KitchenAid's stand mixer is a substantial piece of equipment--325 watts of heavy-duty mixing power that makes child's play of creaming butter, kneading dough, and whipping cream. The kid in you will appreciate how quick and easy it becomes to mix up a batch of cookie dough; the aspiring pastry chef will appreciate that the 5-quart bowl can hold enough dough for three loaves of bread.This model comes with three attachments: a flat beater for making batter, meat loaves, and all textures in-between; a wire whip for egg whites, mayonnaise, and more air-infused creations; and a hook for mixing and kneading yeast doughs. All three are solidly constructed and easily secured to the beater shaft with a simple twist; untwisting them is a bit trickier because the attachment stems are short and can be hard to grasp, especially if they get the least bit greasy. Additionally, the bowl itself locks to the arms that lift it toward the beater with the easy lift lever.
Standing 14 inches high, jutting out a foot, and weighing more than a grown woman's bowling ball, this stand mixer isn't the sort of appliance you'll wipe down and put away. Better to find a square foot of free counter space for easy access; besides, this machine is as pretty as it is rugged--you'll want to show it off.
To complete the package, KitchenAid includes a spiral-bound guide with instructions, mixing tips, and 67 recipes--from crispy waffles to a caramel walnut banana torte. --Betsy Danheim
Editor's note: This is a reconditioned small appliance. Reconditioned generally means that the appliance has been returned to the manufacturer, which brings it back to like-new condition. Some appliances may contain cosmetic blemishes.
