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I have a 10-year old K5SS and it's a workhorse! I also prefer the manual lift-head models to the tilt-back models, mainly for their sturdiness and power. If your Mom doesn't plan to use her mixer for a lot of large, heavy-duty jobs, she may prefer the tilt-back model, as it's more convenient to use. Otherwise, go for the bigger guns.

Unlike Vacuumfreeeke's experience, I've been putting all the beaters/dough hooks/whisks in the dishwasher for a decade without a problem.

If your Mom cooks a lot, an extra bowl and flat beater would be a great accessory gift. I have three bowls and 3 beaters for mine. They come in handy when making several items; you don't have to stop and wash everything.
 
I think the biggest complaint about KA's was that at some point they started putting in plastic gears instead of metal ones. I guess this was cheaper, because with plastic gears you don't need a motor overload/reset button. Just let the gears strip out, lol.

I bought, and returned, a couple of 5 qt. KA lift bowl mixers to Costco when I found out they had plastic instead of metal gears. The last one I got I kept, it's a 6 qt 475 watt "Epicurean" with metal gears and a crinkle gray finish. Looks very industrial, which I like. It has a reset setting on the speed control. It is, however, big and heavy, so it spends all its time on a counter by the cooktop where the cabinets are high off the counter top. I've used it for such things as whipping cream, eggwhites, and making Tuxedo brownies. In the patio kitchen, I have the Sunbeam Mixmaster (model 9, I think). Haven't used it yet, but lubed the gears and other points, cleaned the beaters, so it's all ready. It looks like it belongs on the retro countertop.

I haven't checked carefully, but it seems to me that the tilt-head KA models are almost as tall as the lift bowl ones. Does anyone have exact measurements of the heights of the various models?
 
Rich, do you notice a louder operating sound when your Epicurean is running? I have a friend that worked for Williams-Sonoma for a long time and took a number of those machines back from customers that complained of them being very loud. Although they thought something was wrong when compared with their previous models, the store staff tried to reassure them that the noise was normal and because of the all-metal gearing, there would be more noise. Many were undeterred and got their money back. I'm not sure what they did with the used returns, that would have been a good question to ask ;-)

Dan, perhaps Mom would like one of these - nickel or copper plated models from Williams-Sonoma. They are a bit spendy at $899, but there is a $50 rebate right now... They are sexy looking!


12-3-2007-08-27-48--gansky1.jpg
 
Gregg,

That might explain things. Costco being Costco, with no question asked returns, I bought and brought home two Epicureans. My reason was that I wasn't sure which color I liked better. But when I ran both of them, the gray one was much quieter so that's the one I kept. It just happened to be the color I preferred as well (I think the other one was gloss black). I have never noticed since then that it's excessively noisy. Haven't done a side-by-side comparison, but my impression is that it's no louder than the old Mixmaster I picked up a couple of months ago.
 
$899 for a mixer?

Greg, that's practically a mortgage payment! For $899 it would have to do a lot more than just mix stuff ;-)

(But they are very sexy looking. I will grant you that.)

Rich, I think Costco got their liberal return policy from Nordstrom. They're both hometown stores here, after all. Although Costco is much more fun, and immensely more affordable.
 
Well as much as I love all things vintagey and somehow have managed to amass a mass of mixers I unequivocably stand by the Bosch Universal being a far superior machine in every single way for about the same price as a mid priced KA. It will knead larger amounts of bread or mix more heavy cookie doughs and won't struggle one iota and it does it without making any loud noise. It kneads dough much more thoroughly than the planetary action which means that the dough only requires one rising, not the customary two. It only weighs about 11 pounds with the bowl attached so absolutely anyone, old moms included, can easily lift it up and put it away down in the cupboard or up on a shelf.
Thing is, most people are not familiar with them, most having never seen one that when they do see a picture etc they don't equate it with being a heavy duty mixer a la KA or Kenwood, figuring it's just a "food processor" not heavy duty. Or they don't want to chance spending that much money on the unknown factor.
On top of that it is much simpler to use, no fussy tilt heads or bowl lifts because there isn't anything over top of the bowl, it's all driven from below. Low center of gravity, lighter weight, easy to add ingredients, bigger capacity, vastly quieter. What's not to love. I should be selling them LOL
 
Amen To Dat!

