To Buy Or Not To Buy: The KitchenAid Mixer

The KitchenAid Mixer is a powerful tool that makes so many baking tasks much easier and faster. You no longer have to whisk until your arms feel like they’re about to fall off just to get stiff egg whites. You can mix cookie batter without worrying about your hand mixer overheating. All you need to do is to flick on the switch and have it do all the work for you.

While its primary purpose is for making batter and dough, the KitchenAid  can be used for so much more. It can be used to mix mashed potatoes, make compound butter, or whisk enough eggs omelets to feed an army. You can use it to make homemade mayo, salad dressings, sauces, and ice creams. Nowadays, you can use the KitchenAid mixer to beat egg whites, heavy cream and a variety of other batters.

But despite all its wonders, using the KitchenAid  mixer is not always as simple as a walk in the park. You need to know how to use it properly so you won’t end up with nasty food in your kitchen or on your clothes.

The Kitcianaid Mixer’s main features include:

Powerful 1200 watt motor that provides ample power for even awesome tasks like whipping heavy cream.

The tilt-back head with eject feature lets you add ingredients easily without having to stop the machine.

10 speed settings for different types of mixing tasks.

Wire whip, flat beater, dough hook and wire whisk attachments provide maximum versatility.

A multi-purpose attachment hub that lets you attach any brand’s accessories if needed.

A 5 quart stainless steel bowl with comfortable handle and instant release folding blade.

Easy to clean attachments and bowl.

Metal hooks and eyes that allow you to hang the mixer for storage.

Rubber feet to keep the mixer stable when in use, but it can still move easy enough if needed.

Here are some things you should know about your KitchenAid mixers:

Cleaning your KitchenAid  mixer is very simple as long as you clean it immediately after using it. If allowed to sit for a long period of time, food will harden into the crevices of the mixer and make cleaning even harder.

Never submerge your KitchenAid mixer in water.

Never put the mixer’s bowl or other parts in the microwave.

You can use your KitchenAid  mixer to puree food, but you should never let it run for an extended period of time. When pureeing something hot or cold, turn off the mixer and remove some of the contents before pureeing more food. You must also stop regularly to scrape down the sides so you won’t have to worry about clogs, or worse yet burns from hot food spilling over your hands.

The KitchenAid  mixer cannot be used with a whisk to whip food, because the motor will overheat. If you want to use it to whip food, purchase an extra attachment.

You should never run the KitchenAid  mixer at its maximum speed. The more speed you use, the harder it will be on your mixer and its components. If you are going to use it in conjunction with a stand mixer, make sure that your stand mixer’s attachments are compatible with yours so they can mesh together properly.

Never attach an airbrush nozzle to the KitchenAid  mixer when making eggs or whipped cream. The motor can overheat if the motor is overheating.

Now that you know how to use your KitchenAid  mixer, you are prepared to make your life easier and more efficient in the kitchen!

All this convenience, power, and functionality comes at a price, though, a pretty hefty one. A KitchenAid Mixer costs anywhere between PHP 20,000 to PHP 30,000 locally. If you’re willing to deal with the hassle of buying anything abroad and of owning a 110v appliance in a 220v country, you could get it a little cheaper from the US for around $350 plus any shipping/excess baggage fees (it weighs about twenty-five pounds) it might accrue. It’s still a lot of money, especially if you consider that PHP 2,500 can get you a standard hand mixer. So the question is, is the KitchenAid mixer really worth the price? Should you get one? The answer depends on a few things:

Cost Over Frequency of Use

To get your money’s worth from something expensive, the key is to use it. A lot. If you only bake during family birthdays or Christmas, then it obviously won’t make sense for you to shell out all that money. It will only end up gathering dust on your countertop. If, however, you’re the type who makes cheesecakes on Fridays and cupcakes on Sundays regularly, then the KitchenAid would probably be a wise investment for you.

What Will You Be Making?

Some recipes strictly specify that you need to use a stand mixer. Fortunately, a lot of them don’t. Most brownie and bar batters are better mixed by hand, while most cake batter recipes are flexible when it comes to the mixing method. Heavier batters and dough are admittedly easier to make with a mixer, but not impossible to make by hand. Making whipped cream, cream cheese frosting, or stiff egg whites for meringue/frosting without a dedicated stand mixer, on the other hand, will at least give you a good arm workout.

Your Baking Skills

If you have just started baking, I would suggest holding off on buying a mixer, even if you can afford one that’s totally . Most people start baking with brownies, cookies, and cupcakes, and in most cases (except Christina Tosi’s), you can find recipes for those that don’t require the power of a KitchenAid. I suggest that you get the hang of baking first, see if your interest in it is just a phase or not. If, after a few months, you think that baking is something that you are passionate about and will stick with, then go ahead. Splurge on that $2,000 Swarovski-ed creation.

Beyond Mixing and Baking

Your standard mixer already comes with three attachments: a whisk, a paddle, and a dough hook. But there are other attachments that you can buy to connect to the mixer’s power hub. With the correct accessory, your mixer can become a slicer, a grater, a meat grinder, an ice cream maker, or even a sausage stuffer. If, apart from baking, you’re also into grinding your own beef for burgers or making your own fettuccine, then you’ll be able to make the most out of your KitchenAid Mixer.

