Stand Mixers - KitchenAid, Cuisinart, something else?

[countthestars]

My mom bakes often, but doesn't make anything complicated (usually cookies, muffins, cake). She does not have a stand mixer, and I'd like to get her one. I personally have a KitchenAid that I got for my wedding, but I'm not sure if I need to shell out $400 for a KA for her, or if there is another that is just as good, particularly for her use cases. One thing that I'd love to be able to have is a second bowl, which I do use often with my KA (chill cookies in one bowl while mixing another batch, for example). 

[gottadobe]

Does she have a space where the mixer will live permanently, or will she have to move it?
My mom wanted a KitchenAid for YEARS and when she finally got one, it was too heavy for her to move and she never used it.

[tacokick]

Costco often has Kitchenaids in the $220 range.

I have a Breville Stand mixer I like a lot but it’s $$ but I also have a Breville hand mixer. The hand mixer is pretty heavy duty if she doesn’t have the space for a stand mixer. I use these Viking bowls with lids and grippy bottoms with it or plastic grippy OXO bowls.

[leahcar]

Jan 22, 2024 12:54:23 GMT -5 gottadobe said:

Does she have a space where she will live permanently, or will she have to move it?
My mom wanted a KitchenAid for YEARS and when she finally got one, it was too heavy for her to move and she never used it.

This. I bake a lot and have had a KitchenAid for 13ish years. I don’t have a permanent counter space for it in the house so it gets used less often. I have a roller for it in my pantry, but it’s a PITA to get it out. I only use it for big baking events now. I used it for EVERYTHING, even pancakes, at our old house because it was convenient.

[mala]

Kitchenaid has taken a reputation hit in the baking industry in the past couple of years as they replace metal parts with plastic to reduce price. If you can find one on sale it's still worth it, but I wouldn't pay full price for them anymore.

[countthestars]

Jan 22, 2024 12:54:23 GMT -5 gottadobe said:

Does she have a space where she will live permanently, or will she have to move it?
My mom wanted a KitchenAid for YEARS and when she finally got one, it was too heavy for her to move and she never used it.

Good question! I do hate this about my KA. I may need to ask her before surprising her with this, but I do have a thought of where I'd keep it if I were her. She's got a corner cabinet like this one between the countertop and uppers that has just a few small things in it:

[k3am]

Does she WANT a kitchenaid?

9 times out of 10, I prefer my 40 year old electric hand mixer which is just so much more convenient. DH is really the only one who uses the kitchenaid and even then, it's usually for making pasta.

[heygrey]

I have a Cusinart 500w mixer and I love it. I used a Kitchen Aid for a while (a friend loaned it to me while she was overseas) and I prefer mine. The 500w is the same price as a less powerful KA.

It is heavy, like a KA. Either she needs a dedicated spot for it or the ability to lift it for storage.

www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-SM-50BK-Stand-Mixer-Black/dp/B074MQBTFX/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=cuisinart+500w+mixer&qid=1705946973&sr=8-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

[countthestars]

Jan 22, 2024 13:12:04 GMT -5 k3am said:

Does she WANT a kitchenaid?

9 times out of 10, I prefer my 40 year old electric hand mixer which is just so much more convenient. DH is really the only one who uses the kitchenaid and even then, it's usually for making pasta.

I think she does, but I would definitely confirm before I buy! She mentioned while we were making Christmas Cookies that it would be nice, and that she doesn't because they're expensive. She is helping me with my kids for a couple of work trips H and I have to take, so I'm thinking I could buy her one as "payment" (she won't take money). 

[cereal K]

I have a 5qt KA (my parents bought it for my grandma years ago, and she never used it because she didn't have space on her counters and it was too heavy for her - I got it when she passed away).

Ours doesn't sit on the counter; it's in a cabinet as is our hand mixer. I find myself reaching for my hand mixer much more frequently than I reach for my KA. It's a lot easier to move and around and clean, and it does the same job.

I basically only pull the KA out when I want to make marshmallows.

