Beginner baker - what food mixer do I get?

[Rollingdownland]

My children are teenagers and I have more time so want to do more baking, and would love good food mixer suggestions.

I'm not a master baker - as I've never had a food mixer I have always done cookies and tray bakes, using my hand held mixer - and I don't plan on becoming a professional baker. I just want a decent mixer so I can make the odd cake without giving myself tennis elbow.

I once bought a Kenwood cheaply on a deal (£99) and the attachment didn't scrape the sides at ALL so it just failed in its one task of mixing. This has left me slightly wary of Kenwoods although I know they're meant to be great.

Space is an issue in my tiny kitchen so I don't really want a huge KitchenAid.

Please can you recommend me a decent food mixer that is not top of the range/top price but will help me start making more cakes etc?

Thank you

I'm not quite sure what you mean by food mixer. It could be food processor, stand mixer, or handheld electric mixer?

I am an enthusiastic home baker and have a stand kitchenaid machine and I adore it. But I developed my baking love without that sort of equipment. A handheld electric mixer, digital scales, and a good rubber spatula is really all you need for beginner bakes. Stand mixers are a nice to have but not at all vital unless you are planning on really getting into making breads and meringue type items very frequently. As you say it's your teens baking I'm assuming they are thinking brownies, cookies, sponge cakes... It's been years since I bought a handheld electric mixer but I think I was probably paying in the region of £25 for one, and they also are fairly small and lightweight to store in drawers/cupboards.

I don't know the terminology either @SummaLuvin but hoped the more experienced bakers might!

I have a hand held mixer but it is exacerbating my joint pain holding it to eg cream sugar and butter, so I am after something that does the mixing for me without me holding it. Basically any recipe that says 'cream' this or 'beat' that is too much for me with my hand held job, so I'm after something that will do those bits for me.

@Rollingdownland If you haven't got rid of your kenwood - have a look and see if you can get the attachement that has a rubber spatula scrapery bit attached to it - it's like the k mix one but gets all the bits up. Otherwise you might be able to adjust the setting on the mixer to make the attachment touch the bottom and sides better - I know you can do this on a kitchen aid.
I love my kitchenaid - I don't think it's any bigger than the kenwood (we used to have both!) and it's more Sturdy and has the scraper mixer attachment which is brilliant.

Otherwise something like this https://www.currys.co.uk/products/breville-heatsoft-2-in-1-vfm029-stand-mixer-white-and-stainless-steel-10239046.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istFeedId=4d7eb93e-055f-499d-8ee5-1cdcc50d67d1&istItemId=rxttrwllq&istBid=t
might be good?

You can adjust the beater height on my Kenwood chef - can you do this on your model? I also have the rubber spatula beater.

I got mine (a 1970s one) second hand for £30 and I love it. It was from a house clearance post bereavement. The bloke told me all about how much his mother loved it and used it. My friend inherited her Gran's and has just had a new motor put in it as it went phut after many years of faithful service. So I might have a look around on eBay / facebook marketplace. The 1970s metal ones are much more durable than the modern Chefs.

I really value the built in liquidiser which would clinch it over a Kitchen Aid for me. At the time I got mine there were still lots of accessories available for the 1970s models but they are becoming more difficult to get so I'd look for one with all the accessories you need e.g mincer/ grater etc. I have the ice cream maker which is a nice gimmick to have in the summer.

However, all my friends who bought new mixers (rather than inheriting one) have a Kitchenaid.

If you are thinking Kitchenaid style I would just go with it rather than buy a Kmixx unless price is a very strong factor (Kitchenaid = £420, Kmixx = £300)

I suspect you can also buy second hand kitchenaids. They are so expensive people must try to flog them on. I've just never looked.

Oh. I just got a k-mix for my birthday. I'm really looking forward to using it. I hope mine scrapes the sides!

I have a Magimix and it makes a good sponge cake. I can also use it for other odd things, like grating lots of cheese

Thanks everyone for the input. @DramaLlamaBangBang I know loads of people who love their K Mixes - I think I just had a rogue one. I tried to take it back but had thrown away the packaging and it was about two months old by that time so that was that.

@Captainladder that one you posted a link to looks absolutely fantastic, both in price and what it does. I think I'm going to buy it. Thank you!

And @EmmyPankhurst good point about the old Kenwoods being so good - my mother's old one is still going strong from the 1970s!