Kenmore or Kitchenaid ? Something else perhaps?

[AmericanStand]

Ive been looking at mixers seems like the Kenmore is built by Kitchenaid just a little more powerfull and a little less expensive. Im currently thinking Kenmore 400 Elite 5 quart at $200 is a pretty good deal.

Heres the rub , Id buy the Pro series 600 watt 6 quart cause Im a more power kinda guy but the bowl lift thing looks like a pain in the tucus.

Your thoughts?

[SLFarmMI]

I love, love, love my Kitchenaid mixer. Don't remember what model it is but that thing is a workhorse.

[V-NH]

Buy an old used one if you can find one. We inherited a 27 year old kitchen aid mixer that works as good as it did when it was brand new. You can probably find one on craigslist for 1/3rd of the price of a new one and you get the benefit of the fact that they used to be built to last a lifetime as opposed to replaced every decade.

[painterswife]

I use a Kitchenaid. Watch the sales I bought a reconditioned one on Amazon 8 years ago.

[agmantoo]

We find the results shown here to be consistent with the performance of our Kitchenaid mixer

YouTube

[Akita]

I'm still using the Kitchenaid Mixer my Mom got for a wedding present in 1954 (that's not a typo) The thing survived my father and my husband, I think they're pretty much indestructible.

[jassytoo]

Love my Kitchen Aid as well.

[Jlynnp]

I love my Kitchen Aid as well, I would never have anything else. Watch Kohl's ads they do have them on sale for a real good price.

[Rustaholic]

Originally Posted by Jlynnp

I love my Kitchen Aid as well, I would never have anything else. Watch Kohl's ads they do have them on sale for a real good price.

I was looking at one on sale at Kohl's and mentioned that to the manager at work. He told me to go upstairs and take my pick of the two on the shelf.
There is nothing at all wrong with a free Kitchen Aid stand mixer.
I also found the box with the manual and all of the standard attachments up there.

[Vosey]

I've had my Kitchen Aid over 20 years, it's their simplest model, Christmas present from my MIL. I expect it'll last my lifetime. I use it all the time, even for silly things like mixing peanut butter or tunafish. I wouldn't mess with any other brand even if it's supposed to be made by them.

[used2bcool13]

I didn't have a lot of counter space so I preferred the bowl lift rather than the tilt head, the only downside is pouring flour in, you have to go slowly or buy the pouring spout.

[HOTW]

I have a kitchenaid k5ss , someone told me it was 18 years old when i bought it in 2002 and it still works wonders. I would nwver use anything else at this point

[GrannyCarol]

Another vote for Kitchen Aid. I got mine about 15 years ago, it's as good as new. It's not the lift bowl model, but it sure does whatever I put before it!

[sidepasser]

I was in my DH's kitchen before we married and was poking around in the cabinets and lo and behold I struck gold..a brand new kitchen aid mixer still in the box.

I unpacked that box so quick, my future DH was greatly amused. Now he jokes that I married him for his mixer

Kitchenaid, there is NO other brand. I use mine and I think it will outlive me. I love that mixer and I have told DH that if we ever divorce, the mixer comes with me and he can have all the rest of the stuff.

[DW]

Love it! I have the big one with bowl lift. My hubby bought it for me few yrs back...deals f/Kohls...paid very little for it w/discounts/rebates.

[claytonpiano]

I have had my kitchen aid for years and years. It is a real workhorse.

[Horseyrider]

I'm on my third KitchenAid in thirty-seven years of marriage. The first one was the smallest one, made back when KitchenAid was still made by Hobart. Then Hobart sold that line to, I believe, Rival. (Please, correct me if it was another company; but I know Hobart sold the brand.) After twenty-plus years my first mixer died. I had worked it very hard on whole grain doughs as well as with all the attachments. I replaced it with a five quart model, which, even though it had a more powerful motor, it lasted only a few years before it died. I found out that when Hobart sold the brand, the new owners cheapened the insides, going with plastic parts in place of what was once all metal, and they'd just. wear. out. fast. I was livid. It wasn't completely dead yet, but it squirted gear grease all through some pickle relish I was grinding.

I found out that although the smaller models are still made with plastic, the 600 series is not. So, rather than switch to a Viking or something else and having to start all over again with the attachments (the cost of those mounts up!), I opted for the 600 series. So far, so good; but it's only been a few years.

Just a cautionary tale, so you are armed with more information. Read the reviews on Amazon and you'll get a tremendous education.

[FarmerDavid]

Originally Posted by DW

Love it! I have the big one with bowl lift. My hubby bought it for me few yrs back...deals f/Kohls...paid very little for it w/discounts/rebates.

That's what I did for my wife also. Would like to buy here some attachments but its about like buying it again for some of them. FWIW my brother in law is a professional chief and he claims that they are still made to last.

[partndn]

Kitchenaid pro 600 me too.

It took a lot of patience, and some enhancement to my Popeye forearms while waiting. But finally hit the perfect storm of discounts, Kohl's sale, manf rebate all at once.

Now, if only there was such a perfect storm for a GrainMaker!

[froebeli]

I have the 600 series and have the model that raises the bowl. If you have limited counter space for that raised head model I'd go with the raised bowl one. Never had a problem in the 3 or more years I've owned mine. You do have to use the cover lid to get flour in easier but I've used mine for everything (including mixing batches of deer bologna in 6 lb increments) without an issue.

Just finished grinding 25 lbs of venison and have 24 more lbs to go tonight. Its a workhorse!!!