food mixer?

Tondella

Anyone here can't live without their food mixer? or is it just a waste of space? I love baking but had never considered buying one before, I thought, if you're not actually mixing the cake then you're not exactly making it yourself are you? But then after a weekend of creaming butter and sugar and beating in eggs for 10" and 8" wedding cake tiers, I saw Tamasin Day Lewis using hers on telly, and it looked wonderful.

Anyone swear by theirs? And what make is it (a quick search has thrown up price tags of £300 plus!)

Thistle-down

I swear by my old Kenwood Chef! I couldn't live without it! I keep it out on my worktop and use it daily.

The older ones are the best - the A701's or A901's are much better built than the new ones. You can get them on ebay for under £50.00

If you do a search for Kenwood Chef I think there are some older threads about them.

~Lynn

saving-grace

I recently bought a Kenwood Chef which is great but TBH I think I prefer my Kenwood Chefette hand mixer(sadly I don't think they make them now) as I find it more convenient and easier to use.
I don't think I'd ever bother to make a cake if I didn't have a mixer!
If you're not used to using a mixer why not try a hand-mixer before splashing out on a big one.

Heth_2

We don't have a mixer and actually refused one when in laws offered us one they inherited. We don't make cakes that often (maybe once a fortnight?) as we try to eat a healthy diet without too many cakes/puddings. When we do bake, we always mix by hand, it isn't hard work and doesn't take ages, and the cakes still turn out great. I really can't imagine ever wanting one of these big mixers.

Tondella

Thanks for the responses? I thought the kenwood chefs were more food processors than food mixers - can you make cake and pastry in them too? What i was trying to describe was more along the lines of this:

http://!!!!!!!.com/rman4

[Deleted User]

I LOVE my chef, which is permanently on the work top. I have several of the attachments in a small cupboard above the chef. The whole lot takes up very little room and is an excellent workhorse taking up minimal space. I have the KM001. Smart appearance and powerful, reliable motor with stainless steel attachments

flea72

no, the kenwood chef is the poormans version of the Kitchen Aid you linked to

kenwood also do food processors, but they are only really for mixing small quantities or chopping foods

i wouldnt be without my kenwood chefs, i have both the 700 and 900 models, as you can make large quantities in them. i can easily mix a 20oz mix of cake mixture in one go with my 900, and personally, i find since using the kenwood rather than doing it by hand, i get lighter cakes

the basic kenwood is only for mixing, but you can get attachments if you want that can mince, chop, make pasta, icecream, etc. but ive mananged so far with just the whisk and 'K' beater

they are bulky to store, but i think they are worth the cupboard space. i use mine daily.

Flea

Tondella

I had heard that you get lighter cakes from using a food mixer too. That was part of the attraction. So, just to clarify - Kenwood Chef do a food processor and a food mixer, and it is the electric mixer (i.e. whisks and bowl) that everyone is talking about here.

There are a few going for second hand on ebay, they looked used but loved.

Thistle-down

This is like the one I have:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KENWOOD-CHEF-A701-FOOD-MIXER-GLASS-BOWL-UTENSILS-CLEAN_W0QQitemZ4464858676QQcategoryZ20679QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Sorry - not sure how to do proper links yet! (no it's not my auction either)

I have loads of attachments as well - you can also buy these on ebay. I use the liquidiser, mincer, slicer / shredder, sausage making attachment, cirtus juicer weekly and coffee grinder if not daily than weekly - the k-beater and whisk get used daily.

I have just got the pasta making thing but not tried it yet.

The Kenwood Chef is a food mixer (like one pictured above) Kenwood also do food processors and hand mixers, but I don't think they are called a Chef.

If you put the word out (especially to older ladies) that you are looking for one you will probaby find someone who is downsizing or no longer cooks for a family and they will be glad to get rid of it for free or cheap like £10.

Mine was given to me but I bought most of the extra attachments myself. The instruction manual is really useful if you can find one that still has it.

I don't think it is a poor man's Kitchenaid - the Chef doesn't look as sleek but it can do loads that a Kitchenaid can't and it is (esp. in older ones) stronger and better made than the Kitchenaid unless you are going to go for a really really expensive catering version.

Delia has a Chef.

~Lynn :')

zombiecazz

I only use an electric hand mixer for baking. Cheap and easy to use. Very little cleaning and takes up very little space.

like this one from amazon

[Deleted User]

This is my chef. I have bread proving in the bowl as I write

http://www.electricshopping.com/shop/kenwood/shop.do?pvSKU=km001&utm_source=kelkoo&utm_medium=cpc

I thought I would list my attachments and what I think of them:

liquidiser essential
processer essential if you like grated or sliced or chopped, anything.
pasta maker very good ( and I need to use it more)
grinder excellent and brilliant for whole spices or making caster sugar
citrus juicer good but not a must-have
mincer and sausage maker good