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Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 5:14:49 AM

LillyBoPeep

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I still have my wonderful old Mixmaster, which works perfectly fine, especially considering that it's older than most other adults I know. But I want to upgrade to a Kitchenaid because I am fascinated by all the attachments.
Are the attachments really worthwhile?

On chowhound, I read that the K5's, which were from the days when Kitchenaid was still made by Hobart, are still better/sturdier than the modern models. Does anyone have any experience there? I found quite a few on ebay for ridiculously reasonable prices. Do modern replacement parts, like the whisks and such, work with them?

And as far as modern KAs go, a friend mentioned that the bigger ones, like the Artisans and Pros, always overmix her cookie recipes. She likes the smaller classic because it isn't as powerful, and doesn't overmix. Thoughts?

And food processors -- if you have one, what brand do you have? What features does it have and what do you like about it?
I have had several completely independent recommendations for Cuisinarts, particularly the DLC-10S Pro Classic 7-cup.
I have very little experience with food processors, but I want to get a good one that will last. I mostly just chop stuff by hand, and I replaced a mandoline slicer yesterday.
But I'm amazed at how much time they take out of the monotonous slicing process. =p

I'm one of those sorts who obsessively researches things before buying them, so feel free to chime in with any and all advice you may have. ^_^

< Message edited by LillyBoPeep -- 11/2/2012 5:15:50 AM >

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 6:51:30 AM

GreedyTop

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I just read this: http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/breville-unseats-stand-mixer-champ-kitchenaid.html

Hope it helps!

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 8:48:21 AM

FrostedFlake

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Krups model 708a.

No longer available. But similar ones are.

I like it because it doesn't have all the gadgets you are thinking of. There are just four parts. It sits on the counter between the coffee grinder and toaster, seemingly taking up no space at all. On the other hand, it doesn't do the things you have in mind. It just shreds veggies. Then tears down, cleans up and hits the rack in 30 seconds.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 10:47:35 AM

LaTigresse

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Last year Generic Dude bought me a Kitchenaid Pro 600 mixer. I am loving it. I've made dozens of batches of quick breads, cookies, noodles (italian pasta, egg and soba) and yeast breads. It has cruised through it all without even getting warm.

I still like to use my cheap, old, Dollar Store, electric mixer for stuff like mashed potatoes just because it's easy and fast.

I do believe that many of the attachments are over priced and better stand alone pieces (like the pasta makers) can be purchased separately, for less money. I've no real interest in purchasing any of them, unless I were to get a few different beaters. I've been thinking about the one with the scraper/spatula thingies.

As of right now, I've never had a food processor. I've used my blender for some food processor type stuff (making crumbs from cookies or crackers) but that's about it. Everything else I do by hand. Maybe some day...

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 10:54:14 AM

Phoenixpower

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I recently chucked out my mixer cause it was just a pain in the arse....ok ok, it was probably ok for most folks but for me it was just too much fuss with getting it clean again and as some parts were broken off after falling on the floor I decided to chuck it out...

Next year I will finally buy myself a kitchenaid mixer cause mum never believed me that hers would be mine....and believe me....I tried often to convince her of that...

I just love the kitchenaid one....easy to clean and does a great job....mum has hers since longer than I am old and it only needed once a repair last year, where my godfather was able to fix it for her....it is just very difficult to damage and so the right one for me....

Beside that I have a phillips machine to juice my vegetables and fruits

and am happy with that one....or....I am happy with that one since I have a dishwasher who get that one clean again

< Message edited by Phoenixpower -- 11/2/2012 10:55:00 AM >

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 12:45:27 PM

DomKen

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I've owned a KitchenAid mixer for about 10 years. It has the same attachment point as more modern machines and I have a newer whisk for it that fits just fine. Although if you buy and old one I'd make sure you get a whisk, paddle and bread hook in the deal just to be safe.