[arehopsveggies]

I’ve always been a die hard kitchen aid fan, but when mine broke I couldn’t afford to replace it. Ended up with cuisinart and I’ve been very happy

[VillainV]

I got a KA on sale last year and use it maybe 2-3 times per month. I don’t have counter space for it so it lives in a cupboard, and it’s definitely heavy to get out.

I’ve heard really good things about the Cuisinart stand mixer! I have a few other Cuisinart appliances and they’re great.

[Susie]

I had a 5 qt. Kitchen Aid Artisan that I got during law school before my wedding/registry, so sometime in 2004-06.  I wore out the motor during the pandemic, maybe 2020 or 21.  So it only lasted me roughly 15 years.  It cost way less back when I got it, I would really struggle with the current price tag for how I felt it performed.  I was never satisfied that the head locked down properly, the head (and therefore the beater) bounced, and eventually the AC motor died. A lot of what I make is pretty heavy (and large) dough batches, and I wouldn't buy again.

I did stick with KA, and upgraded to a 7 qt. Pro series that had a DC motor and bowl lift mechanism.  I've been very happy with it.  It doesn't sound like that's the direction you're headed in, though.

The Cuisinart looks pretty well reviewed as a lower price point option.  I would definitely look hard in that direction (and any others) vs. a KA Artisan.

ETA:  my stand mixer just sits out on the counter all the time.  I don't have spare cabinet space for it, and the 7 qt. especially is too heavy to move around.

[wanderlustmom]

Yes I so agree with others that it's very heavy to move in and out. I got mine for my wedding 20 years ago but I only use it maybe 6-10 times a year since I'm not a huge baker. If mine dies, I'm only replacing it if I take a bigger interest in baking. I have never lived in a kitchen with the counter space for it's back and forth to the pantry for me.

[mala]

Jan 22, 2024 13:45:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

I had a 5 qt. Kitchen Aid Artisan that I got during law school before my wedding/registry, so sometime in 2004-06.  I wore out the motor during the pandemic, maybe 2020 or 21.  So it only lasted me roughly 15 years.  It cost way less back when I got it, I would really struggle with the current price tag for how I felt it performed.  I was never satisfied that the head locked down properly, the head (and therefore the beater) bounced, and eventually the AC motor died. A lot of what I make is pretty heavy (and large) dough batches, and I wouldn't buy again.

I did stick with KA, and upgraded to a 7 qt. Pro series that had a DC motor and bowl lift mechanism.  I've been very happy with it.  It doesn't sound like that's the direction you're headed in, though.

The Cuisinart looks pretty well reviewed as a lower price point option.  I would definitely look hard in that direction (and any others) vs. a KA Artisan.

ETA:  my stand mixer just sits out on the counter all the time.  I don't have spare cabinet space for it, and the 7 qt. especially is too heavy to move around.

This is the problem I have with my tilt-head model. It's just not quite big or powerful enough for the batches I want to make, either, so I find myself limited. When it finally bites the dust I might go with the bowl lift, but more likely I'll spring for the Ankarsrum if I can swing the $750. It's a beast for breadmaking, apparently.

[fumbalina]

I have had my Cuisinart for years. It works the same as a KitchenAid but I've had much better experience with the longevity. I had two different KitchenAid mixers that fell apart in less than a year. I was told that making cookies was just too much for the motor. This was before the plastic part disaster. I will never have another KitchenAid. I used my mom's growing up and that was a workhorse but it's not what it once was.

[loira]

I had my parents' old kitchen aide, and it finally died on me last year. I couldn't afford to replace it and got a Cuisinart instead, which I really like. I particularly like that I can easily turn to different speeds with a circular dial. I never got smooth transitions with the speed lever on my KA. That being said, I find my Cuisinart to be less stable when making bread because it's lighter, so if your mum makes a lot of bread with a dough hook, that might factor in.

[isabel]

I used to have the standard KA, one of the colorful ones. At some point, my mom upgraded me and got me one of the ones where the bowl lifts up instead of the head pulling down. She took my old one. I miss the old one. The new one doesn't get the bottom of the bowl well and I usually have to kind of hand mix to get the ingredients at the bottom incorporated. But, in fairness, the new one stands up really well to bread doughs and double batches like a champ, which the old one couldn't handle.

