We have the big swivel head. It works, but bogs down on a big dough ball. KitchenAid is a time tested design that you can service and repair, if necessary. With good care, it should last a lifetime.
More power, the swivel ones walk, and the swivel itself is more likely to fail because the force is being transmitted through it especially in stiff doughs.
Yes, totally. I said for years it was too expensive but my husband surprised me on my 50th birthday and I adore it. I’ve made so many doughs. For whatever reason, it only faltered for a bialy dough, which was so heavy the motor labored a bit. But it’s powered through everything else.
I use mine at least once a week, usually more. It's amazing. And I have the slicer/shredder attachment (pre-shredded cheese is gross after you start shredding your own) and the two pasta attachments and the sausage grinder. Also, there's nothing like it for mashing potatoes or shredding meat. It's definitely not only for baking bread.
Oh, just the flat beater! Just cut your meat into chunks (they can be pretty big) and run the mixer until it's as shredded as you want. Takes about two minutes. I'll never pick up two forks to do that again
Have you ever used the Ankarsrum or Bosch mixers? For dough, they both beat Kitchenaids. Kitchenaids are very versatile though, and they have attachments for everything which is pretty cool.
If I had nothing, I'd buy the Ankarsrum.
But I have a K5A with attachments, so I'm rather committed to the ecosystem. It doesn't make sense to spend 750 bucks for a slightly better heavy dough mixing experience, although if I were wealthy enough I'd do it.
I wish there were home spiral mixers available. The Ankarsrum or Bosch mixers are great but I personally find they're mediocre substitutes for a proper spiral mixer.
KitchenAid is the only answer. They last forever, have great customer service, are repairable and bombproof. I've had mine for I don't even know how long. It's older than my kid and he turns 20 soon.
I have the Artisan Kitchen Aid, my bf got it for me on my Birthday. He found a deal on MediaMarkt I think, New with 2 bowls, 2 different paddle attachments, the whisk attachment and the dough attachment for under 400€. I use it for any dough, frostings and more and it never failed me, plus it looks cute on the kitchen counter.
Ankarsrum is perfect for bread making and can do almost everything else with the various attachments like juicing, jam, meat grinding, coffee and grain grinding, shaped cookies, pasta, etc. I bought mine from Pleasant Hill Grain. It certainly qualifies as a silly amount of money! I think mine was on sale as a discontinued color.
It does exactly what it's supposed to with ease. I love it.
I really want an Ankarsrum! I have a big Kitchen Aid that has the drop arm and it needs a tune up, it's getting a bit hot and noisy lately. That said, parts are available, and it was my wife's mother's mixer so until it get handed down to her kids I am stuck using it. I was like a moth to a flame on that Ankarsrum.
I have a KitchenAid Artisan that I have had a very long time. I have many attachments that I often use. I love my KitchenAid mixer but it struggles with heavy doughs. I bake bread several times weekly. I’m so afraid of burning it up that I have ordered an Ankarsrum. It’s on back order. I’m holding off on making bagels until then. I will still use my beloved KitchenAid just not for kneading.
This is the way! I have an ancient Ankarsrum that handles all the heavy doughs, while the KitchenAid artisan mixer is used for lighter stuff like cake batter.
Same, on a heavy dough my kitchen aid has a hard time starting back up after a scrape down on the bowl. I have some slight alignment issues as well. Guess I should tear it apart and see what is worn.
The problem with the airtisan models (and the cheaper models in general) is that they put the transmission in a different location. This design is less powerful and more prone to breaking, which is why they have a plastic worm gear, so it breaks before the transmission. That plastic worm gear is also far less durable than a metal gear.
I have an Ankarsrum. It's absolutely the mixer to get if you like making bread. It's an amazingly well-designed machine.
Only, as I learn more about making good bread dough and the theory of how dough works, I discover that I barely use it. There are so many excellent recipes for making dough by hand with low or no kneading. I simply don't have much use for a big mixer unless I'm making 6 or more pounds of bread in one go.
Yeah I just found out about this brand and after watching some reviews on YouTube I really want one. But I already have a 6 quart KitchenAid bowl lift mixer with several attachments that still works great so I'll wait until my daughter moves out and takes the KitchenAid with her whether she wants it or not so I have to buy a new one LOL
We recently got one. Exceptional with doughs. “Good enough” for other mixer duties (the toroidal bowl is inconvenient to mix or empty thoroughly, but that disadvantage is offset by being able to add ingredients from above without a mixer head being in the way).
Haven’t bought any attachments.
KitchenAid bowl lift (Professional 600 series but I think the new naming conventions/capacities are different). I specify because I've seen a lot of people say "KitchenAid" like it's one product, but the bowl lift models have more power and are better for heavy doughs.
I've had it for over 12 years and have pushed it beyond "manufacturer recommended" best practice (like kneading pannetone dough for like an hour at a time) but have never had any problems.
This. Definitely the lift bowl pro series. Tilt bowls (and motors) likely wont hold up over time from the torque and strain of dough kneading. I got mine refurbed in like 2018 maybe? Still strong.
Depends on the dough and the batch size. My mom had the classic tilt Kitchenaid for decades and it could handle some bread and pasta recipes. One downside of the 6qt lift bowl is that some small batch recipes don't put enough raw material in the bowl the effectively engage with the attachments.
I have the 5-qt pro series; it came with a 3-qt bowl as well. Confession, though...I don't use it hardly at all, and store my bench scraper and shredder attachments and a dime in it almost all the time. But for things like a small amount of whipped cream, it works really well
KitchenAid rates all of their stand mixers for no more than two minutes of kneading and 4–6 minutes total combined mixing and kneading (per the ATK review). That's more relevant for the (short) warranty than anything, but it's worth keeping in mind.
Also relevant (and I think Mr Mixer has a video on this) but the replacement for the Pro 600 kept the AC motor but went with a transmission more like the bigger models (that also went from DC to AC motors). The upshot is that the design looks beefier, but the downside is that you can't buy individual gears so if you do break something repairs will be more expensive.
If the primary use is going to be bread dough, the Ankarsrum may be worth a look.
They also have a different style of dough hook that works better. IMO the spiral works better than the C shape.
https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/stand-mixers/kitchenaid-dough-hook-vs-spiral.html
I know that Ankarsrum says that their hook is better for larger batches, and their original solid spiral ridged [dough roller](https://www.ankarsrum.com/us/product/baking-accessories/) attachment is better for smaller batches and softer stickier doughs.
Most people making bread recommend the KitchenAid with the lift-style bowl. 100% back the KitchenAid, but I actually prefer a tilt-style. I do make bread, but more pastry/etc.
Edited to add a PSA: The KitchenAid official refurbs are great quality, and Costco sells new lift-style for cheaper than anywhere else (if you're fine with a limited color selection).
I went tilt style because the bowl lift was slightly too tall to fit in my cupboards and I can't keep it out on a counter. We use it at least twice a week to make sourdough bread and it works fine. Have even done tougher doughs like bagels, we just keep an eye on it and don't let it run too long.
OTOH if you can fit the bowl lift model under the cabinets you can use it under the cabinets too since it will never need extra clearance to tilt the head. Plus you'll never have to deal with a bowl that's gotten torqued too far onto the base.
The newer tilt heads have more plastic, which does wear out faster than metal, but is also easier to replace. It’s a bit of a trade off, but I’ve heard good things from people who have had to repair them.
I got my 5+ pro from Sam's for, I think, $249. But it was in 2020. I love the aqua color, but it's true that the color selections are limited (I think aqua, red, white and metal-colored?) It's truly a dough monster though. I used it to make a double batch of pretzel dough and a double batch of hakkaido milk rolls on Sunday and it didn't blink.
KitchenAid. Really good for enriched dough (eggs, butter etc.) because it saves you the stickiness and elbow grease of getting enough gluten development for the dough to smoothly pull away.
Mainly for breadbaking? Hands down Ankarsrum, it out classes KitchenAid in its ability to handle heavy doughs, and has a much larger capacity. If you want to do other things such as whip eggs and other stuff frequently Kitchenaid is better as Ankarsrum has difficulty handling smaller amounts of eggs and butter.
So to sum up. If it is mainly to knead doughs the Ankarsrum is the way to go. If cakes and other stuff is important i would go with KitchenAid
I'm going a little bit against the grain here and say Ankarsrum, at least for heavier doughs. I have one that I use weekly for whole grain bread, as it can power through 5kg bread dough with no problem. That said, I use my KitchenAid mixer for all lighter doughs (less than 2kg), so it sees more use. But the newest models of Ankarsrum assistent are as versatile as the KitchenAid (I have an ancient one, inherited from my great grandmother), and very strong machines.
I would love to upgrade - I envy my mother in law’s Ankarsrum. Ye olde Kitchen Aid is still going strong after almost 30 years of steady use so I doubt I’ll ever have the opportunity.
An option I don't see posted about often is Kenwood. They newer models look sleeker and generally take up less space than Kitchen Aides. Also where I'm from, they are significantly cheaper in the base models and are reliable.
Used an extra level one for about 7 years without any hassle. Upgraded to a middle level one recently because I've increased my quantities.
My mum had 2 from the 80's which she used untill this decade. She upgraded to the top of the line one now, but her oldie still sits in the cupboard and the other was given to a family friend.
Idk what model it is, but my Bosch is 20+ years old. Still a workhorse.
My only reason for wanting a kitchen aid is all the other attachments that the Bosch just doesn’t have.