As to food processors, I've got the cuisinart 7 cup model from about 4 years ago. The one feature I really love is the mini bowl that lets me do very small batches of stuff like salsa.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 2:01:07 PM

stef

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

I just read this: http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/breville-unseats-stand-mixer-champ-kitchenaid.html

For kitchen hipsters the Breville might seem like a "win", but for serious cooks the KitchenAid still kicks it's ass. You don't need LCD screens on a mixer and the lack of the power hub limits it's usefulness.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 5:04:52 PM

LillyBoPeep

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The pasta makers are the primary reason I want a KitchenAid =p Just to have everything as a self-contained unit. But if the stand-alone machines are better, then maybe I'll just stick with my Mixmaster. I do like that the KA can do bread dough.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 7:41:17 PM

TheBanshee

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I bought a KitchenAid from QVC a few years ago and I LOVE IT. Great for so many things - I bought the larger stand mixer model (I think it has a 6 QT or 6.5 Qt bowl) and I'm so glad I went for the larger one - works great for cookie dough if you bake for the holidays. I never made pasta with it, I don't have the attachment for that but I'd love to try it sometime. I love the weight of it - you know its sturdy and never going to fall apart.

You'll love it. You might want to check it out on QVC too - they have promotions and easy pay plans that might make the price a little easier to handle.

Let us know when you decide!!

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 8:11:30 PM

DomKen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LillyBoPeep

The pasta makers are the primary reason I want a KitchenAid =p Just to have everything as a self-contained unit. But if the stand-alone machines are better, then maybe I'll just stick with my Mixmaster. I do like that the KA can do bread dough.

I use the pasta roller a lot. It is a tad on the light weight side, IMO, but it does get the job done for me. It might be different in you make whole wheat pasta or some other stiffer dough.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 8:31:29 PM

kitkat105

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Ooh! I will keep a close eye on this thread.

Mr. Odeen just bought me a Kitchenaid Artisan mixer (Electric blue).. it came today and I can't wait to start using it!

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 9:00:50 PM

LillyBoPeep

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DomKen - have you ever used the ravioli attachment? I REAALLLLYY want one of those. Imagine all the awesome raviolis you could make with the little hopper. ^_^ Egads, it would be so fun.

The Banshee - I never thought about QVC; that's a great idea - thanks!

I do like that the Artisans come in a bajillion colors. Electric blue is the color I always stare at, too. =p

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 9:36:05 PM

DomMeinCT

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I have a classic size Kitchenaid mixer that's 25 years old and works as great now as the day I got it. Buying an older used one in good condition at a good price (for me) is a no brainer. Parts/attachments are available for even really old models.

I just rehabbed my mother's 55 year old Waring blender that she was throwing out for $20 at a small-repair shop. The repairman offered me $100 and it's build like a Sherman tank.

For a basic workhorse appliance, I love the idea of buying one used and/or rehabbing one for a little $. For more modern and/or sophisticated purposes, I'd buy new.

Do you have a immersion mixer/multi-tool? Probably my most-used appliance after the mixer, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Miallegro-9090-550-Watt-Immersion-Professional-style/dp/B00281QTE0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1351917247&sr=8-5&keywords=immersion+blender (Mine is a Krups, but it's no longer made...wanted you to see all the parts.)

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 10:00:45 PM

MstrPBK

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What a nice coincidence real reviews from real people about mixers ..

My roommate (not slave) hinted loudly he wanted a new mixer in the kitchen for Christmas. he said, "KitchnAide ... because of all the attachments ...". I keep looking at my wallet and wondering where I am going to get the $300 for the mixer and the $1000 or so for the attachments. I got some ideas ... but no promises at this point,

Don't get me wrong; we're both are serious cooks in the kitchen so all of the attachments are at some point would be used; although our kitchen is on the small side.

MstrPBK
St. Paul, MN USA

< Message edited by MstrPBK -- 11/2/2012 10:01:24 PM >

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 10:48:09 PM

DomKen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LillyBoPeep

DomKen - have you ever used the ravioli attachment? I REAALLLLYY want one of those. Imagine all the awesome raviolis you could make with the little hopper. ^_^ Egads, it would be so fun.

