Stand Mixers

Doublej · « **on:** 16 Dec 2012, 01:21 am »

Anyone know which issue of Consumer Reports had the stand mixer review in which they dethrone Kitchen Aid as the king of mixers in favor of Breville?

I am thinking about getting my wife a stand mixer for Christmas and am trying to figure out if I should go Kitchen Aid or Breville.

David C · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Dec 2012, 01:35 am »

Went with the Kitchen Aid 2 years ago and my wife loves it. I don't know about the Breville but the Kitchen Aid also has attachments (must be purchased separately) such as a pasta machine that give it great versatility down the road

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Dec 2012, 07:08 am »

The biggest issue with the KA is that the gears are plastic. It works fine for regular stuff but if you do a lot of bread dough you'll kill the machine a lot faster than normal. Not a lot of good affordable alternatives, though.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Dec 2012, 04:10 pm »

For a guy that is so inclined, are the gears replaceable?

I've been drooling over the KA units for a few years now. I just find it a tough pill to swallow....that much money for a mixer...
Plus, I can't decide if I should get the $200, $300, $400 or the mega $500 unit.

I watch a lot of cooking shows. I can't recall any of them using any machine other than the KA.
Bob

ctviggen · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Dec 2012, 04:17 pm »

If you do get a Kitchen Aid, I recommend the kind where the bowl drops down, and not the kind where the head rotates upward (which is the kind I have). The kind I have makes it too hard to get into the bowl. Costco usually has a pretty good price on the kind where the bowl drops down.

I think the versions where the bowl drops down are a little higher power, too, which is good.

As for shows using Kitchen Aid, I wouldn't put too much "stock" (pardon the pun) into those. KA probably pays them to use their product.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Dec 2012, 04:20 pm »

Good point about "product placement". Very true.

Interesting about the bowl drop versus the head tilt. I hadn't thought about that being an issue.

Thanks!

ecramer · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Dec 2012, 04:51 pm »

Personally this is my fav stand mixer

Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine

Bosch Mixers

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Dec 2012, 05:27 am »

I'm not sure if the gears can be replaced, but I second the recommendation for the Bosch. That or bite the bullet and get a food processor that's pro grade. That said, the KA will probably last you 10 years if you don't use it make pizza or bread dough all the time.