Help! Which KitchenAid model should I get?

[Anonymous]

I want to finally go ahead and get myself a KitchenAid on black Friday but am so confused by the range of models available (and shocked at the inflated prices). I want to get one so I can ground meat for kibbeh and make dough for meat pies (I'm Arab). I know I can purchase a meat grinder attachment but would appreciate any advice on which model to get--especially since this is a splurge for me so I want to make sure I don't go for a model I won't necessarily need.

[Anonymous]

Keep an eye on the bowl size. I think they range from 3.5Qt to 5 or 6QT. You probably don't want to accidentally buy the "mini" version, but that may also work for you. I think the Artisan 5QT is the standard. We have that one, and are happy with it.

[Anonymous]

I have the 6qt, bowl lift, professional model.

It only uses the one metal bowl that locks into place. If you want a variety of bowls, the 5qt tilt head has more options.

Don't get me wrong, I love my powerhouse. But if you like esthetics, the tilt head machines are the way to go.

Examples:
https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/bowls.html?plp=%3Arelevance%3Acategory%3ACountertopAppliancesStandMixersBowls&plpView=list

I would avoid the mini stand mixer unless you have space issues.

[Anonymous]

My husband really likes the one you can buy at Costco, he did a lot of research before deciding on it. He's had it for two years, but I think they still sell the same one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep an eye on the bowl size. I think they range from 3.5Qt to 5 or 6QT. You probably don't want to accidentally buy the "mini" version, but that may also work for you. I think the Artisan 5QT is the standard. We have that one, and are happy with it.

Thanks for the tip!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the 6qt, bowl lift, professional model.

It only uses the one metal bowl that locks into place. If you want a variety of bowls, the 5qt tilt head has more options.

Don't get me wrong, I love my powerhouse. But if you like esthetics, the tilt head machines are the way to go.

Examples:
https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/bowls.html?plp=%3Arelevance%3Acategory%3ACountertopAppliancesStandMixersBowls&plpView=list

I would avoid the mini stand mixer unless you have space issues.

I'm going to be keeping it in a cupboard so aesthetics isn't an issue. I just want the most affordable version that can handle grinding meat and making large batches of dough so I can freeze the kibbeh and meat/cheese pies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband really likes the one you can buy at Costco, he did a lot of research before deciding on it. He's had it for two years, but I think they still sell the same one.

Thanks! I didn't know I could find one on Costco.

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend the 6qt lift bowl. The tilt heads are smaller and less powerful generally.

[Anonymous]

You definitely, definitely, definitely want the professional version. Especially if you’ll be making any type of dough. I ran through three normal motors before I got wise and traded up to the professional. Now mine is 10 years old and going strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend the 6qt lift bowl. The tilt heads are smaller and less powerful generally.

Agree with this, taking into consideration OP's specific needs. This is from the Kitchenaid site:

Bowl-lift stand mixers are heavier with wider bases and a bowl that connects at 3 lock-points to provide the extra stability you need when mixing large and heavy recipes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You definitely, definitely, definitely want the professional version. Especially if you’ll be making any type of dough. I ran through three normal motors before I got wise and traded up to the professional. Now mine is 10 years old and going strong.

Thanks! so one of these:

https://www.costco.com/kitchenaid-professional-series-6-quart-bowl-lift-stand-mixer-with-flex-edge.product.100485356.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the 6qt, bowl lift, professional model.

It only uses the one metal bowl that locks into place. If you want a variety of bowls, the 5qt tilt head has more options.

Don't get me wrong, I love my powerhouse. But if you like esthetics, the tilt head machines are the way to go.

Examples:
https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/bowls.html?plp=%3Arelevance%3Acategory%3ACountertopAppliancesStandMixersBowls&plpView=list

I would avoid the mini stand mixer unless you have space issues.

I have the same one. Got it on sale years ago when it was still about $300. It's a workhorse and does everything.

