Kitchenaid- cheaper versions that do the trick?

sonyarita

Hi sorry if this isn't the right thread, wasn't sure where to ask this.
I want to buy my partner a KitchenAid as he has been enjoying baking recently but would benefit from something like this.
It's a bit out of budget as they are £500ish, does anyone have any recommendations of cheaper brands with good functionality?
I am thinking £200 tops.
Thanks!

Debran

Sorry if I'm being a bit dim here but I wonder if it may be a good idea to say what sort of KitchenAid appliance you were thinking of. 

I've just looked up KitchenAid and it seems they make at least six different appliances.

Floss

Kenwood Chef.

Bluegreen143

My mum has a kenwood and she finds it as good as my kitchenaid.

PollyWollyDoodle

I’ve got a Kenwood KMix. I researched it extensively at the time and the KMix had a more powerful motor, still pricey but seemed to do just as good a job. I loved the look of the Kitchen Aid but felt I’d be paying for the brand. 

I make pastry, biscuits, cakes and bread in mine. I could whisk egg whites in it, but I find it easier to use a hand mixer for them. You can buy all sorts of attachments : mincer, sausage maker, but they are quite expensive- I’ve never bothered. 

babyshoes

Don't get a very cheap one... I tried the Aldi one last year, the plastic "stem" joining the metal whisk to the clip-on fitting disintegrated the first time I used it. Returned for a full refund but now scared to buy anything with a plastic bit, in case it does the same. Will be watching this thread with interest, though my budget is a bit lower I might be able to find one of the suggested brands second hand.

sonyarita

@Debran that's a good point actually and not dim at all! I was meaning the KitchenAid artisan food mixer which is actually about £399 rather than £500

sonyarita

So a few votes for Kenwood then, thanks everyone for your comments.
@PollyWollyDoodle that's the kind of things he has been making but doing it all by hand.
@babyshoes I think sometimes these cheap appliances are a false economy. It is for Christmas pressie and hoping it will last a long time so I am ok with spending slightly more. I don't like to give 2nd hand stuff for presents, not sure if that's me just being weird or not.

sonyarita

....having said that there are refurbished kenwood mixers for 199...2nd hand might be the way to go

maddiemay

I cannot help with recommendations within your budget, but I would say that if your partner wants to make bread you will need to buy a very robust machine with a powerful motor, for cakes etc you will be able to use something more basic.
I have a Kenwood Chef Titanium, I had successfully used an ancient (1970's) Chef for 30 years, I bought it second hand. I even considered having it rebuilt, but in the end stalked the one I bought on A*mazon for months until I got a brand new one with some great extras for a very good price.

Apintplease

The Kenwood

The work horse of food mixers

Try get a second hand one. They jazz them up everyone and then BUT that means nowt. Im using a 1970s version and it will see me out - I think they were still made in England back then, although HQ is still Hampshire, everything in them is now Chinese 

Kitchen aids are beautiful and are very very good but you can not beat the Kenwood for cost, the performance of the pair is practically equal