Do you have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer & do you really use it?

[chloeandj]

I use mine all the time. It is especially handy for me to shred chicken. I take chicken breasts out of the crockpot throw them into the mixer and have perfectly shredded chicken in ten seconds. I love to bake also so ileave it on the counter.

[capt_noonie]

I have one of the older ones. I think it was around $299. It was just when the red and other colors came out, but I still liked the black. Glad I didn't get the red or pink one. But I don't use it much. I don't bake, and don't really eat sweets. IF I have a sugar craving, I'm good with one cookie and that's it, so it wouldn't make sense to bake a whole batch of cookies.

That said, I do use it to make mashed potatoes, and everyone always tells me it's the best and creamiest mashed potatoes they've ever had.

Mine's in my cupboard. Not much room on my countertop. I have a Vitamix, deep fryer, rice cooker (making black garlic), and usually about 4 bottles of kombucha brewing, along with half drank bottles of Bacardi. Those are all pretty much daily use appliances. Then the every week or so comes out the Crock pot and food processor.

[ShowGirlLola]

I have a bright purple one, it's beautiful.

My kitchen is tiny, so it has to stay in a cabinet. My grandmom goes way overboard with baking during the holidays, or rather she makes me. I just made 6 pumpkin pies and 6 custards for Thanksgiving and I'll have to do it again, plus cookies for Christmas. Then in February I make an Italian rum cake for my mom. I also use it for the occassional cake and homemade icing.
I love my mixer, but it is heavy.

The only thing I hate is when I touch the top of the wire beater I get black junk on my fingers. My mixer is from 2006, so this may have changed.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Just be sure to shy away from KitchenAid blenders unless they've changed production materials. Despite the cost of the machine, the material of the black base of the blades crumbled into pieces about 6 years after I bought it! Loved it until then.

[GracieJane]

Oh, my gosh! I thought they were cool for years, but hesitated to spend the money. Finally, I got one for Christmas a few years ago. Who cares if it goes unused for weeks at a time? The chicken shredding thing is for real, and that alone makes it worth the cash. Add in a few batches of Christmas cookies, and it is on the short list of appliances I will not ever get rid of. Electric frying pan--gone! Fancy cappuccino maker--never used. Blenders--can't even remember if there is one somewhere in a cabinet. Indoor griddle--just a novelty. Take away my Kitchenaid? Not a chance!

By the way, for the poster who says that the beater leaves black marks on her hand, wash any dry by hand only. It makes a huge difference.

[dbeach]

I have the Pro 600 with a 6 qt stainless steel bowl....love it. I do make large batches of cookies and it makes it so much easier to make tons of cookies at Christmas time. I even purchased an extra 6 qt. bowl with a lid so that I wouldn't have to keep washing the one bowl when making several kinds of cookies. I also have quite a few attachments, the pasta maker is a lot of fun and makes great ravioli.

The machine is also great for making the best whipped cream. For recipes like sponge cake, that you have to beat the eggs for like 5 minutes, it's sure nice to not have to use a hand mixer.

I keep mine on the counter and I purchased a hand made cover that I bought on Etsy with my name on it

My confession, I'm getting a second one with another Etsy embroidered cover for Christmas this year...that's how much I use them.

P.S. They sell blades now that have an enamel coating with a rubber scraper on them...worth the purchase!

Debbie

[KazzyK810]

I had one at the last house. I didn't have room for it on the counter, and it was too large to fit in the corner appliance garage, so i kept it on the bottom shelf of my pantry, which was a great place to keep it as the shelf was too low and too deep to keep much else. The pantry was only four feet from the edge of the peninsula shaped counter, and I very, rarely took it out. Admittedly I rarely cook or bake much anyway, but even the few times I did (after the first three months), I wouldn't go to the trouble of pulling it out. It was heavy, and it wasn't even the big pro grade kind (I paid $350 for it). I would always reach for my little hand mixer that I kept in the top drawer next to the oven. (It was $25 at Hudsons about 20 years ago, and is still going strong!)

