KitchenAid Stand Mixers are a symbol of American ingenuity and home cooking. They go far beyond the uses that most people associate with kitchen appliances, and they have been used by culinary greats such as Julia Child, Jeff Mauro, and Gordon Ramsay to create marvels such as ham and eggs in a muffin tin for breakfast or pasta carbonara.
Apart from their practical applications when it comes to cooking at home, KitchenAid Stand Mixers can also be used for other purposes like mixing concrete or carrying large containers of food when camping.
Some people have used their mixer’s power to puree food and make their baby’s food. The lowly mixer’s power and efficiency have been put to work in a variety of ways. Not all stand mixers are the same, however, and while they all have the same appearance, they are not equal in terms of performance. So how do you differentiate between a high-quality stand mixer that will last for years with regular home use and one that will be a waste of money?
This guide is here to help you answer those questions so that you can choose the best KitchenAid Stand Mixer for your needs. It’s timeline is based on the company’s most popular designs from the Artisan 5 quart mixer (the original KitchenAid) to the most advanced KitchenAid models of today.
We’ll start with a brief description of the evolution of KitchenAid mixers, go over some of their differences, and then provide you with information about which stand mixer should be used for what purposes. After that, we’ll look at some consumer reports and reviews. Finally, we’ll talk about what alternatives you have if you’re willing to sacrifice some functionality for a lower price tag.
A Brief History Of KitchenAid Stand Mixers
KitchenAid’s history stretches back to 1919. It all began when a man named Hobart Bosch was trying to figure out how to make an electric motor that wouldn’t overheat when mixing dough for a food processor or for baking. His solution was the planetary mixer. Instead of the motor sitting in the bottom of a bowl and causing friction as it turned, it was attached to a planetary arm (hence the name). The arm then rotated around an axis in the middle of the bowl and remained stationary with respect to the bowl. The motor was powered by the arm’s rotation.
The planetary mixer went on to be used by manufacturers such as Rival, Kenmore and later, KitchenAid. It was during this time that the company introduced some of their most famous products and made a success of their mixer lineup. The Artisan 400 Series stand mixers are considered one of the company’s most iconic models. The first model to be released in 1972 was sold as the “KitchenAid Stand Mixer” as opposed to just KitchenAid mixer since they were sold exclusively through Sears at that time.
In 1984, KitchenAid finally introduced a touchscreen model. They were the first appliance brand to do so, but they weren’t the last. In the years following, KitchenAid built on their already strong reputation for quality and introduced some of the most powerful mixer models to ever hit the market. In 2010, KitchenAid introduced its Whirlpool Commercial line which included models such as the 5 qt KSM150EK and 7 qt KSM150EBL. Then in 2013, KitchenAid also added a line of machines designed for commercial use such as the HSM 4067 9 qt.
The first time that their mixers were sold under any other names than those of KitchenAid was in 1995 when they made their first appearance under General Electric’s KitchenAid brand name. They continued to be sold under the KitchenAid brand though and have since been upgraded to include a 2.5 horsepower motor and Light Oak finish as standard.
Types And Models Of KitchenAid Stand Mixers
The most obvious difference between most brands is that KitchenAid mixes in a bowl whereas other brands mix in a box.
That being said, there is more than just one way that you can use your mixer, but the stand mixer is still an essential piece of equipment whether you need to blend ingredients or prepare your own custom cookie doughs and cakes.
Many stand mixers come with several different attachments that can help you perform a variety of functions from making bread to making frosting.
This guide will cover just a few of the most commonly used KitchenAid stand mixer attachments and the uses for each. It will also include information on some more unusual but useful attachments that you might be interested in, but they’re discussed at the end of this guide.
1. Beater Beater Beaters are essential when it comes to creating all types of fluffy, light-textured batters and doughs including cake batter, cookie dough and peanut butter icing, to name just a few. For example, you can use a whisk to combine dry ingredients, a paddle to aerate your egg whites, and whisk attachment for whipping your whites. You can even connect a beater to some of the more advanced KitchenAid mixers such as the Artisan 7 qt model and use it as a dough hook.
2. Whisk Whisk Whisk attachments are great for beating together batters that require an airy consistency such as cake and cookie recipes. They come in both traditional whisks as well as electric versions with variable speed settings.
3. Second Beater Second Beaters are used to mix up second portions of batters quickly so that you don’t have to clean up the first portion before starting on the second. They are also helpful if you want to beat eggs or egg whites separately from the rest of your ingredients. The whipping attachment is great for beating up egg whites to prepare them for meringue
4. Dough Hook Because their beater attachments can sometimes break, some stand mixers come with a dough hook specifically for making bread and dough recipes. You can use one on its own or you can attach it to other attachments by using the hole that opens up when you remove the beater bowl.
5. Flex Edge Flex Edge Attachments are useful for adding an extra wire that runs between two of your beater attachments. This helps your dough to get thinner and fluffier which allows it to rise more easily during the process.
6. Handheld Mixers Handheld mixers are great when it comes to kneading bread and other doughs as well as mixing cake batters. They are also useful for beating eggs, whipping cream and making frosting.
7. Food Processor Food Processors are great when it comes to chopping and slicing vegetables, fruits, nuts etc. They can even be used for shredding cheese by using the shredding attachment which is great for making pizza or potatoes chip recipes. If you have a KitchenAid machine with a dough blade you can use it to make dough and you can also shred your cheese with that blade as well.
8. Icing Spatula Icing spatulas are great when it comes to adding frostings to cake tops and spreading cookie or icing out onto cookies after they have been baked. They are also useful for decorating cakes and cupcakes with decorations such as pipe cleaners and metallic sprinkles.