In terms of how they're holding up, zero issues with either one. They're built well and seem to last forever. I agree they're heavy though. I store mine in the basement and have to take it up two small flight of stairs to the kitchen, which is a pain in the ass, but I think it's worthwhile.

[ohgillian]

Add me to the "KA is so heavy" list. I have already thought about how when I'm older it won't be doable for me.

[stemmie]

Jan 22, 2024 13:17:40 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Jan 22, 2024 13:12:04 GMT -5 k3am said:

Does she WANT a kitchenaid?

9 times out of 10, I prefer my 40 year old electric hand mixer which is just so much more convenient. DH is really the only one who uses the kitchenaid and even then, it's usually for making pasta.

I think she does, but I would definitely confirm before I buy! She mentioned while we were making Christmas Cookies that it would be nice, and that she doesn't because they're expensive. She is helping me with my kids for a couple of work trips H and I have to take, so I'm thinking I could buy her one as "payment" (she won't take money). 

It sounds like she'd appreciate it then. 

I had one years ago. TBH, I almost never used it because I didn't have a cabinet for it. I remodeled the kitchen before I got it and didn't have one of those rising shelves put in for one. TBH, I used my Cuisinart for doughs, cookies, and that sort of thing. Basically, I had 2 recipes that were too big/heavy for my food processor-- a double batch cheese bread and a sticky-bun recipe that makes 24. I always used my hand mixer for egg whites because I have a copper bowl. I gave mine to a good friend who bakes as her back-up. Both take 5 qt bowls and mine had the OG metal innards. 

[leahcar]

Jan 22, 2024 13:45:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

I had a 5 qt. Kitchen Aid Artisan that I got during law school before my wedding/registry, so sometime in 2004-06.  I wore out the motor during the pandemic, maybe 2020 or 21.  So it only lasted me roughly 15 years.  It cost way less back when I got it, I would really struggle with the current price tag for how I felt it performed.  I was never satisfied that the head locked down properly, the head (and therefore the beater) bounced, and eventually the AC motor died. A lot of what I make is pretty heavy (and large) dough batches, and I wouldn't buy again.

I did stick with KA, and upgraded to a 7 qt. Pro series that had a DC motor and bowl lift mechanism.  I've been very happy with it.  It doesn't sound like that's the direction you're headed in, though.

The Cuisinart looks pretty well reviewed as a lower price point option.  I would definitely look hard in that direction (and any others) vs. a KA Artisan.

ETA:  my stand mixer just sits out on the counter all the time.  I don't have spare cabinet space for it, and the 7 qt. especially is too heavy to move around.

this is a good point.  I too have the 7 qt Pro.  It is HEAVY- hence my disdain of lifting it.  

MH got it used so mine is probably really like 20 years old.  I'm not sure I'd pay retail for it given the recent reviews and my lack of storage.  I know that's (buying used) kind of weird for a gift though.  

[Aloe Vera]

I got a KA Classic mixer back in 2017 and love it. It was not $400 but I see they went up in price in the last 6 years. But, I see them on sale all the time at Target.

[CrazyLucky]

I got a Kitchen Aid for my wedding 20 years ago. It still runs great and we still use it all the time. I would recommend it to everyone.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I've had my KA artisan for about 12 years now, but I've always had counter space to leave it out. I use it maybe once a month, and several times in December, mostly to make cookies, and it's been fine for that for me. If I was having to replace it, I would go with whatever model is similar and cheapest regardless of brand though since I'm not a heavy-duty baker. But I also agree with pp that if I had to get it out of a cabinet/pantry every time I wanted to use it, I would probably reach for the hand mixer much more often.

[sandandsea]

I love my KA that I got for my wedding 21 years ago. It’s my grandmas thing….she bought them as wedding gifts for all the grandkids. However my mom hates KAs and wants an offset bowl so she can dump things in while it’s running. So I’d asked her what she wants before I spent $x00 on one she might not use.

[rachers]

I’ve got a KA artisan and I use it a ton. I’m able to keep it on our counter though which helps.

I use it for everything from baking to shredding chicken.