I have the meat grinder attachment and it works great. I've made sausages and ground up meats when stores don't have what I want or when I need something different. I don't know how well the smaller ones work for the meat grinder because I haven't used them, but this one works well with the grinder attachment.

The one I have:
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KP26M1XMH-Professional-Bowl-Lift-Stand/dp/B07H9J7RC2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3MGK3Z8FJHDR3&keywords=kitchenaid+professional+6+quart&qid=1668787752&sprefix=kitchen+aid+professional+6+quart%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.08f69ac3-fd3d-4b88-bca2-8997e41410bb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the 6qt, bowl lift, professional model.

It only uses the one metal bowl that locks into place. If you want a variety of bowls, the 5qt tilt head has more options.

Don't get me wrong, I love my powerhouse. But if you like esthetics, the tilt head machines are the way to go.

Examples:
https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/bowls.html?plp=%3Arelevance%3Acategory%3ACountertopAppliancesStandMixersBowls&plpView=list

I would avoid the mini stand mixer unless you have space issues.

I have the same one. Got it on sale years ago when it was still about $300. It's a workhorse and does everything.

I have the meat grinder attachment and it works great. I've made sausages and ground up meats when stores don't have what I want or when I need something different. I don't know how well the smaller ones work for the meat grinder because I haven't used them, but this one works well with the grinder attachment.

The one I have:
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KP26M1XMH-Professional-Bowl-Lift-Stand/dp/B07H9J7RC2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3MGK3Z8FJHDR3&keywords=kitchenaid+professional+6+quart&qid=1668787752&sprefix=kitchen+aid+professional+6+quart%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.08f69ac3-fd3d-4b88-bca2-8997e41410bb

Typo. I paid about $200 on sale for it like 15 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the 6qt, bowl lift, professional model.

It only uses the one metal bowl that locks into place. If you want a variety of bowls, the 5qt tilt head has more options.

Don't get me wrong, I love my powerhouse. But if you like esthetics, the tilt head machines are the way to go.

Examples:
https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/bowls.html?plp=%3Arelevance%3Acategory%3ACountertopAppliancesStandMixersBowls&plpView=list

I would avoid the mini stand mixer unless you have space issues.

I have the same one. Got it on sale years ago when it was still about $300. It's a workhorse and does everything.

I have the meat grinder attachment and it works great. I've made sausages and ground up meats when stores don't have what I want or when I need something different. I don't know how well the smaller ones work for the meat grinder because I haven't used them, but this one works well with the grinder attachment.

The one I have:
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KP26M1XMH-Professional-Bowl-Lift-Stand/dp/B07H9J7RC2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3MGK3Z8FJHDR3&keywords=kitchenaid+professional+6+quart&qid=1668787752&sprefix=kitchen+aid+professional+6+quart%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.08f69ac3-fd3d-4b88-bca2-8997e41410bb

I would love that one but it's over my budget. I am going to check for sales though.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with the standard tilt-head model, we now have the bowl-lift. I still use a tilt-head at my mom's house (she got a new one about 5 years ago, so it's a relatively current model).

The bowl-lift has a more powerful motor, and is much sturdier. The tilt-head rattles around a bit when I'm mixing something stiff, like kneading bread dough. It handles it fine, I just need to keep a hand on it to keep the head from popping up or the whole mixer from moving around on the counter. Sometimes it sounds like the motor is straining a little on a really stiff dough, but it always powers through. The bowl-lift holds itself in place and the motor handles everything I've thrown in there with ease.

The flip side of that, of course, is the the bowl-lift is much heavier. Every time I haul it out of the cupboard for a simple batch of whipped cream I kind of wish for the smaller model. Something to keep in mind if you'll be moving it around a lot. My kids have a hard time maneuvering the bowl-lift mixer out of the pantry.

I don't do a lot of meat grinding, but I think the tilt head would be fine. Might just go a little slower than the bowl-lift model. Dough is fine in either, although obviously the bigger version will handle bigger batches.