Hi there,

Well I just found out about this site and can't believe how much information is here and I can't wait until later tonight after I tuck the kids into bed so I can wander around and check everything out!!!

I'm posting because my KitchenAid stand mixer just died during a double batch of dough that I was making for some recipe testing work that I was doing (on level #2). I've had it for 11 1/2 years (I remember because I got it as a wedding present)... it's been great and I am so sad to see it unusable (I haven't tried to get it fixed.. maybe this is an option - but I'm thinking that there has to have been some advances in the last 12 years that I could take advantage of). I'm not sure my KA stand mixer's time was coming anyway or if it's been the amounts of dough that I've been asking it to handle lately. But either way I'm looking for a new stand mixer.

I was wondering if I should go ahead and get another KitchenAid and if so which one, or if I should go with another brand. I searched on the forums the threads I found were from 2007 so I thought I'd post here just in case some newer models have come out that are highly recommended. I want one mixer than can handle heavy duty double batches of dough, whole wheat doughs, as well as just one batch of dough, and also small amounts like cookies, pancakes, brownies, etc.

I guess I should also not that I already have the pasta attachment for the KA that I love since it rolls out fresh pasta so easily.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions that you may have.

Lisa

http://lisacohen.typepad.com

The pin on my vintage 1974 Kitchenaid 4.5 qt. mixer keeps sliding out every time I knead in it--started happening about a week ago. I just keep pounding it back in, but am wondering if anyone else has had this problem and/or if any one knows why this keeps happening?

--Pamela

I'm *considering* not committed to replacing my 12 year old KA SM (4.5 qt but a workhorse -- I think the older ones were more powerful...maybe I'm wrong...).

Anyway, for the past year or so I've seen the great deal KA 5 qt mixer at Costco; it is a bowl lifter, but what throws me is it is 475 watt. I can't find what model this is on the KA website. Is it made especially for Costco? Anyone have experience with it? I use my mixer about 5 times a week, mostly bread, often whole grain breads, so I need some goooooo power. Any input on this particular mixer? I'm also looking at the Cuisinart that Cook's Illustrated recommends so highly, but the model escapes me and I'm too lazy to log in and look it up right now :)

Hope anyone out there could help. I currently use 2 mixers for my production, a 20 quart planetary mixer and a 5 quart KitchenAid mixer. I use my KA mixer for small batches or to test new formulas. Then I use my 20 quarts for bigger and heavier doughs. My problem is... when i mix dough using my KA mixer, my bread usually turns out soft, but when I mix it using the bigger mixer, it kinda turns harder than expected. Now my question is, would there be a difference in the final product when making larger quantities?

This keeps happening to me, but nobody else has mentioned it.  I haven't mentioned it, either, so that doesn't mean much.  And it happened again last night.

I have a KitchenAid Classic, 4.5 quart bowl.

When I finished kneading some bread dough, I had trouble removing the bowl.  The kneading action tightens the bowl, and I spent ten minutes trying to remove it.  I even wrote myself a note before I began this time about which way to turn the bowl to get it off later.