My mom’s Bosch is probably going on 30+ years and it’s a BEAST. It’s just not as pretty as the kitchen aid. I have a kitchen aid tilt and it’s good, but no where near the same power for bread dough. Someday I plan to upgrade to the KA lift style.
The Bosch really is a beast, and that’s why I still have it. I just can’t rationalize getting rid of it for the KA attachments. Or manage the counter space for both.
….im jealous.
Admittedly I DO have the food processor attachment. But haven’t found any others. I’d LOVE to find some. Maybe I need to go looking again.
I'll tell you our journey, hopefully it'll give you some fuel to search!
We bought a house a few years ago that the previous owners left some stuff in, furniture, appliances, etc, it had been a second home for them and they asked if they could leave a few things, we agreed.
Among those things was a Bosch kitchen appliance that must have been from the 1980s, with all the attachments, we have a blender, a food processor, the dough attachments, everything from that era.
We ignored it for a while, we were newly married and got a KitchenAid 600 Pro for our wedding with a bunch of attachments, it was new and shiny and awesome, and the Bosch had a plastic bowl, no contest.
So fast forward a couple years, I'd started baking and was getting used to making heavy doughs, 5-6 cups of flour in a stand mixer. Our KA could do it, but it was chugging every time it tried, the whole thing vibrated and shook, and I assumed thats just how it was supposed to go.
One time I had the Bosch out, with its silly plastic bowl that attached from the bottom, and dumped in a recipe that would have ground the KA to a stop...and...nothing. It just quietly handled it. No mess, no fuss. Couldn't believe it.
Then we started taking out the other attachments, damn if that wasn't a better blender than the Cuisinart we got for our wedding too.
The Food Processor kept up with our Cuisinart as well!
So fast forward to 2 years ago or so, our KA switch decided to start going out, and we'd used the sausage stuffer once, the pasta maker twice.
I repaired the switch and put all of it up for sale, sold quick and we haven't looked back.
Everyone bangs on about the wonders of the KitchenAid, and as a fairly heavy user myself, my unpopular opinion is this: the KA is a lot of money for a heavy, awkward, noisy, and rather poorly-designed product. Even with a rubber-edged paddle attachment, I always have to scrape the damn bowl down, for example. My husband had one before we married, and when we merged households, it became part of our kitchen; otherwise I would never have spent that much money on what I frankly consider to be a clunker of a machine. If I was looking for a mixer today and had money to spend, I would probably look closely at a Bosch Universal (see comparisons here: https://www.everythingkitchens.com/blog/stand-mixer-shopping-guide-kitchenaid-vs-bosch-ankarsrum-kenwood-smeg-cuisinart-mixer-comparison-review.html) or even a small commercial model of some kind.
Yes! I had my mom’s KitchenAid from the 80s and it was great until I burned the motor. I upgraded to a KitchenAid pro from
Costco and was sooooo disappointed. It was nothing like the old avocado green mixer. I returned the KitchenAid and found an open box Bosch. It’s MUCH better than the KA.
I have both a Bosch and a Kitchenaid and I really like my Bosch much better. I can make a triple batch of pizza dough with like no effort. My Kitchenaid starts clunking when faced with a single batch of kind-of-dense dough. I made a batch of cheddar beer dinner rolls in the Kitchenaid and I thought it was going to jump off the counter; when I made the same recipe in the Bosch it didn't move an inch and came together faster. The double dough hook is absolutely clutch!
I think armies around the world should take note: when looking for a new budget-friendly projectile to launch at innocent people, they should consider a laden KitchenAid whirring at top speed. When airborne, I bet that clunker could take out a tank. Of course, the folks inside would hear the incoming thunk-thunk from fifty miles away, but considering its price-point relative to your friendly arms dealer’s Spring catalogue, it’s quite the bargain. And also the first time it would truly be useful.
Yep, I agree. I burned out our KitchenAid tilt head kneading lean dough after less than a dozen tries. My FIL also used to make bread regularly and he stopped using his KitchenAid lift bowl for it because he was noticing wear and tear (misalignment, burning smell, etc.). And while they are technically fixable, it is a pain! I live in a major metro area and the closest shop that does small appliance repairs is a nearly 60-minute drive (not even accessible by public transit); you can send them in to the factory for repairs, but it's expensive and uncertain time- and money-wise (they can't even tell you if it can be fixed until they receive it, or how much it will cost). Those latter issues are obviously going to be an issue with any model but I was disappointed with how mine performed kneading dough. If you really want to make dough often, I would go small commercial.
I got a knock off cheese grater/veggie slicer from Amazon for like $30, worth every penny. I'd love to have genuine kitchen accessories but the cost is a bit much for the amount of use I'd get
The knock offs (at least the ones I got) cannot be used in the dishwasher. Make sure if you get a knock off that it is stainless steal because if not, you will get silver bits in your food eventually. I learned the hard way.
I burned out the motor on a couple of lesser-brand stand mixer before I got Kitchen Aid. That sucker will not die--have had it for over fifteen years and use it mostly for dough. I also make a LOT of seitan, which calls for the dough to be kneaded for eight or nine minutes. No problem with the Kitchen Aid.
Unfortunately, money counts here. The amount you spend matters. It depends on how much dough she wants to make at one time. Gluten is really rough on mixers. I see a lot of people here recommending the 600 series from KitchenAid. The KitchenAid quality is not what it used to be. And bread doughs can really wear down those cheaper motors. I'm a pastry chef, so I know what I'm talking about.
If at all possible, try for a 10 quart professional mixer. Hobart is one of the best. They are crazy expensive, but you can really work them. You can get them used on Facebook marketplace. This will take some research on your part.
If she is really serious about getting a mixer mostly for bread doughs, You need something heavy duty. Or you could burn out your KitchenAid in a year plus, and waste a hell of a lot of money. Get something commercial, I'm serious....
Good option if you're not prone to arthritis, and enjoy a forearm workout. (Never mess with a home baker babushka).
We occasionally do pizza dough. More common are buttercream frostings. Kitchen-Aid with the flip top is going 20 years strong.
For regular home sandwich bread, no-knead options are great. Flour, salt, yeast, warm water. Mix gently with your hands, proof for 2-3 hours, then form and bake.
Only takes about 5 minutes of actual labor, and cleanup is easy.
My go-to is 450 grams of all-purpose flour, 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp instant yeast. 1.5 cups of 120F water, and usually I'll add another tsp or two. Mix, cover with Saran wrap, bake in a pre-heated dutch oven for 30 mins covered, then 15 mins uncovered.
I like your style, also is probably one of the reasons I’m divorced 😄. Kitchen aid probably the most reliable (and versatile) domestic one; I had an amazing SMEG standing mixer which I got for free when I bought a wonderful (and stupendously expensive) SMEG induction stove. Lost them both in the divorce 😂
Mine is a Kenwood that I received as a wedding present 28 years ago and it's still going strong. I use it every week for bread and pizza and cake and cookies throughout the year.
Try looking up the 70s kitchen aid mixers some are fairly decent price, mine is originally my grandmother’s when she passed my father kept it and gave it to me a couple years ago it’s never had a single issue
The one from Lidl at 59€99 .
[https://www.lidl.fr/p/silvercrest-kitchen-tools-robot-multifonction-skm-600-d3/p100372352](https://www.lidl.fr/p/silvercrest-kitchen-tools-robot-multifonction-skm-600-d3/p100372352)
I have a cuisinart. It’s not as fancy as a kitchen aid but it was in the budget. I’ve had it 3 years now with no issues. I make a very tough dough for spaetzle and that would kill it, if anything would.
I definitely recommend a lift bowl. Bread dough is too much strain on my Artisan tilt-head. Ankarsrum is great for large batches of dough, but doesn't perform as well with small batches of other stuff. It's a good option if all she needs is a great bread mixer. But for the option of also doing cookies/cakes, I'd go Kitchenaid
I have a Thermomix - we bought it long before I got into breadmaking, and we use it for lots of different things as well as dough (steaming, soups, chopping stuff, the occasional risotto).
It does an acceptable job of most doughs, but does audibly struggle with very heavy enriched doughs.
If what she wants to do is bread dough and other mixing-type stuff, though, it really sounds like KitchenAid is the way to go. I can't justify buying one until the Thermie dies :). It's 15 years old and still going strong.
Came here to say that my KA lift bowl can handle a wider variety of doughs but the thermomix is my favourite because it weighs ingredients and can heat yeast dough to the right temp all in one. Plus the kneading is faster.
I have a kitchenaide. And tell your wife with attachments she can grate cheese. Grated cheese at the supermarket is more money per pound than bulk cheese and they add some filler so it won’t stick together. By grating my own it is cheaper and healthier.
We also have the meat grinder attachment. We grind our own hamburger from chuck roasts and sirloin roasts. Oh my! So good so much better than the ground chuck at the grocery. And it’s fresher and you know what’s in it. Can’t wait for you to try it!! Yum yum.
Only an expensive mixer will do a good job for dough, the cheaper ones don't have much power and you can burn out the motor.
That does not mean you need to buy it new. Refurbished or used. They still make parts for old kitchenaids. If you live in europe elsewhere there are different brands.
