mixers... .

[gardenmom5]

My 20yo KA has speeds that don't work, and I like the idea of a bigger bowl (and a more powerful motor) . . .

so - talk to me.  what's good and reliable?

 

eta: 1ds's gf the aspiring chef is  not the one to talk to.  she wants a floor mixer . . . her dream kitchen is restaurant/industrial.

Edited October 23, 2016 by gardenmom5

[Ellie]

I have a Bosch Universal that's almost 30 years old, and I love it. I use it for most mixing needs, from 100% whole wheat bread dough to Quiver's cinnamon rolls to basic cakes and cookies. I also use the food processor attachment regularly (it doesn't have as big a bowl as dedicated food processors, but it's big enough for me).

[Jyhwkmama]

Dadgum. I clicked on this thread thinking we were going to talk about what to combine with vodka.

[rose]

I have a Bosch Universal that's almost 30 years old, and I love it. I use it for most mixing needs, from 100% whole wheat bread dough to Quiver's cinnamon rolls to basic cakes and cookies. I also use the food processor attachment regularly (it doesn't have as big a bowl as dedicated food processors, but it's big enough for me).

 

I second this suggestion. You'll never burn out the motor. You could probably run your car with it. :)

[AnnE-girl]

Dadgum. I clicked on this thread thinking we were going to talk about what to combine with vodka.

Me too!

[bettyandbob]

Dadgum. I clicked on this thread thinking we were going to talk about what to combine with vodka.

You aren't alone

[brett_ashley]

I can't get over the plastic Bosch mixing bowl. Does it bug y'all?

[Ellie]

I can't get over the plastic Bosch mixing bowl. Does it bug y'all?

 

Since it is all I have ever had, it has never bugged me. Why should it? :-)

[cjzimmer1]

I can't get over the plastic Bosch mixing bowl. Does it bug y'all?

 

No, not a bit.  I could have bought a Kitchen Aid but I'm much happier with my Bosch.

[hellen]

My Kitchenaid mixer broke a few weeks ago. I replaced it with the compact Bosch. I like it pretty well. I've put 6 cups of flour in there but I think that's pretty close to its maximum because of the bowl size. I like that it is smaller but it feels flimsier overall. It does a good job it's just a big adjustment from the heavy, tall Kitchenaid. I do miss the metal bowl a bit even though the plastic bowl is fine.

 

I chose the compact over the bigger Bosch because I read reviews that the bigger Bosch doesn't handle small amounts well. I make smaller batches of dough more often than big batches.

[gardenmom5]

I can't get over the plastic Bosch mixing bowl. Does it bug y'all?

 

plastic bowl?  oh, no way   and to think I wouldn't even look at a KA with a glass bowl . . .

[mom@shiloh]

I like my Kitchen Aid.  Mine was a wedding gift and we're about to celebrate 37 years and it's still going strong.  Last year I splurged and bought myself the larger one with the hopes of making bread more often.  I'll use the larger one to make bigger batches as long as I have lots of teenagers in the house, and then I plan to pass it along to whichever of my kids has the largest family!  Then I'll go back to my smaller one.  

[bettyandbob]

OP have you had your KA serviced? I've had mine cleaned at a small engine repair shop a couple of times over 30 years. Flour gets in and gums up the engine, among other things. My experience was this is cheaper than buying some equivalent new.

 

ETA if that helps and you still want bigger, you can get bigger KA or other brand and use the machines differently.

Edited October 23, 2016 by Diana P.

[KatieJ]

I have had a Bosch universal mixer for almost 20 years and my extended family has had some of their's for over 30. No one has hAs had any problems. I agree they don't handle a small batch of anything well, but I keep a hand mixer around if I need that.

My daughters and daughter in laws all have kitchen aids and they all bake bread in them ,but they sound strained when they are mixing. They can only make 2 loaves of bread. Yes, I realize there are different sizes. Onevof my daughters has a bigger one and she still can only do 2 loaves of bread. The Bosch handles 15 cups of flour and never misses a beat. 15 cups of flour makes 6 loaves of French bread.

[gardenmom5]

I like my Kitchen Aid.  Mine was a wedding gift and we're about to celebrate 37 years and it's still going strong.  Last year I splurged and bought myself the larger one with the hopes of making bread more often.  I'll use the larger one to make bigger batches as long as I have lots of teenagers in the house, and then I plan to pass it along to whichever of my kids has the largest family!  Then I'll go back to my smaller one.  

