So many KitchenAid Mixer Models


 
I'll have to check if Costco Canada has the mixer on sale...I don't think so though. They are all price fixed here - when they are on sale in one place, they are all on sale everywhere that KA is authorized.

Having a blast with the new processor though. Found heavy cream on sale for $1,99 a liter the other day, so picked up 3 liters. Added some live culture and let it ferment for a few days (was going to let it go 4 days, but we have to run out of town so it only went 40 hours) Food processor turned it into butter in about 5 minutes. Wow it's good. With butter going from $5.50 to over $7 a pound here now...very cost effective.

1.5 liters of cultured cream dumped into the bowl.

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About 2 minutes of processing...

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Couple minutes later...

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After a couple batches...rinsed and salted. 3 pounds.

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As I said, sometimes you just need a different hammer. That looks like wonderful butter!
I have and, use both, different jobs require different equipment. Yes you “Can” do it in a KA and it will be equally fabulous but, it’s (maybe only a little) quicker in the processor.
 
I was just at Costco yesterday. They are doing another sale on the large KitchenAid Professional 6qt machine. $299. That is a crazy cheap steal for a really quite good machine
 
@LMichaels I am currently in the process of looking for a newer model KA bowl lift mixer for my wife. She currently has a KA150 Artisan mixer. With as much baking as her and my daughters have been doing lately, especially the sourdough, I want to upgrade to a bigger mixing bowl and a motor with more power. I have been looking at the possibility of the Professional 5 Plus, Professional 600, or a professional HD. I understand these are older models, as I don't have the funds for a brand new one, I am sure she will appreciate a new one none the less. Anyways, I cannot seem to find any specs/comparison sheets on any mixers and was wondering if you could suggest a route to take? Thank you and have a blessed day
 
CHandley said:
@LMichaels I am currently in the process of looking for a newer model KA bowl lift mixer for my wife. She currently has a KA150 Artisan mixer. With as much baking as her and my daughters have been doing lately, especially the sourdough, I want to upgrade to a bigger mixing bowl and a motor with more power. I have been looking at the possibility of the Professional 5 Plus, Professional 600, or a professional HD. I understand these are older models, as I don't have the funds for a brand new one, I am sure she will appreciate a new one none the less. Anyways, I cannot seem to find any specs/comparison sheets on any mixers and was wondering if you could suggest a route to take? Thank you and have a blessed day
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If you don't want to spend the $$$ for a brand new one a couple things. One, watch Sam's and Costco when they go on sale. Especially Costco. Many times they put the 6qt redesigned (MUCH MUCH Better now BTW) for $319 or $299. Those deals cannot be beat. Sam's will put the 5.5 qt (same redesign BTW) and actually same mixer with smaller bowl, for $285 or so. Honestly THAT is what I would hold out for. Seriously the older design of the Professional HD or the older 6qt are not what I would buy second hand. People are thinking they're made out of precious metal and being ripped off left and right. There are some pretty bad design flaws in those machines. Much of which I have to modify when I rebuild them.
If she REALLY must have a lift bowl and can't wait for a great sale at Sam's/Costco, then one of the K5 type models is the best to go with. Specifically K5ss is about as good as it gets. They don't have any more raw "power" than what she has now, just better stability.
Specifically the new redesigned models you should be looking for is the KSM55 styles and the KSM60. There are still many of the previous design machines out there. And as second hand they're just not good investments. They're noisy, with weak planetaries (literally drop off into the food while running), and gear trains not up to how much power the motor can make. I add reinforcements and different lubricant types, to combat it and have been having good luck.
But, by the time you pay someone's inflated price for one used then pay me to rebuild it, you can buy a new redesigned one that will do the job FAR better.
Otherwise simply adjust the volumes of what she's baking and continue with what you currently have which is actually a VERY good machine
 
