If there is a standout among the three, it is the dough hook. At the lowest speed, it spirals so thoroughly around the bowl that scraping the sides becomes an almost optional task. The most thrilling aspect is that despite the careful instructions that usually come with bread-making recipes, you can literally put all the ingredients in the bowl, turn the mixer on, and let it work into a cohesive dough with minimal supervision. The wire whip works wonders with egg whites or heavy cream, producing stiff peaks in record time. My one reservation in this regard is using a 325-watt motor for such small tasks and then facing the clean-up afterward. That's probably why I generally reserve usage of this mixer for such tasks to dinner parties or potlucks.
I originally had concerns that the flat beater would be almost too powerful to produce fluffy mashed potatoes, but in using alternating speeds, I was able to produce the desirable results without turning the potatoes into wallpaper paste. One big benefit is the deep well of the bowl, which minimizes the incidence of splattering. The clear plastic pouring shield is another big plus. The easy twist locks keep the mixer stationary throughout your preparation, and the same principles are at work with the attachments. It is a relief that there are no buttons to press, and the attachments stay put until you're ready to dislodge them. Keep in mind that it is a relatively heavy appliance at 23 pounds with the mixer head a bit daunting if you are in a hurry to move ingredients in and out of the bowl. Still, this is classic kitchenware well worth the price if you are ready to show your culinary skills.
3 comments:
I bought this for my wife as a Christmas gift and she absolutely loves it. She uses it everyday and it does not bother her carpaltonel (spelling?) syndrome. Now, at Christmas I can buy her attachments so she can get further use out of it. A great buy for anyone who enjoys cooking. We use ours almost everyday and have had no problems with it.
Aahh, the luxury... I yearned and pined for this mixer for seven long years. Then, one fine day in September I spotted the sale I had been waiting for - Amazon had this baby for far less than half the asking price - I had a rebate to mail in afterward, too. That was it - I took the bait and my DH has been munching on home-baked goodies ever since. To think that once I was afraid that it wouldn't live up to the fantasy! To watch it turn and spin - to see the doughs and batters come to life... it is truly a dream come true for any aspiring baker. This sweet machine is the center of my kitchen. It is my prized possession and it has made my love for baking that much more intense! I love it, I love it, I love it!!!
This has expanded my cooking options greatly. I injured my right shoulder and neck many years ago making mixing painful at times. I now can make my great grandmothers rolls without giving myself a migrain. I would recommend this mixer to anyone with pain and a love to cook. The cookbook that comes with it is also very useful, I have made many of the recipes including 10 batches of the pizza crust in just two weeks. This is one of the most used appliances in my kitchen now.
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