 

yep.  that's me.  except I have a bread machine, so I don't use it for breads much. (dh uses it for his rolls)   I've had times the 5qt has  simply not been big enough, or barely and dough/batter is up above the paddle.  

 

OP have you had your KA serviced? I've had mine cleaned at a small engine repair shop a couple of times over 30 years. Flour gets in and gums up the engine, among other things. My experience was this is cheaper than buying some equivalent new.

 

ETA if that helps and you still want bigger, you can get bigger KA or other brand and use the machines differently.

 

 

I know the speeds can be adjusted (and that's the only issue).  the point is:   I want a bigger bowl and a stronger motor.

[brett_ashley]

The design is really poor on the kitchen aid 6 qt professional bowl lift model. First, you have to have the bowl secured in three different points--if one is only slightly askew the whole thing will come hurtling off mid-cycle (ask me how I know). Also, there is no way to get the batter off the beater. You have to dip it back into the batter in order to remove it, and you can't remove it while the bowl is on. Lots of wasted batter imo to not have a way to drip or scrape off like in head tilt models.

Edited October 23, 2016 by brett_ashley

[ktgrok]

The design is really poor on the kitchen aid 6 at professional bowl lift model. First, you have to have the bowl secured in three different points--if one is only slightly askew the whole thing will come hurtling off mid-cycle (ask me how I know). Also, there is no way to get the batter off the beater. You have to dip it back into the batter in order to remove it, and you can't remove it while the bowl is on. Lots of wasted batter imo to not have a way to drip or scrape off like in head tilt models.

Yes, this! I got the professional bowl lift one because it was more expensive, etc and supposedly better. Um, no. I really wish I had the head tilt model. 

[Ellie]

My Kitchenaid mixer broke a few weeks ago. I replaced it with the compact Bosch. I like it pretty well. I've put 6 cups of flour in there but I think that's pretty close to its maximum because of the bowl size. I like that it is smaller but it feels flimsier overall. It does a good job it's just a big adjustment from the heavy, tall Kitchenaid. I do miss the metal bowl a bit even though the plastic bowl is fine.

 

I chose the compact over the bigger Bosch because I read reviews that the bigger Bosch doesn't handle small amounts well. I make smaller batches of dough more often than big batches.

 

I wonder what "smaller batches of dough" might mean. I make two loaves of a bread for Mr. Ellie and it does just fine in the Bosch.

 

Having never had a metal bowl, only the Bosch plastic, I don't know what the issue would be with plastic. It's rigid, hard, not like a Tupperware bowl or anything.

[gardenmom5]

The design is really poor on the kitchen aid 6 qt professional bowl lift model. First, you have to have the bowl secured in three different points--if one is only slightly askew the whole thing will come hurtling off mid-cycle (ask me how I know). Also, there is no way to get the batter off the beater. You have to dip it back into the batter in order to remove it, and you can't remove it while the bowl is on. Lots of wasted batter imo to not have a way to drip or scrape off like in head tilt models.

 

:confused: and that's different from any other non-tilt head kitchen aid how?  my current 20 year old 5qt (which is an older design when it was owned by hobart) has that now. I originally had a tilt-head KA.  I wanted a bigger one with a bigger motor.  now, I want an even bigger bowl, and a bigger motor.

[bettyandbob]

The design is really poor on the kitchen aid 6 qt professional bowl lift model. First, you have to have the bowl secured in three different points--if one is only slightly askew the whole thing will come hurtling off mid-cycle (ask me how I know). Also, there is no way to get the batter off the beater. You have to dip it back into the batter in order to remove it, and you can't remove it while the bowl is on. Lots of wasted batter imo to not have a way to drip or scrape off like in head tilt models.

Curious how you get it askew. I have the KA stand and haven't had problems. I think it's easier than the tilt models actually. The lift model does have three points, but after I slide it in I'm not sure how it gets askew. I've been using the lift model almost 30 years.

[brett_ashley]

Having never had a metal bowl, only the Bosch plastic, I don't know what the issue would be with plastic. It's rigid, hard, not like a Tupperware bowl or anything.

Can't imagine whipping cream in a plastic bowl where it's not going to get really cold in the freezer, or getting it clean after making red velvet cake or really just can't imagine it getting as clean as metal in any fashion. I don't use a lot of plastic in food prep anyway admittedly. But if you tell me it's clean as a whistle I'll try it! So over kitchen aid! Edited October 23, 2016 by brett_ashley

[brett_ashley]

:confused: and that's different from any other non-tilt head kitchen aid how? my current 20 year old 5qt (which is an older design when it was owned by hobart) has that now. I originally had a tilt-head KA. I wanted a bigger one with a bigger motor. now, I want an even bigger bowl, and a bigger motor.

