Which food mixer to bake cakes? Kitchen Aid?

[Growingboys]

Just that really. I don't bake very much but am sick of getting my old hand mixer out - it makes my arm hurt holding it for ages for recipes that require longer time.

My old Magimix isn't very good, so I'm thinking a Kitchen Aid type thing. But I don't have space for a massive one.

Can anyone recommend one? I'm not baking mad so don't need a top of the range one, but equally I'd rather buy a good one that will last. Just for cakes in family cooking.

Thank you!

I have a VonChef one that is really good - it cost me under £100 and is better than the Kenwood KMix I had before which was more than double the price

The 3 people I know who had Kitchen Aids no longer use them - any of them. However my MagiMix is still going strong after 9.5 years (and my mother’s after 30!) Just some indication. I use mine regularly to make gingerbread dough, carrot cake, jam tart pastry, all sorts. Also use the small bowl for making a quick smoothie in the morning, and the midi bowl for grating cheese or carrots if I need to do a lot. I find it very versatile and well worth the worktop space. If yours is old, perhaps consider upgrading to a newer (quieter?) model?

I got a kenwood chef a few years ago, it revolutionised my baking after 20+ years of struggling with a food processor. It earns its cupboard space!

Another vote for a Kenwood chef. I got one a few years ago and love it. My DM is currently using my grandfather's old one (which must be over 20 years old at this stage) only because the one she got as a wedding present 45 years ago finally gave up the ghost.

They are wonderful sturdy machines, and when I get my kitchen redone I'm going to get one of those attachments that mean you just pull it up to countertop height from inside the cupboard (my Mum has one and it's a godsend - at over 70, and a stroke 3 years ago, she was still able to bake with my kids last weekend)

This is all very helpful stuff. Our Magimix IS very old. It did used to work. But somehow I thought maybe a stand mixer would be a better bet.

Am also toying with a Kenwood as my mother had one for years which never broke.

Will also google VonChef, thank you!

And also worrying that if I buy one, I won't use it much. But I do need to bake fairly often (well, once every three weeks or so when the urge strikes), and I can't be doing with my crappy hand held mixer thing any more...

KitchenAid all the way!

I use mine at least every other day

KitchenAid looks pretty but Kenwoods are real workhorses.

Another vote for a kenwood. Not as pretty as kitchen aid but they never die!

I have a Kenwood multi one.

It's amazing. Entry level Kenwood, with the cakes stuff, plus food processor, juicer/blender and mincing attachments.

I use it LOADS and not just for cake.

I've got a kitchen aid mixer and a magimix, magimix never leaves the cupboard, kitchen aid is used regularly

Old Kenwoods can be picked up for under £100 in working order.

I love my kitchen aid. Still use it a lot a few years in. Plus I love how it looks as well as the functionality. Much more solid than my previous stand mixer.

I also love my kitchen aid. It lives out and honestly gets used most days.

Love my kitchen aid, use it regularly. I've had Kenwoods in the past and loved them as well.

Another vote for the Kenwood Chef. When I was growing up I was in awe of my mum's, she still has it and it's still going strong 35+ years later. I got one about 8 years ago and it's never let me down.

I love our KitchenAid. It's nice and sturdy. No fiddly bits like our old Kenwood mixer (that was quite old though so they've probably improved!).

I'd go to a department store if possible and look at them in real life.

Good idea re department store Leslie, I think that is what I shall do after our hols next week, thank you.

I've had a kitchen aid for 10 year a magimix 20 years. Kitchen aid I use several times a week, the magimix rarely. Magimix for pastry, gingerbread biscuit etc.kitchen aid fab for cakes and bread dough. Very easy to clean. Magimix I'm thinking of putting in a cupboard.