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From: davidson@sdcsvax.UUCP (Greg Davidson)
Newsgroups: net.cooks
Subject: Re: Kitchen-aid mixers?
Message-ID: <1050@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 19-Aug-85 20:14:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.1050
Posted: Mon Aug 19 20:14:47 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Aug-85 04:44:56 EDT
References: <5575@tekecs.UUCP> <235@sdcarl.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidson@sdcsvax.UUCP (Greg davidson)
Distribution: net
Organization: EECS Dept. U.C. San Diego
Lines: 35
Summary: 

I've used a Kitchenaid K45 mixer for about ten years now, and love it.
I use all three elements (regular, whisk and dough hook) and find them
perfectly suited to their job.  The regular element is much easier to
clean (or lick!) than conventional beater elements.  The whisk does
sometimes accumulate unmixed material in the center, but its easy to
dislodge such with a spatula or, as Rusty says, by speeding up the motor
for a moment.

Unlike Rusty, I've never had trouble with dough climbing up the hook,
but of course, every dough recipe has different physical properties.  I
use it mostly to kneed dough for making noodles (no, I don't use the
Kitchenaid noodle extractor, I use a hand cranked noodle maker which
presses and cuts the noodles - much nicer than extrusion).

I've looked at the K5 model, but its only very slightly larger, and
seems clumsier to me; yet I've met lots of people who swear by it.  I've
also looked at the food processor attachments, but (1) they seem very
expensive, and (2) I have a Cuisinart.  Gee, its nice to be spoiled!

The only thing which the Kitchaid mixer doesn't do is mix things on
the stovetop.  When needing to mix something being cooked, or something
being heated in a double boiler, I use a hand mixer.  I think that
there's a heated water jacket attachment for the K5, but so far I've
never encountered a recipe calling for mixing anything very difficult
at the stovetop.

The Kitchenaid's strength allows me to mostly ignore the order in which
I mix ingredients; I just throw them in (I do use a pouring shield when
adding flour, as it likes to fly back up at you).  When making candy,
the Kitchenaid doesn't mind either the heat or the thickness of the
mixes.  You do have to watch out with things like chocolate chips or
nuts; add them last, or the mixer will mix them in - I mean
homogeneously!

_Greg Davidson			Virtual Infinity Systems, San Diego