For centuries, we craftsmen and craftswomen have been building kitchenaid stand mixers, into which the customer plugs the power cord and selects one of the six speeds. But now everything is changing because Kitchenaid is introducing a new concept that changes everything.
The new machine has a large disc with a beveled surface that is mounted horizontally in front of the beaters. To operate it, the customer pushes down on a long lever, which sends the turntable spinning at seven times the speed of Kitchenaid’s popular beaters. The attachments, called paddles and cutters, are attached to discs mounted vertically on either side of this central beveled disc. This setup is also called a shaft mixer or jaw mixer.
This type of mixer uses shafts to spin in bearings instead of blades as in conventional mixers. Shaft mixers are heavier and more expensive than blade mixers, but they are usually powerful enough to produce the same or better results.
By removing the blades, Kitchenaid has created a new mixing technology that is not only faster but also a lot quieter and easier to operate. The company claims its shaft mixer will bring new “mixing dynamics” to traditional stand-mixers.
The shaft mixer replaces the blades with a turntable assembly that has a long, beveled surface in front of the beaters. This design offers higher speeds, which means consumers can be assured of obtaining even better results than with conventional mixers.
Another benefit of this technology is the absence of blade contact. This means that there are no nicks and dents on the bottom of the bowl, and thus dough does not stick. The lack of blades also eliminates friction between the dough and the bowl, which means the dough essentially slides against itself with little to no adhesion. Based on this observation I can now conclude that Kitchenaid is not only trying to revolutionize kitchenaid stand mixers but also making a bold attempt at changing Western culture.
In addition to improving results, Kitchenaid has managed to design a mixer that is quieter than traditional mixers; it operates at 80 decibels (dB), which is about as loud as a dishwasher. A study reported in the July 2011 issue of the Journal of Food Engineering showed that shaft mixers can actually be quieter than hand-held mixers, which is a welcome observation for everyone who has ever considered developing hearing problems.
Some consumers are asking what about Kitchenaid’s beater blades? They are still used on the shaft mixer and will continue to be sold as a separate attachment. Although it sounds alarming, there is no need to worry because Kitchenaid’s “beater” blades include parts that provide both mixing and kneading capabilities.
The shaft mixer costs $500, which is $50 more than Kitchenaid’s most advanced stand mixer, but this investment comes with several benefits. The mixing bowl, the whisk, and the dough hook are all dishwasher safe, whereas the beaters and other attachments must be hand washed. According to Kitchenaid’s website, this machine is suitable for mixing heavy batters like cookie dough, brownie batter and mashed potatoes.
The mixer’s shaft features nine speeds of operation as opposed to traditional stand mixers’ six speeds; this is another improvement that will allow high-quality mixing to be achieved in a shorter amount of time. In addition, the extra speed settings allow users to prepare different types of recipes. For example, one will be able to use a higher speed for more aeration when needed.
It’s called “TouchTunes.” And with this revolutionary innovation to kitchenaid stand mixers, you plug your mixer into a wall outlet with your power cord, then sort of tune it by pushing buttons on the front. The outside lights will blink, you push a couple of buttons, and the mixer then starts to do what you want it to do.
I just put in one scoop of flour, poured in one and a half cups of ice cream and started off on the pulse setting. And I’m telling ya all: TouchTunes are incredible! You don’t even have to leave the kitchen anymore! As long as you decide what you’re going to cook before you get your mixer plugged in, it’s going to work automatically.
It’s like having a personal assistant right there next to your stove that wants nothing more than your satisfaction. Do you want to add more flour or less? Do you want a little extra ice cream? The TouchTunes feature also allows your mixer to communicate with you and at any time tell you what’s it’s doing. “I’m measuring out the flour, now adding the eggs,” it might say, in actual words.
The first time I used this feature, I thought there was something wrong with my mixer because it told me it was washing its hands, so I had to call Kitchenaid and make sure everything was okay. “Oh yes,” they said. “It does that sometimes. Just ignore it.”
It’s incredible isn’t? Here’s what else is incredible: there’s an automatic setting to make sure you never have to touch a machine unless you want to. Yes, I just said that. The TouchTunes feature allows your mixer to do all of the work while you sit back and relax and let it do the work for you.
OK, so how is all this going to affect me? Well for one thing, there’s going to be more space on your counter. Now I know that’s a reason you’re probably already planning different countertops for your kitchen, but think about what all this means. Think about how much extra space you’re going to get in the freezer now that you’ve decided to use a stand mixer for making ice cream.
I can’t imagine anyone ever making cookies with a hand mixer again. That’s just never going to happen. This is the 1960s all over again, folks. Kitchenaid stand mixers are going to be like computers — most of them will be TouchTunes.
