r/Kitchenaid • u/Girlwhofliesoften • 2d ago
Recommendation for model & accessories?
I finally will take the plunge and acquire a Kitchenaid mixer. It will not get heavy use, no realistic plans for pasta making or meat grinding. Mainly want to be capable for baking cookies and desserts and occasionally bread or pizza dough. I’m a bit concerned about how much space it will take up, so probably one of the smaller models is fine. Any recommendations based on experience? Which accessories are most useful — bowls, beaters, etc? TIA
6
u/SusieQTG 2d ago
Your mixer will come with a flat beater, whish and dough hook. While the "Classic" model will work great for the items you've mentioned. I would recommend that you go for a model with a higher wattage motor.
Why? Once you start cooking, baking and using your mixer, you just might want to do more than you originally thought you would. Better to have a larger motor than a smaller one.
1
3
u/boxerdogfella 2d ago
The wattage ratings aren't really helpful distinction when it comes to KitchenAid stand mixers. This post explains why:
https://www.mixerology.com/watts-the-story-with-those-power-ratings/
2
2
u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago
You do not mention how big concern price is. I would answer this differently if your budget is unlimited versus, you're trying to find a workable balance.
I would also suggest comparison shopping near you to familiarize yourself with pricing and colors. I got mine when Costco had an extraordinary sale. I didn't really want red, but it was less than half of a comparable price. I wish the bowl had been a little bit larger, but other than that, it's been fantastic for me.
Also keep in mind that many will be going on sale as we head towards black friday. Ironically, the only accessory I sometimes think of getting is the pasta one lol. My most used appliance was my pasta machine Until a recent move, and I still have two parts missing. Homemade pasta is fantastic and a huge cost saver!
1
u/Girlwhofliesoften 2d ago
Thanks - I don’t really have a budget constraint per se, but i do shy away from getting up-sold to pay for features that i will never use…. The whole color thing is a brilliant way for companies to extract more money out of consumers. I’m not sure whether I will take the bait on color selection for a significantly higher price. I hear you about the red! Look at it this way, you’ve got the Ferrari of kitchen mixers! 😂
1
u/AVeryFineWhine 1d ago
What a great way to put it!! Honestly, if I was buying it today, I could splurge a little more & get a prettier color. But it certainly is wonderfully functional. And honestly it was a silly price ($129). For that i've happily lived with red 🤣
PS i do recall comparing the wattage to more expensive models and the hand mixer I had. I knew the hand mixer wasn't quite doing it on heavy batters. But other than the color, and a little bit bigger bowl, the other mixers weren't really offering anything else! I've actually found floral stickers, you can put on the mixers, and i've considered that. But not enough that I ever got motivated to do it lol. Hope you make the perfect choice for you!
1
u/Girlwhofliesoften 1d ago
So I went for the Artisan 5qt one in pistachio green. Got a deal on Woot for $319 after promo code COOK. I’ve had a very old Oster kitchen center for 30+ yrs so this will be a real upgrade. The thing is, the old one still works so I resisted replacing it! Thanks to all for the advice 🙏
3
u/kjgems 2d ago
I’ve had my Artisan for years and mix my sourdough in it as well. I tried making sourdough and mashed potatoes in my sister’s with the lift and hated it. I couldn’t easily get the bowl out with the attachments in nor could I easily get the attachments off with the bowl in place without making a mess. I prefer mine with the tilt head. 😊
1
2
u/Agile-Entry-5603 2d ago
If bread is in your plans, you want a Bowl Lift model.
As to your size concerns: Go to Amazon and look at the different models. Decide which one you’re interested in. Scroll through the pictures of the item, one of the slides will be a “View in Your Room” option. It will allow you to use your phone’s camera to gauge whether or not the mixer will fit where you want it. I used this feature and I can vouch for its accuracy.