jro26's Full Review: KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250 Watts Stand Mixer
First I want to thank my family for really thinking about what I really wanted and what I would really use for a long time while they were shopping for my gift.
How did I fall in love with the Kitchen Aid?
Well, where do I start? I have wanted a Kitchen Aid Mixer for a long time. My Mom had one and I always used it, even for simple things that don't require a mixer, I would still use it. I used to make German Pancakes at least once a week. The Kitchen Aid really made it easy to add all of the ingredients and be mixing at the same time. That way I didn't have to crack all the eggs, mix some then stop, add the flour by tablespoon, mix some then stop, and so on. With the Kitchen Aid you can just put it on low and continually add your ingredients.
Is it worth $200.00????
You betcha! It is worth $300 in my opinion. My Mom has had hers for over 5 years and she uses it frequently, but has had not a single problem with it. This will replace my hand mixer, my rocket chef and possible a lot of other things if I buy the attachments. I will talk about the attachments a little later.
What it comes with
Well, you get the mixer! But you also get the 4 1/2 quart stainless steel bowl, a dough hook, a flat beater and a wire whip. You also get a one-year no questions asked warranty, an attachments and accessories order form, and order form for a customized bowl and an instruction and recipe book. You also don't have to assemble a thing. Just clean out the bowl and the beater you want to use and put those on and you are ready to go.
What will I use the Flat Beater for?
Well, lots of things. Here are some of the recommended uses for the flat beater: Cakes, creamed frostings, candies, cookies, pastries, biscuits, quick breads, meat loaf and mashed potatoes.
What about the Wire Whip?
The uses for the wire whip are eggs, egg whites, heavy cream, boiled frostings, sponge cakes, and angel food cakes, mayonnaise and some candies.
And the Dough Hook?
The dough hook is pretty self-explanatory but you use it for breads, rolls, coffee cakes and buns.
Speeds
1) Stir: This is for slow stirring, combining, mashing and starting all mixing procedures. Use this to add flour and dry ingredients to batter, add liquids to dry ingredients and combining heavy mixtures.
2) Speed 2: This is for slow mixture, mashing and faster stirring. Use this to mix heavy batters and candies, also to mash potatoes or other veggies. It is also for cutting shortening into flour, mixing thin or splashy batters, and mixing and kneading doughs. You also use this speed for the can opener.
3) Speed 4: This is for mixing and beating, such as semi-heavy batters like cookies. Use to combine sugar and shortening and to add sugar to egg whites for meringues. Use with food grinder, rotor slicer, and veggy strainer.
4) Speed 6: For medium to fast beating, creaming or whipping. Use to finish mixing cake, doughnut and other batters. Use with citrus juicer attatchment.
5) Speed 8: For whipping cream, egg whites and boiled frostings.
6) Speed 10: For whipping small amounts of cream or egg whites. Use with pasta maker and grain mill attachments.
**Note:The speed control lever can be set between the speeds listed above to obtain speeds 3,5,7 and 9 if a finer adjustment is required.
Attachments!
The attachments are a little pricey but will be well worth it in the long run. Not only will you save counter space by being able to have on machine doing multiple things but also each attachment does more than one thing. I will tell you some attachments and their prices. I am really excited about the pasta maker and I know this will be my first buy. The pasta maker is a food grinder plus the plates for thick or thin spaghetti, flat noodles, macaroni and lasagna. This costs $84.99. The grain mill grinds low moisture grains like wheat, rice, corn, etc. from fine to coarse and costs $149.99. The fruit/vegetable strainer costs $119.99 and works with the food grinder to puree and strain fruits and veggies quickly and easily. The citrus juicer lets you enjoy fresh squeezed orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit juice while trapping seeds and pulp. The juicer costs only $34.99. The can opener, now this is a good idea, it costs $49.99 and is has a fast, safe operation that leaves edges smooth and snag free also holding can securely until removed. The pasta roller set is pricey at $129.99, but I am sure will safe you money. It has a 3 piece set and rolls pasta dough into lasagna noodles, fettuccine and linguine fini. The food tray holds large quantities and helps maintain even flow of food when using the food grinder. This costs $24.99. There is also a rotor slicer/shredder that quickly turns firm vegetables and fruits into fine or coarse shreds, thick or thin slices and also shreds cheese. You can buy a cover for $14.99, extra bowls from $39.99 and up, extra whips and hooks for $14.99, 2-Piece dual purpose shield for $24.99, and you can also purchase sets of attachments to save you money.
You will be happy
This is a very heavy and durable machine that is more than likely, with proper cleaning and care, not to let you down. I have heard many great stories of people using these for many years and never having to have them repaired or returned. I am extremely happy with mine and I think you will be too if you purchase one in the future.
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