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Original poster

KitchenAid for a beginner baker ???

34 replies

BeaLola · 06/11/2012 14:22

Hi,

Are they best suited to experienced cooks or if you are new at it all eg cakes, bread making will it be worth its wait (or cost !) jn gold ???

OP posts:
MadameCastafiore · 06/11/2012 14:24

It is worth it's weight in gold in this house - not bragging but I am cake master and bake for all of my friends as they reckon my cakes are so much better than theirs - I think this is all down to my kitchen aid. If you can afford one get one.

PoppyAmex · 06/11/2012 15:45

I adore mine and it does so much more than cakes!

I make speciality bread dough on mine and things like soft pretzels, scones and even pizza dough. Suddenly all those faff-y recipes take minutes and you can get on with doing other stuff while it works.

Isandri · 06/11/2012 16:21

It might be worth considering a kenwood chef major. They have a more powerful motor and you can get more attachments to plug into them. Whichever one you buy they are wonderful for making bread.

Pesephone · 09/11/2012 13:21

I personally feel that for the money your better off with a Kenwood, i have a Kmix which is there kinda Kitchenaid equivalent and it outstripped the KA in both Which and Good housekeeping's trials, has a more powerful motor, is cheaper as are the attachments and is British. Kenwoods customer service is excellent too. I adore mine, I use it for cakes, bread, mirangue (sp) yorkshire puddings, whicpping cream, etc and I plan on buying the mincer/sausage maker attachemt too.

Vajazzler · 09/11/2012 13:36

Get one! There will be people telling you how long their granny's kenwood has been going or whatever but nothing beats the KitchenAid! They are beautiful objects of desire that are also fabulously well functioning. Couldn't live without mine. The only trouble you'll have is deciding which colour to go for.

wrinklyraisin · 07/12/2012 18:12

I'm getting one for Xmas. A bright red shiny gorgeous thing!!! Can't wait to bake yummy goodies each week. I've wanted one for years, am stupidly excited about it!

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 07/12/2012 18:14

I'm a pretty new baker and i got a KA in the summer. I was really worried I wouldn't use it enough to justify the cost but when I thought about it last weekend I worked out I had used it at least every other day for as far back as I could remember. I do have the slicing/grating attachment though and I use that heaps.

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 07/12/2012 18:16

My advice about the colour is be adventurous. I chose Candy Apple red which is gorgeous but was the most 'neutral' of all the colours except white. Now I'm gutted I didn't go for Grape or Apple Cider :(

Startail · 07/12/2012 18:20

My mum'sthe serious baker and she swears by her Kenwood. It must be approaching 40.

Mine's a mer upstart of 22 and not used anything like as much. Although it has just squired a splendid mincer, 1/2 price from ARGOS

Kitchen aids are pretty, expensive, upstarts.

Witchety · 07/12/2012 18:20

Gwendoline can I ask where to get the grater/slicer? I think that's what I need along with the flexi beater edge thingy someone recommended before

Witchety · 07/12/2012 18:23

I have candy apple red too.... What colours do the kenwoods come in startail?

BrianButterfield · 07/12/2012 18:26

The thing about the power of the motor is misleading as the KA is direct drive whereas the Kenwoods are belt-driven so lose power. KAs are so much nicer looking and you can throw as many Which? reports at me as you want, it's not and never will be crap. It is fab! Whatever the Kenwood does or doesn't have in comparison, I couldn't care less as I love my KA so much. I'd go for gorgeous+good over servicable+very good any way.

VestaCurry · 07/12/2012 18:34

Kenwood. Sold my kitchen aid to put the money towards one after using a friend's Kenwood when staying with her.

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 07/12/2012 18:40

I got mine from Amazon. Much as i would like some of the other attachments they would be just for fun but the shredder I use all the time. I think it's paid for itself with the amount of bags of grated cheese I used to buy!

Witchety · 07/12/2012 20:02

Thanks Gwendoline!

crochetqueen · 07/12/2012 21:08

LOVE my kitchen aid....Had it now for 7 months and was not much of a bread maker. Now I'm happy to try things and have had lots of success....but
lobe it for cakes, meringues, pizza dough etc. It sits on the side so that it's accessible and means I use it loads.I've an apple cider one which is neutralish but looks great with cream kitchen. I still have my 20yr old magimix which comes out for coleslaw and pastry !

crochetqueen · 07/12/2012 21:09

Love it of course...not sure of a 'lobe'....

MisForMumNotMaid · 07/12/2012 21:21

We've just got the pasta extruder. It's fantastic. I also use the shredder grater attachment loads. It's really big and easy to clean.

I am slowly going over to it for bread making but I find it a bit frustrating changing the hook from mixer to dough hook, something I don't have to do in the Panasonic bread machine.

I think they're a good practical kitchen item and I don't see them suddenly loosing popularity so if you shop around to get the best price you will no doubt be able to eBay it if you don't get on with it for almost as much as you paid for it.

I got mine off eBay for £140 BIN it's a current model K5(light commercial) rather than tilt head.

I really like the steel bowl as it doesn't stain with food colouring (tis the season of dyed salt dough for school decorations) and takes a bashing well, like when it falls off the drainer.

It's almost worth having a mini break to the USA to buy your attachments they're so much cheaper. I did find I could get them cheaper from shopping around in Europe my pasta extruder was just over £100 from Italy via eBay, from the UK I couldn't get it for less than £180.

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 07/12/2012 21:50

Does the Flex edge beater make much of a difference to the normal one? i do look at it sometimes and wonder...

BrianButterfield · 07/12/2012 22:14

I find my KA makes fab pastry!

I wonder about the flex beater as well.

I have the meat grinder as we eat a lot of mince-based things and I like to mince my own braising steak instead of buying mince. It's no cheaper but it's very nice. I want the shredder/slicer one day, and the ice-cream maker.

BrianButterfield · 07/12/2012 22:14

Did you all know you can mash potatoes in it? LIFE CHANGING.

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 07/12/2012 22:18

Ooh yes, i love making mash in it. I threw out my masher and ricer the day I discovered that. I bloody hate cleaning potato mashers!

MisForMumNotMaid · 07/12/2012 22:18

I just got the icecream maker from Debenhams using all the discount codes on the Christmas bargains thread. It worked out just over £50.

memphis83 · 07/12/2012 22:35

What attatchment would you use to mash potato in it?
I love baking, have dreamed of owning a KA and bought one last month, my cakes have totally changed and now I have got a list of friends and family orders for cakes for over christmas.... I have gained 3 pounds since I bougt one from all the cakes I have made!

BrianButterfield · 07/12/2012 22:37

No attachment, just the white beater. It can sometimes go a bit cold so I drain the spuds, put them back in the pan with milk and butter and just let that all heat through for a minute, then whack it in the bowl on a high speed until lovely and fluffy and no horrible mashers to contend with!