9. Integrated Stand Base If you’re not planning on making too much food at the same time you can use your stand mixer as a small food processor. You can make small batches of bread, dough and batters at the same time by using different attachments and mixing them all together in one container. This is especially effective if you want to bake several things at once so that they are done at the same time.
10. Ice Cream Maker Ice Cream makers are useful for making homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet recipes. They are especially useful when you need to make large amounts of ice cream in a short amount of time.
11. Electric Griddle An electric griddle is useful for making pancakes, tarts, quiches and even roasting vegetables such as potatoes. They can also be used for frying eggs, grilling meats and making French toast. They are especially useful when you want to make something on a non-stick surface such as pizza or grilled cheese sandwiches
12. Blender Blenders can be used for blending sauces, soups and purees with their blades in place or the chopping blade if you’re looking to use this feature. They are also useful for blending up ice cream, sorbet and homemadesauces.
13. Hand Blender Hand blenders can be used for blending sauces, soups and purees in small amounts and when a full sized blender might not be appropriate or if you only have a small amount to blend.
14. Food Grinder Food grinders are great for making fresh sausages or blended meats such as hamburgers or hotdogs that you’d normally buy pre-made from the store. You can also use them to grind up nuts or make bread crumbs from stale bread or rolls that you don’t want to eat anymore but would like to use up anyway.
15. Slicer Slicers are great for making a variety of different kinds of foods by slicing them into small slivers or pieces. You can do this by using the sharp cutting blades on your slicer, but they can also be used as a food processor as well.
16. Extender Extenders are useful when you’re looking to make thicker breads, rolls, tortillas and even pizza crusts that might be too thin and delicate to be used by hand. They come in two pieces that attach next to your mixer so that the dough is stretched and compressed into thicker doughs when it is mixed with other ingredients and tastes nicer than thin breads made from whole wheat.
It’s important to understand how the different attachments attach to your mixer so that you don’t try and use one attachment with another mixer that doesn’t have the corresponding holes. You can also use many of these attachments as food processors or other kitchen appliances, too.
What is the difference between custom and Artisan KitchenAid mixers?
KitchenAid offers both a custom (artisan) KitchenAid stand mixer and an Artisan KitchenAid mixer. They use almost identical parts and so, in most cases, you would be able to use the attachments from one model on the other. The difference between these two models is their price and what features the manufacturer has included with the stand mixer. The Custom KitchenAid is more affordable, but it does not come with as much choice for accessories for your kitchen or as many attachments or attachments that are as powerful as those on the Artisan model.
What is the difference between KitchenAid Artisan and heavy duty?
KitchenAid Artisan and Heavy Duty stand mixers are two different models of mixer. The main difference between them is the amount of power and torque each one of them has. The KitchenAid Artisan weighs 16 pounds, which is the same weight as the KitchenAid Professional model. It comes with all the usual attachments that come with other KitchenAid mixers, namely a dough hook, beater paddles and a whip attachment in place of a beater bowl and whisk attachment for very light beaters. The KitchenAid Artisan comes with more powerful attachments than the KitchenAid Professional does, but it does not come with any additional ones.
Is KitchenAid Classic good for bread making?
KitchenAid Classic stand mixers are not recommended for making bread because the power and torque are not sufficient enough to knead dough properly without the dough tearing or breaking. However, if you add more flour to the dough it will reduce some of the problems in making bread with a KitchenAid Classic mixer. It is not impossible to make bread with a KitchenAid Classic mixer, but it requires more effort and attention than if you were using a KitchenAid Artisan or Professional model.
What kind of attachments can come with a KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer?
KitchenAid Artisan models come with some different kinds of attachments than standard models do. The KitchenAid Artisan comes with a dough hook, beater paddles and a whip attachment in place of a beater bowl and whisk attachment for very light beaters. The basic attachments that come with all KitchenAid mixers are listed below, but the product’s manual will tell you which accessories are included with this model.
KitchenAid 5KHBH0050 Professional Series 5-Speed Hand Mixer Black – This is the standard mixer that is used in all professional kitchens. You can use it to make bread dough, cookie dough or other kinds of dough and batter recipes. You can also use it for making ingredients such as butter or cake mixes, toasting nuts and seeds, mashing potatoes or making oatmeal.
Can you knead dough in a KitchenAid mixer?
You can knead dough using a KitchenAid mixer, especially if you’re using a model meant for professional use. However, don’t expect to make bread or pastry dough with the power and torque that you would get from a KitchenAid Professional model. The power and torque that comes with the KitchenAid Artisan are not sufficient enough to knead dough properly. If you feel that your dough is tearing or breaking while you’re kneading it, then add more flour and try again.
Can I use a dough hook instead of kneading?
You can use a dough hook instead of kneading if you’re looking to make bread from scratch or using a product such as bread maker or a bread machine. If you try to use the dough hook of a standard mixer for that purpose, it won’t work properly. A stand mixer is much better suited for making bread dough out of fresh ingredients and staples so that you end up with the correct texture and taste.
CONCLUSION:
With all the options that are available from KitchenAid, it’s easy to get lost when deciding which is the best mixer for you. The models vary in size and features and there’s a model to best suit every budget, even if you’ve got hundreds of dollars to spend. In addition, they come in different colors, so you can easily find one that matches your kitchen decor. Do keep in mind that you don’t have to pay extra for a smaller package just because it has fewer accessories; many of them come with more than enough attachments and features so that you can use it as a large mixer or a small one depending on what your cooking needs are.
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