What to buy?
I am looking to buy a mixer. My very first. I have always loved the Kitchenaids, but have heard the quality is not the same as my grandmothers. This lead me to do a little more research. I do bake sometimes, but not on a large scale. Enough for my family of 4. I heard that KA fixed their gear housing problems and went back to the metal ones, but have also read that they don't really handle bread dough all that well. I would probably only be making a couple loaves at a time. But do I really want to buy it and then find out that I want to bake more, and not have a machine that can handle it? So I started looking at the Bosch and the DLX. Both seam like awesome machines. And from what I have read, both would be able to handle small batches well enough. We also do pulled pork and chicken a lot, which was another reason I was looking at a mixer. I know that the KA and the Bosch can shred meat, but what about the DLX? Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Here's a link to DLX information at Pleasant Hill Grain, which sells Bosh, DLX and other brands.
Hopefully it will answer some of your questions: http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/magic_mill_dlx_mixer.aspx
Hi,
I have a KA, the 4.5 quart model, I also have the sausage stuffer/grinder attachment. It's a great machine for doing small batches. say a couple of loaves of bread at a time. The grinder is ok, it's really meant for a pound or two of meat at a sitting, the gears do get pretty hot when it's on for extended use, but I havent't had any issues. The only other thing that I don't like and I beleive they have kind of sorted this out with the newer models, is when adding flour or water, etc.. and your not carefull, well... lets just say it ain't pretty. If you decide on the KA and can afford, I would go with the larger 7 quart model.
- my 2 cents, worth about 1.5 :)
enjoy
Angelo
I have been baking seriously for about 6 years, started when I was 18. I saw a viking in action when I attended a local baking class. Usually when combining dry into cookies or cakes you want to do so gradually and not sputter flour all over your counter. I use a kitchen-aid mixer from the 80's super solid. (its actually my moms) I always have to pulse it - in order to combine gradually and not make a mess. However the Viking has a 0 (zero) speed setting which ever so softly and gently turns the mixer to incorporate dry ingredients - really neat feature. I also found some meat grinder attachments which I didn't realize existed.
If I were going to buy a new multi-function mixer it would be a viking.
http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Professional-quart-Stand-Mixer/dp/B001AGS1D6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_2
I like to use Amazon for the user reviews as well,
Accessories:
http://www.kitchenshop.com/catalog/viking-stand-mixer-acc.php
Hope this helps,
B2B
You're so wise to do some investigation before buying! You may already have done this, but do check message threads on TFL relating to each mixer you are considering, and also check reviews on Amazon and other places.
If you'll only ever do 2-3 loaves at a time, you might want to check into the Bosch Compact. The price and performance both beat the pants off the KA for bread making, and it has many attachments that go with it as well. The big Bosch and DLX/Assistent are also terrific. It all depends on what you need. I have a small vintage KA that I enjoy using for cakes, frostings, and the occasional loaf of bread, but I wouldn't want to rely on it as my sole mixer for bread.
The Assistent does come with a separate beater bowl/whisks, but I've never tried it to make pulled meat. Perhaps others will chime in on that?
You might also enjoy the mixer-owners discussion group on Yahoo groups. Lots of folks there with lots of experience. Some have all three of the mixers you mentioned, and could give some terrific feedback as well.
Happy hunting!
And just use forks to pull it apart, of course I do it in the crock pot, but no matter how I roasted it, I don't think I'd use a meat grinder to shred it. the idea is to have the meat in shreds not mush!
grind your own meat for hamburgers and make your own sausage! oh so good!
You would use the paddle or wisk attachments. I've done it with my hand mixer, and it works very well, it would just be quicker with the stand mixer. I've also been looking at the pasta attachments for each machine. I have a hand crank that I used to make ravioli, but it takes a lot of work. I'm pretty sure the Kitchenaid attachments would be the only one that would work for doing that type of thing.