Which Kenwood to get?

FrenchMaid_2

Now I am currently saving up in my jar for a Kenwood kitchen machine, I have been dreaming for ages of one and always get green with envy when I see the chefs use them on TV!

But am rather confused about which model to get. I want the mixing bit for dough and food processor unit. There is one at Lakeland for about £400 and another one which seems to have the same functions for about £200? I am sure I can get it cheaper if I look around, but I just wondered if you had any advice on which model to get.

Currently have about £200 in the my saving jar! Took me 2 months so not too bad...

Kadeeae

I bought the Kenwood Chef Titanium KM010 (not KM020) and have been very happy with it. I too, saved for ages to get it but am happy I waited and got a more powerful model. I suppose it depends on what you will use it for the most and a less powerful model may very well suit your needs fine.

I just felt like I would rather pay that bit more to have the power "available" when I needed it rather than not have it.

This was about £300 when I bought it, but I have seen it cheaper lately (of course!). It came with steel beater, flexi-beater, dough hook, food processor & blades, liquidizer and splash guard (which is really nice for more liquidy mixtures).

I do have to say the bowl is just a good size for me, even perhaps a little big - but not too big. It is a 4.6 litre, the bowl on the next model "up" in the line (KM020) was a 6.7 litre which would have been WAAAYY to big for me to handle comfortably!

I've made bread dough in it lots of times and it handles the job with no problems. The food processor is great, works a treat, but I think the "bowl" of the processor is somewhat smaller that a stand alone, hasn't been a problem for me though.

Save to get the best you can!

Ephemera

Depends what you're using it for.

For just cakes and light whisking, the lower power model will be fine. If you're making lots of heavy fruit cakes and bread, get the more powerful one!

Hope that helps, we've always had a Kenwood in the house since the 1980s...

Eph xx

FrenchMaid_2

Aww thank you! I bake loads, cook loads so I guess it has to be the more powerful model, however I do think that a 6.7 litre bowl would be too big for me too... I waited now for so long (longer than I started saving for it) so I figure I might just check the web for offers and keep saving...

Ephemera

You'll soon find that the bowl 'shrinks'... lol

It does look huge, but means you can do bigger batches.... Good luck with it!

linni

I have the Kenwood 336, about £150 and I bake loads. I usually make double quantities anyway so the bowl is a good size for me. Makes fantastic bread. I use the liquidizer too but would have liked the glass one. Haven;t bought any 'extra's yet' but the grater/shredder would be useful. It is one of the best 'gadgets' I have ever bought.

Barneysmom

I've got one of these and just bought my son one for Christmas I was so impressed with it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-Chef-KM336-Kitchen-Machine/dp/B000Q7ZCFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1231066911&sr=8-1

Unfortunatley I got my one from Tesco, check the price difference!


http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-6517.aspx

If you got one of this type though you'd have enough change to get some attachments to go with it. I got one of these, a slicer attachment. It's for slicing veg/salad and grating.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-A998-shredder-attachment-kenwood/dp/B0000ZQQ6M/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1231066911&sr=8-9

mattogier

I have the Kenwood Major KM800 (The Chef's big brother) as I am catering for 9 every day (foster carer) and would suggest you look at the Major if you have a large family! - I do 10 egg sponges in it.

In terms of functions - the newer range of chefs are not compatible with the older additions which can be got cheap from ebay and Freecycle. (Cream Maker, High Speed Slicing, Juicer, bean and peel slicer, pasta maker, strainer and sieve etc)

That said I THINK the new chefs do have a food processor facility on top!

All in all highly recommend the Chef / Major - have looked on your local Freecyle as they sometimes come up for free (an old one) that you could use to get the hang of it till you can afford a brand spanker?

DawnW

I got a Kenwood Chef Classic on offer at Robert Dyas just before Christmas. It was £134.99, which I thought was a good price. It came with various beaters, a splashguard and a blender. I have just checked online and they still seem to have them at that price.

Kadeeae

mattogier wrote: »

That said I THINK the new chefs do have a food processor facility on top!

Yes, mine has the processor on top of the machine;)

pigpen

mattogier wrote: »

I have the Kenwood Major KM800 (The Chef's big brother) as I am catering for 9 every day (foster carer) and would suggest you look at the Major if you have a large family! - I do 10 egg sponges in it.

In terms of functions - the newer range of chefs are not compatible with the older additions which can be got cheap from ebay and Freecycle. (Cream Maker, High Speed Slicing, Juicer, bean and peel slicer, pasta maker, strainer and sieve etc)

That said I THINK the new chefs do have a food processor facility on top!

All in all highly recommend the Chef / Major - have looked on your local Freecyle as they sometimes come up for free (an old one) that you could use to get the hang of it till you can afford a brand spanker?

Excellent.. just what I was looking for.. I have a family of 10 and regularly cook for 12+ when we have friends and GF's and whatevers round..

I'm off to count my shrapnel!