Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

As part of the push to prepare more meals at home, this morning I made some pizza dough by hand.

Dang that is some tough work to mix the flour by hand!

So since we don't have a good mixer anyways I was thinking of getting one of the $250-300 Kitchen-Aid mixers with dough hook etc. I seem to recall that they also have a meat grinder and other attachments available too.

Are they a good investment? Got something else you like just as well? They seem to have different motors / bowl sizes etc. ... got a recommendation?

Just my wife and I , we don't need anything for a family of 6 or anything like that.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

I swear by the Vitemix. My wife told me she wanted to buy one and told me the price.......~$600......ouch. I said no fricken way are you buying a blender for that price. Long story short, I caved, she bought.

3 hp motor that will boil tap water in about 3 minutes on high. Great for soups. Can powderize grain into flour (dry blade), add water etc and you have bread dough without even getting your hands wet. Rips fruit down to the cellular level. We use it everyday for fruit smoothies in the morning. I'm sold. And regular.:clap2:

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Kitchenaid all the way.

My grandmother had one for years and years and it never failed her.

YES, if you pay attention to the model you purchase, most will allow you to attach several items.

I would personally recommend one of the professional models that are not cheap. But if you want to buy it ONCE and use it the rest of your life, go with a Kitchenaid Professional version.

You will not be disappointed.

I did a search and came up with this particular post on Amazon about the Pro 600 series. While one owner had a negative experience, it seems that the person still liked the unit. BUT the last post caught my eye:

Product Info regarding gear housing upgrade from KitchenAid, <NOBR>October 7, 2006</NOBR>

Due to the very high number of complaints about the problems people were having with heavy duty tasks (which is what the mixer should have been made for!) due to cheap plastic housing holding the heavy duty metal gears, I contact KitchenAid to find out if this design flaw has been fixed. It has been and here is their response (note that they are saying that if you receive one of the models with the plastic housing they will replace it under warranty with the new metal housing. It is also important to note that the people who've had the problem have almost all stated that KitchenAid had great customer service and replaced their mixers with no ones with no problems.

RESPONSE FROM KITCHENAID: Thank you for visiting the KitchenAid website!

I would like to reassure you that our engineering and product teams have addressed the gear box issue. In fact, we have already implemented a change in the manufacturing of the Pro 600 Stand Mixers to a metal gear box. Although these will be changed out on additional 5 qt bowl-lift models that include all metal gearing, the time line on that is not known at this time. Although a transparent change, this will insure the long-term durability we expect.

I would like to emphasize to you that should you purchase a Stand Mixer (with all metal gearing) which has not been assembled with the upgraded metal gear box, and you should have a problem with your mixer (as a result of the plastic gear box (failure), we will most certainly extend your warranty to resolve the issue properly and effectively.

If you have additional questions, feel free to reply back to me. Or, you may contact either our KitchenAid Customer Satisfaction Center at 1-800-541-6390, or you may visit our secure KitchenAid Live Chat.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

We have a kitchen aid with all the attachments (but haven't used all of them). No problems so far, and works great.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

I had a Kitchenaide a long time ago, and it worked great, but everyone said it wouldn't hold up to serious breadmaking. I bought a Bosch and I love the Bosch. You can knead 6 loaves of bread at once in it. It also has a blender and I got the food processor attachment for it also.

I found an old vitamix at the local fleamarket for $50 and that is an awesome machine also. If we could freeze enough fruit we'd have smoothies everyday for sure.

Good quality kitchen equipment is a sound investment in good health.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Ive got one and love it. I have the sausage stuffer attachment for it, that also doubles as a meat grinder.

I use it on a weekly basis and its yet to fail me, though you can eventualy burn the motor out. The price is coming down on them a bit too which is nice.

THere are better out there though. As a baker, I got used to the big stand mixers (hobarts, etc) where we did 50 lbs of dough or more at a time. With the kitchen, I wouldnt recomend doing more than 2 loaves worth at a time, just to keep the strain off the motor.

