apologies if I'm using the incorrect forum options here, but can't see anything for equipment.
My girlfriend is going to start baking cakes and I wanted to get her a really good stand mixer as a gift but know absolutely nothing about these things.
After a bit of internet research I've picked up that Kitchenaid, the Artisan in particular, is a pretty good option to go for.
But I'd like some feedback from those in the know.
a bit of advice please....
Everyone here uses a Kitchen Aid...except me cause I couldn't afford one. I need a nice BF that will buy me a KA...know where I can get one of those??? lol
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Original message sent by BatterUpCake
Everyone here uses a Kitchen Aid...except me cause I couldn't afford one. I need a nice BF that will buy me a KA...know where I can get one of those??? lol
I bought this one and love it. But I have only had it a few months so I don't know how long it will last. Has a VERY powerful motor
I wouldn't buy anything smaller than a 7 qt for my small mixer and Hamilton beach makes a very powerful commercial grade one which has been great for 8 years so far. I believe Kitchenaid makes only one mixer that they claim to be commercial grade and last I checked it was about $100 more.
It seems like Kitchenaid has become better at marketing than anything else lately -everyone's heard of and wants kitchenaid. Manufacturing a good mixer is not some kind of miracle.
If you need a mixer in fuschia or cantaloupe, then kitchenaid is the choice hands down. But if you need a work horse for a fair price, I'd look elsewhere. What I love about this mixer, other than the power, is how easy it is to clean with it's flat surfaces and I like the tilt back head.
I have had a 4.5, 5, 6 qt. KA and a 7qt Cuisinart. I really don't like the Cuisinart performance: it's tall and doesn't fit under my upper cabinets to lift the bowl; the bowl only has two small handles on the top, making it hard to hold with one hand and scrape out with the other; I have disengaged the bowl with just a bit of pressure doing a scrape down; same thing with the beater, i have disengaged it with a small bump; the paddle will clump dry ingredients to it when i used it on a mix or during reverse creaming; while the bowl is technically a 7qt, the top of the beater is located 1.5" below the top of the bowl, so i really don't know what the extra inch of bowl is good for; and when using the 'to the top of the bowl and bury the beater' technique of making American buttercream, it always gave me buttercream with bubbles in it. But my #1 problem with it was that i missed the very efficient mixing action of the KA. It is what I know, and especially making scratch cakes, I go by how things look and sound in the bowl. If I had cut my teeth on a Cuisinart, I would probably like that, or if I had to have had a commercial mixer I would have to get used to it. But as much as I really, really, really wanted to find something other than a KA, but i am a KA fan through and through. (i've also resigned to the fact that i'm going to have to buy a new one every so often; maybe the KA 7 qt will be next?) I bring out the Cuisninart when I am making buttercream and don't want to over heat my KA.
I think that unless she has a preference for a mixer with commercial capabilities, then you really won't go wrong with a KA in her favorite color.
I love my 7 qt KA. I have the 4.5, 6 and 7 qt. KA mixers. My DH bought me a cherry red 7 qt for mother's day, 2012. I use them all, but mostly the 7 quart. It is quiet, it has a nice low speed for mixing without flinging, and it handles double recipes perfectly. It is also so pretty I just leave it out on the counter! If there is any chance she will be reasonably serious about baking, she will need a mixer that can handle at least doubled recipes, and she would outgrow the 4.5 qt pretty quickly. If you can afford it, I would recommend the 6 or 7 quart size. I have never had any problems with any of my KA mixers. The 4.5 quart is over 20 years old, and the 6 quart is probably at least 10. I have to admit though, that I have never owned or tried any of the other brands. HTH
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I don't use the Artisan, I like the stainless steel lift off bowl. I can use it on the stove as a double boiler for Swiss Meringue Butter Cream & melting chocolate.
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Good to know that I'm not the only person who has a collection of Kitchen Aid Mixers. This Cake Central Forum is very informative.
I also have two KA's and LOVE them. My original tilt-back head mixer is at least 10 years old and while it seems to struggle a little bit during Christmas baking season, it bounces right back after i've let it rest a little :) My mom bought me a new one with the bowl lift from Craigslist a month ago and while I do like it quite a bit, I don't like that the paddle and whisk attachments do not reach the bottom of the bowl, which confuses me. (Yes, I have it raised up :) )
I do recommend KA though. They work VERY hard and get the job done.
Thanks for all your help guys.
It really is much appreciated!
another question,,,,
do you guys if the Artisan is available with a 7qt bowl? or will I have to buy a model up from the artisan? which would be? ( this is of course if i choose the KA route)
she's be making cakes for weddings etc.. so I doubt she'll be doing massive quantities.. but I'm a little concerned about the bowl size now?
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Original message sent by TheOnlyLTG
another question,,,, do you guys if the Artisan is available with a 7qt bowl? or will I have to buy a model up from the artisan? which would be? ( this is of course if i choose the KA route) she's be making cakes for weddings etc.. so I doubt she'll be doing massive quantities.. but I'm a little concerned about the bowl size now?
