The infamous Kitchenaid vs Kenwood debate

LondonDreamer

I have a Kitchenaid and love it. Apart from standard cake mixes, I use it mainly to knead dough and beat fudge which involves at least 10 minutes of solid mixing and it doesn't even flinch.

But If you want ONE machine, I'd probably pick the Kenwood over it. My reasoning is it comes with more attachments to begin with, and the attachments themselves are cheaper. But I already had a Kenwood food processor so only needed a heavy duty mixer. Have always wanted a KA, so that's what I got.

Pitlanepiglet

There you go, that helped didn't it Multiple posters, multiple views!

I have the Kenwood Premier, I found the entry level Kenwoods felt a bit plasticy next to the Premier and the Titanium.

I wouldn't recommend the Major unless you can find one and feel how big the bowl is, I found it very difficult to manage even empty and unless you're doing high volume cooking I don't think you'd need it.

Other than that, the choice is yours, given a bigger budget I'd have bought the KitchenAid and the toys to go with it but as I wanted the gadgets and I couldn't afford all of it I had to compromise. The Kenwood with its add on's (high speed slicer, mincer) does all that I need it to do and I'm very happy with it.

Barneysmom

Kenwood. A historical English company, the best mixers ever made.

http://www.kenwoodworld.com/uk/History/


Everyone who has a mixer will say theirs is the best, it's great etc.
But when someone has a Kenwood mixer they say it is part of their life.

I have had 2 chefs, this latest one is fantastic, it's very strong, I reckon I could drop it and it would still work. I do cakes, bread dough and do mince and sausages too.

Mazzawa

Thank you everyone! VERY helpful getting posts from people who have the modern machines and not the incredibly robust hand-me-downs/ancient relics!

I still would like a KA but it would be handy to have a machine that does everything, so leaning towards the Kenwood at the moment, especially since it seems to be on offer on Amazon hooray! I think the first thing I'll do is go to a shop and have a look at both, then sleep on it...I get really excited about purchasing something like this then delay it for ages as I'm too scared to take the plunge/feel selfish!

Any more opinions are more than welcome

Pitlanepiglet

Mazzawa, I found that John Lewis had a good selection of Chefs to compare. If you or someone you know has Costco membership the Premier was really well priced in there. Happy shopping!

freyasmum

I have nothing to say about the operational pros/cons (especially with the newer machines!) but I have my grannies old kenwood chef, but without most of the attachments - my mum sold them for pennies at a boot sale - and it works fab.

but.

I really, really want a candy apple red kitchenaid

joedenise

I've got a KA and to be quite honest it just doesn't do enough so it's just stuck in a cupboard and comes out only when I need it. It takes up to much worktop space to leave it out all the time.

My little processor does more than the KA, even with the attachments I've got.

Denise

Mazzawa

Thanks again everyone, really really helpful!

Going by the comments, the KA doesn't seem as dodgy as reviews online make out (I guess some people only review a product to have a grump?) and is still certainly in the running, however I can see the Kenwood being perhaps of more use. Have found a currys nearby that has both in stock so will go and pretend to look interested and play with them and see what I think. The KA is still incredibly pretty and would look lovely in my kitchen, but, I do not need any more ornaments to dust if this will not do the job!

M x

Lizzieanne

I have a 40 year old Kenwood Chef (it was my Mum's before I got hold of it!) and it works brilliantly. But I'd love a Kitchenaid so I'm waiting for it to conk out before I can justify the new machine.

However, a friend of a friend was in the same position and her old Kenwood recently gave up the ghost. She was so excited at the prospect of a new Kitchaid - but her husband phoned Kenwood, and they sent an engineer around to fix it FOR FREE! He was so pleased - she was livid! Great service, though!

Mazzawa

Lizzieanne wrote: »

However, a friend of a friend was in the same position and her old Kenwood recently gave up the ghost. She was so excited at the prospect of a new Kitchaid - but her husband phoned Kenwood, and they sent an engineer around to fix it FOR FREE! He was so pleased - she was livid! Great service, though!

Brilliant! Sort of things husbands do eh?!