I'll be a dissenting vote. I have one and I have never used it. I love to cook, but I don't bake. We got it at the request of our babysitter, who wanted to bake bread. Now that she's gone we have relegated it to the basement.

But I would love a Vitamix to make green smoothies!

"It is a kitchen staple..."
^^ Yup, this. I use it for everything: cookie dough, bread dough, whipping cream, whipping egg whites,....

I have the bowl-lift model. I've also had the tilt-head model, it generally works fine but the bowl-lift is a little sturdier. Depends on what you'll be using it for - regular kitchen use, the tilt-head is fine; a lot of stiff bread dough, you'll want the bowl-lift model.

I love it so much I would married it. But alas I am already married...

We have the tilt-head, love it. Use to make bread weekly, pizza, cookies, whipped cream, everything.

kitchen isn't a kitchen without it. We have the professional top end one (stacked kohls coupons and rebates for a nice deal). Lots of people prefer the tilt-head model (which is lower). Mine has a bowl that goes up and down.

What model do you recommend?

We use it to shred meat 3-5 times a week. I also use it in cooking and baking. It has many uses.

Caution would be that there are many lower quality versions of KA stand mixers now. They're still KA, and a good product, But not the powerful versions for serious bakers that many people think of when you think KA. You get a less powerful motor, less sturdy bowl, etc.

Yes. When I first got it I used it once in a while because I didn't quite know what to do with it. Now I can't live without it. Making cookies takes no time. Pizza or other breads are weekly staples. You find uses for it over time. I love it.

The mixer? Yes I love it. It is a kitchen staple as far as I am concerned.

Thinking about giving a kitchenaid to a family member who loves to cook. Is it worth it? Do you love it? Hate it? Want it?