KitchenAid stand mixer

[jkbff]

Bought a friend a silver 5qt stand mixer for a Christmas gift this year. Thought it was an Artisan but after I started looking, it's not labeled that, says it has the 300w motor. Not the 325w motor the Artisan has.

For what she will use it for, it will be fine, its got the glass bowl, the flex edge paddle burnished dough hook and whip.

Anyways, got it for 199. It's a good price..

But, now what I am bothered by is the fact that there are so many variations of these mixers to every single retail outlet... Why can't there just be 4 models?

A classic for making cookies and batters, the Artisan for making breads, the pro for commercial use and the mini for traveling ... lol..

The only down side to this is I know she is going to not hand wash that burnished whip or hook. They will either sit in water or be thrown in the DW...

This day and age, with everyone dish-washing everything.. WHY are the accessories not stainless steel?

I've posted the link to Macy's where I bought it, free shipping.

http://https//www.macys.com/shop/product/kitchenaid-ksm105gbc-5-qt.-stand-mixer-with-glass-bowl-flex-edge-beater?ID=2296121

 

[appnut]

Joshua, I agree.  My Pro 600, the special dough hook that came with it is the burnished (sp) metal as well as the wire whip. I did buy a coated dough hook specified for the Pro 600.   But the one that came with it is a bit bigger and use that for my biggest loads.  I hate hand washing it. 

 

[lordkenmore]

That's a nice Christmas gift! Tell me: how do I get added to your Christmas gift list?

 

LOL

 

[lordkenmore]

I don't pay much attention to the KA mixer line these days, but I'd agree it's crazy having too many variations. Although I suppose it is good for one group: stores selling the things. It's a lot harder comparing the deal you get between two different stores when the product varies with what's included for the price.

 

I also think it's crazy not making every possible effort to have stuff 100% dishwasher safe in 2017. Especially a product from a name that's also used on dishwashers.

 

[vacerator]

"different power output's"

for different needs I guess. There is even a 600 watt motor model now.

 

[johnrk]

For Light Duty

These KA mixers are fine. Cakes, etc. And so many decorator colors! They expect that to attract the women just like vintage w/d pairs...

 

[johnrk]

For Light Duty

These KA mixers are fine. Cakes, etc. And so many decorator colors! They expect that to attract the women just like vintage w/d pairs...

Of course, the design is the limiting factor but like top load washers, people are willing to live with it, the corresponding obesity, etc., because traditional can be very seductive.

 

[rp2813]

I guess the subject mixer would fall under the "Ultra Power" heading if they still use that term.  It's still very capable, but yeah, the paddle and hook need to be machine washable.  I wasn't aware that they made glass bowls in any size smaller than 6-quart, so that's good to know.

 

I use a '60s K45 that came with burnished paddle and hook, and I switched them out for the ones from a later K45SS that are coated and dishwasher safe.

 

[thomasortega]

Joshua

Just in case, if you want to give me one for christmas... I prefer the Empire Red. And I want the Artisan. And I was a good boy this year.

 

[dermacie]

Years ago the late 1990s the department stores like Macy's usually had better quality kitchenaid mixers in comparison to like Sears or Jc Penny. The usually had a better motor and pouring shield. I have one from that era and I will have to see what the wattage is. I love it and it is used often and always on my counter. Mine is white I only wish I had a color.

 

[jkbff]

Sad to say, it's probably the only gift I'll buy this year..

Mainly, I am bought it cause I do a lot of cooking at her house and was tired of not having one there when we'd bake... LOL

but.. It is one of those things where our lives are intertwined with each others.

I was tempted to take my 7qt commercial over there, but we'd never make anything that big there. We do all our big baking in my two Vikings that I've got.

I will say I wish they made a tilt head with the 7qt commercial's motor. The tilt head is so much easier to use.

The mixer should be arriving today.

Anyways, Merry Christmas (Happy Holidays), Everyone!

 

[superocd]

Correct me if I'm wrong...

...as I wasn't even a twinkle in somebody's eyes back in the Hobart days of KitchenAid, but there were only two models back then: the 4.5qt head-lift model and the 5qt bowl-raise model, each with their own motor, right?

