462242 Mon Nov 19 18:10:43 -0800 2007 29 41 Cookware 0 3140452 Although I haven't actually been able to use mine yet (it is going to be a Christmas gift), I am an excited new own of a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, and was just wondering what you thought to be the best part of owning one? I, personally, am excited about baking breads! Mon Nov 19 18:10:43 -0800 2007 144298 Erinmck 1 3140462 The cool attachments... we have the meat grinder, the ice cream maker, the juicer. Also, homemade whipped cream! Enjoy it! Mon Nov 19 18:12:58 -0800 2007 3140452 67742 HungryRubia 1 3140653 Love the fact that it can handle a stiff batter like cookie dough... Mon Nov 19 19:15:38 -0800 2007 3140452 71851 jinet12 1 3141943 I have been BEGGING for one for years and Santa has still not deemed me good enough to bring me one. I would be most excited about doing breads, too. I see myself in my dreams making breads in my beautiful stand mixer... now if it would only become a reality!! ;-) Congrats, I am jealous! Tue Nov 20 08:39:35 -0800 2007 3140452 12400 WildSwede 1 3142251 I've had mine since about 1975. It's made countless loaves of bread, ground & stuffed miles of sausage & (before the days of food processors) sliced, diced, shredded & grated tons of stuff - but never as well as a food processor does. I think my personal favorite use is for sausage, though. Since 1975 I've had in in the shop once - it needed a $2 gasket or something minor like that. What a workhorse! Tue Nov 20 09:55:14 -0800 2007 3140452 98577 rfneid 1 3144297 Love the ice cream maker. Maybe a little too much... And it's definitely improved my baking abilities... Tue Nov 20 20:04:00 -0800 2007 3140452 91237 hollerhither 2 3152833 The ice cream maker sounds like a lot of fun... maybe that will be a good purchase sometime down the road..! Sun Nov 25 09:19:50 -0800 2007 3144297 144298 Erinmck 3 3154015 The sausage grinder and pasta roller are on my Xmas list. :) Sun Nov 25 18:09:45 -0800 2007 3152833 91237 hollerhither 1 3147497 Buy the three piece Pasta set, (Roller, Spagetti and Fettucine cutters) skip the ravioli attatchment it is a waste of $$. I make Pasta about once a week with it and it is great. You will never go back to the boxed version. I also make a tone of sausage and the meat grinder is great. Have fun Thu Nov 22 06:51:53 -0800 2007 3140452 138235 Winer 2 3152836 I've always wanted to make my own pasta, but wasn't sure if that set would be worth it. I'm glad to hear it is. What is wrong with the ravioli attachment? I think the meat grinder is the attachment I have heard about the most,which really suprises me! But the more I read about meat grinders, the more intrigued I am to at some point try it out. Sun Nov 25 09:21:29 -0800 2007 3147497 144298 Erinmck 3 3152993 The ravioli maker is a "feeder" of you know what I mean. It is almost impossible to get the filling in line with everything and to use a device that is motor driven. It is far easier to skip that and just use the roller to get a nice flat piece and then make your raviolis on your counter. The 3 piece pasta set should run about $125. You can have a lot of fun with it With the meat grinder you can make your own hamburger which is much better than store bought and I make a lot of sausages in the winter. It is time consuming but the result is great and you can freeze them. Sun Nov 25 10:39:31 -0800 2007 3152836 138235 Winer 3 3167029 Don't bother buying it, Erin (unless you just want to, of course!)... you can borrow mine any time! :-) Thu Nov 29 20:29:27 -0800 2007 3152836 12813 Katie Nell 4 3175919 Well thanks, Katie! I didn't know you had one! Mon Dec 03 12:55:27 -0800 2007 3167029 144298 Erinmck 1 3148126 I love my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. I bought the 4.5 quart one for $169 at Target, it's on sale at Kohl's for $129 with a mail in rebate. My cookies have come out magical since I bought it. I love it so much, actually kissed it good night the first time I used it. Thu Nov 22 13:54:24 -0800 2007 3140452 11701 MrsT 2 3181399 MrsT - do you find that the 4.5 qt size is enough? Do you wish you got the bigger one? I have been begging for one for years but have still not received it. So, apparently it is up to me to get one. What about those other brands - I cannot remember exactly the names - but they are cheaper. Wonder if they are just as good. Wed Dec 05 08:24:20 -0800 2007 3148126 12400 WildSwede 1 3148282 I love the meat grinder! We can't eat anyone else's hamburgers any more because we are spoiled by fresh ground sirloin and chuck. I also love not having to put my hands into meatloaf to mix it. The paddle attachment does a fine job of that. Thu Nov 22 16:38:57 -0800 2007 3140452 87837 RGC1982 2 3148356 I am so in a box. I never thought of using it for anything other than baked goods! I hate making meatloaf for that exact reason. Next time I'm using the good ol' kitchenaid. And I'm getting a meat grinder to make my own ground meat for burgers! Thanks for the ideas! Duh........ Thu Nov 22 17:54:58 -0800 2007 3148282 123913 chocchipcookie 1 3148392 When I first got my new avocado green 4.5 mixer in the mid '70s, I was astonished at how easy it was to make piecrust. Thu Nov 22 18:37:06 -0800 2007 3140452 134265 sueatmo 1 3148989 Being able to make stuff with no hands! Has made bread-making much easier, but a lot of mixing in general has become faster. Not having to tend it as actively while I use it. I burnt out the motor on a food processor making bread dough, once, and I find standing there holding a hand-held electric beaters to be a bit tedious. I don't have any attachments. I don't want the mixer to die and take all the attachments with it. I am a bit of a cynic. Fri Nov 23 08:16:37 -0800 2007 3140452 122457 willownt 1 3149032 The dough hook! Some folks find that kneading dough is theraputic. I'd rather let the machine do the heavy lifting. French bread, fresh pasta, you name it: the dough hook on my KA gets those gluten strands stretched out. On the fresh pasta note, some folks (myself included) have had problems with the pasta roller attachment. It breaks easily and cannot be repaired. If you can find an old one at a garage sale, go for it; they apparently were made much better in the past. But IMHO you're far better off with a dedicated pasta machine than the current version. Knead the pasta in the stand mixer, but roll it and cut it on the Imperia (or Atlas, or...). Fri Nov 23 08:33:35 -0800 2007 3140452 58743 alanbarnes 1 3151200 I am planning to purchase a stand mixer--reviews are mixed, to say the least. Kitchen Aid Pro 600 was recommended by Cooks Magazine in Nov 2005, but other (user) reviews are all over the board. There is apparently a problem with plastic gearbox housing that breaks down and a "proper use" issue--have to let the motor cool down when making bread dough. Any experience with this model, particularly for bread-making or other heavy-duty use? Sat Nov 24 11:29:42 -0800 2007 3140452 98008 helmswoman 2 3151242 I may well be wrong but I believe the Pro 600 still has metal gears unlike the smaller models. Whatever the case is I use mine a few times a week for things like bread, gridning meats for sausage making and the like. I have never had a problem with this and would HIGHLY reccomend it. Sat Nov 24 11:45:18 -0800 2007 3151200 138235 Winer 2 3151344 I have a pro and haven't had any issues with mixing bread or making things like marshmallows, which require high speed for 10 minutes or so. I love mine! Sat Nov 24 12:46:48 -0800 2007 3151200 17827 cyberroo 2 3154109 My husband just bought me one and asked about that. He was told they had switched to plastic, but found problems with it so went back to all metal. Any that you buy now should be fine. Sun Nov 25 18:56:39 -0800 2007 3151200 39874 chowser 2 3155217 I bought a Pro 600 on sale last year around this time, and after my purchase, I nearly drove myself crazy reading all of the negative reviews. Fast forward--I've used the thing 2-3 times weekly for a year, and it runs like a charm. It's not quiet, but that's not a concern for me. I've made marshmallows, royal icing, souffles, and more loaves of bread than I can count...not a whimper of a problem in all that time. So here's a positive review to counter all those negative ones! The only attachment I've purchased is the food grinder; it handles well-trimmed meats like a charm (though it does get clogged by sinew/connective tissue, but all grinders do). An extra bowl would be nice, but I don't have storage space for the thing. Mon Nov 26 09:30:50 -0800 2007 3151200 12023 Hungry Celeste 3 3156099 There is an easy solution to the sinew clogging issue. Chill the meat almost to the point of being frozen, the fat will then grind up easily Mon Nov 26 13:18:27 -0800 2007 3155217 138235 Winer 4 3156626 I agree Winer. In over 30 years I've never clogged mine & I always bring the meat to near freezing. Mon Nov 26 15:34:00 -0800 2007 3156099 98577 rfneid 3 3170261 The most useful review yet. Thanks, Hungry Celeste! Sat Dec 01 06:33:38 -0800 2007 3155217 98008 helmswoman 1 3167901 The meat grinder is the one I use the most. If they would make a "drop through" meat tenderizer for making chicken fried steak, I would be in heaven. Fri Nov 30 08:55:15 -0800 2007 3140452 145915 A Ron 1 3171928 It's all about that dough hook! I've made everything from bread to mashed potatoes in the mixer. I'd say my favorite is definitely breadmaking, followed by making cookies in a flash. Sat Dec 01 22:34:57 -0800 2007 3140452 93901 geekyfoodie