!! I did the EXACTLY same thing with my KA last summer. I have yet to get it fixed though. I accidently used a 10.5 oz. bag of marshmallows when it called for a 16 oz. bag. I stupidly walked away while it was mixing and I heard the dreaded sound. But before I could run back to it, the mixer was already broken!!

I'm lucky I have a sister that had one she never used. I just can't bring myself to (1) pay the $100+ to get it fixed and (2) drive the 50 mins. to get it fixed.

The first time I did it, it worked fine but this time, as soon as it all started to ball together, it jammed itself between the side of the bowl and the kneading paddle and the gears stripped before I could even react....and I had it on the lowest setting!!!!! grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

what size mixer did you have?

Wow, I´m sorry this happened to you and happy for you and your new KA! I have always used my KA and not a problem. maybe becuase I have a Pro 5? Which one did you have?? I purchased my KA on ebay and it was cheaper than the artisan at bed bath and beyond (even with the 20% coupon). And they offer free shipping and it was not a refurbished item. I just wanted to share this with you, maybe you can get more KA for your $.
Good luck!

My goodness, that's what I really use mine for. It's the only workout my hook gets. Sorry to hear about it and I hope my old girl hangs in there - I can't knead the dough too much because of my hands....

I am feeling for you

OH, sorry to hear that! I have kneaded my MMF by hand for months now. It only took one time for me to hear that slow motor sound & that did it for me. I didn't trust it again. I agree Kris, it comes out better by hand anyway & is also just as quick~

Mine is the 4 1/2 quart size - just the basic model and I was doing the recipe that calls for 10 oz. of marshmallows.

Hmmm...i've never had a problem with my Pro5. Sorry it happened to ya. I wouldn't try it out with the base model. 4.5qt

It really depends on the wattage of your KA. Like the ones that you buy at Wal-Mart they are just 250 watt and not really powerful enough. I bought my KA at Sams Club and got a 475 watt. I haven't tried to make MMF with it yet and really wonder if I could.

Did you use a dough hook? I just made some and my KA handled it beautifully. I was more worried about how hot it got when I made the chocolate buttercream recipe from Toba Garrets "The Well Decorated Cake" book. Incidently can I just say boy are her cakes decorated well! If you have the book you know what I mean!

I said the kneading paddle before but I meant the dough hook...duhh lol

May I ask what is the wattage is for everyones KAs?

I start off by melting my marshmallows, water, extract, and shortening in the kitchenaid bowl itself sitting over a pot of boiling water (it basically acts as a double boiler). Then I only add the first couple of cups of powdered sugar and let that whip with the KA using the dough hook until smooth. For whatever reason, the first little bit of sugar has to be kneaded in for a long time until completely smooth and all the little powdered sugar balls are gone first before continuing to add more sugar. Otherwise, if you just try to add it all at once, those sugar clumps never go away (this is just my experience!). So I just find it easier to let the KA do that first couple of cups of sugar whipped till smooth than to use my hands. Since it's only a little bit of sugar it's not thick enough to stress the machine. After that I scoop out the mmf onto a pile of powdered sugar and knead the rest in to finish it.

I don't have a KA, I have a bosch mixer if anyone is familiar with it. I do my MMF in it all the time and it works great! They are a tad bit pricier than a KA but well woth every penny!

i have a jennair mixer and the first thing i mixed was MMF. i too, mixed all the sugar in. needless to say the mixer stopped after a minute. i took the mixer back to the store and told them i got a defective machine. little did i know it was my mistake. good thing they replaced my mixer. now i only mix half the sugar in mixer and knead the rest in by hand.

I have a 10 year old Pro 5 with 325 watts. I've made MMF in my mixer about a dozen or so times without any problem at all. I slowly add the powdered sugar in and switch from the paddle to the dough hook when I've added about 1/2 the sugar. I stay on the lower speeds and haven't ever noticed my KA working too hard.

I own a Bosch 7000, a 25 year old KA, and an Electrolux Assistent (Magic Mill). I've made the MMF in all of them with no problem. The Bosch is a new purchase. I made a triple batch in it with no problem, but it's got an incredibly strong motor. I've always doubled the recipe in my KA, and have had no problem. When preparing a single recipe I only use 24 oz. of sugar (never the whole 2 lbs.), but I've always put all of the sugar in the bowl at once.

In the Bosch and Magic Mill, I add the marshmallow mixture to the bowl first. I find that it incorporates into the sugar better. At this point, if I could have one mixer, I would definitely choose the Bosch!! It is an amazing workhorse!!!

I have the KA Professional 600 - 6 qt. I know when I broke it - it was totally human error. I did not have enough marshmallows!! Pay attention and don't bake with two little toddlers around the house !! lol

oh geez, i had no idea. i used the mmf recipe from this site in my ka and didn't even think twice about killing it. maybe i should???

I have made a bunch of batches of MMF in my 325 watt (4.5qt) classic KA and never had a problem. I stand right in front of it the whole time and start out slow and then boost the speed just a little if it sounds like it might be straining. I've never had a problem with it. I've also done bread dough and pasta dough and other heavy things and never had a problem. I'll be sure to be even more careful now!

A bit off topic

I had a similar problem with my Sunbeam mixer with stiff BC. Okay, maybe I was trying to clean the sides of the bowl while it was mixing and the plastic spoon got caught in the beaters. Stupid, I know! Now it just shakes alot and the beaters slightly hit each other. Am I the only one to make this bone-head mistake. Also, I know that the KA is a lot more sturdy. Should I take the plunge and spend the money. I really hate to spend the money, ya know!

I did ok with my oldie but goodie KA and mmf. Every time it seemed to bog down a bit I removed it I heated it a little and kneaded it so more soft... did this a few times while adding more xxx sugar. did fine. You also don't need to use all the xxx sugar.

All of these posts like this really worry me I have mixed MMF many times in mine and it has done just fine but the thought of killing it worries me. I have a 475 watt.

I've never been brave enough to make MMF in my 4.5 quart.

I have a 6 quart coming and I can't wait to see what it can do.

If you have the money and use the mixer alot get a KA. I got my 4.5 quart after burning a Sunbeam up in under a year and it's just now giving problems after 7 years.

My friend has one of the smallest KAs and we tried MMF in it the first time we ever made it. She was hoping it would break it so she could get a bigger one but it was just fine. Maybe it was a fluke, sorry yours broke!