I got a refurbished Artisan for 99 bucks on Amazon. Don't use it that much but when I do it comes in handy

I have the Professional with the bowl crank. I got it several years ago when it was on sale at Sam's for $250 which at the time was a fantastic price (it was over $400 normally then). I used to use it all the time. I made bread, cookie dough, fresh whipped cream. I have the meat grinder attachment and used to make my own ground beef, ground lamb and sausages. Then I had twins. I have only used it a couple of times in 3 years, mostly to make cookies for holidays or for a bake sale. We were just talking about rearranging the kitchen and putting the currently unused KA in the basement for a while until the kids get a little older and I start doing more of those tasks again. *sigh*

Anonymous wrote:PP, you can get the glass bowl separately, if you like it. I also think it's pretty cool, and when they start selling the glass bowl for the Professional separately, I'll get it.

Thanks. Since I don't use it that often I seems like a waste t have 2 bowls. That said I am very interested in the idea of making marshmallows. Maybe I'll use it more often which would totally make the bowl worthwhile.. Right?

I love my basic model. I ask for attachments or bowls as gifts. The grinder & ice cream maker are my favs. Got it 20 years ago in white & still works great. I would like a different color, but other than that wouldnt trade it for anything.

I have a Huntington beach. Couldn't afford a kitchen aid when I got it. Now, I just don't care.

I love mine. Had it 9 years, I cried tears of joy when DH gave it to me. We use it for bread dough, cookies, cakes, grinding meat, stuffing sausage, pasta making just to name a few. I probably use it at least 4 time a week. Some weekends it never leaves the counter.

I love my KA (I have a discontinued model that has the same big bowl, motor, and lift mechanism as the current Pro), but the PP who mentioned Bosch is right that KA is no longer the most powerful option for kneading bread. Kneading bagel dough (super high protein and gluten) definitely challenges my KA - I wouldn't want to be doing that weekly with it.

I have the Artisan, and I love it, but I kinda wish I'd gotten the pro because it has many more accessories that won't fit the Artisan model.

I use my KitchenAid all the time (seriously 4-5 times per week, at least once a month for marshmallows, which requires 10-12min straight of whipping). Seriously LOVE it! I love the regular version much better than the Professional, I would rather the arm bend back than to have to raise the bowl up and down.

I have a Kitchen Aid Epicurean that I've had for 12 years. It's a workhorse and has never let me down. I have cobalt blue and it's still pretty.

PP, you can get the glass bowl separately, if you like it. I also think it's pretty cool, and when they start selling the glass bowl for the Professional separately, I'll get it.

I have the artisan. Don't use if often but love it when I need it. I think you can use one of those 20% off bed bath and beyond coupons. I have had mine for quite some time but I think that is how they purchased it. The artisan comes in so many more colors than when I bought it (I went with metallic chrome - so boring) and I am in love with the glass bowl it now has (I have the steel one).
Get it, you won't regret. I mainly got it b/c I always wanted one for some reason. I was in my very early 30s and single then. It seemed like a very adult thing to purchase.

OP, if you have a Kenwood mixer, then a Kitchenaid probably won't be better (although in my opinion they're prettier). But if you can afford it, and you want one, then go for it.

The best mixer for bread-making, according to the Internet, are the Bosch and the Electrolux Assistant (or whatever name they're using now). I've had no problems with making bread in My KA Professional, but others complain about it.

I'm a KitchenAid mixer fan. I have the basic or classic model, which does what yours does already -- whipping eggs, mixing batters, kneading bread with a dough hook:

http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KSM75-Classic-Tilt-Head-White/dp/B00063ULMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410531464&sr=8-1&keywords=kitchenaid+mixer

BUT, that being said, the attachments are wonderful -- I love the pasta maker and the meat grinder, and there's an ice cream maker attachment that I have my eye on.

I've also seen the "Professional" or "Artisan" series in stores -- looks like those have a much bigger bowl and bigger motor, can knead heavier doughs, etc.

Sometimes Williams-Sonoma has sales on certain colors or models of Kitchenaid and sometimes you can also find sales on Amazon. Maybe put it on your list for a Christmas present?

I have a British branded stand mixer which does the job, but that I would never even dream of expanding ithe workload for. It's and 800w model. It gets used a fair amount for everything from whipping eggs to kneading bread.

I would love love love a proper Kitchenaid, but need to figure out how to justify the cost, even in my own mind, as I have a perfectly fine mixer. I'd love something that I don't have to babysit making heavy breads, and I'm really interested in the attachments that Kitchenaid has (eg. Pasta maker)

I've never had my hands on a good Kitchenaid and am worried iI'll end up with exactly what I have already.

Is the brand name really worth it, or am I likely to end up with what I have already? Anyone want to recommend their Kitchenaid model and why?