Bosch is another good company as well.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Buffalo all the way............

http://www.nextdaycatering.co.uk/ps-...ary-mixer.aspx


scyth

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

We have the professional version, and it's fantastic. Worth every penny.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Do your research on the Kitchenaid models. I think only the pro600 models have the newer metal gear housing. The less expensive models 550? etc have the plastic housing. I checked and there is no replacement/upgrade housing on the model I bought about 10 years ago. To add the meat grinder and other heavy duty work you need the metal model.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

OK, you inspired me - I just busted out the Kitchen Aid Mixes we got 18 years ago.....just made 1 batch of dough as per formula below:

Seems to be just about the right load for the machine....making 2nd batch of dough right now....pretty confident the first dough will work ....so going for 4 loaves total.....beer + bread + soup + grilled venison (the one I "Backstrapped" out of the ditch a few weeks ago) = late dinner for me and the kids tonight....wife is out...I'm running the show.
------------------------------------

Basic White Bread

Yield: 2 loaves

1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 packages active dry yeast
1-1/2 cups warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)
5-6 cups all-purpose flour

Combine milk, sugar, salt and butter in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed bowl. Add lukewarm milk mixture and 4-1/2 cups flour. Attach bowl and dough hook. Turn to Speed 2 and mix 1 minute. Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough clings to hook and cleans bowl. Knead on Speed 2 for 2 minutes longer, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Dough will be slightly sticky to the touch.

Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf and place in a greased 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/2 inch loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

-----------------------

I'm using bulk packed, regular active yeast (not rapid).....I heated about 1/4 cup of water and mixed in 6 teaspoons (lots of mixing) - in 5 minutes it doubled in size....must be good to go....added to mixer with everything all at once......

Going through first rise right now! Have it in oven at 100F with door open cracked open...just warm....

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

The KitchenAid is a really great machine. I've used the dough hook for bread and it sure takes a lot of the work out of it. My personal favorite is the ice cream maker attachment. We've had this mixer for about 8 years and it is a reliable work horse.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Our KitchenAid is still going strong after 10 years, and we have made a lot of bread & cookies in it. It can't handle more than about 3 loaves; the dough starts crawling up the hook with any more than that, but I rarely make more than that and don't mind doing a second batch when I do need more.

We also have the meat grinder attachment and use that pretty regularly too. It's nice not having to worry about what got swept into the hopper along with the meat that's in those grocery chubs of ground meat; I'm not afraid to eat a medium rare burger if I got to see the meat that went into the grinder. We're careful not to run it longer than ~20 minutes while grinding meat so we don't risk burning out the motor; we let it rest between runs.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

I've used both the kitchen aid and bosch. I prefer the Bosch since I think the dough hook does a better job at kneading dough then the kitchen aid. Also the kitchen aid needs more overhead space since the mixer is above the bowl. (It may not fit under a kitchen cabinet.)

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Yep, love my Professional Series KitcheAid; have attachments:

dough hook
wisk hook
mixer paddle
ice cream maker (special bowl/paddle combo)
can opener
sausage stuffer
pasta maker

and my favoriteattachment: grain mill. Great to make fresh ground wheat for fresh whole wheat bread.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

You're a man of many talents rup!

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Being a thrifty person, I have to question the idea of paying $600 for a mixer. I mean honestly, if TSHTF, do you really think you will have power to run that or your freezer? There are likely better things to spend $600 on unless you are rich.

Anyway, I have a food processor that I bought for $10 15 yrs ago at a garage sale. I do dough for 2 large 14" pizza's at a time in it. I've also used a bread machine set on manual, and then pulled the dough out after it was kneaded, but that costed almost $100.

We make pizza's at least once a week, here... We don't make bread too often because I eat it all and get fat if I do, because its irresistible.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

We are currently looking at the Blendtec 3hp...$399. Mostly for fruit/veggie smoothies. We like to blend the seeds with the fruits - even the big avocado seed - as the seeds have maximum nutrition. Only a 3hp blender will do the trick.

Making flour, bread dough, etc. are extras. We are in it for the smoothies and the health benefits of fruits/veggies blended at the cellular level.