I worded that poorly. I don't have experience with any other bowl lift models than KA. Was just surprised at the difficulties on a much more expensive appliance.

[brett_ashley]

Curious how you get it askew. I have the KA stand and haven't had problems. I think it's easier than the tilt models actually. The lift model does have three points, but after I slide it in I'm not sure how it gets askew. I've been using the lift model almost 30 years.

Typically when I have problems it's on the back. I line up the left and right, but in the back where I can't see it it sometimes slips in above the notch instead of inside it. Probably 5 times out of 100.

[pink&bluemommy]

Bosch makes a stainless bowl too I believe. I loved my Bosch before we had to go gluten free for my celiac son. I didn't love it for the one loaf wetter gluten free doughs I was making so I sold it and bought a breville (I'd had and killed a kitchen aid before the Bosch). So far so good for the breville though I don't use it gobs as we just don't eat bread the way we used to!

[KatieJ]

I wonder what "smaller batches of dough" might mean. I make two loaves of a bread for Mr. Ellie and it does just fine in the Bosch.

 

Having never had a metal bowl, only the Bosch plastic, I don't know what the issue would be with plastic. It's rigid, hard, not like a Tupperware bowl or anything.

 

I have successfully done 2 loaves of bread as well.   What it doesn't do well is one cake, or small batch of whipping cream, or even a single batch of cookies.  The bowl is just too big.  I wish we had the option of getting a smaller bowl for those kinds of things.

[meena]

Another vote for Bosch Universal. You can get a stainless steel bowl for it. It's expensive but if you really want one, it is available. http://pleasanthillgrain.com/bosch-mixer-universal-plus Scroll down to see all the various accessories, including the SS bowls

[Ellie]

I have successfully done 2 loaves of bread as well.   What it doesn't do well is one cake, or small batch of whipping cream, or even a single batch of cookies.  The bowl is just too big.  I wish we had the option of getting a smaller bowl for those kinds of things.

 

I make cakes and cookies in it all the time. :-) However, I usually use my hand mixer to whip cream. :-)

[KatieJ]

I make cakes and cookies in it all the time. :-) However, I usually use my hand mixer to whip cream. :-)

I don't make small batches of anything ....huge family. But whipping cream would be nice to dump and walk away from as you can with the KA.

 

Americas test kitchen did a review of Mixers and Bosch got poor reviews on small batches of food.

 

I love my Bosch . But I think the KA is cuter on the counter.

[Ellie]

I don't make small batches of anything ....huge family. But whipping cream would be nice to dump and walk away from as you can with the KA.

 

Americas test kitchen did a review of Mixers and Bosch got poor reviews on small batches of food.

 

I love my Bosch . But I think the KA is cuter on the counter.

 

I can't imagine walking away from whipping cream. :blink: It only takes a few seconds to be overwhipped...

 

I did not see that review. Generally, I like ATK, and I trust their reviews. But I make their recipe for English Muffin Bread, which only makes two loaves, and it does a great job. Perhaps people only make one loaf of bread? I have never had a problem with anything (other than whipped cream, of course, which I just don't do in the Bosch. It only takes a couple of minutes, anyway.). I've creamed the sugar for the cookies, which isn't a great amount, satisfactorily. Perhaps my standards are not as high as ATK, lol.

 

And yes, KA is much cuter on the counter. :D

[brett_ashley]

Brave soul to walk away from whipping cream!

[gardenmom5]

I make cakes and cookies in it all the time. :-) However, I usually use my hand mixer to whip cream. :-)

I only use a hand mixer if it's a small amount.  it just doesn't whip up high enough. 

 

I can't imagine walking away from whipping cream. :blink: It only takes a few seconds to be overwhipped...

 

I did not see that review. Generally, I like ATK, and I trust their reviews. But I make their recipe for English Muffin Bread, which only makes two loaves, and it does a great job. Perhaps people only make one loaf of bread? I have never had a problem with anything (other than whipped cream, of course, which I just don't do in the Bosch. It only takes a couple of minutes, anyway.). I've creamed the sugar for the cookies, which isn't a great amount, satisfactorily. Perhaps my standards are not as high as ATK, lol.

