Peplophoros Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Ok, so I'm finally biting the bullet and getting a Kitchen Aid. I guess I'm a "normal" baker--I don't make huge batches of things, but I do like to bake bread, cookies, etc., double sometimes triple recipe. I have 6 kids. Some friends say stay with the 5 qt (my kitchen is fairly small), some say go with the 7 qt. (money is an issue, but I'll shell out for the 7 qt if need be). Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 For me, 5 quart fits on my counter and beneath the upper cabinet, a 7 quart would not. So while I occasionally double a cookie recipe and I do have to cut my 6-loaf bread recipe in half, I simply can't have a mixer that I can't store on my counter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 We have a household of 7 here and I think our 5qt (the professional HD one) is a fine size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 What do you make? Are you willing to do multiple batches? Four kids here, and we regularly fill up our 5 qt mixer and have to do multiple batches. My mixer holds 2 loaves of bread, 24-36 cookies, and shreds half of our batch of cooked chicken. A 7 qt mixer holds 14 cups of flour...... I love my 5 qt, but she has started to leak oil out of her motor after 18 years of use. When she dies (if she dies), if I have more than 2 kids at home, I'll get the 7 qt mixer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I have 3 kids and the larger one has been used to capacity frequently over the years. The smaller one would have frustrated me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I do a lot of baking. Mostly one cake at a time, normal sized batches of other things. My 5 quart mixer does knead dough for two, 9" loaves of bread though. The 5 quart is perfect for me. One thing I have found to be extremely helpful is to have two bowls, especially if you make the kinds of desserts that require egg whites to be beaten separately from other ingredients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peplophoros Posted March 13, 2018 Author Share Posted March 13, 2018 arrrg! You guys aren't helping!! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Go bigger. When I use mine I double and triple recipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 (edited) there have been times - my 5qt has NOT been big enough. I had issues with the 6 quart for small batches (it ended up being returned) - but they do have a smaller bowel and whisk/beater to use for smaller batches. I would have to push dh to try again for that bigger mixer - but my girls are gone (one has at 6, one has a 5 - but covets the 7) and my boys will be gone in a couple years (they're both college jrs.) ds's gf (they're talking marriage.) wants a professional 10qt. but, it's not just bowl size - also look at the motor power. (which can be confusing.) eta: - for me, I may not need a bigger one, as we dont' do as much baking en masse as we used to do. Edited March 13, 2018 by gardenmom5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 One thing I have found to be extremely helpful is to have two bowls, especially if you make the kinds of desserts that require egg whites to be beaten separately from other ingredients. Yes, two bowls are definitely VERY helpful. Even better if at least one of them has a snap on lid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I regulatly make yeasted doughs that have 1000g of flour plus the liquids to hydrate the dough and find my 5qt is too small. I make it work, but a larger KA mixer would be better. If I was making standard bread/cookie/cake recipes, the 5qt would probably be enough. I hate the tilt head, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I regulatly make yeasted doughs that have 1000g of flour plus the liquids to hydrate the dough and find my 5qt is too small. I make it work, but a larger KA mixer would be better. If I was making standard bread/cookie/cake recipes, the 5qt would probably be enough. I hate the tilt head, though. My 5 qt doesn’t have a tilt head. The tilt heads I’ve seen are even smaller than 5qts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 (edited) My 5 qt doesn’t have a tilt head. The tilt heads I’ve seen are even smaller than 5qts.My 5qt does - http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/-%5BKSM150PSSM%5D-400120/KSM150PSSM/ ETA: When I got mine 16 years ago, I don’t believe there were any other sizes in the tilt head, maybe 4.5qts (maybe). My mom’s tilt head (which is older than mine) is also a 5qt. Edited March 13, 2018 by mamaraby 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 (edited) My 5qt does - http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/-%5BKSM150PSSM%5D-400120/KSM150PSSM/I guess it’s good they have a larger tilt head for people who don’t like the lift. I prefer the lift one. I was at Target recently and they were selling a positively tiny tilt head one and I was like “what is this for?†It looked like a baby mixer. https://www.target.com/p/kitchenaid-174-artisan-mini-3-5-quart-tilt-head-stand-mixer-ksm3311x/-/A-51096487?preselect=51003073#lnk=sametab Edited March 13, 2018 by LucyStoner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 (edited) My 5qt does - http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/-%5BKSM150PSSM%5D-400120/KSM150PSSM/ ETA: When I got mine 16 years ago, I don’t believe there were any other sizes in the tilt head, maybe 4.5qts (maybe). My mom’s tilt head (which is older than mine) is also a 5qt. Our mixers are the same age. My dad gave it to us when we got married. I don’t remember what was available because I didn’t shop for it. It was an unexpected gift, we didn’t have a registry. I guess that means my marriage is 16 years old too. I’m not sure how that happened. I tend to think we’ve been married “about 10 yearsâ€. :P Edited March 13, 2018 by LucyStoner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I guess it’s good they have a larger tilt head for people who don’t like the lift. I prefer the lift one. I was at Target recently and they were selling a positively tiny tilt head one and I was like “what is this for?†It looked like a baby mixer. I believe based upon the KA website that those are from the Artisan mini line. 3.5qt I think. Kohl's sells the 5qt Artisan tilt head and the 3.5qt Artisan Mini from what I saw when we were there yesterday. In fact, I have not seen a KA lift at Kohls in anything smaller than the 6qt. I haven’t been to the KA store by my ILs in years, but the last time I was there, I think the smallest lift mixer I saw was 6qt. That’s pretty much the extent of my KA mixer size knowledge. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo95 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I have 5 kids and my 6 qt is fine for cookies, but I wish I had more capacity for bread/pizza doughs. What about a bosch mixer instead? I wish I knew those existed when I got my KA. However, I do think the KA looks better on the counter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Our mixers are the same age. My dad gave it to us when we got married. I don’t remember what was available because I didn’t shop for it. It was an unexpected gift, we didn’t have a registry. I guess that means my marriage is 16 years old too. I’m not sure how that happened. I tend to think we’ve been married “about 10 yearsâ€. :P Lol, I do the same thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peplophoros Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 Any other bread-bakers for large families care to weigh in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo95 Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 In case this might be helpful, here's a specific example, I like to make this pizza dough recipe: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/the-easiest-pizza-youll-ever-make-recipe. I want to double it but there isn't quite enough room in the 6 qt, so I make a 1.5x batch instead. If you are considering the 7qt KA, the bosch would be less $$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 How often do you triple cookie recipes? For me, this only occurs in December so I don’t need a bigger mixer. How many loaves of bread do you make at once? I only make two so, again, the smaller size makes more sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.