Have only read one comparison of the Vitamix and Blendtec, which favored the Blendtec. Will be searching the net for other reviews.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...Cat90&topnav=#

Is this the one you are talking about? Would you think that the Vita-Mix could replace a mixer? Interesting that Costco reviews are 100% positive for it.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

One more vote here for the professional grade Kitchen Aid model. I have had mine for nearly twenty years and it is still going strong. Professional model is definitely the way to go, though. The initial investment is more...but it keeps going...and going...and going.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

When I was looking to get a decent mixer for making bread a few years back, I saw tons of complaints about Kitchen Aid's plastic gearbox housing. Users were having them fail right & left. I'd used Hobart (Kitchen Aid industrial mixers) for over 20 years in an adhesives/sealants lab, and we regularly had to send out the small (~1 gal) mixers for repair. Obviously, we put them through hard use. The 2-5 gal versions were built tougher, and repairs were rare.

I ended up buying an Electrolux Assistent mixer (same as the Magic Mill DLX). It handles the thickest dough with no hassle at all. Even though mine is the older version, with the 450 watt motor (the newer ones have a 600w motor), the only time I need to use the dough hook is when making masa mix for tamales.

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/mag...dlx_mixer.aspx

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Bread Report:

1) Batch #1 = Loaf 1 & 2.....good first rise....but second rise was weak....perhaps I let the yeast go too far in it's initial activation in the water....perhaps I didn't kneed it enough after first rise. Taste was fine , but high density.

2) Batch #2 = Loaf 3 & 4 ROCKED! Was perfect. Put yeast into mixer just after mixing in warm water....did some serious kneeding after first rise.

3) The venison backstraps have been marinating at near freezing for over 2 WEEKS in the beer fridge.....way too long - but smelled fine....they were freaking fantastic! Cut them with a fork.....me and my 5 y.o girl & 6.5 y.o. boy knocked off 2 lbs of steak. Perhaps the best deer I've ever had! You should have been here - beyond description......it was like liquid meat melting in our mouths.

4) I had a bottle of the cheapest, sweetest Champagne (Cooks) money can buy - I load up on 5 cases at the local grocery store on their January 2 blow-out sale....I think I paid $3/bottle last year......we have it all the time with dinner.

I even let the kids have some Champagne watered down with their orange pop....it's out of control around here when mom leaves....and we are staying up at least 1 hr past normal bedtime!

Ruprick is living the dream!

The belly is full after an entire bottle on my own....over a pound of steak....and nearly a loaf of bread with real butter, and strawberry preserves.....we just ate the hot bread and strawberry preserves as desert.

The simplest things in life are the best!

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

I have a Kitchenaide as well. The dough hook is a time and labor saver.


I still do the 2nd knead by hand though. Makes awesome dough...


No problems yet.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

You live in northern California I'll sell you a practically brand new one for $100 off list. They are made well no doubt but there are probably about as many Kitchen Aid mixers taking up closet space in households as barbells taking up space in basements.


Think twice before buying a Kitchen Aid, not because they are not well made but because you may end up never using it.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

we have a kitchenaid
My wife loves it. And so do I.

But we make pizza dough by hand (not hard at all really)

Now, here are the reviews for the Grain mill attachment.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

For one, the Kitchen Aid I originally asked about is about $250-300.

But it is a fair question to ask.

The reality is my wife and I eat out too much, and I realized that if it is tough for ME to make the dough, being physically stronger, it would be even tougher for my wife, and further, it is not fair to ask her to make food at home instead of eating out, without trying to have the right tools for the job.

Thus my thinking is:

1) make homemade bread, save $1 per loaf;

2) eat in just one more time per week than before, save at least $15 /week.

Thus over a few years, making 200 loaves of bread, or avoiding eating out 20 times, and the mixer is paid for.

Today's pizza I clumsily made, with wrong measurements and not the right toppings, was still good enough that my wife had 3 pieces, which is the most she ever eats - once I get good at it, she will prefer homemade pizza to the local $11/pie place that we patronize when she wants pizza.