LMichaels said:
If you don't want to spend the $$$ for a brand new one a couple things. One, watch Sam's and Costco when they go on sale. Especially Costco. Many times they put the 6qt redesigned (MUCH MUCH Better now BTW) for $319 or $299. Those deals cannot be beat. Sam's will put the 5.5 qt (same redesign BTW) and actually same mixer with smaller bowl, for $285 or so. Honestly THAT is what I would hold out for. Seriously the older design of the Professional HD or the older 6qt are not what I would buy second hand. People are thinking they're made out of precious metal and being ripped off left and right. There are some pretty bad design flaws in those machines. Much of which I have to modify when I rebuild them.
If she REALLY must have a lift bowl and can't wait for a great sale at Sam's/Costco, then one of the K5 type models is the best to go with. Specifically K5ss is about as good as it gets. They don't have any more raw "power" than what she has now, just better stability.
Specifically the new redesigned models you should be looking for is the KSM55 styles and the KSM60. There are still many of the previous design machines out there. And as second hand they're just not good investments. They're noisy, with weak planetaries (literally drop off into the food while running), and gear trains not up to how much power the motor can make. I add reinforcements and different lubricant types, to combat it and have been having good luck.
But, by the time you pay someone's inflated price for one used then pay me to rebuild it, you can buy a new redesigned one that will do the job FAR better.
Otherwise simply adjust the volumes of what she's baking and continue with what you currently have which is actually a VERY good machine
Click to expand...
You stated; "Specifically the new redesigned models you should be looking for is the KSM55 styles and the KSM60" With your comments after that statement you were referring to older models out there in existence right, not specifically to the KSM55 and KSM60 models? I do have the opportunity to get one with the model number KSM55SJSXCU and serial number WC1377075. If I am not mistaken it was just built in the beginning of 2023?
 
So in the redesign of all the "large frame" lift bowl machines. KA incorporated the same gear train and DC motor design. It's MUCH more robust than the older design which tried to adapt the original Hobart worm drive going all the way back to about 1932. The issue is that design did not "scale up" well at all. It becomes loose and sloppy internally, VERY noisy with "clicking" and gear noise due to the sloppiness of it.
So whether you buy the newer 5.5 qt all the way up to the Commercial 8qt series it will have the newer design with DC motor. Where the Commercial machine differs is in it's support circuitry to the motor and it's duty cycle and safety ratings. It uses a much heavier and longer power cord, it's also high vis orange so in a commercial kitchen with cords all over it stands out, it has a very robust thermal protection, and a full time "duty rating" meaning it can nearly run 24/7. Additionally it will have safety devices on it like a bowl cage, and switch blocker so you cannot accidentally "bump" it on.
But the basic motor and gear train is the same from the new 5.5 up to the 8. Believe me, I've been inside those units and they are robust. The gear box looks the size of a differential from a small car :D, the planetary is far more robust being now held on with large press pin rather than pressed in, and the thrust protection is way more robust.
Believe me, they're worth a little "stretch" in your budget.
IIRC Sam's Club has the "club version" of the KSM55 which includes a couple more accessories on sale now for around $270. And if you can get the Costco version at $319 or $299, run don't walk and grab it. Excellent deals.
Now a caveat. IDK where you are getting the purchase opportunity from. But be aware KA (like many companies) will not honor a warranty on things bought from a "non authorized" seller.
So I don't recommend an EBay purchase for instance. As, if something should happen, no one will stand behind it. Leaving you paying someone like me to repair it.
Yes that KSM55 is 2023 about late March-mid April.
 
One more tip. If you want to know for sure if the unit is one of the improved models look under the planetary. It may not be chrome plated as my Commercial model is but look for the pin I highlighted. If it's not there, stay clear of it
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Since you have informed me of all this information, I may need to think about putting the money towards a new one instead of trying to find a used one and then have to send it in for repairs. I have been looking and have found a KSM70. Along with the KSM55 and KSM60 you mentioned earlier, would this be a good route to take?
 
Keep this in mind. On those large frame mixers with the "KSM" designation (KSM55/60/70) they are all built on the same frame work, have the same motor and gear train. So if you find a whopper deal on anything in that line just grab it. You will not go wrong. The only thing that varies is the bowl size, what beaters are included and some like IIRC the Sam's Club variant even come with an extra (smaller batch) bowl in addition to the full size one. Which can be quite handy.
With the Club type variations and the aggressive pricing they have, I've had to scrap out a number of large frame (old style) machines. Not because I could not repair them, but because it was not economically feasible to do it. I mean how can I justify charging a customer close to $300 (yeah some of them grenade that badly and parts are not cheap), when if they watch a sale they can get the new upgraded machines under $300 and KA gives a 2 year warranty on them as well! My trash collector is gonna have a field day because I've got 3 or 4 old 6qt frames and housings, and it's not worth it to fix them (even for a resale). If they don't grenade too badly between the mods I do (reinforcing the planetary and thrust bushings along with better lube) can give them a long second lease. But when a gear housing goes bad, and takes out the main lower bearing, plus the worm gears and bearings I'm knocking on the door of $250 in parts at my cost! Wait for a deal and buy one between $275-$320. Get a FAR better machine to boot
 
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