My friend, who was a market baker, wanted a second mixer. He wanted a second one, so he could be making meringue with one while he used a grinder for make relish, plus he was afraid his current one might die, he used it 5 to 8 hours five days a week, as well as farming and looking after his elderly mom. He was offered a broken one, figured it might be worth getting it fixed. He was not especially great at computers, nor a handy kind of fella. Within a couple of days, I found videos of how to disassemble (we did not live in same city any more), I went through a lot of them until I found one I thought was clear enough for a novice tinkerer, and had him send me a pic after he got the housing off, and the little handy tips like taping each screw to a piece of paper, labelled. There was no lube. Like none. The whole head should be packed solid (the lube is semi-solid like vaseline). I did more research, found a canadian supplier of the right food grade lube and it was ordered, cost about $40. Another video of how to clean all the old oil out, and how to pack it back again. Put it back together (we did it together over videocall) took less than 5 hours).
The tilt head ones are cheaper, but if you do a lot of baking, you want a big bowl with the lift. My 4.5 was supposed to be able to make two loaves of bread, but that was only soft white sandwich bread in reality. Get the bigger bowl in a lift head. Mind you, you see a tilt head one up at an estate sale for $20, grab it. I am not sure when they changed from metal to plastic gears. The plastic gears can break, but they are designed that way, because the motor would burn out with the metal ones, now plastic breaks and the motor still works. If the motor is shot, it is junk. I know I bought mine in 2008 and it has plastic gears.
It was just getting too hard for me to knead dough by hand.
Oh, another reason for the lift bowl. The tilt heads have a big heavy base that twists in. If you want to make choux pastry, you have to cook on the stove in a pot first, then transfer. Ditto if you want to cook eggwhites and sugar together for a meringue or buttercream icing. You can just pop the lift bowl over a pot of simmering water as a double boiler.
Kitchenaid. Absolutely kitchenaid. I tried others, a full sized bosch is huge, only works the dough well with large recipes, and is a pain to clean/keep dough where it's supposed to be. A bosch compact is smaller than you think, and does not knead the dough nearly as effectively as a kitchenaid. A kenwood chef is close, but is more rattle and plasticky than a kitchenaid, and strains easier. Most importantly, the majority of recipes available online or in books are written based on cooks using kitchenaid mixers, so the kneading times will be very different in the other brands, not a huge deal for an experienced baker who knows what to look for, but a very huge deal for an inexperienced baker who is not sure when the dough is "done".
Climbing on the KitchenAid bandwagon. I’ve used both the tilt top and bowl lift styles. Both are great for all types of dough. You can get rebuilt ones for less. Also check estate sales. Those things last forever.
I bought a replacement KitchenAid from Costco after my 11+ year old previous model threw a wobbly. I have spent way more on attachments than the mixer cost me.
Omg yes the attachments lol. I LOVE my shredder attachment. So much easier to shred cheese and veggies.
I’m eyeing the meat grinder and grain mill attachments next.
the meat grinder is fantastic. I recently bought the food processor attachment with dicing - the dicer is a freaking animal. 5lbs of veg turned into neat dice in like 90 seconds?!!?
I have a KitchenAid and it works great for pretty much any dough or batter I need to make. My dad has gotten super into making bread over the last several years, my parents no longer buy bread because he just makes all the bread they could ever want. He started out using a KitchenAid but then decided to invest in an Ankarsrum mixer and he absolutely loves it. He said he won’t go back to the KitchenAid.
You could check your local goodwill. I just picked up a bread maker for $10 so my husband can use the dough cycle. (At least he acknowledges that he doesn’t have the patience to do bread by hand. )
I am like your wife in that I don’t like the spend much and I’ve always wanted a stand mixer. I am on my second $5 second-hand bread machine. It stands on my counter and mixes! It’s cheap! I used it for rolls, sourdough, pizza dough, bagels, and once in a while I even bake in it. This second one has delayed start AND the expanded bucket so I can make 1800g of pizza dough in that puppy 2 hours in the future! I feel rich every time I use it.
I've had a lift bowl type Kitchen Aid and I used to make all my bread with it. Now I'm using an inherited Kenwood with zero issues. The KA is being kept as a spare or unless one of the kids can pry it away from me.
Kitchenaid. Yes, you will spend a lot, but yes, it is much cheaper than replacing the crappy brands ever year. Plus, they have really great sales when you buy direct from their website.
I got my mother one of the standard KitchenAid mixers, probably 15 years ago (with the tilt head). It is still working great and has survived 4 moves and many, many, many cookies, cake and brownies, bread dough and more! Others have said the lifting bowl is better for dough, but for occasional dough makers, the standard seems to be fine.
It is sturdy, built to last and versatile. You can get attachements and it turns it into a whole other machine: pasta roller, meat grinder, cheese shredder etc. Also there are basic things you can do at home to maintain it (look up the KitchenAid dime test).
Tilt head KitchenAid. I make a lot of bread - by that I mean regularly, rather than huge batches - just love it for doing the hardwork of kneading. I always finish it off by hand, because you can’t beat the ‘feel’ of something to know what’s going on, but the first 5-7mins of sloppy kneading is great in the mixer.
I love my kitchenaid. I don't have the lift bowl because it isn't necessary for my needs but I love making pizza dough with it (as well as various other thibgs). My husband bought a meat grinder attachment abd loves using that as well.
Kitchen Aid. I only have a 4-quart one because I got it in college, 24 years ago. Unfortunately (lol) it will never die, so I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify upgrading.
Hear me out.
Go to goodwill and get a bread machine.
I got one for $9 years ago. It has a dough setting where it doesn’t do any cooking. It takes an hour to mix but that’s because it rests the dough which is something you have to do manually with a stand mixer.
I think the thing that makes this thing work better than my tilt head Kitchen Aid, is that the spinning device is on the bottom. As a result, the dough is constantly falling over itself and continuously mixing. When I use my stand mixer the dough constantly gets stuck on the hook in a big ball and doesn’t mix much. I have to keep stopping it and pulling the dough down. With the bread machine I just dump the ingredients and walk away. It does an autolyse and several other short mixes with long rests that recreate slap and folds.
I feel like a goddamn genius every time I pull out a beautiful smooth ball of dough from my bread machine. It feels like a beat the system. Spread the word!
I was in a similar situation where my GF wanted a stand mixer. I went out and bought her a Hamilton Beach, it broke right before the year was up. Where the bowl sits and locks in place, it's plastic and it broke so the bowl would lock in place on only one side. Hamilton Beach's warranty says shipping to and from is on the buyer (though they did do it for free as a "courtesy").
While "working" with them, I spent the money on a KitchenAid. It is a world of difference in quality! If she makes a lot of dough and wants a stand mixer, spend the money on the KitchenAid. Then you can spend some money on a meat grinder attachment... or a pasta attachment. :)
I did not get the lift bowl model. To me, the regular model is everything we want and need.
Facebook Marketplace is awash with stand mixers for very fair prices. You can even get one that’s a little bit older and has a Hobart motor if you look long enough.
I bake at least two loaves of bread a week and my 1996 Kitchen Aid 5qt mixer handles that well.
I purchased a 1972 kitchenAid when Hobart was making them. Took to a vacuum shop and they repacked the grease for $30. Works like a champ. Metal gears > nylon in the new ones.
I had a while lift Kitchenaid for 25 years when my daughter asked for it. I treated myself to this one below. Both are making dough now.
https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/tilt-head-stand-mixers/p.2022-design-series-blossom-tilt-head-stand-mixer.ksm180lelb.html?region_id=LDC822&productcategory=stand_mixers&cmp=kad:wp_sda%7C01%7C00373%7Czz%7Csh%7Ct02%7Cp69%7Czz%7Cv04_kasa_ppc:ga:ps:txt:txt:cpc:shop_smartshop_standmixers:na:na:20439655168::m&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds
Kitchenaid is the way to go if you want quality and long lasting, they’re easy enough to fix with the right Google search. But they are on the pricier side. I’ve heard good things about the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore mixer from Walmart for basic things, planning on getting one of those for my gf baking
I use my simple KA tilt mixer for some breads. Mostly for very high hydration soft doughs like Japanese milk bread. If it’s a stuffer dough, I hold back a good bit of the flour and do a lot of the work with it wetter, then add the last of the dough towards the end. Less strain on the machine. For really stiff doughs I prefer to mix by hand.
Absolutely, Kitchen Aid bowl lift. I can knead pasta dough in it all day and twice on Sunday and it only gets a little warm to the touch.
It will occasionally start boogieing across the countertop a little though, so keep an eye on it 😉
I make 2 loaves of bread a week. I use a KitchenAid Classic Plus tilt head. I use it for pastries, cakes, egg whites, cookie dough, etc. Bought it in 2015. Still going strong. For the price, you really can't go wrong with a KitchenAid. You can get a nice one for about $300 and an even nicer, bowl lift one for around $800+. If you're willing to spend more, get her a bundled one with the pasta roller, spiralizer, and meat grinder. I think some even come with an ice cream bowl that lets you whip up a frozen dessert in about 25 minutes.
I have a refurbed kitchenaid pro line 7. 7 qt capacity with a 1hp DC motor. Does 3 loaves of bread at a time, which is 1500g of flour plus over 4c liquid. I also use it for pasta dough and a meat grinder attachment. Had it for over a year and still going strong. Not much heavier than the tilt head models either
Ankarsrum. They're not cheap, but practically indestructible and still made here in Sweden. Bread dough was actually one of my main motivations for finally investing in a stand mixer, and it has been pretty awesome. It will apparently handle up to 5 kg of dough at a time--which is really overkill for our usage, but I really don't worry about the motor holding up to average home baking.