Forget about being limited to whatever recipes you can fit into your mixer’s bowl. Now you’re going to be able to run two or three recipes at a time!
You’ll have complete flexibility in the world of kitchenaid stand mixers and you’ll never have to leave your house again unless you want to. I mean, now that I’ve discovered this feature, I’m not leaving my house anymore because it’s so much easier just to let my mixer do it for me.
I can make my favorite low-fat, low calorie dessert in less than three minutes. I mean, I’m a busy guy. I don’t have time to make everything myself. But it’s going to be so simple now that everything can be done outside the house instead of in it!
I’ve never been so excited in my entire life! They should call this kitchenaid stand mixer the Kitchenaid Make-Out mixer because you’ll practically be making out with it by the time you finish using it. It’s not just a good stand mixer. It’s your best friend. It’s your best lover. You’re never going to be away from it. It’s the best piece of kitchen equipment you’ll ever own. I mean, come on! How can you go wrong?
And now let me tell you a little secret about kitchenaid stand mixers: they’re so amazing because Kitchenaid is going to charge us twice as much for them. And why not? You’ll fall in love with your mixer so much that you’ll never want to be away from it. There’s no other feeling like it. And I hope you’re as excited as I am about all this, because it’s going to change the world of kitchenaid stand mixers forever!
Even Kitchenaid is changing its name to KitzAid because once everyone has a TouchTunes mixer, there won’t be any need for anything else in your kitchen, ever again!
Are there any stand mixers as good as KitchenAid?
There are just a few brands out there that can compete with KitchenAid. Of the stand mixers we looked at, Hamilton Beach was the only one to rival its performance in our tests. Hamilton Beach’s mixer is an excellent choice for medium duty tasks like whipping heavy cream. It’s a great value but it’s not as powerful as KitchenAid, which is why you should also consider our Best Stand Mixer rankings or our Best Hand Mixer rankings (we recommend our Best Overall Mixer award winner from KitchenAid).
What should I look out for?
The Hamilton Beach stand mixer has more moving parts than a construction crane and doesn’t have nearly the longevity of the more expensive KitchenAid models we tested. And you’ll have to replace the head at least every two years to get the best performance from it. If your biggest concern is price and you’re willing to settle for less, then this stand mixer is an outstanding choice. Of course you’re going to be paying a lot of money for this stand mixer, but you won’t want to pass it up because of a $50 fear of spending your hard earned money on a KitchenAid and being disappointed by its performance.
What kind of power does the KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer have?
Some stand mixers offer a modest amount of power, but none can compete with the power of a heavy duty stand mixer like our Best Overall stand mixer award winner from KitchenAid. If you’re looking for power and quality in one package, look no further than the KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer . You’ll be able to mix creams, doughs, batters and sauces well beyond anything you’ve ever imagined.
Is the KitchenAid Artisan being discontinued?
The KitchenAid Artisan is being replaced by the new KitchenAid Classic stand mixer. We’ve been seeing models of the stand mixer on sale at some major retailers for under $200 and we expect to see continued price cuts before it’s officially replaced. It’s likely that it will be discontinued in a year or two, so if you were thinking about buying one, you should do so sooner rather than later.
How long does a KitchenAid Artisan mixer last?
KitchenAid mixers are built to last. They are extremely sturdy, easy to clean and dishwasher safe. The best way to keep your mixer operating well is to regularly clean it and oil the parts. This process will extend the life of the mixer so you can get more years of use out of it.
Is there a difference between classic, artisan or ultra power?
There is not much difference between the classic and artisan models over their price range. There are some differences in design, but those are minor differences. The only real difference that separates them would be on their bowl size. The artisan has a 1-1/2 quart bowl while the classic and ultra have 6-quart bowls. That’s about it though.
Why is there a shortage of KitchenAid stand mixers?
KitchenAid stand mixers aren’t made locally anymore, but that’s the price you pay for having one of the best stand mixers on the market. The only problem is that sometimes KitchenAid further out sources the manufacturing to another country. When a company doesn’t have enough parts or components in-stock at any given time, they could go through months of production without making a lot of mixers. This has happened several times with KitchenAid. We’ve seen them as low as $200 for a mixer and as high at $600 or more for the same exact model.
CONCLUSION:
Any way you look at it, KitchenAid is the clear choice for the best stand mixer. It has a powerful motor, it’s built to last and it’s easy to clean. If you can afford to go with the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer , do yourself a favor and buy it. You’ll be glad you did! ORIGINAL REVIEW: Since 2008, we’ve researched and tested 11 different stand mixers from leading manufacturers like Bosch and Hamilton Beach . We’re proud to announce that as of 2015, our Best Overall stand mixer award goes to KitchenAid.
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