I am in desperate need of a kitchen mixer. As you all know, I love to bake and for the five and a half years we've been in our house, I've made do with a pair of handheld electric beaters. This hasn't been too much of an issue, except on the occasion that a recipe has stated 'beat for ten minutes'. However, seeing as I enjoy cooking so much, I've decided that it's time to buy myself an actual mixer.
As much as I love the look of a Kitchen Aid, I don't know if I can justify the huge price tage that accompanies it when it would spend most of its time hidden away in a cupboard. I also love the old vintage Sunbeam mixmasters like the one above. I remember reading a post of Simone's at Beach Vintage and admiring her lucky thrift shop find when she scored one. Sunbeam still do a retro looking mixer which I was all set to buy recently until I read a few product reviews online which were definitely not 'glowing reports'.
So I'm turning to all of you for advice. Which mixer do you have? What do you like or dislike about it? Is there anything I should consider when making a purchase? Hopefully there will be some good deals in the post-Christmas sales so I can make a purchase then but in the meantime, I'd love to hear your recommendations.
Source of image above unknown
Hi Amanda, I have the same one as in your picture and it's great! My friend bought it for me in an auction, pretty cheap so she said and it works a treat. I do love the kitchenaid ones but the price is crazy!
ReplyDeletehi Amanda
ReplyDeleteI don't have a mixer I just use a handheld beater and a food processor and that works pretty well. Mostly because I just can't cope with too many appliances I did a post on this just a week or so ago!!
I think the bext is Kitchenaid... it will last you a lifetime.
Sarah - you lucky duck scoring a vintage one - I don't think the new ones are made to last like the old ones so you're very fortunate!
ReplyDeleteJane - will have to go back and check your post I missed...
I have a pink kitchenaid. It is lovely and works a treat x
ReplyDeleteI have just a cheapy kambrook mixer - I would love the light blue kitchenaid but until I get a decent oven that actually bakes cakes flat, not lopsided I wouldn't get one. My cheapy works fine but I don't bake as much as you so haven't really given it enough of a run to give a good enough review. I love the old sunbeams my Mum had one , I think she still has it actually but it doesn't work as well as it used to. Good luck with your search!
ReplyDeleteJxx
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteCame across your blog via A-Ms, I have a kitchenaid that I absolutely love and am told that it will last me a lifetime, but my girlfriend has a Kenwood and loves that too. Your blog is really gorgeous, Cheers, Robyn
I have a 20 year old sunbeam. It still works perfectly well although I am lusting after a kitchenaid but can't decide on a colour. I will be interested to see what you end up with.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, this comment is really going to illustrate how much of a non-baker I really am..but here goes. I have a hand held sunbeam electric mixer that I think belonged to my Nan...only little, easy to store in a drawer (for a neat freak like me, this is a perfect attribute) and the beaters click in and out with the press of a button...very, very important if you have girls who like to lick them ;) I think I use it on average about twice a year...If I see a vintage Kitchen Aid anywhere, I will let you know, Amanda. Huge hugs lovely ~ Tina xx
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are going to buy one at last!! You would love a Kitchenaid - they are fantastic but pricy! Kylie xx
ReplyDeleteI am in the same boat as you Amanda so I will be watching your responses. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo exciting Amanda you will not regret it at all! I have the big sunbeam one with the aluminum bowls and love it! I read choice mag when i was making my decision and i don't think there was much difference between the kitchen aid and the sunbeam except price! My great grandmother had one of the old sunbeam ones for ever and it just kept going strong. The retro ones are so cute!
ReplyDeleteI have a Kitchenaid from an online store which was about $100 less than in stores. The price was still very ouchy - but it has made me try new recipes to get as much use from it as possible! The Kitchenaid feels nice & solid - which some of the others didnt - which is why people say it will last a lifetime. It feels like you could run it over with a car & it would still be fine! Ive been surprised that I use mine more for savoury (dough, omlette etc) than for baking.
ReplyDeleteI too only have handeld beaters that we got for an engagement present 11 years ago. I look forward to seeing what people recommend
ReplyDeleteI had a sunbeam hand held which I bought when I moved out of home at the grand old age of 18. Last year I got the kitchen aid and I cannot fault it. I love it. I did earn it though, I waited until I had enough credit card points to convert to DJ's vouchers. It only cost me $12 in the end. It is too heavy to put in a cupboard in my opinion, I keep in on my bench top.....good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy mum had one just like in the picture. I'm heading up there at Christmas time and hoping she still has it and will let it come home with me :)
ReplyDeleteKitchen Aids are so gorgeous aren't they, but soooo expensive :(
I have arm breaking handheld mixers and long for a kitchen aid.
ReplyDeleteI don't bake enough to justify the price though.
The picture looks great. I LOVE my kitchen aid so so much - it was a gift from a very special person:) BUT if I knew how much I was gonna love it I would fork out the money - totally worth it. It gets a bit of getting used to, like every new 'toy', but it is soooo worth it. Cupcakes and frosting, especially swiss meringue butter cream is elevated to a whole new level with the kitchen aid! Mine is 'pistachio' but I love the pink ones. A girlfriend has a red one that sits out on display in her red and black kitchen and that also looks fab. Jane:)
ReplyDeleteI too am covetting a kitchenaid. I'm holding out until my 30th next year and thinking I may just suggest the whole family and the OH and his family go in together. They are expensive little buggers aren't they! I only have a handheld beater as well and in fact, that's all my mum ever had so I have never experienced the bliss of automix! Good luck in deciding what to get
ReplyDeleteI'd also be interested to see the comments that come up since i have been using a handheld one and want to invest in a mixer!
