I think I'm one of the only people I know that doesn't have one of these mixers! Recently my 13 YO son has been showing an interest in cooking. He's been watching a YouTube channel about cooking and wants to do fancy things like grinding his own meat for burgers and making pasta from scratch. Whoa! So I quickly looked up a meat grinder and pasta maker on Amazon to see how much they would be and saw that there are attachments for both of those things for the Kitchen Aide mixer... who knew? That got me thinking that maybe I would like having one of those things to get away from my hand mixer too. SO... this is my long-winded method of asking... what is the difference between all of the model of those stand mixers and which one should I get?
I LOVE my Kitchenaid! I started out with the basic Artisan mixer, but ended up getting a professional 6 quart version a few years later because I was doing big batches of cookies in it. Costco usually has really good deals on the professional version: https://www.costco.com/kitchenaid-p...tand-mixer-w-flex-edge.product.100485356.html
I think I'd really like having a handle on the side of the bowl like that one! I live in the town where the world headquarters of Whirlpool is (they make Kitchen Aide) and they have a sale once a year up to 40% off retail prices, so I'm hoping they will have a selection of mixers there at good prices.
I've had my Kitchenaid Classic for 25+ years and I love it more than words can express. I don't have a model number (it's so old the tag has faded out), but I'm pretty sure it's the K45SS. It's 4.5 quarts, which is big enough for average recipes. I've used it for everything from cakes to bread to meatloaf, and if you're looking for something on the inexpensive side you can't beat it. If price isn't an issue I'll recommend a larger size - it's much better to have the volume and not need it than the other way around. Would also recommend ones that come with a handled bowl.
I love the Kitchenaide Mixer too... My father loved to cook and had the 75th Anniversary edition with an engraved bowl with his name on it. I now have it. I will say though that we bought a seperate pasta maker that isn't an attachment to the Mxer. I see it is the same pasta maker that is on all the cooking channels and we bought it at a gourmet kitchen shop.. it was I think at most $30? Anyway, when hubby makes his own pasta we use that. I do think my father bought the grinder attachment and had a sausage casing stuffer machine.. we don't make our own sausage so I am thinking my brother and I gave that away 7 years ago. Definitely get the mixer it really is awesome! I had my parents Sunbeam mixer for years that I inherited when Dad bought the Kitchenaid... after Dad passed and I inherited his Kitchenaid, I donated the GE handmixer and the Sunbeam mixer. Good on your son wanting to cook!!!
I think I have the same one as Brenda mine is 22 years old. A few years ago it wouldn't start and my husband found me crying in front of the mixer. A week after that it started working again. I have the grinder attachment, the pasta one and the ice cream one. I don't have to tell you which one is my fav... ICE CREAM! Heads up about the grinder attachment, if you are going to be grinding meat then you need one for meat and one for the rest of the grinding. That sucker is hard to clean.
I have a 30 year old Kitchen Aid Mixer, and it is the gift that MY family always gives for wedding gifts. Grinding meats, veggies ect….. YES YES YES! When my Sokee wasn't doing well in her later years she needed to be on a low sodium diet. Yah, right, try and buy a low sodium dog food! So I was making her food in large batches then freeze them by serving size. THE attachment for this is a life saver! Just looked and COSTCO has a $80 dollar off coupon! Coupon good until Nov 24th. AND our family has priced these machines out. Costco does have the best deal. The size of their motor is the largest you can get on the market, which puts it at a professional size. If you think he is ever going to use it for making bread or a heavier dough you will need the larger motor and bowl. If this mixer is for your son. DO NOT buy the glass bowl. My daughter has the glass bowl and she said she hardly uses it as it gets really heavy once your dough is done being mixed.
Karen, also from Costco. Online only and this is also a great price. https://www.costco.com/KitchenAid-Attachment-Food-Prep-Set-.product.100423637.html
LOVE my mixers- yes I have 3 total! We got the artisan small one (in silver) for a wedding gift (14 years ago!) and I've use the crap out of that thing! I've bought replacement whisks, bowls, etc. Last year for my birthday (right around Black Friday!!) my hubby got me this one in my favorite mint/teal color- https://www.target.com/p/kitchenaid...r/-/A-15840495?preselect=53676345#lnk=sametab (it was FAR less $$ than that!) Then a few months ago, one my my hubby's employee's wife passed away & he gave me her old mixer- it's another artisan 4 qt- but in Navy blue! Since it was his wife's I feel like I HAVE to use it! SO now I can have cupcake batter, fillings AND frosting going all at once!
I have the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer that my husband bought me for Christmas probably 9 years ago? I LOVE it. I use it for a variety of things outside of baking and mixing including shredding chicken. The only attachment I have bought is the ice cream maker and that thing is AMAZING.
I'm with you, Karen! I don't have one either, but really thinking I'd like to have one. My mom has one and I keep thinking I'm going to drop hints, and then she'll say that she doesn't really use hers anymore, she'll just give it to me
My daughter owns one of the 4qt size. She inherited it from a friend who brought it home from work. I love using it, although it is heavier than a regular stand mixer. Boy can that baby make bread! We don't have any of the extra attachments, but I have considered getting the pasta one for her.
I just checked and OMG... it's 590WATTS! that's a monster.... I might need one of the Costco ones for the holidays!
OMG... I HAVE TO AGREE! We reconfigured my freezer so there is a SPOT for the bowl to stay there ALL THE TIME so we can make ice cream WHENEVER!!! (the one downsize for the ice cream one is that you need to freeze the bowl I think it's 8-12 hrs before you can make ice cream).
Awesome! Thank you all for the great ideas and feedback. I didn't know about the ice cream maker attachment. I'm pretty sure that's going to be needed if I do get a mixer!
I'd love to know what the pasta maker is that you have... $30 would be a great Christmas gift idea! Just in case I don't get the mixer.... although every one here is pretty much convincing me that I should! That's so cool that you have your Dad's anniversary edition mixer too! I love that!