food processor or Chef Mixer - HELP NEEDED PLEASE

[HEIFER]

I have decided that I need to buy a food mixer... that was the easy part... now trying to decide what I need....

I want something that I can use to help me make cakes, chop, blend and maybe mix dough..

The range available has blown me away..

what is the difference between something like this

approx ?100

approx ?200

approx ?350

help much appreciated.....

can you let me know what you use yours for (as I may decided that I need to do that also)...

any thanks

the helpless heifer

Its difficult because different machines are better for different things, iyswim! I have a large size kenwood chef which is good for large quantity mixing, ie Xmas puds, Xmas cakes, and has good attachments such as mincer and liquidiser. This is also good for breadmaking (superseded by breadmaker now though!)
For general cake making and icing I find a hand held kenwood mixer is best.
The food processor is good for cooking rather than baking jobs. i.e shredding veg or peel for marmalade, chopping, slicing etc.
You really need all three but failing that, I think you could best get by with the food processor.

We have one like the first one you linked to (but white).

We use it for chopping cabbage and veg, grating cheese, making stuff like dips and marinades, pastry and cakes. We also use the blender for soup (and we make a lot of soup).
It does have a dough hook but I've never used it - as you say, breadmaker does most of that now.

We like it because it's small (cos the blender goes on the same base as the processor unlike this type} and it's light enough to pick up and put away, which saves counter space.

The only things we do that it's less good for are real whipping jobs - cream, mousse etc (we use a stick blender with a whisk on)- that the big Kenwoods are fab at.

The big Kenwoods are great for big volumes, but they really do only mix, they don't blend or chop or liquidise because they don't have sharp blades. The action's more like you get using a metal or a wooden spoon.

oh, according to the JL buying guide you cn buy extra attachments for the big Kenwood mixers that let you mince etc - could get expensive though.

cheers your comments are helping me already...

I have a bruan hand mixure thingy but have found it too small (especially over christmas when making prawn pate)...

So the processor doesn't really mix, and the chef mixer doesn't really chop?

is that right.

Although the more expensive mixer does have a liquidiser etc...

any more comments or recomendations?

aha, I missed that the £300 one had a liquidiser - handy.

(and whatever type you get, do get a Kenwood one - they are def the best IME)

any more recommendations

Ie what model and make do you have and what do you use it for?

my mum has the second one and its fab, we have used it for everything, but a the same time i have the first one and it does everything just as well. Think it comes down to what you are happy to spend and what of the attachment you are really likely to use.

agree with badger kenwood are defo good make for these, my mum has had hers for bout 20 years

I have the first one - but I got it for nearly half that price in Curry's last winter(I think) and it's been great for absolutely everything I need it for.

I use it for bread making (the dough /kneading bit) mincing meat for stuff like meatballs, humous, shortcrust pastry ooh loads. the liquidiser is great for soups too.

I don't have the dough kneading tool as it didn't come with mine, but my dough is fab just using the knife blade attachment.

I love mine!
hth

This one is mine

in fact I think it's identical.

Decent price too!

I am looking for one at the moment and have found here quite helpful and fairly reasonable too.

the £76.99 one looks good

I got same one Lucycat got for christmas.

It covers all the main bases (can make dough, electric mixer, liquidiser, juicer and chops stuff up as well) so I got it cos it covers all the main bases.

Used it to make my christmas presents and am very pleased so far.

It's fab isn't it?

yeah its good.

I got it half price too - was expected to have to pay a lot more for one I wanted.