I have the 4.5qt Classic in white. I'm not a serious baker or cook and neither is my wife but we do put it to use from time to time. If I see a Hobart-era KA in clean and pristine shape I'm picking it up and taking it home. Bonus points for the greenish yellow finish, for some reason it wears an otherwise hideous color very well. Other people may disagree.

I can't believe there's a Mini KitchenAid stand mixer. Might as well get the Classic. There are too many variations. Keep it simple.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">There are lots of decals available for KitchenAid mixers. You can send her something tasteful for her birthday and dress-up your generous gift...cheers!</span>

 

[mixguy]

Notice the wire whips have changed too!

The wire whips provided with KitchenAid mixers have changed in the last 10 yrs also. In the past, there are two loops, positioned at right angles to one another, that are much longer and have higher "shoulders" that reach closer and higher in the bowl, newer whips are more rounded at the top, using less wire. The newer 16 wire whip is not available with the tilt head or the 5 qt. bowl lift models, this is a cost cutting measure I don't like. The newer whips are less efficient than the older ones. The combi-whip with 3 qt bowl for the 6 qt mixers is the same design at the beater for the long ago discontinued 3C & 4C food mixers, yet the do not make the combo beater any longer for the 3C or 4C. KitchenAid would probably say the difference is not significant, I don't agree. I think KitchenAid still sells the stainless steel bowls for the 4C, one has to ask for it, it is not a pictured or listed accessory.

 

[passatdoc]

As it was explained to me by a salesperson at Williams-Sonoma, 5 qts is the upper limit for tilt models. In machines any larger, the motor is heavy enough to make the whole machine tip over if it were tipped up in tilt-head configuration, so above 5 qts the only option is bowl-lift. As a result, Artisan is more or less TOL in tilt-head models.

I have a 2002-vintage 4.5 qt in white. At the time, Amazon sold it for $169, but with a $10 gift card rebate for each $50 spent in their Kitchen department. as a result, it was $139 after the three gift cards were figured in, no sales tax (in those days---not now!!), and free economy speed shipping. Beater and hook are coated, whisk is burnished. Steel bowl without a handle (bit of a pain) and I understand the 5 qt glass bowl for Artisan will also work in a 4.5, so that remains a possible upgrade for the future. The machine has given perfect service for 15 years.

 

[sudsmaster]

FWIW, Costco periodically has KA mixers on sale for great prices. Like a 6 qt lift bowl for $250.

Afraid I can't usually resist... I have three such - two 6 qt models, one 5 qt model. Mostly I use them for the attachments; most recently to grate some Italian style cheeses, Asiago and Romano.

IMHO the step up from a 600 watt 6 qt KA lift bowl would be a commercial mixer for $hundreds more.

And for bread, when I want to make it, I have collection of bread machines. They generally do a very good job.

I know some people prefer the tilt head mixers... but for that I have a couple of vintage Sunbeams...

As for why KA doesn't make stainless attachments... well the wires on the whip are stainless. The head (that fits into the spindle) is aluminum... it would probably be cost prohibitive to make that complex part out of stainless. And since

Hand washing them isn't all that bad. I use a big and tall stainless bowl, fill it with the hottest water possible and Dawn, let them soak for 30 minutes, they clean up great. Not everything belongs in a DW. Including the family cat.

 

[askolover]

Perfect timing!  I made oatmeal raisin cookies last night in my Hobart KA stand mixer and was trying to remember if the 5qt bowl would fit it.  Gotta get one.

 

[parunner58]

I to love Kitchen Aid mixers. I use to do a lot of wedding cakes for friends and family. Currently I have two stand mixers. Mine is the 35 year old K5A. Bought in December 1983 for christmas for myself and bought the Superba dishwasher in my profile photo the same day. I got mine at the Hobart commercial store in Bethlehem PA. The dw I know ws $714, but I cannot remember home much the mixer was. When my daughter got married in 2009, we got them an Artisan. I can tell the quality is not the same as my K5 but its still good, just noisier. We both sent away for the decals twintubdexter mentioned.