Food Processor or Mixer: Magimix or Kenwood

LJM

i think that the cookworks range is rated quite highly by alot of people on here

Jo_anne_2

I love my Kenwood Chef too. I was lucky and spotted mine in a charity shop very cheap. It has a few miles on the clock but its so sturdy I think it will go on forever!

lapis_lazuli

jcr16 wrote: »

um well as i've not ever had one i'm not entirely sure what it can be used for .

but i would def be using it for bread dough and pizza doughs, proberly mixing of cakes, mergiunes ( pavalovas more really). and i guess i'd prob use it more and more once i got used to havign it , if that makes sence.

i think becuase i'm totally in love with the purple aritsan one i'm trying to think level headed about the product itself and what it does , not just the amamzing colour on particular brand comes in. if that makes sence.

In that case step away from the Kitchen Aid. I admit I'm biased (I find Kitchen Aids ugly to look at and I've used a Kenwood Chef before) but really if you're looking for value for money then the Kenwood is the one I'd recommend. First, the motor is stronger. Second, you have 3 extra outlets to choose from rather than 1. Third, for the price you pay, the KA is way underpowered. Fourth, the texture of the bread dough after kneading is wonderful to feel and it bakes a great loaf. Fifth, the blender and high speed slicer and shredder on the Kenwood are absolutely amazing. However, the bread dough and the cakes are the thing for me. The lightness and texture are great and you can make 4 loaves of bread at once instead of just one in the breadmaker. I don't have a Kenwood Chef at the moment (I had to leave it behind at my parents' house when I moved away from England ) but as soon as I can afford and justify one, I will purchase one.

One question: are you going to be making big batches of cake mix and stuff like that? Since you have a family of six you may want to look at the Major models rather than the Chefs, as they have a bigger bowl and are designed for larger quantities.

EDITED TO ADD: You said you had fallen in love with the purple colour of the Kitchen Aid. Go to ebay.co.uk and put in "Blue Kenwood Chef". It's the top one. A good second choice?

EDIT 2:

jackieglasgow wrote:

I have a Kenwood Chef Major which I got on special offer at the end of November to replace my ancient Kenwood Chef. I love it, it does my bread dough, cake mixes, makes butter, batter, milkshakes, smoothies and I have just purchased the ice cream making attachment, which was a real indulgence, but my OH and the kids are ice cream addicts. You can get all sorts of other bits for it, but the only things I really have my eye on is the pasta machine, which I will also use for rolling icing for cakes. I also use a hand blender which has a whisk attachment for things that cleaning the KW would be too much hassle to justify.

How did you find the upgrade from a Chef to a Major? I've read mixed reviews about the Majors. In your experience, does it mix well with smaller quantities, say a 4oz of everything sponge cake mixture? Someone on amazon said their Major whipped 2 egg whites into enough meringue for a medium pavlova and had no problems in other areas, but other posters said it wasn't good for cakes and bread dough because ingredients were left unmixed at the bottom. :think:

lapis_lazuli

Get yourself a Kenwood Chef. They do a great job on bread dough and cakes, the motors are nice and strong (tougher and cheaper than the Kitchen Aid) and more versatile too with three extra places for attachments rather than just one. The high speed shredder is FAB. So are the blender and multi mill. Yes it's a luxury, but it's SOOOOO worth it.

jcr16

thankyou i'll do more reasearch on a kenwood.

saw this last night at argos http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4233251/Trail/searchtext%3ECOOKWORKS+MIXER.htm , only one left so i reserved it. and i've just picked it up. for £39.99 figured it will give ma good idea of how much i'll really use it. and hubby said in a yrs time if i find i can't live without it then buy a kitchen aid or kenwood.

the reviews on it are a bit mixed but i thought if it really that bad i'll just take it back and but something dearer and better. but i thought it a good starting point.

Soundgirlrocks

I'm going to say something very un MSE:eek: but I adore my Artisan Kitchen Aid Mixer. They are pricey ( £380 uk model) but I got an american version and use a transformer (saves about £100) just make sure you get one that supplies the right watts. Its beautiful, really easy to use and clean (I use mine daily) and you can get every kind of attachment ( mincer / sausage stuffer / icecream maker for example) It should last a life time and their tech support are great ( based in croydon I enqired about changing the motor to UK really helpful) it comes with a dough hook ballon whisk and flat beater. Best thing I have ever got for the kitchen


Here a pic of my baby ( yes my other half thinks I'm mad as well !)

jcr16

omg it was worse than awful. not only did it not actually mix half the stuff in there as the blade stopped ahlf way up, so the dough i had at the bottom didn't get touched, it just didn't mix properly. but it had suckers on the bottom what would weld itself to the worktop so when wanting to move it , it was impossible. he was very heavy and it needed yanking to release the suckers. it was very plasticy and flimsy. and when you had to slide the leaver the lift it up, it was very heavy and didn't lift up very hard so found it awkward to get the bowl on and off.

i've took it straight back. learnt a very quick lesson that cheaper ones are just not worth it. Gonna get myself a kenwood now. so will do some reasearch and see which one fit's the bill for me.

jcr16

oohh i do love the purple one. If it had to have any kitchen aid i would be buying the purple one. i'm a purple addict i think. stunning colour. thanks for the tip on buying american. i love buying american products and items. i use alot of american forums so i will certianly look into it further.

mandragora_2

Kenwood Chef, second hand, A701, A701a or a 901 - they're sturdy, mechanical, and parts/spares easily replaceable. Later models are electronic, so can't be tinlered with so easily. For what it's worth, I wouldn't spend money on one of the liquidiser attachments - the separate Kenwood ones are better and more reliable (I picked mine up for 50p from the tip). They last and last and last. They cost £20-50 on ebay, postage should be around £10-15.

Linda32

I've got something similar to this one

http://www.awtonline.co.uk/products.php

All of the attachments store on board, apart from the thing you use for squeezing orange and the mesh to catch the pips.

You can't beat a hand held beater though for creaming.


The purple one is wonderful though :T