ReplyDeleteWould love a kitchen aid - but like you not sure if its worth it if i'm going to store it on the cupboard!
Rachie xo
Love my Kitchenaid (PINK). My daugher has one, also (APPLE GREEN). My sister's is (PINK).
ReplyDeleteAll of us, and those close to us got PINK handheld mixers a couple of Christmas's ago. We love them. HINT: Too heavy to be getting in and out of cabinet so leaving on the countertop is best. Janis Stufflebean
Amanda, I have the retro design Kenwood Mixer and I love it! Like you, I couldn't justify purchasing a Kitchenaid for the few times a week I would use it. What were some of the negative comments about the Kenwood? I find mine mixes really well, is relatively quiet and has a full range of speed options. I'm no super baker though, so the Kenwood could be missing features, I just haven't noticed!
ReplyDeletemy girlfriends swear by their kitchenaids.......i however bought the sunbeam cafe series {because my mum had one back in the day} and i always said i wanted one like hers, i had it for a year and used it twice.........so onto ebay it went, you could check out ebay i had all the guarantees, receipts etc.......who knows you could et lucky, love to know what you end up deciding.......lisa xx
ReplyDeleteI too have a KitchenAid and I love it! It's apple green and I smile every time I see it. I also have a Dualit soft touch handheld mixer in powder blue and it's gorgeous too. Leave the KitchenAid on your bench too, don't put it away, they looks so magnificent in your kitchen and pronounce that you are a cook! :)
ReplyDeleteKITCHENAID KITCHENAID KITCHENAID!! Dont store it away, brighten up that kitchen of yours with one in sunny yellow... you will not regret it, ive used mine for a good 5 yrs and STILL love it and it is Mr reliable! Mine is pink.... x
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda! I have a Sunbeam Mixmaster - nothing fancy but does the job for me. It came with two glass bowls - one large and one small which is handy. It's nice to be able to walk away while it's mixing. Before that I used my Nanna's handheld Kenwood and it did the job just fine but like you I had to stand there holding it (or convince one of the kids to ;) Not too sure on the price though as it was a gift from my parents.
ReplyDeleteBy the sounds of things you bake a bit more than me so maybe the Kitchenaid although expensive would suit you in the long run? I have a girlfriend who bakes a lot (several or more times a week) and she swears by hers, keeps it on her kitchen bench. I do love those vintage retro mixes though, one of those would look lovely in my kitchen!!
Good luck deciding!!
Hugs,
Christine xx
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI too love the Kitchenaids however I was given a vintage Kenwood (model A701) but my mother when I left home. I bake at least twice a week (have four kids) and it hasn't missed a beat in 15 years. You can buy them relatively inexpensively on eBay and would highly recommend them. Try and purchase one with a glass bowl rather than a plastic one. Hope this helps...
Kate
A Kitchenaid certainly changed baking in our home! We got one as a wedding gift and it is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda. Six months ago when my Grandma moved into a retirement home I was lucky enough to score her Sunbeam Mixmaster. My grandfather gave this to her as a present to celebrate their farm being connected to electricity. That was close to 50-60 years ago. My father can remember his mother using it, I can remember her using it and now my two little girls watch me using it. It sits pride of place on my kitchen bench and still works like an absolute gem. xoxo
ReplyDeletei wish i could help you but since i'm not that good at baking i only have a cheapy white one..but i do love the one in your image though;) good luck in finding the perfect one xx
ReplyDeleteWhoops, I must have been a little tired last night Amanada *blush*. For some reason I thought you were looking at the Kenwood Retro Mixer, not the Sunbeam!
ReplyDeleteAh, finally a moment to comment. I love this post, Sweetie! My mum had the same one when I was growing up but in white.
ReplyDeleteI were given the updated Sunbeam when we married 11 years ago but I've never been happy with it. The bowl doesn't turn properly so I have to help it along by hand which kind of defeats the purpose!
Like so many, I covet a Kitchenaid. In either cornflower blue or ice green (I'm torn). They are advertised on Amazon for $US300 - not sure about the postage. Considering they're normally $AUD729 and the strong Aussie dollar, I'm seriously contemplating this option. Might be worth a look...J x
I only have a beater and I would love to have a mixer except I don't know if I can justify for the price as I don't bake as much. I would love to have the one with the stainless steel with black. I saw Chocolate Kitchen Aid Mixer. Even though it would not match my other stuff in the kitchen I thought that it was pretty!!!
ReplyDeletehey Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI have a Kitchenaid which I saved many pennies for but it gets a good work out. not in the cupboard, on the bench and works really hard.
my mum has a sunbeam & happy with it.
goodluck choosing, let us know what you get.
happy friday ♥
Kitchenaid is the best but they're expensive! I bought a Sunbeam for about $500 and it's ok but it doesn't mix terribly well. I think Breville have brought out a new one that mixes so well you don't have to scrape down the sides of the bowl. They might be reasonably priced too. Rachaelxx
ReplyDelete