Stand Mixers Vs Hand Mixers

[FranDaMan]

Since going gluten-free my wife has been killing herself (and subsequently the hand mixer) trying to provide us with at least one loaf of bread per week. We have a breadmaker now and it does quite nicely but we still have a need for a new mixer for anything we want to actually bake.

I searched the forum and see threads about stand mixers that are about three years old now and I'm wondering if anything has come onto the market we should know about or if we should just head out and grab a Kitchenaid and get on with it.

Thanks

[Rissmeek]

Since going gluten-free my wife has been killing herself (and subsequently the hand mixer) trying to provide us with at least one loaf of bread per week. We have a breadmaker now and it does quite nicely but we still have a need for a new mixer for anything we want to actually bake.

I searched the forum and see threads about stand mixers that are about three years old now and I'm wondering if anything has come onto the market we should know about or if we should just head out and grab a Kitchenaid and get on with it.

Thanks

I use a stand mixer with the exception of some mixes that aren't big enough to put in the stand. I have the biggest Kitchenaid that they make, I'm sure a smaller one would be fine for most people though. For those few things I use a cheapy hand mixer so when it burns up I can just replace it.

[lobita]

I use a stand mixer with the exception of some mixes that aren't big enough to put in the stand. I have the biggest Kitchenaid that they make, I'm sure a smaller one would be fine for most people though. For those few things I use a cheapy hand mixer so when it burns up I can just replace it.

I bought a KitchenAid from Costco about a year ago, and I love it. It's totally essential for making breads, in my opinion.

[GlutenGalAZ]

I have the KitchenAid Stand Mixer from Sam's club (got it last year). I love it. Very easy to use and quick clean up.

They make a cover (pick your color) to put over the mixer. But I like the look of it on the counter so I just have a nice hand towel folder going over the bowl to keep that covered.

Majority of the time I use the KichenAid Mixer but if I have something simple I am making like muffins I just use a bowl.

[sixtytwo]

Another vote for Kitchen Aid. I bought mine a few years ago and if I had known how great it was, I sure would have found a way to get one much sooner. I make Bob's Red Mill bread mix/two at a time and put them in four small pans. I found that it got too hard on the outside before it was nice on the inside making it into one loaf per mix. I use all regular eggs rather than the one egg/rest whites as it says on the packaging. This way I have eight little loaves (2 points each slice on Weight Watchers if you cut the loaf in eight). It lasts me a long time as I don't eat bread every day. It smells divine coming out of the oven. Good luck. Barbara

[jerseyangel]

My 20 year old Kitchen Aid stand mixer is still going strong. I use it for mixing up my Gluten Free Pantry bread mix, and it does a lot of cookie batter at one time (great for holiday). I highly recommend it!

I think you'll get a ton of use out of one.

[mamaw]

My vote also goes to kitchenaid for a stand mixer & they also have a powerful hand mixer! For gluten-free breads I always use the stand mixer. I love both!

[FranDaMan]

OK, so it looks like we're all drinking the Kitchenaid Kool Aid!

So the question still lingering here is which model? Pro line 6 series or the Artisan?

Cuisinart has a 5.5 quart version with a stronger motor and won in cooks.com competition and I'm considering it but read a few reviews where people thought they were poorly or cheaply built. Anyone have knowledge on this one?

[lpjourney]

I went with the Pro 6 - since it was the strongest Kitchenaid machine. I ordered directly from www.shopKitchenaid.com - they happened to be running a special at the time just a few months ago - have not see the same price at a store yet. Plus you have more color options thru them.

I knew from my mother's experience that the first action I needed to do was get the mixer.

[Barbapoppa]

We have been using the 5.5 quart Cuisinart stand mixer for about the last 6 months now and I have not found a fault with it. It runs great and I can make that thing work without having to worry about it. I can make enough mix for 4 loaves of bread it it (4x8.5 pans) and it could probably do a little more. It has the ability to run some extra attachments but I don't have any of those yet.

Good luck with your search. I know what you are going through because when I bought my mixer I searched through all the stand mixer posts and read about it for days. In the end I chose the Cuisinart because of the metal gears and gearbox. It is not the cheapest one out there but I have been pleased with our purchase.

[Nancym]

I've had a kitchenaid stand mixer for probably 20 years now. I love that dang thing.

[TrillumHunter]

Dissenting vote--I have a six year old Ultra I don't like. After about two years the motor quit changing speeds. It basically has slow and medium but no in between speeds.

I'm looking at a Bosch now.

[HiDee]

I'm looking at a Bosch now.

I vote for the Bosch stand mixer. I have the universal which has the blender and food processor as well as the mixing bowl. I LOVE it. I use it all the time. I grew up with a Bosch so that's what I got when I got married and no regrets. A friend of mine recently switched from a KitchenAid to a Bosch and is loving it too. I don't know how the price compares to KitchenAid but the quality is fantastic.

[ang1e0251]

I love my Kitchenaids! I've had the pro version for about 10 years and my hand held for 25. I wouldn't go back to those wimpy mixers!

[JennyC]

Another vote for Kitchen Aid. My mixer is a workhorse and it takes all the abuse I give it, and keeps working strong.

[Lisa16]

For all the kitchen aid fans-- is it worth it to get the higher wattage? I was told the watts tell you how powerful the motor is and I notice there is a huge range on the kitchen aid models (and that the price goes up about 100$ per 100 watts.) The biggest ones seem to top out around 600 watts but they also cost more than my computer did. I was told in a gluten-free cooking class that you need maximum watts.

I have been looking at these and trying to figure out which one is best to get. Consumer reports rates the 5.5 quart cuisinart higher than the ka's. Any thought about what to look for?

Cuisinart also makes a smaller one for about 78$ that is both a stand mixer and easily comes off to be a hand-held. But it is only 250 watts. Any experience with these? I like the convertibilty factor.

Thanks!

[Juliebove]

Since going gluten-free my wife has been killing herself (and subsequently the hand mixer) trying to provide us with at least one loaf of bread per week. We have a breadmaker now and it does quite nicely but we still have a need for a new mixer for anything we want to actually bake.

I searched the forum and see threads about stand mixers that are about three years old now and I'm wondering if anything has come onto the market we should know about or if we should just head out and grab a Kitchenaid and get on with it.

Thanks

I have the small Bosch stand mixer. I read somewhere that it is the best for gluten-free baking.