Bosch mixers hands down are streets ahead of KA and yes even Kenwood when it comes to mixing doughs, especially large amounts of heavy doughs. Love my Kenwood mixer, but as previously stated, when doing bread doughs, especially say pure whole wheat dough enough for several loaves, the Bosch wins hands down.

The dough hook/kneading action is as PeteK says, very different than either a Kenwood or KA, and quite aggressive, IMHO, which is what it should be to really "beat up" a dough to develop gluten. Would always take a bread dough out of my Kenwood and give it some finishing up kneading by hand, however there is no need for that with the Bosch.

Bosch mixers are really big in Utah for some reason. Hate to sterotype, but perhaps all those Mormon housewives doing all that baking/cooking?

L.
 
Yeah, I'd like to know which models have plastic and which don't. I don't want to run out and buy a K5 Professional if it's going to have plastic gears. I guess it's a good idea to keep an eye out for old Hobart ones at garage/estate sales etc rather than buying new. Meanwhile the Ultra Power is serving our needs.
 
Well, over the past few years, the models with metal gears state that on the outside of the box. If the box doesn't say "all metal gears" then it may have plastic gears. If you jot down the model number and call KA they also will tell you.

The Professional models, I believe, have always had all metal gears. It's been the Heavy Duty models that sometimes have had plastic gears. Also, if the mixer has a reset button or reset setting on the speed control, that may be good indication it has metal gears. But I would still call if in doubt.
 
After reading the entries in this KA section-will have to see in more detail on the Two KA machines I have-I have one older "Classic" type model with the bowel lift-and a newer one.The older machine does have a rest position on the speed control lever.Don't think the newer one does.I now like the Kenwood machine better.These have reset buttons on the motor when the mix head is lifted from the bowel.Also I don't like the bare metal beaters on the new KA machine.The older one had coated beaters.The Kenwood beater blades are coated.Much easier to clean.And the coated ones can go into the dishwasher-the bare ones can't.
 
Vintage Sunbeam Mixer

There is a vintage Sunbeam tilt mixer at the local Salvation Army Store (herin known as shopping at Salvatori's) It has steel and ceramic bowl and some strange appendage on top, cant figure out what goes there. It is very cool design with the back dial in black with numerous speeds related to what food you are doing.

I think I saw one on someone's shelf recently in the posts. Does anyone have any experience with this model?

I am tempted. They are asking $9.99 at Salvatori's

Phil
 
Phil, I suspect there will be a few people chiming in here to advise you to go snag that mixer. Anything like that priced at under $10 at a Salvatori's is largely unheard of in my neck of the woods.

Ralph
 
Regarding Kenwood Mixers

Just so everyone knows, the Kenwood company was sold to Delonghi awhile back, IIRC. Good to hear quality has not suffered and the various incarnations are good as the old Kenwood Chef's.

Also Kenwood mixers for a short time were sold in the United States badged as "Rival". If you can nab one of these go for it, as they are exactly the same for most purposes the the Kenwood's in the UK down to parts and accessories.

Kenwood UK | Kenwood Home page

The UKs Leading brand in food mixers, food processors, & breakfast, building products that stand the test of time since 1947
www.kenwoodworld.com www.kenwoodworld.com
 
Dunno

Here is about as good a review as they come regarding the "new" Kenwood's.

www.epinions.com

Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site

Shopping.com is a leading price comparison site that allows you shop online for the best deals and lowest prices. You can read unbiased product reviews and compare prices online. Online shopping has never been as easy!
www.epinions.com www.epinions.com
 

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