TSHTF means different things to different people.

My view, the decline has already started and part of being ready means being able to cut back expenses quickly and having the tools at hand to feed yourself. Electricity will not go off, worse case scenario barring nukes is that (like 3rd world countries) it only works some number of hours per day and is more expensive in real terms.

For now, we can buy flour locally rather than grind it - but I will still get the meat/pasta/mill grinder attachment, then I can grind up my own wheat, as well as make more of my own stuff if I choose. Plus I can more easily make good homemade pasta sauce (another way to economize), which will also be healthier than store-bought.

After that, maybe I will learn how to can some pasta sauce and other things, or maybe get a pressure cooker.

I only buy used things if they are in a field I have some expertise in; thus I buy used / refurb computers for my business because I can properly evaluate them. Kitchen appliances are not my specialty; so I would rather buy a quality new item.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Have kitchen aid here stand mixer, too. Mine quickly malfunctioned after purchase , the gears in lifting lever messed up, but kitchen aid replaced it quickly. We go through phases where we use it a bit, but I prefer to let my bread machine do the work. My stand mixer is the least used item in the kitchen.

Drifting off topic, I have a kitchen full of kitchen aid appliances that i bought in 2001. They're overpriced junk, IMO. All appliances have needed repairs at least twice.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

BTW, have you tried no knead dough recipies? It takes time, but it's so easy.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Well, for me, space is really the big problem. We have a bread machine and a food processor, and every other normal kitchen appliance EXCEPT a stand mixer. I was thinking about getting one (found one under 1 yr old for $120 on craigslist), but the wife nixxed it because literally there is no place to put it unless something else goes. I guess there are times it would be nice to have, but usually one of the other two will do the job pretty well.

The key, IMO, is to make Pizza better than the ones you'd buy. When you get it to that point, the kids don't WANT take out pizza, they want home made, and you really can't put a price tag on something like that.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

OK, update ... my older brother has both a Kitchen Aid AND a Vita Mix blender. So I should be able to test it all out before buying anything.

They said that they don't use the Kitchen Aid mixer all that much but do use the Vita Mix for smoothies, soup, and that it can also do dough as well (2.1hp or so motor).

Thanks for all your comments on this subject, GIMers!

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Wouldn't trade my Kitchen Aid for anything in the world! It gets used regularly around here.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

YES!!!

No knead bread is most excellent. Not as flavorful as sourdough, but it has a great crust & overall texture. VERY easy to make, no need for a mixer. Just a bowl & spoon (plus the dutch oven for baking).

See:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html

http://steamykitchen.com/168-no-knea...revisited.html

http://users.california.com/~parvin/no-kneadbread.html

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

I have a Hobart N50. Two, in fact. It's an excellent, very heavy duty 5 qt. mixer. Expensive, but worth it.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

KA and I have melded into the kitchen equivalent of Cyborg. I know how much of what to put in by ear. No kidding. The cheap unit is what I got some 10 years back. I have lots of acc's, but the shredder is the most commonly used-cheese and potes.
If I had to do it over again, I'd get a higher wattage version and underwork it. The
(250?) watt I have can't grunt through pasta. My suspicion is that complaints of the plastic gearbox might be traced to stupid operators......but I'm a mekkanik and don't know a thing about that.......
Screw SHTF. Get a mechanized helper and you'll breeze through anything from pie crusts to biscuits....sauces, garnish, sausage.....

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

I have a Bosch mixer, wonderful machine

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

You can order factory refurbished KitchenAid stand mixers complete with warranties:

http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/produc...T1=KTA+RRK5AWH

That's a $370 mixer for $209.

Re: Kitchen Aid mixer (with dough hook) - recommended?
 

Update: Costco is selling new Kitchen Aid 5qt professional series (475W motor) for $249.95 - this is the kind that lifts up the bowl rather than the head tilting upwards.

And if I read Costco's return policy correctly, they are basically guaranteeing it for as long as I am a member (it is not a laptop or electronic device).