KitchenAid Mixer Musings

[scott55405]

While at Crate and Barrel yesterday, I saw an aftermarket "flat beater" they are selling for the tilt-head KA mixers. Aftermarket I assume since the KA name is covered up on the mixer in the picture. It has rubber strips on the outer edges, almost like an ABC agitator, and is supposed to scrape the bowl constantly as you mix. Anyone else seen/tried this? I don't know that it's really necessary based on my 25 years of KA experience, but it was an interesting concept. It was $24.95 so I didn't buy it yesterday, but maybe sometime when I'm tempted to experiment. Too hot to bake right now anyway.

Also spotted at Crate and Barrel was a stainless steel "triple sifter." Guess someone was channeling Julia Child! There was a sifting discussion on a cooking forum I visit, so I went to see what she had to say in her baking book, and she lamented there that these sifters were hard to find. (By the way, she reserves sifting mostly for cake baking, which is basically what I do as well).

Recently while on the KA website, I saw a "90th Anniversary" KA mixer. I guess I didn't even realize it was their 90th anniversary, but what's fun is it's basically the current style of tilt head mixer with the return of the glass bowl! From what I can tell, the only way you can get one is to buy something then enter a drawing, though I admit I'm hoping against hope replacement glass bowls might show up down the road that would hence fit my mixer. ;-) Of course it's not necessary, but fun and nostalgic nonetheless!

 

[mixfinder]

Glass Bowl

For the duration of the 90th year celebration the glass bowl is sold only with the new mixer. Next year the bowl will be made available as an accessory.

 

[DADoES]

I have run across several mentions of the retrofit blade beater. It supposedly does work nicely. I've been tempted to seek one out, although I don't use my KA often-enough to justify $25 for the accessory.

 

[tlee618]

By All Means GET IT!! You will wonder why in the world KA didn't come out with it which I am sure they are wishing they had. When you use it to cream butter and sugar you will be amazed at how much better and faster the mixer does its job! Terry

 

[scott55405]

Well that's good to know! Thank you Terry! Happy Sunday.

Hey Glenn!

 

[frigilux]

I've seen it advertised, but haven't seen one "in action". Creaming butter/sugar mixtures is definitely when a lot of it seems to stick to the sides of the bowl. Maybe having one around for specific uses might not be a bad thing...thanks for the review of it, Terry.

 

[gredmondson]

Anniversary Editon KitchenAid

My son bought the candy apple red KitchenAid with the glass bowl from William-Sonoma. It is a beautiful color with depth that photographs don't seem to capture. The glass bowl, however, does not come with a spatter shield, and I hope KitchenAid should will take care of this shortcoming.

 

[scott55405]

So they are being sold! D*mn, and I was right by the WS too, why didn't I go in! Maybe because someone knew I would spend money I didn't need to, LOL. Thanks for the pic and I'll definitely check it out next time!

 

[petek]

Scott I've seen them for sale in our small city little kitchen widgets store so you can probably find them pretty much at any kitchen gadget store nowadays, they've been on the market for a couple of years now.

 

[appnut]

Well, a 3rd party has been selling thse for a couple of years now I believe. I think I saw one of KA's web site itself as an accessory. I'll have to look at the KA mixer forum, I think Kelly has used this and endorses it too. When my time comes for a KA mixer, I have no doubt I'll be procuring one too. I saw the comparison video yesterday after looking at a thread on that home site appliacne forum questioning a KA mixer. BTW Scott, I thought of you the first time I ever saw one fo these, remembering a comment or two you'd make about the Ka experrience.

 

[appnut]

Here's a link for a 3rd party product.

http://www.beaterblade.com/

 

[twintubdexter]

I have a couple of gourmet cook friends who use that scraper beater on their KA's and really love it. Don't those glass bowls really dress up those mixers?

 

[redcarpetdrew]

I had to go back after seeing that there was a strainer and smaller bowl that I didn't get but of course they were gone. Left a note in the door but I am not so hopefull.

RCD

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Sorry...

Wrong thread...

 

[scott55405]

That's ok Redcarpet, I saw and enjoyed your new find! Very nice!

Bob, thanks for posting that link. Was fun to see the videos and to see that these are also available in color. Chef's Tools is the only place that seems to carry the colored ones. I did find a good price on the regular one in Amazon. I bet with shipping and what not it could still come out to less but I haven't checked yet.

