Time to get a new stand mixer!

By Breville 5 Quart stand mixer died, it couldn't handle any real workhorse tasks for too long, mixing a brioche could cause the engine to smoke.

Now that I am in the market for a new mixer, I'd like the ChefSteps community to make some recommendations, must remain under $1000. I do not like the Kitchen Aid pro, the engine has the same issues as my old Breville... so what are my other options? I'm looking for a real workhorse of a motor, the Kenwood Cooking Machine is really impressive with it's 800w motor and induction cooking element built in - but it is 2x my budget. The little brother Kenwood Chef Major KMM020 appears to be equally as good, but without the induction cooking component. What is your opinion of the Kenwood? I won't be using the blender attachment, just need it for the mixer functions alone.

What about some of the lesser known options, such as the Hamilton Beach CPM700? It looks a lot like the Kenwood and has similar specs, but is much cheaper - are they the same products? Some Amazon reviews claim its not as good, others say otherwise. The Globe (5Qt stand mixer for home) and Waring Pro also get a lot of buzz from pastry chefs working at home, opinions? I also looked into the Viking which was heavily featured in early ChefSteps videos, but that is no longer available.

Help????

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Johan_Edstrom_5586

I have to say I love my Kitchen Aid Professional.

Brendan_Lee_56950

From my research it depends on when you got your kitchenaid pro. Mine and presumably yours are old enough to include mostly all metal parts but the newer models have a lot of nylon components that are prone to breaking.

bkeene12

Based on @Brendan_Lee_56950's comment, perhaps it is best to look for a lightly used Kitchen Aid Pro on eBay. I love the one I inherited despite the fact that it is twenty years old.

ttpoker

Modern machines that are well built should out perform any old school Kitchen Aid mixers. I'd rather look at new technology. Additionally there has been improvements in the design of the accessories, for example Kenwood now has a folding accessory which works great, new bowl shapes that cut down on time and retain the temperature better (cold bowls = awesome!), but my favorite of all are the new flexible beaters which result in better batter mixes with less wastage.

PS: Brendan Lee is right about the current line of KA machines, all reports come back saying they are not well built and underpowered.

Johan_Edstrom_5586

I'm sorry

I actually have the 8qt Commercial (I just realized that), it is super duty sturdy.

Brendan_Lee_56950

I have the same one. It has been a tank but it's probably a decade old now

ttpoker

The 8qt Commercial is a very good unit, but its outside the price range defined.

ttpoker

UPDATE: Johan and Brendan convinced me to go with the KitchenAid Commercial line, the 8QT model is available on Amazon for under $600. This video also helped: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5mBOGte5Zo

Question for Brendan and Johan: can you make a small amount of meringue with just 2 egg whites? Do you recomend getting a smaller 5QT bowl to work alongside the main 5QT bowl (if that is possible - I don't know if it is).

Edwardo_30331

As an engineer & chef, I spent a long time looking at what each brand makes & where they fail. I bought a (USA 110v) KA Pro 600 (made 12/2014). With all KA machines, its how you use it & KA tells you many times.

Dough hook & all Dough run it on 2 (nothing else!) you would never need to run a dough for more than 8 minutes, Ever! The KA hook will make 1kg of dough in about 6 minutes max, the book says 4.

I pulled my machine apart the day I got it ( in Thailand, so its never going back) & everything is metal, well fitted & gears full of grease.

The thing to understand is that once you load up the whisk or paddle at high speed with a heavy load then the motor will draw more power to try to keep the speed up (it has a circuit & sensor to do exactly that), then the motor will start to get hot & will start to put pressure on the bearings trying to keep the gears turning, feel the back of the motor housing, if its getting too hot to touch, you are doing it wrong.

I have every attachment KA make & they all have what speed setting to use.

No matter what brand, Buy the biggest Watts motor you can afford (or is available). read exactly what settings to use.

The bottom line is that if you make bread or pasta every day then buy a trucking big KA!

Cheers, Ed

ttpoker

Update: I need at least 3 egg whites to get a meringue working with the mixer by itself, or if I get the meringue manually started the KA can take over.

Jeremy_131558

i have read in several reviews that KA has gone back to metal gear drive on the pro 600. it apparently is noisy which some folks hate but i will take longevity any day. Anyone have proof of this?

I noticed you guys using what looks like the KA commercial 7qt in some videos. How do you like it compared to the Viking or even the KA pro 600?

ttpoker

My understanding is that the Viking was a repackaged Kenwood. Also important to note that the Viking stand mixer has been discontinued recently.

Jeremy_131558

Oh that is good to know, thank you. I was having trouble finding the one I recognized from the old videos.

There is really just too much fluff to sift through in regards to buying a stand mixer. I'm currently looking for my first and having a hell of a time deciding. I'm very new to baking so I probably can skip the big fancy commercial style and go with something else however, it seems the jury is out on which way to go. I don't think I can justify 500$ for a mixer but I just hate the idea of buying something twice. Do it right the first time, usually my motto.

Any suggestions other than the KA?

Cisy_221142

How about Toastmaster Hand Mixer, the design is great, and 5 speeds for selection, it's really a good helper for kitchen.

ttpoker

respectfully, this is a horrible suggestion. That is a piece of junk.

AngelArs_240456

Gotta say, still love my KitchenAid;

http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/countertop-appliances-1/stand-mixers-3/102020156/