The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Black Friday is coming...

macette's picture
macette

Black Friday is coming...

And I really want a Kitchenaid Artisan mixer.....is it worth the money...:-/

 

breadboy025's picture
breadboy025

Be careful because once you have it, your kitchen or cookspace turn into an overused floury mess!!  And everyone in your locale gains 25 lbs immediately!!  LOL

Seriously--I love mine and am on my second.  I got the Artisan Pro??  It's bigger than the one you generally get at Macys or Costco and the attachments are metal and very durable.  If you are careful, you can get it 20 or more off and sometimes, KA even rebates them.  I don't like the Costco one--small capacity and the attachments are plastic-y and seem cheap.  Some doughs or batters are a little rough to get through and metal is better.

macette's picture
macette

Artisan pro ! Have not seen that one ...I’m on other side of the pond U.K. Sounds great with metal attachments. maybe Worth looking at used or refurb....will have to sort out model numbers....

 

macette's picture
macette

that’s the one with the raise the bowl not tilt head.....way to big for me. Beautiful machine but would have to cook for the street...lol

Lazy Loafer's picture
Lazy Loafer

Get one of the ones with a bowl lift rather than the tilt head if you can manage it. The tilt head mechanism is a common point of failure and/or problems. I think the smallest bowl-lift model is 6 quarts but you can get a smaller bowl too. The smaller bowl is, in my opinion, a bit of a waste of money because it is just basically shorter than the other bowl but sits in the same place so the whisk and other attachments still reach the same place relative to the bottom of the bowl (if that makes sense). Either way, whether you get a 5 quart or 6 quart model, you can still make only one loaf if you want and bake only as often as you want. :)

macette's picture
macette

maybe I will find a bargain, will keep my eyes peeled. And maybe im on the good girls Santa list....lol

Sugarowl's picture
Sugarowl

I have a regular Kitchenaid mixer and the attachments are a nightmare. They are coated and chip if they hit anything, not really dishwasher safe (supposed to be) and be careful of plastic gears. I have the tilt head one and it's very heavy, has trouble with a pound of dough unless on speed 4 and then it flings everything. It is not like the old mixers. I think my next mixer will be Hobart. I want a heavy duty one that can mix dough without getting hot (warms up after about 5 minutes).

Also, I have heard about Amazon jacking up prices pre-Black Friday so you think you are getting a deal. My scale was that way, was on sale for a while for $8, down from $30. It's all plastic and only sells for about $15 normally.

macette's picture
macette

I didn’t know they would get hot after 5 mins....not so worried about dishwasher safe, I wash tools by hand, but heating up is a worry...I think the bowl lift one has metal gears . I have a lot of research to do...but it’s great hearing from people that own them. That doesn’t surprise me about Amazon, it pays to shop around.  Maybe I will get my hands on a refurb. It’s an expensive item so will take care with choices. 

liz grieve's picture
liz grieve

Hi I have a kitchen aid since 2000 Last year I got an Ankarsrum as the kitchen aid struggled with making bread I like to be able to make enough dough to make three loaves   I really love it  I know they are more exspensive than than the kitchen aid but they are great for bread  Do you live in the UK  I got mine on sale A friend ordered one when she came round to the mixer in action

Happy Baking

Liz 

macette's picture
macette

I have looked at the Ank online Liz and I have read it’s a real work horse, I just think it’s probaby overkill for the baking I do 2/3 loaves a week. I have checked the available models of KA originally was going to go for K5 series entry level in the pro’s but the version we get here is not any better power wise than the Artisan 315w/ 300w. We don’t get the K5 plus which was bigger the jump was to the 600 pro out of price range....then there was the Bosch another workhorse but really don’t like the look of it at all... we are quite limited in KA here. So will ponder awhile longer and see what comes up for the Black Friday sales...:-/

liz grieve's picture
liz grieve

Hi I know the kitchen aids look great lots of lovely colours  You state you are making 2 to 3 loaves per week You are investing a lot of money in a mixer and will have it for a very long time You may actually increase  the amount of dough you make in the future The Ank is a much stronger mixer  Hope you get a good mixer and enjoy using it 

Liz

macette's picture
macette

and you make perfect sense....I am still considering work load style and cost....but I have to love it.....will keep posted...

liz grieve's picture
liz grieve

Hi

You state you make 2 to 3 loaves per week at the moment but that could increase in the future People may ask you to make bread for them Lots of people on TFL do  My friends love it when they pop in to see loaves cooling and then go home with one My everyday recipe makes 3 loaves The kitchen aid struggled It means you are putting on the oven once instead of 3 times Its the same process to mark 3 as 1 loaf I cut them in half and freeze them They freeze very well Our dog Robbie loves to have some bread in his dinner  Thankfully he is not like our last Labrador Sally who was a world champion thief She loved homemade bread  

Cheers

Liz

macette's picture
macette

i also have a canine carb lover, she will sit and wait for a tiny piece of crust...lol...I am narrowing my selection ....but have wanted a KA for so long but thinking I will go for bowl lift version with metal gears and safety cut out switch...cross my fingers and pray. It comes with 5 quart bowl so should do small portions as well. Seems it is going to cost less than the KA Artisan....but hoping it is a bit more robust. Haven’t ordered it yet ....still a bit nervous...lol will shout from the roof top when I do.....lol