Kenwood Chef - Old or New?

jo101_2

Hi

Thanks, can't wait to get baking.

Great signature by the way Thistle-down

JO

CFC

I can't believe this LOL. I'm starting to think that they don't actually want to sell any to someone who's never had one before! Imagine going into a store and just buying one without someone like Thistle to fill you in!

Thistle you are so helpful, thank you very much indeed for your patience.

How do they keep in business?

morganlefay

I've found this thead really helpful too - I had a Chef years ago and sold it to buy a processor, but now I have decided I would really like to have a chef again. There are lots of threads on here where people debate the old 700 and 900 series , and I am sure they are right when they say that the old ones are sturdier than the new ones, so I bought a 901 cheaply on e bay, whihc is all right, but........ . I still have a hankering for a brand new one and am now saving up for one, and I wanted to know what people's experience of the new models has been as there are so many now, but on the older threads people keep saying 'buy a 901 or a 701' so I have found this thread v helpful. Has anyone got a OWKMC55007 which JL dropped from £299 to £249 recently ? I think the KM310 seems too flimsy, so am thinking now of the 55007 instead - anyone got any experience of that model ? I don't need liquidiser, baking pans or other toys. Any advice gratefully received !

saving-grace

morganlefay wrote:

Has anyone got a OWKMC55007 which JL dropped from £299 to £249 recently ? I think the KM310 seems too flimsy, so am thinking now of the 55007 instead - anyone got any experience of that model ? I don't need liquidiser, baking pans or other toys. Any advice gratefully received !

I have a 1000W metal bodied Kenwood Chef which I got at a bargain price from Costco a while ago and I'm very pleased with it. I like the fact that it is metal bodied, looks good and won't discolour with age.
In my local Costco this morning I noticed they had Chefs for £235 metal bodied and with 2 power outlets on top so I think the model was probably KM001051 which John Lewis have for £349 (KMC55007 has 2 poweroutlets on top)

Toxic_Lemon

If you're on a budget and don't want accessories, the best Kenwood to get is the Kenwood Patissier. This comes with three attachments: K blade, whisk and dough hook (same as the Kitchen Aid). The patissier is selling for about £150 from Amazon or can be picked up on Ebay for between £80 and £100. It has 400w power, is whisper quiet and extremely efficient.

If additional accessories are important to you then the Kenwood KM001, KM003 or KM005 are excellent, metal bodied mixers to have a look at. Also, the Kenwood PM900 (P is for Professional). The Kenwood KM005 is the top of the range at 1200w and with the extra large 6.7L bowl - it also has 20 accessories to choose from. All come with the same 3 attachments.

The Kenwood range is superior in terms of power, IMO. Plus, spares and accessories are easier and cheaper to obtain as they come from the UK. Should anything go wrong, again, its far easier to get a Kenwood repaired.

Although the KitchenAid is seen as something of a 'status symbol' as seen in many TV Chefs kitchens, there are many stories (many on the net) of motors burning out after a relatively short period of ownership. So unless you're purchasing for looks alone, I would say go for a Kenwood every time.

Incidentally, all of these machines are Food MIXERS, not processors. A Food Processor has sharp blades and often graters/slicers. A Food Mixer is primarily used for cake making, whisking (merigues, etc.) bread/scone making, etc. (Although there is a Food Processor accessory available for the Kenwoods).

Hope this helps.

Thistle-down

One more model for the dreamers (well, for me anyway:o ) the absolute King of Kenwoods, the Professional Major XKM816! At a RRP of over £1,000 it's unlikely to be under my Christmas tree!! (though you can buy it here for a snippet of £881):

Kenwood XKM816

cabra1

I just hope my fella does not see this thread
or any of the other Kenwood Chef threads
on here.

I accidently set fire to his treasured Chef
he was heartbroken,all we have left is the
stainless steel bowl and attachments.

Sadly we have never been in the position
to be able to replace it and always hope
to find another at a car boot sale exactly
like it.

"I dont want no houswifes choice machine
I want back what I had !"

I wish we had had house insurance at the
time.

CFC

Crikey mikey, that is one serious machine on there, Thistledown!

Poor Cabra1....*sad*

As for me...there's a huge gold wrapped box from OH waiting to go under the Xmas tree so I know I have my Kenwood - the KM310 will be the one....I CANT WAIT to open it....*dribble* :-)

*Happy happy lucky lucky me*

jo101_2

HI

Just wanted to say that I finally went for the KM001 with liquidiser, bakeware and food processor and I think it is great, I have found space for it on the worktop and I can say that it gets used everyday, bread, pizza dough, mayonaise, cakes, biscuits, mashing potatoes to name but a few things. I think my breadmaker is now redundant and will be looking for a new home.

Thanks for all the advice before buying. Not sure how I lasted so long without one.

Jo

Thistle-down

That's nice to hear you are happy with it!

But your expenses haven't ended yet. Now you just need the mincer and sausage making attachment, the wheat grinder, the ice-cream maker, the potato peeler, the slow speed shredder, juicer, ummm.....:rotfl: :rotfl: :eek: