KitchenAid

When considering stocking your kitchen, some of the most important questions you’ll have to answer are what level of baker/cook are you. Are you a $150 chef’s knife, or a set from the store down the road cook, do you need glass, pyrex or plastic stacking bowls, and are you a stainless steel, ceramic, or cast iron cook. All these questions and more, will be clamoring to be answered immediately when you step foot into your kitchen for the first time. However, these questions can be answered slowly and practically as needed. I suggest thrifting some essentials so that they can be replaced slowly over time. I started out with an almost entirely free set of kitchen essentials that I picked up over the years and I still use them all to this day.

However, one of the more expensive questions you’ll have to answer are what type of mixer should I get, and maybe, should it be a kitchenaid?

Kitchenaids are the quintessential kitchen tool. They are stylish, practical, and multi-disciplinary. But so are other mixers. In fact, a good handmixer might be better than a stand mixer your first year or two. Regardless, I thought I’d give you my perspective as someone who has inherited a kitchenaid and is from a kitchenaid family.

First, I have mixed feelings about kitchenaid. I love my kitchenaid dearly, they stand behind their phenomenal warranty, but, I’m not sure if I would pay full price for one (I would buy one on sale though).

I inherited my kitchenaid from my mom who interited it from my grandmother. It’s from the 90’s or before and it’s sentimental to me. It wasn’t working well so I called kitchenaid and all they could offer was to replace it, free of charge with free shipping, but I wanted my machine to be repaired not replaced. Eventually, while studying the machine, I came upon a number which I realized was a phone number. After two rings, someone picked up, and they were able to help me find someone in my area (there’s two places in all of California) who could repair my machine. Now, my machine works great again!

The one time I spent money directly with kitchenaid, I bought a juicer attachment and I really love it. However, ordering it, and returning one of them, was one of the hardest web experiences I’ve had in awhile. Every time I switched to a different tab to try to figure out something I would be logged out, and have to start over. Eventually, I had to use another device just so I could proceed. I vowed to never buy anything directly from them again. However, I would buy their flour miller from a secondary site but that’s a problem for 2027.

I’ve loved using my kitchenaid and I’ve yet to find something it can’t do half decently or excellently. Mine is over 30 years old at least and hasn’t even started chipping, rusting, or smoking yet. If I were to suggest a mixer, it would have to be a kitchenaid, through a secondary site with easy returns, due to it’s compact size, durability and multi-use functionality. However, as a hater of the website and someone who’s never actually bought a machine, who am I to suggest anything.

One caveat, unless you know that you’ll need a large machine, I suggest starting with, and staying with, a smaller machine. They’ll take up less space and the few times you’ll need to mix batches in two parts will likely far and between. Also, don’t go overboard with the attachments – a whisk, dough hook, and mixer are all you need and no one keeps the flour guard for long before it breaks.

I enjoy making breads, loaves, cookies, and more in my mixer. Mine sits on my counter, quietly ready for whatever task I hand it that day. It’s the perfect size (I believe it’s 5 quarts) and I was able to thrift a second bowl so now I can easily swap mixtures when doing the holiday baking. It’s old but a powerhouse and I have no doubt that with a little care and maintenance, it can be passed down to a fourth generation. And if it dies? I’ll send it to kitchenaid free of charge, with free shipping, and finally let them replace it.