| Thirty percent more powerful than KitchenAid’s previous 5-quart stand mixers, this professional model efficiently tackles heavy loads with its 450-watt motor, direct-drive all-steel gear transmission, and bowl-lift lever that effortlessly raises heavy ingredients up to the beater. KitchenAid stand mixers, constructed of durable die-cast metal, come in a variety of colors and styles that have become American classics. With a choice of ten speeds and three attachments--flat beater, spiral dough hook, and stainless-steel wire whip--the mixer handles everything from egg whites to meat loaf to pizza dough. Rather than rotating the bowl, KitchenAid stand mixers feature a fixed bowl with a unique mixing action: the beater spins clockwise as the shaft spins counter-clockwise, thus projecting the beater to 67 different points inside the 5-quart stainless-steel bowl. In deference to its power, the Soft-Start feature prevents splashing and flour clouds by gearing up to each speed gradually; then the electronic speed sensor kicks in to maintain a constant speed even when mixing the thickest batter. The bowl features a handle as well as two pins that hook into the lifting mechanism, which consists of a solid metal arm the same color as the mixer and a stainless-steel lever. A hinged attachment hub makes changing attachments easy. For safety, the mixer shuts down if an object obstructs the mixing process or if overloading occurs. The bowl, beater, and dough hook are dishwasher-safe. Assembled in Ohio, the mixer measures 16-1/2 by 12 by 14 inches and is backed by a hassle-free, one-year warranty. --Ann Bieri What’s In the Box
Stand mixer; 5-quart stainless-steel bowl; flat beater; spiral dough hook; wire whip. |
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 Is it Sad if You Love an Appliance? |
| Review Date: March 4, 2005 |
| Reviewer: J. Sheriff, St. Louis, MO |
I received this mixer as a gift, and honestly, it is so great that I almost feel guilty I don't use it every day. I have heard good things about the reliability of Kitchen Aid mixers, and this one is far more powerful than what I actually need it to do.
One especially great thing is the slow-start feature--I do a lot of cake batter and icings, and it's nice to avoid getting flour all over the cabinets after each round of mixing. It mixes very thoroughly, although I was initially suspicious since the bowl doesn't rotate. You do have to stop and scrape the bowl, as with any mixer.
The machine is also incredibly quiet--it makes less noise than the microwave does. I like the fact that the bowl and white attachments are dishwasher safe, too. It might seem trivial, but I also like the styling of the wider bowl that comes standard with this model, instead of the narrower one that comes with the Artisan.
At first I thought the bowl-lift thing might be uncomfortable to use, since I'm used to tilt-head stand mixers. The bowl has two tabs with holes that fit on either side of the mixer, plus a metal nub that rests in a slot at the back. Once those three points are secure, you rotate the lever to lift the bowl to mixing position, and it's very stable.
I've only found two minor inconveniences with this machine. First, it's pretty tall, so it won't fit on the counter underneath my cabinets--I have to move it back and forth from another shelf to use it, and it's heavy. Second, when you're done mixing and lower the bowl, it's hard to scrape all the stuff off the beater because you can't get a good angle. So you have to detach the beater and let it fall into the bowl and when the bowl is off the mixer you can scrape everything out. Thinner stuff like cake batter wouldn't be a problem, but for frosting or mashed potatoes, a lot of stuff is left on the beater. This is not a big deal--just a different thing to get used to after a tilt-head mixer.
I have the cobalt blue model, and I hesitated because I thought it might be too "loud," but it's beautiful and I'm so glad I got this one.
I'm not a professional baker, but I use my mixer frequently, and I'm delighted to have something that looks great and works so well. |
POWERHOUSE MACHINE!
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| Review Date: November 29, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Ed, Surprise, AZ United States |
| This machine replaces a Kitchenaid mixer (still running strong) that we have had for 25 years. The slow start feature is helpful when mixing dry ingredients, no shower of flour. The new dough hook is spiral shaped with no shield on the top; it is a major improvement. The kneeding is more like you would do by hand, rather than the rotating ball in the bowl. The 450 watt motor offers more than sufficent power for anyone who makes bread. Kitchenaid still builds a quality product that is solid, dependable and a pleasure to own. |
I would not buy a different mixer
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| Review Date: March 23, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Sammy Madison, USA |
| If you bake heavy bread doughs or large batches, this is the mixer for you. I had a slightly smaller Kitchen Aid mixer, which I also loved, but the extra size and motor power of this model is invaluable. It is a beautiful machine. It is heavy and quiet, and very powerful, like an expensive luxury automobile. It is also very beautiful, I have it in red, and it is just gorgeous with my red le creuset pans (they have the exact same color and finish). It has a very useful feature where it starts out slow when you first turn it on, then gradually speeds up. This keeps things from slopping out of the mixing bowl. There are three things I do not especially like about this mixer, but you will notice I give the machine 5 stars anyway. The first problem is really minor. It takes some degree of coordination to get the bayonet at the back of the mixing bowl attached to the mixer. The other two problems stem from the top of the mixer not swinging up, as it does on the smaller mixers. Using the plastic chute accessory to load ingredients is a bother, so I soon stopped doing that. When I put ingredients into the bowl, it is kind of an awkward, messy procedure. Then, when you finish mixing, it is also awkward to get the beater out of your food product. If something were to happen to the machine I own, these problems would not keep me from buying the same exact machine again. For people who cook large batches, this mixer is just wonderful. If you don't really need the volume, you would be happier with one of the smaller mixers, the top of which swing up. |
I love it...
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| Review Date: April 1, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Baker Boy, Milpitas, CA |
| If you're looking for a heavy duty mixer that almost belongs in a restaurant but is really for the home, this is the one for you. A couple of things to be aware of though. This mixer is a bit louder than the artisans. And because it has the lifting bowl design, it's slightly taller. You may want to measure the height of your counter-to-cabinet space. The mixer doesn't fit under some of my cabinets. |
I never knew what a difference it could make
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| Review Date: September 16, 2006 |
| Reviewer: S. Hayes, MN |
Had I known what a difference this would make with my cooking, I would have bought one a long time ago. Everything is faster, now, and everything I mix, from potatoes to icing, comes out smoother, too.
There are a variety of things you can make with this mixer, and I use mine a lot. Perhaps not every single day, but almost. I bake bread with it every few days, and I decorate cakes for parties and special occasions on the side. My mixer has never let me down. In fact, I am buying an extra bowl just for convenience, too.
Sometimes you do get a strange smell when you use it to whip something up. They even tell you in your mixer's manual to expect it and that it is normal.
I've had mine for almost a year, now, and was waiting until I had it awhile before I reviewed it. But I have yet to have any problems with it.
It's cut preparation time more than half for everything I've made with it. From cakes to meatloaf and bread. It's sturdy and somewhat heavy, which means it's not going to easily be knocked off your counter.
It does have a slow start to prevent flour from going all over. However, if you are using a lot of powdered sugar or flour to the point of it being more than half full, you will still want to use the stir speed until it's a little more settled and moist or you will end up with a mess. Not a big one, but a mess nonetheless.
It comes with a book of recipes, but I've only used a few. I've never had any issues with it handling all the cookie dough and other heavy doughs I've mixed with it, however. In fact, I've made more cookies just since getting this than I did for years before. It's just so convenient and easy that I don't mind. I mean heavy doughs, too, like monster cookies and peanut butter m&m cookies, etc.
I don't know what else to say about it. I don't think you will be disappointed in this purchase. I'm usually someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money, but this was more than worth it, and I will be buying my daughter one someday, too. |
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