Question about Ankarsrum
Hi. I've been lurking and reading in these forums for some time now, but decided to now join for all the excellent advice and sharing that I've seen here. My main question right now is, how does the older (less wattage, but I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything) N24 DX200 or even Magic Mill compare with the new N30 Ankrasrum? I have seen on Craigslist one of each of these older models for reasonable prices. Would it be worth it or should I bite the bullet and spend twice as much for the newest N30?
I current have a Bosch Compact (MUM4) with every possible attachment that I spent a fortune for (I know they dropped in price considerably, but when I ordered it, it was a good chunk of change) about six years ago, and I really dislike it. The mixer itself is okay power-wise, but I find it doesn't completely get everything from the bottom of the bowl mixed well, things stay lumpy, and it's hard to get the head down with a hook or whip into the bowl. It hits the side of the bowl and has to be forced into the bowl. Everything from cookie dough to bread dough climbs up to the head of the machine and I'm not usually making large batches. It's hard to clean and it's often a mess after using, even with using the splatter shield. The attachments I ordered are a joke. I would up buying a dedicated meat grinder so I don't end up with mush, and a full size Cuisinart food processor. The ice cream thing has never worked no matter how long I freeze it. The only attachment that works well is the blender.
I really don't want to make another huge, expensive mistake. I would get just the mixer itself and possibly the grater attachment, as I've found dedicated appliances are the way to go and now I've got them after being so disappointed with my Bosch's attachments. Anyone still using either of the older models? Are you still happy with them? Money is a little tight for spending $800 on a new mixer, so that's why I was looking at previously loved (or not loved?), but I'll save up for it if that's really the way to go. I want to get back into breadmaking and i make pretty much everything from scratch, just not in super huge batches except during the holidays.
Kbmom, I bought the Electrolux DLX off ebay, and it works great for me. I read somewhere that the main difference is that the new one spins even faster at high speed, but that you don't need that speed for bread, so I don't miss it. If you search ebay, you will find you can save a bunch if you buy one of the older ones without the plastic bowl and beaters, at one point when it was sold as the Magic Mill, it did not include the plastic bowl and beaters. Also, you don't need the manual, you can find it online, and actually you will learn more about how it works here than in the manual. Sorry you don't like the Compact, I have one and like it, and didn't have the problem with dough climbing, but it might be the doughs I am making don't have that issue. Surprisingly, when I make very small amounts of dough with high hydration, I use the DLX, not the Compact, because the DLX handles even very small amounts - for example 200 grams of flour very well .
See http://www.thefreshloaf.com/comment/293866#comment-293866 and http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/38431/magic-mill-question which are recent threads on this topic.
Assuming there's no damage, I doubt you'll go wrong buying a used DLX. The machine is just too well engineered to suffer from "normal wear and tear".
cheers,
gary
My DLX, which shares dough-making duties with an even older KA, was purchased used at an estate sale. At the time, it looked new. It still does. It has never failed to function as if new. Not once. I wouldn't buy a used one without turning it on to see if it worked without odd noises, but other than that, I'd go for a used one anytime.
Thank you for your kind replies. I will see if either of those are still available. I'll keep browsing the forums in search of new bread recipes to try. This is such a great forum!
I HAVE THIS MIXER THAT I BOUGHT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO AND I LOVE IT -- IT TAKES A BIT OF TRIAL AND ERROR TO GET USED TO USING IT --- I NOW CAN MAKE AT LEAST A 10 POUND BOWL OF DOUGH AND I THINKS IT MIGHT GO A BIT HIGHER BUT MIGHT TRY TO OVERFLOW --- IS DOES NOT DO SMALL BATCHES WELL --- THREE LOAVES AND MORE IT IS WONDERFUL --- FOR TWO LOAVES TRY SOME OF THE OTHER ATTACHMENTS ---
SLKIRK
Your experience differs from mine. I have had no problems with smaller batches of dough, often making a single 600g loaf. Another user reports testing loaves as little as half that. I suggest you haven't yet got all the DLX's nuances figured out.
N.B. Please unset the caps lock. Using all caps is equivalent to yelling. it is also more difficult to read; that's why we have both cases.
cheers.
gary
Slkirk, I have done batches with as little as 200 grams -the only thing I have to do differently is to push the roller to the center during the mix portion a few times to catch the dry flour that rests there, then turn it up to high speed and let it knead, which it does pretty quickly.
I've done single loaves in mine many times without any problems.
GARY, WHEN I USE ALL CAPS I DO NOT INTEND TO BE SHOUTING --- I DO NOT MEAN TO OFFEND YOU BUT I MUCH PREFER READING ALL CAPS THUS I WILL NOT CHANGE --- FOR US OLDER FOLKS THE LARGER LETTERS ARE EASIER TO SEE ---
SLKIRK
SLKirk: all caps is shouting on the internet. It also is significantly more difficult to read, not easier, since the letters have no ascenders or descenders and thus no shapes. If you would like courteous interactions with other community members, please be considerate and refrain from using all caps.
Slkirk - Did you know that hit the "Ctrl" key and the "+" key at the same time, you can enlarge all the text in your browser? You can hit it multiple times to get it larger and larger. If you go too far, you can use the "Ctrl" key and the "-" (minus) key to make it a little smaller.
Try that and see how it works. I suspect you will find it even better than Caps Lock, since all text will be larger, not just your own.
As Floyd said, using all caps is considered yelling on the internet, and makes you look rude.
If you have trouble with the instructions above, let me know and I'll see if I can help.
I missed this reply. Ignore mine.
FLOYD,
I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED THIS FORUM BUT FOLLOWING COMMENTS LIKE YOURS AND GARYS, I NO LONGER FEEL WELCOME HERE SO I WILL READ ABOUT BREAD BAKING ON THE MANY OTHER BLOGS THAT EXIST ON THE INTERNET --- ARE YOU AN ENGLISH MAJOR AS I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ASCENDERS AND DESCENDERS ARE AND WHY THEY ARE NECESSARY --- I MAY READ THIS BLOG AS WELL WILL NO LONGER COMMENT SO AS TO NOT OFFEND YOUR AND GARY'S SENSIBILITIES ---
SLKIRK
I don't find reading all caps easier at all. In fact I find it annoying and generally skip any post with all caps.
FLOYD,
I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED THIS FORUM BUT FOLLOWING COMMENTS LIKE YOURS AND GARYS, I NO LONGER FEEL WELCOME HERE SO I WILL READ ABOUT BREAD BAKING ON THE MANY OTHER BLOGS THAT EXIST ON THE INTERNET --- ARE YOU AN ENGLISH MAJOR AS I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ASCENDERS AND DESCENDERS ARE AND WHY THEY ARE NECESSARY --- I MAY READ THIS BLOG AS WELL WILL NO LONGER COMMENT SO AS TO NOT OFFEND YOUR AND GARY'S SENSIBILITIES ---
SLKIRK
Hundreds of users use both cases but one chooses to swim against the current. Presumably you know the message you are trying to convey so the use of all caps seems to be of limited benefit and you still have to struggle to read everyone else's posts, don't see the benefit but that may just be me.
Gerhard
Here's a trick I showed an older guy at work. And yes, I'm getting up there in age as well.
Depress the Control key (labelled CTRL or possibly Control) and while it is depressed, hit the key that has a + on it. Just those two keys. It will enlarge the page so it you need larger text, you'll get it. To reduce it use the CTRL key and the - key at the same time. Plus enlarges and minus shrinks. I sometimes use it to either enlarge fonts or shrink the page to fit stuff on my small screen.
FYI, on my apple keyboard, it's not the control key, it's the one that says command. Hope that helps!