Is the KitchenAid Stand Mixer Worth the Investment?
- Braid and Bake
- Jan 8, 2019
- 3 min read
I have always been a fan of working through dough with my hands, partially because I started baking my challah without a mixer and partly because it’s simply fun to play with flour. But over the years, there have been plenty of people to suggest that I buy an electronic mixer or a bread machine, and not surprisingly, every woman in my family swears by the KitchenAid Stand Mixer, almost as if it’s a right of passage to own one.
I decided to take mine out of the box and give it a shot with my standard challah recipe, with the intention of giving you a full run-down on the advantages and disadvantages (*in my opinion*) of using the appliance.
My initial reaction was definitely a “WOW” - the KitchenAid Stand Mixer is undoubtedly beautiful, and the Onyx Black model that I have is exceptionally chic.
I was also quite surprised at the weight of the machine, as I was not expecting it to be so heavy. But, after preparing the dough on my elevated Kitchen island and watching how hard the machine actually works on its own, I’m happy to be able to confirm that it is truly a strong and sturdy mixer. Watching the blade go round and round, it was clear that the weight enabled the smooth mixing and kneading processes and also allowed me to feel comfortable leaving the mixer to go do other things.
Which brings me to my next point: this mixer is a serious TIME SAVER!
Most people buy challah from a store or bakery not because they can’t find a good recipe or don’t have the desire to bake it themselves, but because they simply don’t have the time. Overall, baking challah can take nearly 4 hours! To start, you need 20-30 minutes for the yeast mixture to bubble, then about 2 hours (depending on the temperature of the room) for the dough to rise, then about 20 minutes for braiding, another 20 minutes to let the dough rise, and then about 30 minutes of oven time. And if you’re like me and you live in an apartment in NYC with a teeny tiny kitchen, you need to bake your challah in shifts.
By using the KitchenAid Stand Mixer to mix and knead my dough, I was able to leave the kitchen and do other things, freeing up a solid chunk of time when I otherwise would have been getting covered in flour as I worked through the dough, which is in fact hard work, especially when making a big batch.
Overall, the entire process turned out to be less messy and more efficient. I started out making the yeast mixture in the bowl and then I added the flour directly to it, while it was attached to the stand. Because of the ability to lift and lower the bowl, this was super easy, especially during the kneading process, when I wanted to remove the Spiral dough hook to check on the texture of the dough.
Not only was the mixer easy and pleasant to use, but I can say the exact same thing about the cleanup! I used hot water and soap to clean the attachment and the bowl, and a simple wipe to clean the machine itself. All in all, this process definitely took less time than usual, as I was able to use fewer utensils.
And now, the most important thing - the dough.
The dough came out perfect! It was smooth and easy to work with while braiding, and after baking (and tasting), it was even better; light and fluffy and perfectly even. The KitchenAid Lift-Bowl Stand Mixer is a reliable and highly recommended appliance.
Other things I LOVE about this product are:
The 6-quart sized bowl
The ability to purchase attachments for additional uses
The KitchenAid reputable name brand
The reliable warranty
Despite all of the great advantages of using this appliance, unfortunately two big setbacks come to mind.
As I said before, the mixer is very heavy. For me it was ok, but this is definitely something to consider, especially if you are not one to keep your appliances on the counter.
In addition, the mixer comes with quite a hefty price tag. The model featured here is listed on the company website for $559.99 but you can definitely find it on sale if you know where to look. Costco and T.J.Maxx often carry the product on sale for a significant discount.
As you can see, the mixer did quite the job. The challah came out beautiful and the consistency of the dough was a pleasure to work with. Now I understand why the appliance is a timeless staple of most bridal registries.
I would definitely recommend investing in the KitchenAid Lift-Bowl Stand Mixer. However, I would suggest keeping your eyes peeled for a sale - it’s worth the wait!
Happy baking <3
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