Check craigslist every day. I did that and within 2 weeks or so, I got a KA Epicurean 6 qt for $110. It was barely used. I think she was asking $140 and I offered her $100. We settled on $110 and it was the best $110 I ever spent. (I would have paid $150!)
I couldn't do w/o my stand mixer. I use my hand held for cakes but nothing else. I could not imagine having to use the hand held for buttercream.
I couldn't do w/o my stand mixer. I use my hand held for cakes but nothing else. I could not imagine having to use the hand held for buttercream.
I use my hand held for butter cream. lol. Do you also have a KA? Thanks for all of the responses.
I couldn't do w/o my stand mixer. I use my hand held for cakes but nothing else. I could not imagine having to use the hand held for buttercream.
I use my hand held for butter cream. lol. Do you also have a KA? Thanks for all of the responses.
No I don't have a KA 
I bought a Sunbeam stand mixer at Wal-Mart for $89.00. I use it to make buttercream and fondant and I don't have any problems with it. It doesn't have the paddle attachment but I don't have any problems with bubbles in my buttercream as some say they do if they don't use that attachment. I always make a double batch so my beaters are always completely covered which helps to reduce the amount of air getting into my icing.
I make Michele Foster's fondant in it as well. It has worked great for me but when I have the opportunity to buy a KA I am going to because it's a much better mixer than my Sunbeam. But for now this one will have to do. 
I have both a Sunbeam and a KA, I like the Sunbeam better but I am a minority! 
I have both a Sunbeam and a KA, I like the Sunbeam better but I am a minority!
Really? What do you like about the Sunbeam that makes you like it more than the KA? I do like the way the bowl sits on the mixer because it's so easy to add ingredients as it's mixing. I don't plan on buying another mixer until this one quits on me but I would really like to know why you prefer the Sunbeam because I may want another one instead of a KA when the time comes. Thanks
I prefer the Sunbeam because I can add ingredients while it spins, with my KA I have to stop mixing and tilt the top back, and I can't scrape the sides as I'm mixing but with the SB it's no problem! :]
I prefer the Sunbeam because I can add ingredients while it spins, with my KA I have to stop mixing and tilt the top back, and I can't scrape the sides as I'm mixing but with the SB it's no problem! :]
That's what I thought by looking at the design of the KA.
I'm really an "OLD Sunbeam Mixmaster" girl, (not an old Sunbeam Mixmaster girl). The older ones were great, but I really lost confidence in them. I had my first one for many, many years; but then subsequent models were awful. And I found their customer service to be lacking. So I gave up on them.
Now I have a KA, which I call "The Monstrosity". I think it's awkward to use (I hate scraping down the bowl and the beaters); and it's tall and I'm short. BUT it works like a charm. It's a necessary kitchen tool. I also have a very cheap hand mixer, which I use for small jobs, and when I can't bear the thought of dragging out the KA.
(When I was teaching, I saw the cafeteria lady whipping heavy cream by hand--for the entire school's dessert! That poor woman. That was cruel and unusual punishment.)
Honestly, any stand mixer is going to make the baking process easier. You don't need a KitchenAid
Any stand mixer may work to make the process easier, however they normally don't last as long as a KA. Why spend good money, even 90.00 on one and have it go out within a year or so when you could get a KA and have it so many more years. I actually have 3, the "bign" (6 qts) the 4.5 qts and a hand mixer.
As far as the Sunbeams are concerned, I remember the one we had as I was growing up and thought when I started doing many cakes that I would get one like that. Wrong!!! 
They are so cheaply made now that I took the one I bought back and got a KA. Now I don't think I would trade my KA for anything else.
evelyn
I would say if you are making more than 4-5 cakes a year, it is worth it to get a stand mixer. Especially if you aren't 20 years old anymore. I'm over 40 now, and holding up a hand mixer for 30 minutes in an afternoon hurts my wrist and makes my arm tired, especially if I have to man-handle fondant after it.
I got my Kitchen Aid mixer for $99 on clearance at Target. (That's a complete fluke, I know.) It lived in the cupboard until I started making cakes regularly, and now I just leave it out. Moving it around IS a nuisance.