No I haven't. Didn't even know it existed. Been making ravioli the slow unpleasant, by hand, way. I think I know what to get myself for Xmas now. I just have the pasta roller and the meat grinder (I do not recommend getting the grinder).

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/2/2012 11:53:32 PM

heartcream

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I'd love to have fancy kitchen tools! I have a ten dollar mixer that I have used to death pretty much, and a fancy-shmancy brand new Cuisnart stainless finish food processor that I have used maybe three times, no real spot for it, lots of clean up...

BUT it has the plastic spinny thing as well as the sharp metal one and the plastic one is PERFECT for making homemade pesto, it doesnt break everything down as much. Mmm tried a crazy new recipe pesto made with sage from the garden, garlic, roasted pumpkin seeds and coconut oil. Crazy tasty-have it with pasta and add goat cheese, couldnt be healthier and it tastes so good.

Everyday use is the Magic Bullet, freaking love it! Am on my fourth one because I have been using it so much. Smoothies with the flax seeds whirred and whizzed fresh for max health benefits. I think if I had a bit of a better counter space situation going on I would tap into my food processor much more often. I use knives, micro-planers, chopping boards and graters to get er done. I like watching my knife skills improve.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/3/2012 1:01:09 AM

shallowdeep

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quote:

And as far as modern KAs go, a friend mentioned that the bigger ones, like the Artisans and Pros, always overmix her cookie recipes. She likes the smaller classic because it isn't as powerful, and doesn't overmix. Thoughts?

I have not experienced any problem with over mixing with the Professional 600; on low speeds it can be relatively sedate. All the extra power does is give it the ability to maintain a selected speed setting even in the face of resistance, should it be encountered. That's useful for something like kneading a big batch of bread dough, but it shouldn't mean the mixer will wildly beat less stressful contents to death provided an appropriate speed is selected.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/3/2012 1:09:27 AM

Toysinbabeland

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My ka is so good, it can whip butter from frozen sticks.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/3/2012 3:51:20 AM

LillyBoPeep

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

No I haven't. Didn't even know it existed. Been making ravioli the slow unpleasant, by hand, way. I think I know what to get myself for Xmas now. I just have the pasta roller and the meat grinder (I do not recommend getting the grinder).

The first time I saw it was at Williams-Sonoma; I'd never seen it elsewhere, but they are available at different places online. ^_^ Definitely check it out.

And I have heard that the meat grinder wasn't such a great attachment. I like the regular, old fashioned, big metal ones anyway. =p

heartcream - A friend of mine has a magic bullet and is madly in love with it, too. He makes smoothies every day and it obliterates ice without any problems. I used it to help make shortbread, and it was a breeze. It really is a cool little device. =p

I think I paid $20 for my old mix master, I got it from craigslist. I love to find stuff second hand, and I love to get older models because they always seem to be made better.
I've wanted to take a cooking class specifically for knife skills; no matter how much by-hand-chopping I do, it never seems to get any better. haha

DomMeinCT - no I don't have an immersion blender, but I have heard that they are handy. Care to share more about it? I saw that people like touse them for blending up soups and such.

shallowdeep - i suppose i'd have to ask her more specifically how she determines the cookies are overmixed. KAs have a lot of different speeds, so it seems like she could turn it down, but i don't fully understand her cookie method =p
I like that the bigger ones have the range to do bigger things - so if you decide to do something big, you don't have to question the ability of your machine. That would be the number one reason to go for a bigger one, for me - I may not regularly do big jobs, but I'd like to know I have the capability to, should I want to.

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RE: Food processors and mixers, oh my! - 11/3/2012 8:22:10 AM

DomKen

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I'm not really sure what/how could be getting overmixed in a cookie dough.

During creaming you watch for the right color of the butter sugar mixture. When you're adding the flour you should know that you want to mix only unitl the dough comes together. TBH I've found that my stand mixer makes chocolate chip cookies pretty fool proof.

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