KitchenAid is still riding on its former glory. They are popular, an American classic even. For gift giving you can't go wrong. They're just not as awesome as they were before but I see the draw for them, and the mixing action can't be beat.
I presume that you are in the US. Here in Australia KA have only hit our shores in the last few years and many people are swapping over purely because of the hype of it being American. I use a large Kenwood Chef (I think it's an English brand) and love it and will have another one when I destroy it. The first one lasted 21 years and this one is still going strong after 10 years.
I presume that you are in the US. Here in Australia KA have only hit our shores in the last few years and many people are swapping over purely because of the hype of it being American. I use a large Kenwood Chef (I think it's an English brand) and love it and will have another one when I destroy it. The first one lasted 21 years and this one is still going strong after 10 years.
Actually no, not in the States.. I'm from South Africa and I honestly wouldn't know when since when KA's been here. But I am familiar with the Kenwood Chef, it's what my mom had when I was young... I'll have a look at those too thanks.
Spoken like a true cake layman. I doubt it gets more massive than wedding cakes for a home baker. With baking for a business, the best advice is often to go as big as you can afford. I have a bosch compact, 5.5qt Cuisinart, and a 5qt Pro 500 KitchenAid. Each mixer is good for certain things. You will notice from the posts that a majority of us have more than one mixer. So just get her the best you can afford at this time. I've read good reviews about the artisan so if that's what you have your mind set on, it'll be a good starting point. No it doesn't come with a 7qt bowl. If you want a Cuisinart I would recommend the 5.5 qt over the 7qt as the bowl design of the 7 leaves much to be desired.
KitchenAid is still riding on its former glory. They are popular, an American classic even. For gift giving you can't go wrong. They're just not as awesome as they were before but I see the draw for them, and the mixing action can't be beat.T
Thanks vgcea...
well, her idea is for that, the wedding/occasion cake baking/making, to be her source of income... so I don't mind spending a bit so long as I'm being duped by marketing and salesman pitches... hence my consulting this forum.
you still reckon the Artisan would do the trick in her situation?
I recently acquired the KA 7 quart (pro model), and it makes my two Artisans look like toys. The 7 quart KA models have all metal gears and DC motors, and you can get an 8 quart bowl for it. I would get the biggest you can afford. That being said, fixing a KA Artisan is pretty easy - I have replaced gears on mine, and they are pretty user friendly.
Liz
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Original message sent by liz at sugar
I recently acquired the KA 7 quart (pro model), and it makes my two Artisans look like toys. The 7 quart KA models have all metal gears and DC motors, and you can get an 8 quart bowl for it. I would get the biggest you can afford. That being said, fixing a KA Artisan is pretty easy - I have replaced gears on mine, and they are pretty user friendly.
Liz
Thanks Liz
I recently acquired the KA 7 quart (pro model), and it makes my two Artisans look like toys. The 7 quart KA models have all metal gears and DC motors, and you can get an 8 quart bowl for it. I would get the biggest you can afford. That being said, fixing a KA Artisan is pretty easy - I have replaced gears on mine, and they are pretty user friendly.
Liz
That's a good way to put it. If it's as powerful as the commercial model, I think that new KA pro mixer does compare in price to the one I recommended. But it looks like the same old bowl up/bowl down thing which personally is not for me on a small mixer.
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Original message sent by TheOnlyLTG
Thanks vgcea... well, her idea is for that, the wedding/occasion cake baking/making, to be her source of income... so I don't mind spending a bit so long as I'm being duped by marketing and salesman pitches... hence my consulting this forum. you still reckon the Artisan would do the trick in her situation?
I had a KA and i didnt like it as much
. I now have a cuisinart 7QT and absolutely love it!!!!!
If you don't mind spending more then I would suggest the 7qt. That's what I plan to get next.
Agreed, she needs at least 7 qt and as heavy duty as possible. Here's the Cuisinart and it's only $399. I didn't read th motor specs, but noticed the motor does have a 5 year warranty. If she's using this to make cake and not something like bread or pizza dough, the larger size will serve her much better than something with a more powerful motor. On my mixer, the dial goes up to 7, but I only mix cake batter on 1
I am a KA girl, my first 2 lasted for over 20 years used daily in a restaurant environment. The last Artisan KA i bought
only lasted 2 years. I'm told they use plastic gears made in China, not the USA anymore.
I HATE the Cuisinart I got to replace my KA. It makes much smaller batches as the gear head is a good 2 inches below the bowl height!!!
How stupid was that??
Plus it is hard to clean, lots of nooks and crannies to hold the flour and whatnot...
Buy an old KA in good shape if you can!!
Hope this helps
Also, the bowl has 2 tiny horizontal handles that are useless to use to pour out batters.
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