Too small for breadbaking, good service
Pros:
Power, efficient beaters, ease of cleaning.
Cons:
Capacity if bowl, capacity of attachments.
The Bottom Line:
This is a great machine for light use, but if you are going to can and bake bread its a bit too small. Stay within its limits.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I bought this mixer last summer when my beloved 30 year old Oster Kitchen Center began to stink of ozone every time I used it. I knew the motor was going on it, much to my dismay as I used it for everything.
I couldn't find anyone who could tell me if the KitchenAid was suitable before I bought it. I wanted something that, like my old Oster, could do everything on one base. I have a very small kitchen with little storage, but I cook from scratch, bake my own bread and can soup, tomato sauce and apple sauce every year. So I need one machine that can do it all, so I don't have to find storage for a half dozen machines. Although I checked at a number of stores, none of the salespeople who had the KitchenAid actually used it. I hesitantly bought this bottom of the line model as KitchenAid has such a good reputation and I didn't need a lot of bells and whistles.
What I found with experience is that this model has plenty of power for everything I have asked of it, but the bowl isn't big enough. What I have asked of it so far is weekly to twice weekly baking of two loaves of bread (the dough climbs out of the bowl repeatedly as it kneads), weekly baking of waffles, canning all summer (mostly pureeing tomatoes, celery and onions with the food grinder/juicer).
Unfortunately, after four months of use, the on/off speed selector switch broke and it now runs on top speed no matter what the actual speed setting is. The switch has always worked hard and I suspect that this top-heavy machine may have been tipped over on the switch at the factory. However, my experience with customer service has so far been quite positive. I did have to find my check number and go back to the store where I bought the mixer to get a replacement receipt. Once I got the receipt and faxed it in to KitchenAid, they were quite happy to replace the mixer. Since I wasn't happy with the mixer, they allowed me to pay the difference and replace it with the Artisan. The customer service rep was cheerful, polite and easy to deal with. I am still waiting on the replacement mixer, but it has only been a few days.
What I love about this machine is its ease of cleaning and set up. The casing has no corners or edges for dirt to hide and is shiny and easy to wipe. Unlike my old Oster, there is no place for dough to work up into the beaters. The beaters themselves are easy to wash and make short work of whatever you are mixing.
What I don't love about it is the small bowl. I also don't like the way the power of the machine will sometimes lock the bowl so tightly to the base that I have trouble getting it off. Another issue is the small capacity of the juicer. There is an optional tray to increase its capacity, but it leaks tomato juice all over the place and it doesn't improve the capacity of the tube that feeds the auger. It can make a long day of canning longer and adds to the cleanup as well.
Update:
My replacement mixer arrived 12/15, two weeks after the original failed. I thought that was pretty good, considering its the middle of the Christmas shipping rush. Customer service was uniformly pleasant, polite and helpful, no matter who I dealt with. When I get a chance, I will review the new Artisan. So far, its performing well after three days of heavy use, churning out Moravian Sugar Cakes.