 

And yes, KA is much cuter on the counter. :D

 

I like chowhound for reviews. (there's one other, the name of which i can't recall off the  top of my head.)  I was recently on all the sites for something similar to an all-clad d5, but cheaper. (after all, it was just for a 3qt sauce pan- didn't need to be top of the line.)   i'd never heard of vollrath, but that's what they rec'd. (or cuisinart multi-clad for budget, which I can't find in a store to look at.

  except - vollrath's a tri-ply and d5 isn't.  (sur la table is my go-to for cookware - then I find it somewhere else cheaper.  they have mauvel, vollrath, all-clad and their house brand.  that's about it.  someone said order mauvel from france and pay the shipping.  it's cheaper than buying it in a store here.  and dh had to check out one of the very few pieces williams-sonoma had on display. . . . no honey, we're not buying any!)

 

I was on the vollrath site . . . toys, toys, drool.   they've got some nice equipment.  I have to check out their mixer.   it's 7 quarts. oh, msrp is $1900. . . maybe not.

[LucyStoner]

Since it is all I have ever had, it has never bugged me. Why should it? :-)

For people making all butter pie dough or pastry dough, the metal bowl has the advantage of being able to hold a nice chill from the freezer. I can see the upsides of a plastic bowl but the pie baker in me likes to be able to chill my bowl and have it stay very cold.

[Ellie]

For people making all butter pie dough or pastry dough, the metal bowl has the advantage of being able to hold a nice chill from the freezer. I can see the upsides of a plastic bowl but the pie baker in me likes to be able to chill my bowl and have it stay very cold.

 

Huh. I guess I don't know what I'm missing, lol. Never used a chilled bowl in 45 years of marriage. :D

 

[mamiof5]

Oh my! This things seem fancy!! I just use a small hand mixer. We don't bake a whole lot though. I do want to make Cinnamon rolls from scratch some day... hope my little hand mixer works :)

[Ellie]

Oh my! This things seem fancy!! I just use a small hand mixer. We don't bake a whole lot though. I do want to make Cinnamon rolls from scratch some day... hope my little hand mixer works :)

 

I can only make cinnamon rolls--or any yeast bread--with my Bosch. It is my miracle worker, lol.

[EmilyGF]

As a person who has personally burned out two Kitchen Aid Professionals, I was very hesitant to buy a new mixer. Kitchen Aids (according to their customer service) are not designed to knead for more than 2 minutes without a break. High end baking books often suggest longer kneading times for especially gluten-high hearth breads. 

 

I was able to find a VERY OLD bosch for $50 used so that is what I am carefully using right now. It is loud, but I do like how much flour it can knead at a time.

Emily

[Ellie]

As a person who has personally burned out two Kitchen Aid Professionals, I was very hesitant to buy a new mixer. Kitchen Aids (according to their customer service) are not designed to knead for more than 2 minutes without a break. High end baking books often suggest longer kneading times for especially gluten-high hearth breads. 

 

I was able to find a VERY OLD bosch for $50 used so that is what I am carefully using right now. It is loud, but I do like how much flour it can knead at a time.

Emily

 

Bosch excels at doing big batches of bread dough.

 

This is the "official" Bosch bread recipe:

 

 

 

100% Whole Wheat Bread

(Directions for Bosch Mixer, but can be made by hand)

(makes about 4 loaves)

5-6 cups hot tap water (hot to the touch;not hot enough to burn finger)

2/3 c. oil

2/3 c. honey

2 tbsp. Kitchen Specialties dough enhancer

2 tbsp instant yeast

2 tbsp salt

2 tbsp vital wheat gluten

12-16 cups freshly milled whole wheat flour (fill hopper with wheat berries, plus about 3 more cups)

 

Pour warm water into Bosch mixing bowl. Add approximately 6 cups flour on top of liquid. Then add dough enhancer, oil, honey, yeast, and gluten. Use the (M) momentary switch to mix well.

 

Add approx. 5 additional cups flour, and salt. Turn to speed 2. Continue ading flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl.  Continue kneading on speed 2 for another 5 minutes. 

 

Oil or grease hands and counter. Divide dough into equal portions and shape into loaves. Put into well greased pans. Let rise till double in size. Bake 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack. Top of loaves can be rubbed with water or butter for shiny appearance. Dough can be used for pizza crust or cinnamon rolls. 

[skimomma]

As a person who has personally burned out two Kitchen Aid Professionals, I was very hesitant to buy a new mixer. Kitchen Aids (according to their customer service) are not designed to knead for more than 2 minutes without a break. High end baking books often suggest longer kneading times for especially gluten-high hearth breads. 