Anybody interested in the anniversary mixer, it says there's a $40 rebate and magazine subscription available.

http://www.amazon.com/Design-Beater...1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1251681191&sr=8-1
http://www.cheftools.com/products.asp?dept=560
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/prod...lectrics-kitchenaid&ckey=electrics-kitchenaid

 

[tlee618]

Like I said guys, you will really be amazed at how well this product works. I have had mine now for almost a year and would never be without it. Terry

 

[mixguy]

Beater Blade

I bought a BeaterBlade hoping this would be the solution for the flat beater not clearing close enough to the bottom of the bowl. I have an older bowl lift model that cannot be adjusted w/o taking the stand apart. I was sometimes running the mixer with the beater not completely engaged just to make sure the bottom of the bowl would be incorporated, That was suggested by one cookbook author. However I knew that this would result in the coating wearing on the beater and wear on the bottom of the bowl. Some one suggested bending the support arms and I felt trying that wouldn't work (I "envisioned" seeing a broken support arm before it would bend). Using the KitchenAid spatulas does make scraping an easier and faster. Other KitchenAid owners in the Kitchenaid forum were posting about these beaters they tried and BeaterBlade was the preferred one. I bought one and have been using it instead of the flat bearer ever since! My only negative comment is that there is a little more splashing during the adding of flour and liquids during cake making. I have the two piece shield to minimize that problem. I was seriously considering buying a new mixer before this accessory came along.

 

[countryguy]

I do like the glass bowls! Can they be purchased separately?

Gary

 

[tlee618]

I too love the look of the glass bowl! My only down thought would be how heavy it would be and without a handle it might be a problem.

 

[countryguy]

The glass bowls in the pic do have a handle....or am I seeing things? I just ordered the blade beater - $29.95 plus $11 shipping plus taxes for a total of $46 CAD. Expensive so I hope it is worth it.

Gary

 

[scott55405]

Countryguy, I have not found the bowls separately yet, but I am nhoping they will be offered as replacements, and they do appear to have a handle. I have a white KA (this was before they went viral with all those colors) and I have been resisting, resisting, resisting every time they come out with a new color or finish since. Between the red, the glass bowl and the rebate, I don't know if this resistance can continue!

 

[countryguy]

I got my KA (in black) before all these novel colours came out. Go ahead and splurge....its only money LOL

Gary

 

[nmassman44]

I still have my KitchenAid by Hobart 4.5 qt stand mixer. I think its about 20 years old. I need to replace the cord eventually on it but the mixer keeps on going. The color is almond. I should look into that paddle that you guys are talking about. The one I have is good but I have wondered about that rubberized one that scrapes down the bowl. I too love that glass bowl.

 

[scott55405]

My Hobart celebrates its 25th birthday this fall!

 

[petek]

I'd think that since they're selling the mixers with a glass bowl that they would have replacements for the inevitable as they get broken.

 

[scott55405]

Oh, thank you for that information Kelly! The ss have their virtues of course, but the glass are just so much fun!

BTW, I've noticed they've come out with an extrusion type pasta attachment now, in addition to the roller ones. Also spied was a new small bowl for the bowl lift mixers, with its own special beater very reminiscent of the "all purpose" beater of old.

 

[norgeway]

Im using 2 Kitchenaid's a 1965 model K 5, courtesy of Mike Rogers in Chicago and a 3 C from1955 wuth an aluminum bowl.

 

[appnut]

a new small bowl for the bowl lift mixers, with its own spec

Scott, that new Combi-bowl works with only certain lift-bowl models, not all of them.

 

[mixfinder]

Things that make you go, humphhhhh

I often hear people say, I didn't want to dirty that big bowl, pan, plate etc. What difference could it possibly make? Do we really say to ourselves, "Just look at all the free time I have now that I use small bowls." Larger bowls and pans save untold amounts of time and energy by not splattering or boiling over. So.....homemakers felt the big bowl was just too big. A small 3 quart bowl, rather shallow fits over the arms on the bowl lift 5 and 6 quart PRO models with the wider bowl. The All Purpose beater that fits the Combi is indeed a rerelease of the ones from the 3 and 4 models. The bowl is too shallow and splatters too easily to excite me.

 

[scott55405]

I've always found that sort of reasoning very amusing as well, Kelly. I am not surprised that you have one of these bowls nor of your opinion regarding it.

My mom had a tilt head model and I purchased for her as a gift once at her request the smaller bowl that goes with that. She seemed content with it, but as for me, I think if I wanted an extra bowl for a KA I'd simply get another standard size one.

It is fun to see that beater design again, though. I was mortified recently in some forum or review where someone mentioned that they were not happy with the whip's (meaning the regular large bowl whip) performance with their cookie dough. I thought oh Lord this person should be nowhere near mixers or heat-generating appliances!