I would second the idea to look on Craig's List. My local Craig's Liist has two listings for nearly new KA machines for $150 (one of them is even a pro model with pasta and sausage attachments!) People get them as wedding presents and then don't use them---they come up frequently.
I prefer the Sunbeam because I can add ingredients while it spins, with my KA I have to stop mixing and tilt the top back, and I can't scrape the sides as I'm mixing but with the SB it's no problem! :]
You can get attachments to your KA that will allow you to do these things. The plastic guard with the spout, you can add things while your mixing with your KA. You can also get the new beater blade for your KA so it will scrape your bowl sides as it mixes.
I love my KA. It was a Christmas gift from my hubby nearly 11 years ago. It's an Artisan. I an now saving up for the big 6 quart one.
I have the beater blade and I use the shield. I still think it's awkward to scrape and add ingredients.
Honestly, any stand mixer is going to make the baking process easier. You don't need a KitchenAid
Any stand mixer may work to make the process easier, however they normally don't last as long as a KA. Why spend good money, even 90.00 on one and have it go out within a year or so when you could get a KA and have it so many more years. I actually have 3, the "bign" (6 qts) the 4.5 qts and a hand mixer.
As far as the Sunbeams are concerned, I remember the one we had as I was growing up and thought when I started doing many cakes that I would get one like that. Wrong!!!
They are so cheaply made now that I took the one I bought back and got a KA. Now I don't think I would trade my KA for anything else. evelyn
My thought is, the OP had already stated that she "really cannot afford" a KA. So although the KA is viewed as the bees knees of mixers...if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. So, OP, buy what you can afford, and there are plenty of decent mixers out there at much more affordable prices that will make a huge difference to your baking experience without hurting you financially the way a KA would .
Yes Mama Mia, I have seen these attachments, but I honestly just think that I grew up using the Sunbeam and am used to it and that's why I like it so much! I absolutely hated the KA at first, the bowl on my Sunbeam spins which I know is very annoying to some but I love it! :]
Jae,
I grew up with the Sunbeam, and I loved it. My mother eventually converted to the KA, and I hated it. I was faithful to the Sunbeam brand for the first 30 years of our marriage. But I could see the quality decline with each successive machine. (I think I had the first one for 20 years or so, and then a new one every couple of years.)
Dealing with the company was awful--they were relatively unresponsive. I wish they would make the Mixmaster with the same quality it used to have.
I like the spinning bowl, too.
Mixed opinions here, but I'm Kitchen Aid all the way!! Mine will be 2 years old in oct. and he's already paid for himself!! We went with QVC as they had easy pay, and 20+ colors to choose from. But yeah, Kohl's ALWAYS has some kind of discount going on. Check out Bed, Bath & beyond too, they send out 20% off coupons, like every 2 weeks.
HTH
(I also have a KA that was made in 1955 and She's STILL going strong!!)
I think you will love it! I just ogot mine for mother's day and I am amazed at how much time it actually saves. I made MMF in it yesterday for the first time and it took no time at all. I made MMF and cooked supper at the same time! LOVE MINE 
Ok I'm sold. If I can find a KA under $200 I am going to get it. I think I seen one at Lowes online for $181 (they said that it's at the store), wish me luck.
Good for you! If you can afford the KA go for it . Like I said my Sunbeam is making my fondant and buttercream for me right now. As long as it keeps doing the job I'll keep using it. When it "dies" I'll probably buy a KA. Who knows I might even buy another Sunbeam Love that "spinning bowl" feature myself.
When you are looking for your mixer check the wattage. The higher the better. I have noticed that KA has reduced their prices but they have also reduced the wattage. Sometimes price isn't the only consideration.
That's true because I have noticed that the cheaper ones are lower in watts.
cutthecake I have heard the newer versions aren't as nice as the older ones, I still have a pretty old one and it's still working so I hope I don't have to deal with a newer version, then I might be a KA convert! :]
I would still be using the Mixmaster if the quality hadn't declined.
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