Kitchenaid mixer

[violette]

I want to buy one. It's on sale at Sears, the Kitchenaid Accolade 400 watts mixer. Is this a good deal or should I look for something else???

[NoNo]

I went on their site and didn't see the Accolade listed I have the Artisan in red, and I can't imagine how I lived without it. And they will last forever; my mom, aunts, and grandmother have had theirs for as long as I can remember. Great for baking, mixing meatloaf, mashed potatoes, pretty much anything you can imagine. And I have the pasta roller attachment, which makes my life MUCH easier compared to using the old hand-crank one. I did a quick Google search and didn't get many results on that model, and didn't even see it listed on Kitchenaid's site. Not sure what to tell you about the price.

[divingbiker]

I can't imagine how I lived without it.

Ditto. This is my favorite kitchen appliance. It's indispensable if you bake at all.

I have the Classic, no frills, and it's been perfect. Like NoNo, I have no idea about the price, but you can compare other models on the internet and see how it stacks up (watts, bowl size, attachments, etc.) Enjoy it!

[papaver]

this is my partner in crime...

http://www.kenwoodworld.com/en/Produ...d-Major/KM005/

Love the kitchenaid ones too...

[OakLeaf]

I'm not sure which model I have, but I use the PTO way more often than I use it as a mixer. Just used it to make tomato sauce last night - probably the last batch of the season. The pasta maker attachment is handy too, although I don't use it often.

DH uses the mixer just about whenever he bakes. I prefer the feel of creaming butter and sugar by hand. I almost never bake raised bread any more since I'm so allergic to yeast and somewhat allergic to wheat, but half ditto there. Kneading bread is such great meditation (and a nice little upper body workout too) I can't imagine letting a machine do it - although having some help stirring in those last couple of cups of flour is nice, especially when I don't have calluses on my thumbs any more from doing it every week.

[tulip]

I have a hand eggbeater, a whisk, a potato masher, and a variety of wooden spoons. Not even an electric hand mixer! So far, I bake all sorts of stuff without one. Cakes, breads, pasta, mashed potatoes, even lemon meringue pie (I have a special copper eggwhitewhipping bowl and a whisk for that). But I bet if I had one of those KA's, it would become difficult to give up. That's why I don't even think about getting one! I do fine without it now, but if it were there, I'd be lost without it. Strange how that works.

[NoNo]

While I was on KA's site looking for the mixer she mentioned, I started going through the accessories. "OOOOOOOH! I want that one, and that one...."

[papaver]

I have a special copper eggwhitewhipping bowl and a whisk.

Whoooooo those are coooooool. I use my kenwood for baking, whisking, mincing meat, making apple juice, and as a blender.

[OakLeaf]

I have a hand eggbeater, a whisk, a potato masher, and a variety of wooden spoons. Not even an electric hand mixer! So far, I bake all sorts of stuff without one. Cakes, breads, pasta, mashed potatoes, even lemon meringue pie (I have a special copper eggwhitewhipping bowl and a whisk for that). But I bet if I had one of those KA's, it would become difficult to give up. That's why I don't even think about getting one! I do fine without it now, but if it were there, I'd be lost without it. Strange how that works.

Don't you love it how, when you're whisking egg whites or whipping cream, and you start saying to yourself, "This is BS, I'm using an electrical appliance next time," about 30 seconds later is when it starts to firm up?

I wish I could do it with both hands though, so I could rest my right arm. I'm just incapable of making circular motions with my left hand. No reason, no injury, no lack of fine motor dexterity in my left hand, just can't make circles with a spoon or whisk.

[shootingstar]

I no longer bake much at all. But have my 35 yr. old electric handheld beater which continues serves us well when my arm gets tired of beating eggs, etc. I suppose a Kitchenaid mixer would help for arduous dumpfnudel (German plain pastry, like Chinese bao) dough kneading but I know dearie prefers the old fashioned kneading..

Have been tempted over the last few decades to have an all-purpose type of mixing appliance but lack of counter/storage space always stop me dead. We already use top of our fridge for storing some pots and pans. Besides we wouldn't use it often.

I even forget to use our hand wirewhips. It's chopsticks instead.

[Miranda]

I love my Kitchenaid stand mixer too. The thing is bomb-proof. I sought after it when I was taking cake decorating classes put on by Wilton. The stuff we made in there for frosting just blew up my regular hand-held.