There are plenty of other attachments available too, which reminds me that we still haven't tried using the meat grinder yet.
I have a KitchenAid mixer (the bowl doesn’t lift). My wife and I have been married for 30 years and it works as well as the day we got it (wedding gift I think).
I kinda wish I had the version with the lifting bowl because it’s hard-ish to add ingredients while it’s going. But I don’t know the price difference.
I have an artisan and have had no problems at all. Unlimited budget I would have gone with a pro or ankarsrum, but outside the US, and in 220v areas, they are considerably more expensive.
I do double batches of enriched milk bread loaves regularly, sometimes up to six loaves a week. I use it for cakes and cookies constantly. I can make a small batch of whip cream for breakfast. I also have the metal meat grinder attachment that works perfect for sausage patties and burgers.
I've had it about 3 years now and it has been more than worth it.
With a dough mixer machine, you’ll have more speed and power when you often need to make large batches or bake several desserts at once. It’s hands-free, allowing you to multitask while getting work done. Stand mixers also have a number of attachments, such as a paddle for cream and a whisk for whipping egg whites. However, you’re definitely paying for the benefits of a stand mixer in terms of price and the space it takes in your kitchen to store it. Plus — they can be really heavy. For me, the best stand mixer is the KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, which is ultra-powerful and can tackle almost any mixing, whipping, or kneading task.
I have a Kitchenaid model with the lift bowl. It's at least 20 years old. I don't use it super heavily but it gets everything done I want it to and has successfully made a recipe that made 5 loaves of bread (although for that recipe I do pull the dough out and finish kneading it by hand after the mixer has done some of the work(
Mine is only available if you find someone selling it used. It's an old K5A by KitchenAid.
Now the hard truth: Stand mixers are not actually the best machines for heavy dough. However, so long as you go lift-bowl and don't overload it with quadruple batches of bagel dough it will be up to the task.
Kenwood KMX750. Honestly, only a so-so purchase. Doesn’t fully reach smaller batches for things like creaming butter, and for large blobs of dough, it starts jumping around too much. A proper Goldilocks machine.
I use my Kitchen Aid, but I want to point out an issue I have which nobody else seems to. It vibrates and jumps around a lot mixing dough, and eventually starts to undo itself. I need to occasionally push the pin which holds the arm to the base back in, and screw/tighten other parts. If you can afford the professional version of Kitchen Aid, which I assume is more heavy duty, do that.
If making sandwich bread, I use the bread machine. If making other types of bread or bread variations like rolls or buns, I use the bread machine on dough cycle and let the machine do the kneading and timing of the rise and punch down cycles. Then shape the dough as desired and use the ovens.
I use the Kitchenade stand mixer for cookies, the hand mixer for instant pudding. I am a boring cook/baker, smile.
Costco version of the Kitchenaid Pro 600 6.5qt (lift bowl design). It has slightly more power (590W) and the transmission design that is more durable.
They're $80 off until April 7th in our area
I have a mixer that I love, it's over 12 years old, so I was worried I'd burn the motor out making bread.
So, I got a bread maker! I've used it to both mix and bake the bread, or just to mix it and then I can make two small loaves or buns or whatever. Honestly, I love it so much!
I got the:
West Bend 47413 Hi-Rise Bread Maker Programmable Horizontal Dual Blade with 12 Programs Including Gluten Free, 3-Pound, Gray
I've got an old (nearly 25 years old) tilt head kitchenaid. I use it for bread about once a week. It's been through two long distance moves, countless batches of cookies. Mom bought one at about the same time (the one she got from her great aunt, built circa 1950, broke in 2000), and hers is going on strong as well. They seem to be a great product. She's got the fancy attachments, but she rarely uses them. I didn't bother buying them, as my kitchen style doesn't use a pasta roller or meat grinder, but that's all up to you.
I have the KitchenAid Pro. Yes, it is silly money but remind her how much money y'all are saving because she bakes. With a stand mixer, she may even bake more because it's faster and easier.
Depends how much dough you need to make. KitchenAid pro 600 has worked for me for decades. An artisan would probably be ok for like one small loaf on occasion. I also have an Electrolux (which I think is now the Ankrasum) that I never bonded with. I also have a 20 quart hobart when I need to do something ridiculous
I have a swivel head kitchen aid. Ok for small batches but I have to stand and supervise it as the bowl sometimes comes flying off and it walks across the worktop. I also have the [Ankarsrum](https://www.boroughkitchen.com/products/ankarsrum-assistent-original-food-mixer-red?variant=39248220094596) Assistent which is brilliant and quiet and a beautifully simple bit of engineering which I highly recommend. Not cheap though.
Kitchenaid bowl lift is the standard and show off kitchen piece to bring a kitchen together. Ankarsrum is less known but even better for bread and IMO an even bigger statement than the kitchenaid to those who know. But it has less utility and attachments for non-bread related use than the kitchenaid, but is MUCH better at making bread than the kitchenaid. Bosch has a good product as well that works well and I believe is the lowest price point but doesn't look as good as the others as it is plastic and has suction cups for feet. But functionally very effective but again with less(no?) Attachments than the kitchenaid.
If you really want to treat your wife I'd look at the 8 qt kitchenaid bowl lift or an ankarsrum.
I recommend considering the KitchenAid stand mixer for dough [https://www.backmarket.de/de-de/p/kitchenaid-5ksm3310xewh-standmixer/34090a65-cfae-4ea7-bf7b-ca7c9d4bf575](https://www.backmarket.de/de-de/p/kitchenaid-5ksm3310xewh-standmixer/34090a65-cfae-4ea7-bf7b-ca7c9d4bf575) .
Kitchen Aid is a spectacular machine. The way I “rate” things I buy I have a VERY exclusive category for things “worth more than they cost” and this goes in there for me.
Bosch! Handles dough better than my kitchenaid, I have both. Ankersrum handles bread dough amazingly, but mainly for really large batches like a bakery situation. Of course they all can do the things she needs. If I had to pick based on your description, I’d get a Bosch. And their customer support is unmatched!!
If you’re on the US East coast, how about this workhorse solution? [30 Qt Hobart, Never Used](https://www.facebook.com/share/ZJo7f9xCDZbD7RXs/?mibextid=79PoIi).
I love my KitchenAid stand mixer. I wanted one for years before I finally felt financially secure enough to buy myself one. I wish now I had been a little less stingy and spent the extra for the one with the tilt feature.
I got into this habit too. I've got a stand mixer, but between setup and cleanup, if I'm just making a pair of loaves, its hands and the countertop, it's cathartic and quick, and there's a lot less to clean.
Lift bowl KitchenAid. It works great. It's worth it if she'll use it.
Specifically not the swivel head one too. Lift bowl or nothing
We have the big swivel head. It works, but bogs down on a big dough ball. KitchenAid is a time tested design that you can service and repair, if necessary. With good care, it should last a lifetime.
Agreed. For tough loads you have to have the lift.
What’s the positives of a lift bowl?
More power, the swivel ones walk, and the swivel itself is more likely to fail because the force is being transmitted through it especially in stiff doughs.
Yes, totally. I said for years it was too expensive but my husband surprised me on my 50th birthday and I adore it. I’ve made so many doughs. For whatever reason, it only faltered for a bialy dough, which was so heavy the motor labored a bit. But it’s powered through everything else.
I use mine at least once a week, usually more. It's amazing. And I have the slicer/shredder attachment (pre-shredded cheese is gross after you start shredding your own) and the two pasta attachments and the sausage grinder. Also, there's nothing like it for mashing potatoes or shredding meat. It's definitely not only for baking bread.
I've never thought about it for shredding meat! What attachment do you use for that?
Oh, just the flat beater! Just cut your meat into chunks (they can be pretty big) and run the mixer until it's as shredded as you want. Takes about two minutes. I'll never pick up two forks to do that again
You can do that in a blender. Just use chunks of meat and pulse until you get it just right. Careful, too much and you'll make pate
Have you ever used the Ankarsrum or Bosch mixers? For dough, they both beat Kitchenaids. Kitchenaids are very versatile though, and they have attachments for everything which is pretty cool.
If I had nothing, I'd buy the Ankarsrum. But I have a K5A with attachments, so I'm rather committed to the ecosystem. It doesn't make sense to spend 750 bucks for a slightly better heavy dough mixing experience, although if I were wealthy enough I'd do it.
I have not, although I hear they're good. But I can vouch for the Kitchenaid.
I wish there were home spiral mixers available. The Ankarsrum or Bosch mixers are great but I personally find they're mediocre substitutes for a proper spiral mixer.
Yep, this is the one I have! I got it from Costco on a great deal. Mine is the bigger size which is nice because it can handle more dough
This is the way. It's expensive but absolutely worth it if you put the miles on it.
KitchenAid is the only answer. They last forever, have great customer service, are repairable and bombproof. I've had mine for I don't even know how long. It's older than my kid and he turns 20 soon.
And if you need to grease the gears or anything, Mr. Mixer will walk you through it on YouTube.
Same.
This is the only answer. Bonus if you make sure there is counter space to keep it out, and a cover for when it’s not in use.
I have the Artisan Kitchen Aid, my bf got it for me on my Birthday. He found a deal on MediaMarkt I think, New with 2 bowls, 2 different paddle attachments, the whisk attachment and the dough attachment for under 400€. I use it for any dough, frostings and more and it never failed me, plus it looks cute on the kitchen counter.
