Are Kitchen Aids etc worth buying, do you think?

[HolofernesesHead]

I'm thinking about buying a Kitchen Aid or similar. I do a fair bit of home baking / cooking (although I've never made cup cakes!) and I'd like to do more. Is this wishful thinking, 'if I buy this product I'll turn into Nigella overnight', or are they genuinely useful?

The last bit of kitchen kit I bought was an espresso maker, which I use every day, but before we bought it we spent ages umming and ahing, thinking we'd either use it all the time or not at all. The Kitchen Aid thing's a similar sort of question, really. What do you think? (must add, I've only got intermittent Internet access atm so please don't feel offended if i don't post until tomorrow!) :)

Well, KAs are expensive for what they do, compared to (say) a Kenwood Chef, so if you're not bothered about a particular style, I wouldn't spend the extra money, as they both do a good job. You will need to keep it out on a work surface, as they're heavy and I don't think you'd use it if it lived in a cupboard. All that said, I love my Kenwood Chef, use it a lot and would not be without it.

What do you use it for, Habbibu?

Hi, just bought myself a Ready Steady Cook mixer, works fine for me as it has a turbo switch button.

I beat the butter first when recipe calls for softened butter, meringues, makes light and fluffy buttercream, the list is endless.

I love my kitchen aid, i have only had it a couple months but have made loads of things with it (great bread, loads of cakes and biscuits). It was a very expensive bit of kit though, i bought it as i am starting my own buisness from home (cakes) si i am hoping it will pay for itself (one day).

Absolutely, I love mine it's a sturdy and professional bit of kit. All the professional kitchens have the,. If you can afford it then go for it. Even DH is impressed and he says nothing is built properly these days.

I use mine to make cakes, cookies, bread, pancakes, meringues, everything really. The bowl and bits go in the dishwasher and with only two levers it's impossible to break.

I love my KA but I got a second hand one for £200 not sure they are worth the full RRP

I make cakes, brownies, dough, meat balls, etc in mine.

You do need to keep it out, they are so heavy!

Ah, dishwasherable sounds good! Do you do pastry in it?

I love mine! But it does take up space in my tiny kitchen. However, it's gret for most things, even bread! and it keeps the kitchen a bit cleaner as I don't have so much spilling out going on.

I've just started my research so I know what to ask for as my birthday / Xmas present... might take a few years for DH to get onboard but I live in hope ;)

Anyhoo, at this stage I think I like the Kenwood Kmix, I have a food processor already and a blender so don't think I need the Prospero, I adore the look of the KitchenAid but it's a lot of money, the Kenwood Chef seems very good but I'm so shallow and want a pretty mixer!!!

I shall mark my place on this thread for any opinions and advice :)

I don't have any of those things, Kiwi. I have cake tins, saucepans and a tiny pair of 'diet' scales that allows you to weigh minuscule portions. Oh, and an espresso maker....! :)

I also have a food processor, a blender, etc etc etc, but have to be honest i do love my new gadget, came with a whisk, dough hook and a beater, fab!

There is a thread here called 'Wood Pussies' who are big fans of their Prospero's, if you don't have a blender / processor then that could work for you, it's not very pretty but it's a good price and very functional.

The Prospero is a good starting point, it's got all the attachments and does its job well, and is relatively cheap. The down side is that it's not pretty like the KAs, and it's not very sturdy (I'm betting mine lasts two, perhaps three years tops). I got mine for ?159, but I think you can get them for less than that on amazon.

I do want a KA or higher end KW one day, but I didn't want to spend that much until I was sure about what I wanted, hence the Prospero being a good compromise for now.

Selfridges have KA £379.

here

got my kitchenaid yesterday and made a victoria sponge with it today - I have previously made vic sponge by hand, by food processor, and by kenwood chef. The kitchen aid one is the best by a long long way. Not sure why, but it is just much better texture. Worth it IMO!

Ooooh good price!! JL seems to be offering a 5yr guarantee with theirs, I assume that's not standard... don't JL have a price match policy???

How on earth do you decide on colour?????

I'd love to have tat dilemma ;)

*that dilemma