 

 

 

Huh.  I have a 20yo KA, base model that I make bread in weekly.  Two consecutive batches which adds up to at least 20 minutes of kneading.  And if I am particularly disorganized, that is sometimes after using it to grind the flour right beforehand.  The machine has issues (specifically a loose tilt pin which means I have to watch it carefully) but burning out is not one of them.

[KatieJ]

Brave soul to walk away from whipping cream!

Walk away is probably the wrong term. Not having to hold the mixer in my arthritic hands is probably a better way to put it. We usually have family over when we need whipping cream I ask them to

[meena]

I use an immersion blender with the whisk attachment to whip cream. I used to use my KA but the immersion blender whips it faster and is easier to clean.

[LucyStoner]

Huh. I guess I don't know what I'm missing, lol. Never used a chilled bowl in 45 years of marriage. :D

 

I'm gonna guess though that in 15 years of marriage I have probably baked more pies than most people do in 60 years of marriage. Aside from pizza dough, I probably make more pie than all the other possible uses for a stand mixer combined and the dough is much more reliably flaky and perfect when I chill all of my tools- the bowl, the marble I use as a pastry stone etc.

 

People have very differing needs and preferences.

[LucyStoner]

I've replaced the worm gear on my KA professional 3x now. According to KA and the professional bakers I know, if one is using their KA pro mixer for cookie dough and bread dough often (more than weekly), the metal mixer worm gear will last about 1 year. I would like to get a different mixer but a worm gear is $15 and some food grade machine grease and a quality mixer is $400+ so worm gear it is. The KA ones that last forever are not in heavy use for anything stiffer than cake batter.

[mamiof5]

I can only make cinnamon rolls--or any yeast bread--with my Bosch. It is my miracle worker, lol.

Lol!!! Noooooo!!! In all seriousness though, I don't want a huge and expensive new appliance. Would cinnamon rolls won't work with a manual mixer? It does say to mix for 10 minutes... don't want to burn my little faithful hand mixer :(

[gardenmom5]

Lol!!! Noooooo!!! In all seriousness though, I don't want a huge and expensive new appliance. Would cinnamon rolls won't work with a manual mixer? It does say to mix for 10 minutes... don't want to burn my little faithful hand mixer :(

 

I wouldn't use a handmixer for bread dough.  I won't use a handmixer for cookie dough.  (huge difference in height for meringue between a handmixer and a standmixer.)

[gardenmom5]

I've replaced the worm gear on my KA professional 3x now. According to KA and the professional bakers I know, if one is using their KA pro mixer for cookie dough and bread dough often (more than weekly), the metal mixer worm gear will last about 1 year. I would like to get a different mixer but a worm gear is $15 and some food grade machine grease and a quality mixer is $400+ so worm gear it is. The KA ones that last forever are not in heavy use for anything stiffer than cake batter.

 

I was just reading some stuff on the worm gear.  how do you know it's failed?

 

(curiosity, I want a bigger mixer.)

[Ellie]

Lol!!! Noooooo!!! In all seriousness though, I don't want a huge and expensive new appliance. Would cinnamon rolls won't work with a manual mixer? It does say to mix for 10 minutes... don't want to burn my little faithful hand mixer :(

 

Oh, no, you could not do bread dough with a hand mixer. Absolutely not. Sorry. :sad:

[mamiof5]

Oh, no, you could not do bread dough with a hand mixer. Absolutely not. Sorry. :sad:

Ughhh!!!! Thank you :( Maybe a friend has a kitchen aid or one of those big bulky things I could borrow? Ugh!!

[Bambam]

I have a Cuisinart stand mixer - stainless bowl. It does a great job. The only issue I've had is when I tried to make four loaves of bread dough at one time, it just didn't physically fit. 

I also the have the blender attachment, but I still haven't tried it out three years later. 

 

I have a small hand mixer for light jobs (mashed potatoes) and an immersion blender (orange juice milkshakes and soups).

[LucyStoner]

Lol!!! Noooooo!!! In all seriousness though, I don't want a huge and expensive new appliance. Would cinnamon rolls won't work with a manual mixer? It does say to mix for 10 minutes... don't want to burn my little faithful hand mixer :(

I do cinnamon rolls by hand, no mixer. It's a little messier but it's not hard. I do pizza and bread dough by hand as well from time to time. You don't need a stand mixer to make dough.

[LucyStoner]

I was just reading some stuff on the worm gear. how do you know it's failed?

 

(curiosity, I want a bigger mixer.)

It will not rotate. It comes on but doesn't move. Edited October 24, 2016 by LucyStoner