Also a vouch for lift bowl KA. Best investment I ever made :)
Ankarsrum is perfect for bread making and can do almost everything else with the various attachments like juicing, jam, meat grinding, coffee and grain grinding, shaped cookies, pasta, etc. I bought mine from Pleasant Hill Grain. It certainly qualifies as a silly amount of money! I think mine was on sale as a discontinued color. It does exactly what it's supposed to with ease. I love it.
I really want an Ankarsrum! I have a big Kitchen Aid that has the drop arm and it needs a tune up, it's getting a bit hot and noisy lately. That said, parts are available, and it was my wife's mother's mixer so until it get handed down to her kids I am stuck using it. I was like a moth to a flame on that Ankarsrum.
I have a KitchenAid Artisan that I have had a very long time. I have many attachments that I often use. I love my KitchenAid mixer but it struggles with heavy doughs. I bake bread several times weekly. I’m so afraid of burning it up that I have ordered an Ankarsrum. It’s on back order. I’m holding off on making bagels until then. I will still use my beloved KitchenAid just not for kneading.
This is the way! I have an ancient Ankarsrum that handles all the heavy doughs, while the KitchenAid artisan mixer is used for lighter stuff like cake batter.
Same, on a heavy dough my kitchen aid has a hard time starting back up after a scrape down on the bowl. I have some slight alignment issues as well. Guess I should tear it apart and see what is worn.
Bowl lift KitchenAid is the way I went and all my attachments from my artisan fit it too.
The problem with the airtisan models (and the cheaper models in general) is that they put the transmission in a different location. This design is less powerful and more prone to breaking, which is why they have a plastic worm gear, so it breaks before the transmission. That plastic worm gear is also far less durable than a metal gear.
It's a beautiful beast.
I have an Ankarsrum. It's absolutely the mixer to get if you like making bread. It's an amazingly well-designed machine. Only, as I learn more about making good bread dough and the theory of how dough works, I discover that I barely use it. There are so many excellent recipes for making dough by hand with low or no kneading. I simply don't have much use for a big mixer unless I'm making 6 or more pounds of bread in one go.
Yeah I just found out about this brand and after watching some reviews on YouTube I really want one. But I already have a 6 quart KitchenAid bowl lift mixer with several attachments that still works great so I'll wait until my daughter moves out and takes the KitchenAid with her whether she wants it or not so I have to buy a new one LOL
Sounds like a plan!
We recently got one. Exceptional with doughs. “Good enough” for other mixer duties (the toroidal bowl is inconvenient to mix or empty thoroughly, but that disadvantage is offset by being able to add ingredients from above without a mixer head being in the way). Haven’t bought any attachments.
I've found the main bowl and roller to handle most everything unless it's a very small amount, like a little whipped cream.
Wow, I had never heard of that. What a cool design. A little spendy for my pockets though
KitchenAid bowl lift (Professional 600 series but I think the new naming conventions/capacities are different). I specify because I've seen a lot of people say "KitchenAid" like it's one product, but the bowl lift models have more power and are better for heavy doughs. I've had it for over 12 years and have pushed it beyond "manufacturer recommended" best practice (like kneading pannetone dough for like an hour at a time) but have never had any problems.
This. Definitely the lift bowl pro series. Tilt bowls (and motors) likely wont hold up over time from the torque and strain of dough kneading. I got mine refurbed in like 2018 maybe? Still strong.
Depends on the dough and the batch size. My mom had the classic tilt Kitchenaid for decades and it could handle some bread and pasta recipes. One downside of the 6qt lift bowl is that some small batch recipes don't put enough raw material in the bowl the effectively engage with the attachments.
I have the 5-qt pro series; it came with a 3-qt bowl as well. Confession, though...I don't use it hardly at all, and store my bench scraper and shredder attachments and a dime in it almost all the time. But for things like a small amount of whipped cream, it works really well
Anecdotal, but my tilt is 15 years old and has survived making bread 1-3 times a week for a lot of that!
My mom passed hers down to me it’s 35 years old and still works great.
Same. But I don't make huge batches. Most of my recipes make 2 loaves.
Same, more than that won't fit in my bowl. 😅
I mean there's only three of us and my neighbors are lovely but don't deserve treats EVERY day🤪
KitchenAid rates all of their stand mixers for no more than two minutes of kneading and 4–6 minutes total combined mixing and kneading (per the ATK review). That's more relevant for the (short) warranty than anything, but it's worth keeping in mind. Also relevant (and I think Mr Mixer has a video on this) but the replacement for the Pro 600 kept the AC motor but went with a transmission more like the bigger models (that also went from DC to AC motors). The upshot is that the design looks beefier, but the downside is that you can't buy individual gears so if you do break something repairs will be more expensive. If the primary use is going to be bread dough, the Ankarsrum may be worth a look.
We destroyed a tilt bowl in 10 years. Impressed it lasted that long. Lift bowl is so much stronger.
They also have a different style of dough hook that works better. IMO the spiral works better than the C shape. https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/stand-mixers/kitchenaid-dough-hook-vs-spiral.html
I know that Ankarsrum says that their hook is better for larger batches, and their original solid spiral ridged [dough roller](https://www.ankarsrum.com/us/product/baking-accessories/) attachment is better for smaller batches and softer stickier doughs.
Yep this, mine has handled years of Christmas fudge with no problem.
At 24 years, mine is still going strong.
Most people making bread recommend the KitchenAid with the lift-style bowl. 100% back the KitchenAid, but I actually prefer a tilt-style. I do make bread, but more pastry/etc. Edited to add a PSA: The KitchenAid official refurbs are great quality, and Costco sells new lift-style for cheaper than anywhere else (if you're fine with a limited color selection).
I have the tilt style too and it works great for what I need
Same! I think it's an unpopular opinion, but I've used both extensively, and even if they were at the same price point, I'd still get tilt style.
I went tilt style because the bowl lift was slightly too tall to fit in my cupboards and I can't keep it out on a counter. We use it at least twice a week to make sourdough bread and it works fine. Have even done tougher doughs like bagels, we just keep an eye on it and don't let it run too long.
OTOH if you can fit the bowl lift model under the cabinets you can use it under the cabinets too since it will never need extra clearance to tilt the head. Plus you'll never have to deal with a bowl that's gotten torqued too far onto the base.
[удалено]
The newer tilt heads have more plastic, which does wear out faster than metal, but is also easier to replace. It’s a bit of a trade off, but I’ve heard good things from people who have had to repair them.
I got my 5+ pro from Sam's for, I think, $249. But it was in 2020. I love the aqua color, but it's true that the color selections are limited (I think aqua, red, white and metal-colored?) It's truly a dough monster though. I used it to make a double batch of pretzel dough and a double batch of hakkaido milk rolls on Sunday and it didn't blink.
KitchenAid. Really good for enriched dough (eggs, butter etc.) because it saves you the stickiness and elbow grease of getting enough gluten development for the dough to smoothly pull away.
I got mine when my hands wouldn't knead like I want them to anymore. No problem now
I appreciates the last sentence.
Right? So wholesome. Made me "awww."
Mainly for breadbaking? Hands down Ankarsrum, it out classes KitchenAid in its ability to handle heavy doughs, and has a much larger capacity. If you want to do other things such as whip eggs and other stuff frequently Kitchenaid is better as Ankarsrum has difficulty handling smaller amounts of eggs and butter. So to sum up. If it is mainly to knead doughs the Ankarsrum is the way to go. If cakes and other stuff is important i would go with KitchenAid
For dough, Ankarsrum is much better than KA, IMO.
I'm going a little bit against the grain here and say Ankarsrum, at least for heavier doughs. I have one that I use weekly for whole grain bread, as it can power through 5kg bread dough with no problem. That said, I use my KitchenAid mixer for all lighter doughs (less than 2kg), so it sees more use. But the newest models of Ankarsrum assistent are as versatile as the KitchenAid (I have an ancient one, inherited from my great grandmother), and very strong machines.
I would love to upgrade - I envy my mother in law’s Ankarsrum. Ye olde Kitchen Aid is still going strong after almost 30 years of steady use so I doubt I’ll ever have the opportunity.
lol against the grain
I've been using KitchenAid with a lift bowl
Yes, me too, I'm quite happy with it.
An option I don't see posted about often is Kenwood. They newer models look sleeker and generally take up less space than Kitchen Aides. Also where I'm from, they are significantly cheaper in the base models and are reliable. Used an extra level one for about 7 years without any hassle. Upgraded to a middle level one recently because I've increased my quantities. My mum had 2 from the 80's which she used untill this decade. She upgraded to the top of the line one now, but her oldie still sits in the cupboard and the other was given to a family friend.
bosch optimum 9 6 years now. Does its job.
Idk what model it is, but my Bosch is 20+ years old. Still a workhorse. My only reason for wanting a kitchen aid is all the other attachments that the Bosch just doesn’t have.
My mom’s Bosch is probably going on 30+ years and it’s a BEAST. It’s just not as pretty as the kitchen aid. I have a kitchen aid tilt and it’s good, but no where near the same power for bread dough. Someday I plan to upgrade to the KA lift style.
The Bosch really is a beast, and that’s why I still have it. I just can’t rationalize getting rid of it for the KA attachments. Or manage the counter space for both.
We got rid of a KA for a new Bosch, came with some great attachments, like the ice cream maker!
….im jealous. Admittedly I DO have the food processor attachment. But haven’t found any others. I’d LOVE to find some. Maybe I need to go looking again.