My Mum's friend bought my Kitchen Aid when I moved house. She has a big kitchen and has it on her counter and uses it regularly. She also bought additional attachments for it (it only came with three) and makes, pasta, bread & all kinds of stuff with it.

I say go for it, if you're much of a cook, but find somewhere accessible to keep it or you're not likely to pull it out for daily small jobs.

[ShowGirlLola]

Originally Posted by GracieJane

By the way, for the poster who says that the beater leaves black marks on her hand, wash any dry by hand only. It makes a huge difference.

that's not gonna happen

Originally Posted by dbeach

P.S. They sell blades now that have an enamel coating with a rubber scraper on them...worth the purchase!

What do you use it for? I just bought one

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by GracieJane

Oh, my gosh! I thought they were cool for years, but hesitated to spend the money. Finally, I got one for Christmas a few years ago. Who cares if it goes unused for weeks at a time? The chicken shredding thing is for real, and that alone makes it worth the cash. Add in a few batches of Christmas cookies, and it is on the short list of appliances I will not ever get rid of. Electric frying pan--gone! Fancy cappuccino maker--never used. Blenders--can't even remember if there is one somewhere in a cabinet. Indoor griddle--just a novelty. Take away my Kitchenaid? Not a chance!

By the way, for the poster who says that the beater leaves black marks on her hand, wash any dry by hand only. It makes a huge difference.

How do you get through summertime? How do you make daiquiris and margaritas??? A blender is a must have for me! I've never had one that lasted more than a couple of years though. I'd love a recommendation on a good blender that can handle a lot of ice crushing.

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'm considering buying a KitchenAid stand mixer bc there are some great deals out there right now....but I'm wondering -- if you have one, do you really drag it out to use it much? Or, do you just still use your hand mixer for the most part instead?

I'd be storing mine in the cupboard (not on counter) and I can see myself being lazy about dragging it out and instead just defaulting to my hand mixer. So I'm just not sure it's worth the cost or not....thoughts?

I have always envied people who have the counter space to keep these on display or the storage place to store them!


Their sheer size and the cost has put me off buying one.


I use my hand mixer for desserts, my food processer for other things and my bread maker for bread. I have not found any justification for the price on this basis.


But, if you do buy one, please let me know and take a picture so I can add you to the envy list..lol

[Lisa and Pic]

I have one from my mom when she moved. I never really used it though and kept it in the basement. However, last year when I was making Christmas cookies my hand mixer stopped working in the middle of a baking session, so I dragged it out. Wow, it was so much easier. But, it is back in the basement again. Glad you posted as a reminder to get it back out.

[dalady25]

I have a 2 YO Candy Apple Red 325 watt Artisan Design with the glass bowl & I LOVE it. I don't really like things on my counter tops but do have lots of it so that's where it stays. I love just looking at it & LOVE using it. I'm not sure I would have bought it though b/c I already had a 30 YO blue one that was in perfect condition (the one appliance with which I have never had a problem). One day I mentioned to my husband how much I loved the look of the red one with that glass bowl, but knew I couldn't justify buying a new one. So, without a word to me, he took it upon himself to order it ---sweet husband.

[chachi]

Ann I have had one for years and wouldnt be without one and now there are so many accessories for it you can about do everything with it. IM going to get the juicer accessorie soon

[Wylie's Mom]

Thanks so much everyone...so interesting to see how everyone uses their mixer. I'm leaning toward not getting one bc the more I think about it, the more I realize I'll hardly ever use it and I'd be lazy to get it out, and think I would instead just grab my trusty easy hand mixer....but not totally sure yet !

[margaritaville]

I have the Professional 550 Plus and I got it at Costco about 3 years ago. Many years ago I purchased one at the Army PX and had it for about 30 yrs. before it died. Size and weight led me to believe I would rather have a hand mixer but I made cookies for the entire family at Christmas and was burning out a hand mixer every year.

So I went back to the Kitchen Aid in silver to match and it sits on my counter. I would love to have the shelf that lifts out of the cabinet. It's great for making cookies, cakes and pizza dough. I also have a blender stick that I use for smoothies, etc.

My option.......go for it if you'll use it.