My husband wants to purchase a new stand mixer for me, for Christmas. What should I look for? Is there a better brand? Does it need to be a certin wattage? Are metal, plastic or glass bowls best?

mrsfish

I think that one of the best stand mixers is KITCHENAID. And to the size, it all depends how much poweer you need, I have the 325 and it's great.

I asked my husband to get me the 6qt KitchenAid Mixer for Xmas last year and I'm so glad I did! I can do quadruple batches of buttercream icing in that thing with no problems! I would definitely recommend KitchenAid ! Happy Baking, Missey

Stay away from plastic bowls. Other than that, more power!!!!

Go to Kitchenaid.com. I bought a 6 qt. refurbished model for under $300! The refurbished mixers come with a 6 month warranty. My husband felt that if I had not burnt it up with in 6 months, it probably would be okay. This mixer powers through anything! I think burning the motor out just may be impossible (I hope)!

Good Luck!
Sandi

preparing my "want" list for Christmas.
I want a mixer and have found 3 that I'm down to. (I'm in Canada)
1. KitchenAid - 10 spd - 325 watt - on sale from 449 to 399.
2. Hamilton Beach - 12 spd - 400 watt - on sale from 299 to 269
3. Sunbeam Heritage - 12 spd - 450 watt - 249

Can someone help FAST - husband is shopping this weekend!
Thx
Gloria

i also suggest the kitchen aid. it is the best mixer i had. get the 5 quart mixer.

Thanks All! My husband wants to get me the Kitchenaid. But I am also looking at a Sunbeam Heiritage. Does anyone have any info on it? Does it rotate the bowl or does the beaters rotate like the Kitenaid?

Susan

My advice: Go for KitchenAid and go bigger than you think you need now!!
I bought a KA Ultra Power (4.5 quart, 300Watt) just over two years ago. I have been making more heavy dough and using it for kneading fondant as well as grinding food.....I just replaced it with the Pro600 because it died. The new one just whizzes through everything so far (even ground 20 lbs of semi frozen meat without flinching!) and KitchenAid has said that they will be coming out with a smaller bowl for this model. The Pro600 is around $700 right now; 575 watts; and KitchenAid says it can handle a dough/batter of 14 cups flour.

The Kitchenaid may be more expensive than the other ones, but in the long run you are going to save money. I bought 2 cheaper ones , and after 3or 4 months they didn't want to work right, so I went and bought the KitcheAid (which they told me to buy in the first place, but I wanted to SAVE money) . I've had it now for almost a year and I am in love with it. But shop around , sometimes you can get them for a great price.

Well, my loving hubby got me a ....Kitchenade! It was the one for sale at Target last week. It was more than I wanted him to spend on me for Christmas but it will be my birthday gift too! (Jan. 7 is my B-day) So...I am so happy! Thanks everyone for all the great info!!!

Now I am going to try to do a Frozen buttercream transfer on a Cupcake cake!!!! We will see how I do!


Mrsfish

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!

Definitely a 6 qt. Kitchen Aid

Hello,
I've had a Kitchen Aide Ultral Power (300 watt) for about 5 years now and I LOVE it. Not sure how many quarts it holds. It's handled everything I've needed it to without a problem. I bought my daughter the same one three years ago for Christmas and she didn't use it for a year! It drove me nuts waiting to know how she liked it. Of course I knew she'd love it but was excited to hear it from her. What can I say, I get excited when I give such neat gifts! LOL If I ever have to replace mine it'll be with the bigger one with the bowl that lifts up and down. When I think of the years I used the old one where you turned the bowl.....UGH!! I love being able to turn on my mixer and do other things while it works for me. I don't see how you can beat a Kitchen Aide, whatever your needs.

I know I'm late for this topic as it is...Catching up

I've always loved the idea of baking and having my own KitchenAid mixer. It took me 10years to actually get myself do some serious baking and decorating and I'm loving it...When I got married and moved to NYC, I inherited my husbands kitchen gadgets, which included a BC hand mixer...I so desperately wanted my KitchenAid, but didn't want to hurt our pockets to buy that 6QT I wanted. But I WANTED a mixer...
One good day I decide I've had it with the hand mixer and decide to make a very very very very stiff royal icing...and OOOOPPPSSS!!! I burned my mixer
After turning down his offer to spend close to $400 on it, I went out on a search for my mixer...While on the train with my mind set on a sale that Macy's had on the 4.5 for about $250, I picked up a newspaper someone had left (common thing ). Here it is, a Bloomingdales add, and the first thing I see is a 5QT Professional 325W mixer for $199.00!!! . Now what a treat...
I dragged my husband out that morning at 7:30am since they only had a few available... And now I am a PROUD owner of the most beautiful, efficient, hard working mixers in the world... I'm in love with it and don't know what I'd do without it...I whould share picture, but she's a shy one...

Long story that SHOULD'VE been made short right?

Oh that is a great story!

My husband got me a Artisan at target for $250.00. But I saw a Khols ad and they had them for $220.00. So I returned the one from target and went there the day after Thanksgiving to brave the lines to save some money. When they did NOT have one, I noticed the Heavy Duty Kitchenaid at 325w. I asked what the price of it was. They told me it was $199.00! and that it was an unadvertised price. I was thrilled! Plus, for every $50.00 I spent I got a $10.00 gift card. So I really only paid $160.00 for it! I was so thrilled! I could not believe it! I don't use my mixer enough to get a professional...but some day I might.

mrsfish