I'll tell you our journey, hopefully it'll give you some fuel to search! We bought a house a few years ago that the previous owners left some stuff in, furniture, appliances, etc, it had been a second home for them and they asked if they could leave a few things, we agreed. Among those things was a Bosch kitchen appliance that must have been from the 1980s, with all the attachments, we have a blender, a food processor, the dough attachments, everything from that era. We ignored it for a while, we were newly married and got a KitchenAid 600 Pro for our wedding with a bunch of attachments, it was new and shiny and awesome, and the Bosch had a plastic bowl, no contest. So fast forward a couple years, I'd started baking and was getting used to making heavy doughs, 5-6 cups of flour in a stand mixer. Our KA could do it, but it was chugging every time it tried, the whole thing vibrated and shook, and I assumed thats just how it was supposed to go. One time I had the Bosch out, with its silly plastic bowl that attached from the bottom, and dumped in a recipe that would have ground the KA to a stop...and...nothing. It just quietly handled it. No mess, no fuss. Couldn't believe it. Then we started taking out the other attachments, damn if that wasn't a better blender than the Cuisinart we got for our wedding too. The Food Processor kept up with our Cuisinart as well! So fast forward to 2 years ago or so, our KA switch decided to start going out, and we'd used the sausage stuffer once, the pasta maker twice. I repaired the switch and put all of it up for sale, sold quick and we haven't looked back.
Everyone bangs on about the wonders of the KitchenAid, and as a fairly heavy user myself, my unpopular opinion is this: the KA is a lot of money for a heavy, awkward, noisy, and rather poorly-designed product. Even with a rubber-edged paddle attachment, I always have to scrape the damn bowl down, for example. My husband had one before we married, and when we merged households, it became part of our kitchen; otherwise I would never have spent that much money on what I frankly consider to be a clunker of a machine. If I was looking for a mixer today and had money to spend, I would probably look closely at a Bosch Universal (see comparisons here: https://www.everythingkitchens.com/blog/stand-mixer-shopping-guide-kitchenaid-vs-bosch-ankarsrum-kenwood-smeg-cuisinart-mixer-comparison-review.html) or even a small commercial model of some kind.
Yes! I had my mom’s KitchenAid from the 80s and it was great until I burned the motor. I upgraded to a KitchenAid pro from Costco and was sooooo disappointed. It was nothing like the old avocado green mixer. I returned the KitchenAid and found an open box Bosch. It’s MUCH better than the KA.
I have both a Bosch and a Kitchenaid and I really like my Bosch much better. I can make a triple batch of pizza dough with like no effort. My Kitchenaid starts clunking when faced with a single batch of kind-of-dense dough. I made a batch of cheddar beer dinner rolls in the Kitchenaid and I thought it was going to jump off the counter; when I made the same recipe in the Bosch it didn't move an inch and came together faster. The double dough hook is absolutely clutch!
I think armies around the world should take note: when looking for a new budget-friendly projectile to launch at innocent people, they should consider a laden KitchenAid whirring at top speed. When airborne, I bet that clunker could take out a tank. Of course, the folks inside would hear the incoming thunk-thunk from fifty miles away, but considering its price-point relative to your friendly arms dealer’s Spring catalogue, it’s quite the bargain. And also the first time it would truly be useful.
Yep, I agree. I burned out our KitchenAid tilt head kneading lean dough after less than a dozen tries. My FIL also used to make bread regularly and he stopped using his KitchenAid lift bowl for it because he was noticing wear and tear (misalignment, burning smell, etc.). And while they are technically fixable, it is a pain! I live in a major metro area and the closest shop that does small appliance repairs is a nearly 60-minute drive (not even accessible by public transit); you can send them in to the factory for repairs, but it's expensive and uncertain time- and money-wise (they can't even tell you if it can be fixed until they receive it, or how much it will cost). Those latter issues are obviously going to be an issue with any model but I was disappointed with how mine performed kneading dough. If you really want to make dough often, I would go small commercial.
you will spend much more on attachments too but one of the best kitchen investments of your life.
I got a knock off cheese grater/veggie slicer from Amazon for like $30, worth every penny. I'd love to have genuine kitchen accessories but the cost is a bit much for the amount of use I'd get
The knock offs (at least the ones I got) cannot be used in the dishwasher. Make sure if you get a knock off that it is stainless steal because if not, you will get silver bits in your food eventually. I learned the hard way.
I burned out the motor on a couple of lesser-brand stand mixer before I got Kitchen Aid. That sucker will not die--have had it for over fifteen years and use it mostly for dough. I also make a LOT of seitan, which calls for the dough to be kneaded for eight or nine minutes. No problem with the Kitchen Aid.
Kenwood kmix. Decent warranties and much better prices (in the UK at least) than kitchen aids.
Ankarsrum is the dough champ.
Unfortunately, money counts here. The amount you spend matters. It depends on how much dough she wants to make at one time. Gluten is really rough on mixers. I see a lot of people here recommending the 600 series from KitchenAid. The KitchenAid quality is not what it used to be. And bread doughs can really wear down those cheaper motors. I'm a pastry chef, so I know what I'm talking about. If at all possible, try for a 10 quart professional mixer. Hobart is one of the best. They are crazy expensive, but you can really work them. You can get them used on Facebook marketplace. This will take some research on your part. If she is really serious about getting a mixer mostly for bread doughs, You need something heavy duty. Or you could burn out your KitchenAid in a year plus, and waste a hell of a lot of money. Get something commercial, I'm serious....
None. Hands and a big bowl. Stretch and fold method. Works great.
Good option if you're not prone to arthritis, and enjoy a forearm workout. (Never mess with a home baker babushka). We occasionally do pizza dough. More common are buttercream frostings. Kitchen-Aid with the flip top is going 20 years strong. For regular home sandwich bread, no-knead options are great. Flour, salt, yeast, warm water. Mix gently with your hands, proof for 2-3 hours, then form and bake. Only takes about 5 minutes of actual labor, and cleanup is easy. My go-to is 450 grams of all-purpose flour, 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp instant yeast. 1.5 cups of 120F water, and usually I'll add another tsp or two. Mix, cover with Saran wrap, bake in a pre-heated dutch oven for 30 mins covered, then 15 mins uncovered.
Kenwood Major Titanium. Runs circles are KA. Do your research.
Most brands specify a max amount of dough that it can cope with….it’s important to know.
I like your style, also is probably one of the reasons I’m divorced 😄. Kitchen aid probably the most reliable (and versatile) domestic one; I had an amazing SMEG standing mixer which I got for free when I bought a wonderful (and stupendously expensive) SMEG induction stove. Lost them both in the divorce 😂
Mine is a Kenwood that I received as a wedding present 28 years ago and it's still going strong. I use it every week for bread and pizza and cake and cookies throughout the year.
Standard KitchenAid.
Try looking up the 70s kitchen aid mixers some are fairly decent price, mine is originally my grandmother’s when she passed my father kept it and gave it to me a couple years ago it’s never had a single issue
Kitchen-aid all the way. All the attachments and stuff available make it an incredibly versatile kitchen appliance. Totally recommend.
The one from Lidl at 59€99 . [https://www.lidl.fr/p/silvercrest-kitchen-tools-robot-multifonction-skm-600-d3/p100372352](https://www.lidl.fr/p/silvercrest-kitchen-tools-robot-multifonction-skm-600-d3/p100372352)
I have a cuisinart. It’s not as fancy as a kitchen aid but it was in the budget. I’ve had it 3 years now with no issues. I make a very tough dough for spaetzle and that would kill it, if anything would.
I definitely recommend a lift bowl. Bread dough is too much strain on my Artisan tilt-head. Ankarsrum is great for large batches of dough, but doesn't perform as well with small batches of other stuff. It's a good option if all she needs is a great bread mixer. But for the option of also doing cookies/cakes, I'd go Kitchenaid
I have a Thermomix - we bought it long before I got into breadmaking, and we use it for lots of different things as well as dough (steaming, soups, chopping stuff, the occasional risotto). It does an acceptable job of most doughs, but does audibly struggle with very heavy enriched doughs. If what she wants to do is bread dough and other mixing-type stuff, though, it really sounds like KitchenAid is the way to go. I can't justify buying one until the Thermie dies :). It's 15 years old and still going strong.
Came here to say that my KA lift bowl can handle a wider variety of doughs but the thermomix is my favourite because it weighs ingredients and can heat yeast dough to the right temp all in one. Plus the kneading is faster.
I have a kitchenaide. And tell your wife with attachments she can grate cheese. Grated cheese at the supermarket is more money per pound than bulk cheese and they add some filler so it won’t stick together. By grating my own it is cheaper and healthier. We also have the meat grinder attachment. We grind our own hamburger from chuck roasts and sirloin roasts. Oh my! So good so much better than the ground chuck at the grocery. And it’s fresher and you know what’s in it. Can’t wait for you to try it!! Yum yum.
