Review: KitchenAid Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a workhorse. As a cooking instructor, I've had the opportunity to cook with KitchenAid, Viking, Cuisinart, and Sunbeam stand mixers. Frankly I purchased my KA before having the opportunity to use the other brands, but, having used them, I like the KitchenAid Stand Mixer best. I only wish I'd gotten a larger and more powerful unit.

Manufacturer's Site

Description: Model KSM150PS

• 22.8 pounds
• 325 watts
• 5 qt bowl
• 10 speeds
• Power take-off for attachments
• Tilt head

Pros

• Heavy enough to minimize "walking" with heavy loads
• Wide assortment of attachments
• Convenient tilt-head
• History of high reliability
• Low price relative to similar sets

Cons

• This model really can't handle more than two loves of bread per batch

Price: $349.99 MSRP

Back in 1994 I decided to get into bread baking again, I was completely unimpressed with bread produced by the automatic bread bakers but back problems made kneading bread by hand painful, so I bought a KitchenAid Stand Mixer.

I chose a KitchenAid stand mixer for two reasons, first I had a friend who just passed her 40-year-old KA on to her grand-daughter - that's impressive longevity, durability, and dependability. I use my stand mixer two or three times a months and it has been rock solid - despite the occasional over-optimistic bread recipe.

Second, I was interested in making sausage and the KitchenAid stand mixer offered a meat grinding attachment and sausage stuffer. In fact there are loads of attachments for a KA. The standard packages provide a bowl, whisk, dough hook, paddle-mixer, and assorted shredders for vegetables and cheese. Other add-on attachments include a fruit and vegetable grinder/juicer, a sausage stuffer, a a grain mill, a citrus juicer, and an ice cream maker.

The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is powerful, convenient to use, has loads of add-ons, and a rock-solid history of dependability. If I were to make my decision over again I'd still choose KA, but given the amount of bread-baking I do, including some rather large recipes, I'd select a the professional model with the 6 qt. bowl. Nevertheless, as far as I'm concerned a KitchenAid Stand Mixer is the one to buy. And if the past is any indication, I'll still be getting along with this unit 20 or more years from now.