Feels Like a Race Car

My Kitchen Aid 4.5 Quart 250 Watts Classic Stand Mixer was a housewarming present that likes to purr and exercise. I love the power and control that this mixer offers. It makes cooking as much fun as driving a Porsche on winding country roads. Changing speeds and moving through the gears is as smooth as what I can only imagine a high performance race car would feel like.

This is not my first Kitchen Aid appliance. A long time ago I opted for quality rather than quantity and this machine is not letting me down. My mother has had a Kitchen Aid mixer for years, as does my sister. Actually my sister was a baker for ten years and has several. It's fun to visit her and watch several mixers going at the same time.

I love this stand mixer. It gets used far more than it should. I like the appearance of my flashy red mixer and leave it out on the counter. It may be flashy, but it offers strength and character. It doesn't back down from a challenge like mixing heavy cookie dough, blending ice cream batters, kneading bread dough, whipping up a cheese ball or meat loaf, and churning up favorite beverages (although I usually bring out my blender for that task). This machine is a workhorse that won't let me down.

The Kitchen Aid 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer came basically ready to go from its first day home. There was no orientation period. The box included:

A Heavy Duty Base/Motor Head with a plate at the bottom for locking the bowl. The motor has a speed control lever on one side (left) and a locking lever on the right. Being both right handed and left handed I found this easy to use, but I don't see it a problem if you are strongly one way or the other. The speed ranges include stir, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. The locking lever keeps the head secure while mixing--it's nice being able to walk away from it knowing that nothing unusual will happen. (I've had mixer heads pop up and spray batter all over the kitchen.)

The stainless steel 4.5 quart capacity bowl is also easy to clean and locks onto the base--another desirable safety feature. Unfortunately the bowl lacks a handle, which is available in other models.

The motor is so quiet you can imagine, once again, a high performance race car. The base is easy to keep clean; it is free of unnecessary edges that tend to accumulate a lot of garbage. Although this is a high performance machine, it is bulky, heavy, and hugs the counter. This is both good and bad in that you know it won't dance all over the counter when you turn your back, but you need a bit of strength (and height) to move it from place to place.

The beaters included are the traditional flat beater (perfect for mixing normal to thick mixtures), a stainless steel whisk (for whipping cream, eggs, and potatoes), and a dough hook (really powerful with this motor). I tend to use the dough hook least, but love knowing that it's dependable for critical moments. I used to have a mixer with a dough hook and the dough climbed up the mixer and tried to escape from the bowl every chance it got. That behavior doesn't happen with this hook. The dough knows its place when facing this Kitchen Aid hook.

Also Included
The obligatory instruction manual/recipe guide book provides operating instructions, a few recipes, safety tips, speed control guides, mixing tips, care, and warranty information. I don't personally know anyone who has had to use warranty information. However, if needed, Kitchen Aid does offer a One-Year Full Warranty from the date of purchase on the 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer.(Save your receipts just in case.) This includes replacement parts and repair costs (labor) to correct defects in materials and workmanship.

This is easy to use and clean, excels at its task, and it is a durable, powerful, high-quality kitchen machine. In addition to being tough and smart, it's good looking and stays clean. What more can a gal ask for in a kitchen tool?