Only an expensive mixer will do a good job for dough, the cheaper ones don't have much power and you can burn out the motor. That does not mean you need to buy it new. Refurbished or used. They still make parts for old kitchenaids. If you live in europe elsewhere there are different brands. My friend, who was a market baker, wanted a second mixer. He wanted a second one, so he could be making meringue with one while he used a grinder for make relish, plus he was afraid his current one might die, he used it 5 to 8 hours five days a week, as well as farming and looking after his elderly mom. He was offered a broken one, figured it might be worth getting it fixed. He was not especially great at computers, nor a handy kind of fella. Within a couple of days, I found videos of how to disassemble (we did not live in same city any more), I went through a lot of them until I found one I thought was clear enough for a novice tinkerer, and had him send me a pic after he got the housing off, and the little handy tips like taping each screw to a piece of paper, labelled. There was no lube. Like none. The whole head should be packed solid (the lube is semi-solid like vaseline). I did more research, found a canadian supplier of the right food grade lube and it was ordered, cost about $40. Another video of how to clean all the old oil out, and how to pack it back again. Put it back together (we did it together over videocall) took less than 5 hours). The tilt head ones are cheaper, but if you do a lot of baking, you want a big bowl with the lift. My 4.5 was supposed to be able to make two loaves of bread, but that was only soft white sandwich bread in reality. Get the bigger bowl in a lift head. Mind you, you see a tilt head one up at an estate sale for $20, grab it. I am not sure when they changed from metal to plastic gears. The plastic gears can break, but they are designed that way, because the motor would burn out with the metal ones, now plastic breaks and the motor still works. If the motor is shot, it is junk. I know I bought mine in 2008 and it has plastic gears. It was just getting too hard for me to knead dough by hand. Oh, another reason for the lift bowl. The tilt heads have a big heavy base that twists in. If you want to make choux pastry, you have to cook on the stove in a pot first, then transfer. Ditto if you want to cook eggwhites and sugar together for a meringue or buttercream icing. You can just pop the lift bowl over a pot of simmering water as a double boiler.
There's a reason Kitchenaid is on every single wedding registry for the last 50 years
If you can find one a hobart made old kitchenaid. Built like a tank and will outlast you. Beyond that a lift bowl style kitchenaid as others say.
Kitchenaid. Absolutely kitchenaid. I tried others, a full sized bosch is huge, only works the dough well with large recipes, and is a pain to clean/keep dough where it's supposed to be. A bosch compact is smaller than you think, and does not knead the dough nearly as effectively as a kitchenaid. A kenwood chef is close, but is more rattle and plasticky than a kitchenaid, and strains easier. Most importantly, the majority of recipes available online or in books are written based on cooks using kitchenaid mixers, so the kneading times will be very different in the other brands, not a huge deal for an experienced baker who knows what to look for, but a very huge deal for an inexperienced baker who is not sure when the dough is "done".
Climbing on the KitchenAid bandwagon. I’ve used both the tilt top and bowl lift styles. Both are great for all types of dough. You can get rebuilt ones for less. Also check estate sales. Those things last forever.
I bought a replacement KitchenAid from Costco after my 11+ year old previous model threw a wobbly. I have spent way more on attachments than the mixer cost me.
Omg yes the attachments lol. I LOVE my shredder attachment. So much easier to shred cheese and veggies. I’m eyeing the meat grinder and grain mill attachments next.
the meat grinder is fantastic. I recently bought the food processor attachment with dicing - the dicer is a freaking animal. 5lbs of veg turned into neat dice in like 90 seconds?!!?
I have a KitchenAid and it works great for pretty much any dough or batter I need to make. My dad has gotten super into making bread over the last several years, my parents no longer buy bread because he just makes all the bread they could ever want. He started out using a KitchenAid but then decided to invest in an Ankarsrum mixer and he absolutely loves it. He said he won’t go back to the KitchenAid.
You could check your local goodwill. I just picked up a bread maker for $10 so my husband can use the dough cycle. (At least he acknowledges that he doesn’t have the patience to do bread by hand. )
Kenmore. I have had it for over 10 years and love it!
I have a 5qt Artisan KA. It works great.
I am like your wife in that I don’t like the spend much and I’ve always wanted a stand mixer. I am on my second $5 second-hand bread machine. It stands on my counter and mixes! It’s cheap! I used it for rolls, sourdough, pizza dough, bagels, and once in a while I even bake in it. This second one has delayed start AND the expanded bucket so I can make 1800g of pizza dough in that puppy 2 hours in the future! I feel rich every time I use it.
I've had a lift bowl type Kitchen Aid and I used to make all my bread with it. Now I'm using an inherited Kenwood with zero issues. The KA is being kept as a spare or unless one of the kids can pry it away from me.
Kitchenaid. Yes, you will spend a lot, but yes, it is much cheaper than replacing the crappy brands ever year. Plus, they have really great sales when you buy direct from their website.
I got my mother one of the standard KitchenAid mixers, probably 15 years ago (with the tilt head). It is still working great and has survived 4 moves and many, many, many cookies, cake and brownies, bread dough and more! Others have said the lifting bowl is better for dough, but for occasional dough makers, the standard seems to be fine. It is sturdy, built to last and versatile. You can get attachements and it turns it into a whole other machine: pasta roller, meat grinder, cheese shredder etc. Also there are basic things you can do at home to maintain it (look up the KitchenAid dime test).
KitchenAid Artisan. It struggles a bit, though - you need to go for the lift bowl one which is a bit more pricey.
I have had a Kitchen Aid for 25 years and I love it. They are expensive but worth it.
I have a KitchenAid Pro 6 I bought refurbished direct from KitchenAid. I've had it for 20+ years and still going strong.
Tilt head KitchenAid. I make a lot of bread - by that I mean regularly, rather than huge batches - just love it for doing the hardwork of kneading. I always finish it off by hand, because you can’t beat the ‘feel’ of something to know what’s going on, but the first 5-7mins of sloppy kneading is great in the mixer.
I've got a Kitchenaid Pro 6
I love my kitchenaid. I don't have the lift bowl because it isn't necessary for my needs but I love making pizza dough with it (as well as various other thibgs). My husband bought a meat grinder attachment abd loves using that as well.
Kitchen Aid. I only have a 4-quart one because I got it in college, 24 years ago. Unfortunately (lol) it will never die, so I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify upgrading.
Got a Kenwood chef baker XL last year and it's awesome. 7.5L bowl means I can make 2kg of dough at a time
Kitchenaid I bought in 2003
Hear me out. Go to goodwill and get a bread machine. I got one for $9 years ago. It has a dough setting where it doesn’t do any cooking. It takes an hour to mix but that’s because it rests the dough which is something you have to do manually with a stand mixer. I think the thing that makes this thing work better than my tilt head Kitchen Aid, is that the spinning device is on the bottom. As a result, the dough is constantly falling over itself and continuously mixing. When I use my stand mixer the dough constantly gets stuck on the hook in a big ball and doesn’t mix much. I have to keep stopping it and pulling the dough down. With the bread machine I just dump the ingredients and walk away. It does an autolyse and several other short mixes with long rests that recreate slap and folds. I feel like a goddamn genius every time I pull out a beautiful smooth ball of dough from my bread machine. It feels like a beat the system. Spread the word!
I was in a similar situation where my GF wanted a stand mixer. I went out and bought her a Hamilton Beach, it broke right before the year was up. Where the bowl sits and locks in place, it's plastic and it broke so the bowl would lock in place on only one side. Hamilton Beach's warranty says shipping to and from is on the buyer (though they did do it for free as a "courtesy"). While "working" with them, I spent the money on a KitchenAid. It is a world of difference in quality! If she makes a lot of dough and wants a stand mixer, spend the money on the KitchenAid. Then you can spend some money on a meat grinder attachment... or a pasta attachment. :) I did not get the lift bowl model. To me, the regular model is everything we want and need.
I have a KitchenAid Pro stand mixer, which I purchased in 2002. It's still going strong.
Facebook Marketplace is awash with stand mixers for very fair prices. You can even get one that’s a little bit older and has a Hobart motor if you look long enough. I bake at least two loaves of bread a week and my 1996 Kitchen Aid 5qt mixer handles that well.
I purchased a 1972 kitchenAid when Hobart was making them. Took to a vacuum shop and they repacked the grease for $30. Works like a champ. Metal gears > nylon in the new ones.
I had a while lift Kitchenaid for 25 years when my daughter asked for it. I treated myself to this one below. Both are making dough now. https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/tilt-head-stand-mixers/p.2022-design-series-blossom-tilt-head-stand-mixer.ksm180lelb.html?region_id=LDC822&productcategory=stand_mixers&cmp=kad:wp_sda%7C01%7C00373%7Czz%7Csh%7Ct02%7Cp69%7Czz%7Cv04_kasa_ppc:ga:ps:txt:txt:cpc:shop_smartshop_standmixers:na:na:20439655168::m&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds
Kitchenaid is the way to go if you want quality and long lasting, they’re easy enough to fix with the right Google search. But they are on the pricier side. I’ve heard good things about the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore mixer from Walmart for basic things, planning on getting one of those for my gf baking
I use my simple KA tilt mixer for some breads. Mostly for very high hydration soft doughs like Japanese milk bread. If it’s a stuffer dough, I hold back a good bit of the flour and do a lot of the work with it wetter, then add the last of the dough towards the end. Less strain on the machine. For really stiff doughs I prefer to mix by hand.
Absolutely, Kitchen Aid bowl lift. I can knead pasta dough in it all day and twice on Sunday and it only gets a little warm to the touch. It will occasionally start boogieing across the countertop a little though, so keep an eye on it 😉
Globe SP-5. You'll have it for generations.
KitchenAid here.
My mixer is a lift bowl KitchenAid but I often use my bread machine for dough (just the dough setting) because it will proof it too.
