Kitchenaid- cheaper versions that do the trick?

goldfinches

I have a Braun which came from Freegle and is wonderfully useful but an absolute pain in the a*** to wash up either by hand or in the dishwasher. I can well understand why it was given away! 
Whatever you decide to splurge on I urge you to ask about washing it up as I do find it a great disincentive to using it and also check the space it needs to be out all the time as well as storage for the attachments. It would be a crying shame if you lashed out on something that wasn't used because of any of those or other factors.

Sky_

I was given a Kenwood Kmix for a birthday around 4 years ago and I love it, it's very pretty on my worktop, has a powerful motor and is easy to use and clean.  

There are far fewer attachments available for the Kmix than the Chef and Kmix accessories are more expensive, but I'm happy with the mixer as it is so that's not an issue for me.  I was unsure about the glass bowl at first (Kmix replacement parts are expensive!!), but it's been fine so far.

PollyWollyDoodle

My KMix has a stainless steel bowl. You have made a good point though @Sky_ - it’s quite heavy,  I keep mine out on the worktop all the time so go for something you like the look of. If I had to lift it in and out of a cupboard it would be a real disincentive.  I use it at least twice a week, often more, so I don’t mind it being out all the time. 

joedenise

I have a Kenwood Chef Titanium and keep it on the work surface.  Like @PollyWollyDoodle if it wasn't on the side then it wouldn't get used as it's far too heavy to lift in and out of a cupboard.  I use the liquidiser and food processor attachments more than the actual mixer as I don't bake often.  DH makes bread but prefers to do it by hand but on the odd occasion I've used the mixer part it's been brilliant and very quick.  The main thing I use it for it whisking eggs for meringues etc but you certainly need to be doing a few at a time - it wouldn't be much use for one or two whites!

happydenial

I do have a Kitchenaid - yes they’re expensive but I absolutely love it and often say that it would be the first thing I would rescue in a fire! A friend recently bought one from QVC for £299 on special offer which I thought was a bargain. 

Debran

So what does "Which?" have to say on the subject of stand mixers they have tested?

Their top scoring Best Buy is a Kenwood KMX754 at £249 with a score of 80 per cent.

The KitchenAids they tested did not quite make it into the Best Buys.   The Artisan scored 72 per cent (£399-£450 depending on model) and the Artisan Mini scored 71 per cent (£347-£349)

Other Kenwood models were tested and some othere makes too but none of the Best Buys among these scored as highly as the Kenwood KMX754 and yet were higher in price.

ALIBOBSY

joedenise said:

I have a Kenwood Chef Titanium and keep it on the work surface.  Like @PollyWollyDoodle if it wasn't on the side then it wouldn't get used as it's far too heavy to lift in and out of a cupboard.  I use the liquidiser and food processor attachments more than the actual mixer as I don't bake often.  DH makes bread but prefers to do it by hand but on the odd occasion I've used the mixer part it's been brilliant and very quick.  The main thing I use it for it whisking eggs for meringues etc but you certainly need to be doing a few at a time - it wouldn't be much use for one or two whites!

I have had a chef for about 15 yrs or so, it has been well used lol. Really powerful motor. Works great for kneeding bread and fab food processor attactment and liquidiser. I also have the grinder attactment which is great for grinding coffee beans and granulated sugar into either caster or go a bit longer into icing sugar.

Prefer the kenwood to the kitchen aid as it has the ability to lift up the blade head and add ingredients/scrape down the bowl, much harder to do in the kitchenaid where the bowl has to be removed completely to access it easily.
Sadly mine is getting a little tatty and doesn't look as good as it did when new, but got myself a nice patterned cover online-there are literally thousands you can get.

joedenise

ALIBOBSY said:

joedenise said:

I have a Kenwood Chef Titanium and keep it on the work surface.  Like @PollyWollyDoodle if it wasn't on the side then it wouldn't get used as it's far too heavy to lift in and out of a cupboard.  I use the liquidiser and food processor attachments more than the actual mixer as I don't bake often.  DH makes bread but prefers to do it by hand but on the odd occasion I've used the mixer part it's been brilliant and very quick.  The main thing I use it for it whisking eggs for meringues etc but you certainly need to be doing a few at a time - it wouldn't be much use for one or two whites!

I have had a chef for about 15 yrs or so, it has been well used lol. Really powerful motor. Works great for kneeding bread and fab food processor attactment and liquidiser. I also have the grinder attactment which is great for grinding coffee beans and granulated sugar into either caster or go a bit longer into icing sugar.

Prefer the kenwood to the kitchen aid as it has the ability to lift up the blade head and add ingredients/scrape down the bowl, much harder to do in the kitchenaid where the bowl has to be removed completely to access it easily.
Sadly mine is getting a little tatty and doesn't look as good as it did when new, but got myself a nice patterned cover online-there are literally thousands you can get.

I had a Kitchenaid prior to the Kenwood but really didn't like it and gave to my DD1.  I mainly use the liquidiser attachment and occasionally the food processor.   Want to get an ice cream maker for it but they are so expensive think it will be a while before I do!

lapis_lazuli

If it's functionality you want, go for the Kenwood every time.  It has more outlets and a greater range of attachments and does better performance-wise as well.

This article compares the two on their breadmaking performance:

https://www.charlottepike.co.uk/tag/kenwood-mixer-vs-kitchenaid/

And this article from 2010 gives a more rounded view, plus a link to an update they did after using one for six months:

https://thingswemake.co.uk/2010/12/02/kenwood-vs-kitchenaid/

PollyWollyDoodle

Thanks for that link @lapis_lazuli - not only is it interesting to read, but you’ve introduced me to a great blog that I think I’m going to enjoy reading. 

Her thought process was similar to mine when choosing, and like her I still use a stick blender for speed (I don’t have a liquidiser attachment anyway). She does make a very good point about bread dough, it’s much easier to make a wetter dough in a stand mixer. I can’t knead for long anyway as my wrists hurt but also I have a real aversion to having sticky hands! I love baking and I will get my hands in when needed, but I hate having dough stuck to my fingers. I’m also interested in what she says about the rubber blade, it’s the one attachment I have been thinking of buying, but perhaps I won’t bother. You do have to scrape the bowl down frequently but it’s a small inconvenience.