KitchenAid Artisan.

Nod

Nod

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Nod (UK)
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Hopefully some people will know what I'm on about!

Worth the investment?
 
absolutely, there be a couple of threads on here about my exploits and love of cooking and pretty much all of them invole our Artisan. investment is the correct word.

have you looked what offers are about at the mo? when we got ours there was a free pasta roller set by redemption and that was one of my must have attachments so that saved me £80
 
Last forever as they are built like brick $ h! t houses! It's a life investment if im honest! We've had the stainless steel version (discontinued I believe) since 2004 and it's still going strong. We have all of the attachments - I wouldn't recommend the mincer as it doesn't have a good venturi effect so the meat can just sit there without pumping (annoying if you're making sausages) I would also recommend the glass bowl as you can stick that in the freezer to cool down if you're making a mix of cookie dough etc!
 
It might just be a duffer then!!! We tried with a home made mix of pork and bread crumbs but the pulp just doesn't pump out as a consistent speed - very very frustrating!!!
 
It looks like a nice piece of equipment and will probably more than earn it's keep over the years...and that's the key with some things.

I still use a 22 year old Cuisinart which was my mum's, and until it dies I won't think of replacing it.
My mincer is even older than that...a manual fella that clips to the counter-top. I believe it dates from WWII as it was my grandma's.
 
Worth it as a mixer? No (better value for money elsewhere IMO)
Worth it as a work of art in the kitchen? Definitely!
 
strumstrum said:
go on then spill your better VFM recommendation
Click to expand...

Please do, Tim. Mum used to have a Kenwood but it disintegrated after a few years so not really interested in them but open to other suggestions.

Thanks to all for their comments - looks like Mrs Nod may need to pick a colour!
 
strumstrum said:
go on then spill your better VFM recommendation
Click to expand...

Nod said:
Please do, Tim. Mum used to have a Kenwood but it disintegrated after a few years so not really interested in them but open to other suggestions.

Thanks to all for their comments - looks like Mrs Nod may need to pick a colour!
Click to expand...

I'm sure that there are quite a few. Sounds like you've had a bad experience with Kenwood whereas there are Kenwood ones in my family which are decades old.
This non-Kenwood one seems to regularly get very positive reviews: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-James-Electric-Stunning-Cookbook/dp/B00HH494B8/ref=pd_bxgy_kh_img_y
So I stand by my comment that there are better value models out there, probably more so for light-use situations. I'm well aware that the Kitchenaids are very well made so could probably stand up to a bit more abuse, and I'd love to have one if I could justify the premium cost when there are cheaper options (the exact same reason I don't have an iphone but would like one, lol).

Anyway, go and buy one cos they look stunning!
 
Cheers, Tim. Looking for something that'll last us out with a certain amount of hard use (rather than actual abuse!) I'm very much a function over form person but if something that works very well and is built to last while also looking good, I'm prepared to pay a little extra for the form - luckily, budget is available to cover the expense. (Might even allow a certain amount of expenditure on a telephoto when Fuji release the 140-400...)
 
I would have been happy with a Kenwood Titanium Chef but everyone I know with the mid to lower end Kenwoods have had issues, especially with bread dough.. where the Kitchenaid stands out from the rest(forget the asthetics) is that it is direct drive, no unnecessary cogs, gears or any belts to stretch and slip.

John Lewis is a great place to browse if you have one close, check out attachments as this is where a Kenwood might win in for you, if you want more processor type function then you will prefer a Kenwood as it has the high speed top section but if you don't want that then the comparable front attachments are better on the Kitchenaid.
 
Cheers for that, David. IIRC it was a drive problem that killed Mum's Kenwood - using the dough hook. We do have a John Lewis in town so can see the colours in the flesh. Will be pointing Mrs Nod at the cheaper colours!!! (I rather like it in black but it'll be hers so she has the final say. Of course, should her choice be out of stock... :whistling:)
 
There are gears in there it's just how they're synchronised. It's down to some sturdy metal worm drives and a large dc motor - the typical ken woods of today's age have small motors which aren't designed for repeated use while the kitchenaid is (it can run for days straight with ease) it's also a torquey little devil so it cranks out just the right amount of power (it will snap your arm if you're not careful!) - as I said, it's a lifetime investment and they're very easy to fix if you do have an issue further down the line :-) don't be pulled by the cheaper costs of kenwood etc - plastic IMHO puts me off when food is involved!
 
Yeah i want one to but i'm finding it hard to justify the wedge. There k-mix does have good reviews but i will get a kitchenaid. Do they ever sell off weird colours that are not selling?
 
Some colours are cheaper than others and from the reviews I've seen the flat ones are less prone to chipping than the metallic ones. Not seen any clearance offers on any colours.
 
Nod said:
Some colours are cheaper than others and from the reviews I've seen the flat ones are less prone to chipping than the metallic ones. Not seen any clearance offers on any colours.
Click to expand...

yeah we got the sparkly pearl one because at the time it was the same price as the flat colours, its really nice and sparkles lovely when the LED kitchen light is on.. I wouldn't have paid extra though.
 
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