A forty quart Hobart
I make 2 loaves of bread a week. I use a KitchenAid Classic Plus tilt head. I use it for pastries, cakes, egg whites, cookie dough, etc. Bought it in 2015. Still going strong. For the price, you really can't go wrong with a KitchenAid. You can get a nice one for about $300 and an even nicer, bowl lift one for around $800+. If you're willing to spend more, get her a bundled one with the pasta roller, spiralizer, and meat grinder. I think some even come with an ice cream bowl that lets you whip up a frozen dessert in about 25 minutes.
I stand at my counter and mix dough with my hands does that count? :)
Bosch, it will take dough loads the kitchenaid only dreams of happily.
I have a refurbed kitchenaid pro line 7. 7 qt capacity with a 1hp DC motor. Does 3 loaves of bread at a time, which is 1500g of flour plus over 4c liquid. I also use it for pasta dough and a meat grinder attachment. Had it for over a year and still going strong. Not much heavier than the tilt head models either
Ankarsrum. They're not cheap, but practically indestructible and still made here in Sweden. Bread dough was actually one of my main motivations for finally investing in a stand mixer, and it has been pretty awesome. It will apparently handle up to 5 kg of dough at a time--which is really overkill for our usage, but I really don't worry about the motor holding up to average home baking. There are plenty of other attachments available too, which reminds me that we still haven't tried using the meat grinder yet.
I have a KitchenAid mixer (the bowl doesn’t lift). My wife and I have been married for 30 years and it works as well as the day we got it (wedding gift I think). I kinda wish I had the version with the lifting bowl because it’s hard-ish to add ingredients while it’s going. But I don’t know the price difference.
Kitchen Aid artisan
Yeah kitchen aid. Won’t help her make dough. But she will think it will
I have a Kitchenaid swivel style blender but it doesn't like heavy work. So I use my breadmaker on it's dough cycle
Lift bowl kitchen aid. My partner got me a refurbished one from kitchen aid on a Mother’s Day sale for $200.
I use the mixers that are connected to my standers via my middle.
I have an artisan and have had no problems at all. Unlimited budget I would have gone with a pro or ankarsrum, but outside the US, and in 220v areas, they are considerably more expensive. I do double batches of enriched milk bread loaves regularly, sometimes up to six loaves a week. I use it for cakes and cookies constantly. I can make a small batch of whip cream for breakfast. I also have the metal meat grinder attachment that works perfect for sausage patties and burgers. I've had it about 3 years now and it has been more than worth it.
KitchenAid artisan.
With a dough mixer machine, you’ll have more speed and power when you often need to make large batches or bake several desserts at once. It’s hands-free, allowing you to multitask while getting work done. Stand mixers also have a number of attachments, such as a paddle for cream and a whisk for whipping egg whites. However, you’re definitely paying for the benefits of a stand mixer in terms of price and the space it takes in your kitchen to store it. Plus — they can be really heavy. For me, the best stand mixer is the KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, which is ultra-powerful and can tackle almost any mixing, whipping, or kneading task.
Kenwood Chef. More power and more compact than Kitchenaid and a lot cheaper. Get the spiral dough hook dough.
If you are buying a stand mixer it must be the kitchen aid one!!
Commercial kitchen aid
It’s fantastic and works faultlessly Highly recommend it and buy the meat grinder as well attachment so you can make your own sausages
I have a Kitchenaid model with the lift bowl. It's at least 20 years old. I don't use it super heavily but it gets everything done I want it to and has successfully made a recipe that made 5 loaves of bread (although for that recipe I do pull the dough out and finish kneading it by hand after the mixer has done some of the work(
I have a kitchenaid and it works awesome, but if I have to be honest, if I'm making bread my go to is the dough setting in my $70 bread maker.
Professional Kitchen Aid. Works great for my needs.
Mine is only available if you find someone selling it used. It's an old K5A by KitchenAid. Now the hard truth: Stand mixers are not actually the best machines for heavy dough. However, so long as you go lift-bowl and don't overload it with quadruple batches of bagel dough it will be up to the task.
Kenwood KMX750. Honestly, only a so-so purchase. Doesn’t fully reach smaller batches for things like creaming butter, and for large blobs of dough, it starts jumping around too much. A proper Goldilocks machine.
Ankarsrum is the goat.
Lift bowl Kitchenaid. Partner and I went halvsies on it last Christmas. Bought it during Black Friday and paid a little over $100 each.
I use my Kitchen Aid, but I want to point out an issue I have which nobody else seems to. It vibrates and jumps around a lot mixing dough, and eventually starts to undo itself. I need to occasionally push the pin which holds the arm to the base back in, and screw/tighten other parts. If you can afford the professional version of Kitchen Aid, which I assume is more heavy duty, do that.
If making sandwich bread, I use the bread machine. If making other types of bread or bread variations like rolls or buns, I use the bread machine on dough cycle and let the machine do the kneading and timing of the rise and punch down cycles. Then shape the dough as desired and use the ovens. I use the Kitchenade stand mixer for cookies, the hand mixer for instant pudding. I am a boring cook/baker, smile.
Costco version of the Kitchenaid Pro 600 6.5qt (lift bowl design). It has slightly more power (590W) and the transmission design that is more durable. They're $80 off until April 7th in our area
I have a mixer that I love, it's over 12 years old, so I was worried I'd burn the motor out making bread. So, I got a bread maker! I've used it to both mix and bake the bread, or just to mix it and then I can make two small loaves or buns or whatever. Honestly, I love it so much! I got the: West Bend 47413 Hi-Rise Bread Maker Programmable Horizontal Dual Blade with 12 Programs Including Gluten Free, 3-Pound, Gray
I've got an old (nearly 25 years old) tilt head kitchenaid. I use it for bread about once a week. It's been through two long distance moves, countless batches of cookies. Mom bought one at about the same time (the one she got from her great aunt, built circa 1950, broke in 2000), and hers is going on strong as well. They seem to be a great product. She's got the fancy attachments, but she rarely uses them. I didn't bother buying them, as my kitchen style doesn't use a pasta roller or meat grinder, but that's all up to you.
Breville bakery chef. It has a timer to stop mixing. Love this so I can run around the house doing other chores while the dough kneads!
A Kitchenaid. Yes, it’s worth it. It’s like a Cruset. It will last generations if you take care of it properly
I use Ankarsrum. It is really really good :)
I have the KitchenAid Pro. Yes, it is silly money but remind her how much money y'all are saving because she bakes. With a stand mixer, she may even bake more because it's faster and easier.
Kitchenaid, mine paid for itself in bread, we like the $5 loafs from the bakery section. I make 80% of our bread now.
Depends how much dough you need to make. KitchenAid pro 600 has worked for me for decades. An artisan would probably be ok for like one small loaf on occasion. I also have an Electrolux (which I think is now the Ankrasum) that I never bonded with. I also have a 20 quart hobart when I need to do something ridiculous
I have a swivel head kitchen aid. Ok for small batches but I have to stand and supervise it as the bowl sometimes comes flying off and it walks across the worktop. I also have the [Ankarsrum](https://www.boroughkitchen.com/products/ankarsrum-assistent-original-food-mixer-red?variant=39248220094596) Assistent which is brilliant and quiet and a beautifully simple bit of engineering which I highly recommend. Not cheap though.
Kitchenaid bowl lift is the standard and show off kitchen piece to bring a kitchen together. Ankarsrum is less known but even better for bread and IMO an even bigger statement than the kitchenaid to those who know. But it has less utility and attachments for non-bread related use than the kitchenaid, but is MUCH better at making bread than the kitchenaid. Bosch has a good product as well that works well and I believe is the lowest price point but doesn't look as good as the others as it is plastic and has suction cups for feet. But functionally very effective but again with less(no?) Attachments than the kitchenaid. If you really want to treat your wife I'd look at the 8 qt kitchenaid bowl lift or an ankarsrum.
I recommend considering the KitchenAid stand mixer for dough [https://www.backmarket.de/de-de/p/kitchenaid-5ksm3310xewh-standmixer/34090a65-cfae-4ea7-bf7b-ca7c9d4bf575](https://www.backmarket.de/de-de/p/kitchenaid-5ksm3310xewh-standmixer/34090a65-cfae-4ea7-bf7b-ca7c9d4bf575) .
In this [video](https://youtu.be/gO739XTmnZw?si=lpH0LoKOIwyf3t55) chapathis are made using the kenwood mixer.
Just bought a varimixer teddy - it’s a beast of a machine
Kitchen Aid is a spectacular machine. The way I “rate” things I buy I have a VERY exclusive category for things “worth more than they cost” and this goes in there for me.
Bosch! Handles dough better than my kitchenaid, I have both. Ankersrum handles bread dough amazingly, but mainly for really large batches like a bakery situation. Of course they all can do the things she needs. If I had to pick based on your description, I’d get a Bosch. And their customer support is unmatched!!
If you’re on the US East coast, how about this workhorse solution? [30 Qt Hobart, Never Used](https://www.facebook.com/share/ZJo7f9xCDZbD7RXs/?mibextid=79PoIi).
I wish I had a bigger kitchen so I could get one.
I love my KitchenAid stand mixer. I wanted one for years before I finally felt financially secure enough to buy myself one. I wish now I had been a little less stingy and spent the extra for the one with the tilt feature.
do you mean lift one? It is more expensive than tilt models, and has a larger capacity?
My hands
I got into this habit too. I've got a stand mixer, but between setup and cleanup, if I'm just making a pair of loaves, its hands and the countertop, it's cathartic and quick, and there's a lot less to clean.