Do You Have the Space for It?

Because it weighs as much as a small child, the KitchenAid is not something you could realistically pull in and out of your cupboard as needed. Not only do you risk throwing out your back every time you get a hankering for cookies, you also risk damaging the mixer if you keep carrying it by its motor head. There’s no way around it: the KitchenAid mixer needs its own spot on the countertop.

Unfortunately, today’s kitchens are either tiny and/or already filled with microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, and dish drying racks. My own mixer is stored deep in a corner of my mother’s kitchen counter and I have to pull it out (it sits on top of a kitchen towel, to make it pulling it out easier) every time I use it. If you can’t spare the space for this monster piece of equipment, then it might be best to stick with a hand mixer for now.

Can You Afford It?

As much we all love food and the process of making (and writing) about it here on Pepper.ph, we certainly don’t encourage going broke in the pursuit of it. We don’t want you blowing a whole month’s paycheck on a shiny piece of equipment and starving for the next four weeks. It’d be silly to buy a KitchenAid and not have enough left over for the food you’ll make with it or the electricity you need to run it.

Luckily, there are ways to soften the blow to your bank account. If you have a relative or friend in the States, have them buy it for you in the US and just make them cookies as a thank you afterwards. Most major stores also offer 0% interest deferred payments for big ticket items like this one. The local distributor of KitchenAid also has an annual warehouse sale around November, so you can also wait for that.

The bottom line is the KitchenAid mixer is a fantastic, high-quality, but very expensive piece of kitchen equipment. While I’ve enthusiastically recommended it to anyone who’s asked about mine, the truth of the matter is that it’s a luxury, not a necessity.

What is the difference between KitchenAid custom and Artisan?

The KitchenAid Artisan collection is that collection of mixer stand mixers that has a different appearance and design than the standard KitchenAid series. They also have a lower price point than the ProArtistry line. The difference between the two is that kitchenaid custom has a 2.3 peak motor power, while artisans have a 2.5 peak motor power which will allow you to mix higher volume doughs and batters quicker in your mixer.

The standard collection of KitchenAid stand mixers is much bigger in size and are more sturdy made, compared to the Artisan collection, while the Artisan series are slightly smaller in size, with the exception of the 5-quart model.

The standard line will have a 7.5 inch bowl and attachments that come with it, while the artisans will measure a little less at 7 inches. The artisans usually come in colors such as Sage Green, Ruby Red and Onyx Black, while the standard line can be purchased in Red, Cranberry, Black or White colors.

Is KitchenAid discontinuing the Artisan Series?

No, this is a rumor that has been spreading for some time now. The Artisan series are in fact still available for purchase from several online and retail outlets. You may also still be able to find them in your local appliance store.

These mixers can also still be purchased from some of their authorized dealers. KitchenAid has not announced any plans to discontinue production or sales of the Artisan series, so you can continue to buy this mixer if you so choose, even if it’s for sentimental value only and you plan on upgrading to another model at some point in the future.

The KitchenAid stand mixer is an awesome piece of kitchen equipment. It’s gorgeous, powerful, and relatively (compared to other household appliances) affordable. But no matter what, I would absolutely recommend it only for someone who already knows how to bake, is passionate about cooking, or just loves having a shiny object in their kitchen. If you’re intrigued by this article and want one for yourself, then stick with the standard line of mixers (which are still available) instead of the Artisan series which are discontinued.

What’s the difference between the classic and the Artisan KitchenAid?

The KitchenAid Artisan Collection is a line of mixers designed specifically for the home baker. They have a retro look that some people prefer to the more contemporary designer models, but they also have some features and benefits that are uniquely made for bakers.

The KitchenAid Classic collection has all the qualities of a modern mixer, such as advanced technology and capabilities, but they have been designed to be able to do everything from mixing doughs and beating eggs to whipping cream. They are also smaller in size compared to the Artisan series so that you can easily store them in your kitchen without taking up too much space.

Which KitchenAid mixer is the best to buy?

I think the best KitchenAid mixer to buy is not necessarily the highest horsepower model, but rather one of the ones that has all of the options you need for your baking needs at a price that suits your budget. The KitchenAid Artisan 5 quart mixer with pouring shield is a good option, as it’s affordable, multipurpose and has most of the features you need.

The KSM150PSER Artisan 5-Quart stand mixer comes with a number of attachments so that you can use it to make cookies, cakes, pies and other recipes. It also comes with a pouring shield attachment so you can use it to mix without worrying about splashing batter all over your kitchen walls or cabinets.

CONCLUSION:

While the process of baking can be intimidating and confusing, once you have a good set of kitchen tools and a good baking recipe, you’ll be able to create the perfect desserts. Happy baking! This post is to a certain extent a review of all the KitchenAid models, which include KSM150PSER Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield, KSM150PSBU Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield in Empire Red, KSM150PWH Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield in White, KSM150PSER Artisan Series 5 Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer and the last one is the KSM150PSMIXER Artisan Series 5 Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer. All of these models have some great features and benefits which we will talk about in detail.