Viking Range White Stand Mixer 7 Qt. Review

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(More customer reviews)The machine died after 3 months. I am just starting to bake and was enjoying it until I taxed the Viking with bread making - not multiple loaves but just one at a time. It died very silently - no smoke or ozone/burnt motor odor - just quietly died while making cream icing with cream cheese and cream. I hit the reverse and it just started to make a gurgling noise and then was no more.
I called the company - not really the company but a repair facility in Detroit and was told the best they could do was to mail me a FedEx slip and I was responsible for boxing the unit and they would repair it.
When I suggested that they send me a box or another motor unit (I would send the current unit back) I was informed that this was not company policy. When I attempted to call Viking and when I asked to speak to corporate customer service I was directed back to the repair facility in Detroit - this happened over and over.
I mentioned that I bought the unit retail on the website they still insisted that they couldn't help me.
Cooks illustrated rated the Kitchen Aid Professional 600 as their number one choice - the Viking did not even make it into the first three best choices - I strongly agree. The Viking is more expensive and the service is lacking. And more importantly the maching is inferior.
I am considering the Hobart or the Kitchen Aid and I will keep the Viking as backup. When you buy a mixer get it from a department store that offers guarantees that include replacement units. I am going to the Sears website now.


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One thousand watts of power and planetary mixing action ensure supremely efficient mixing and beating. Not only can this heavy duty stand mixer knead even the toughest whole grain bread dough into submission, it also has a sufficient range of settings, allowing it to tenderly beat a meringue. Locking pop up heads make clean up snap. A special stirring speed helps prevent flour pouf, and liquid splatter during the initial mixing stage. Max speed is engineered for whipping custards, cream, and meringues - in other words when you want to incorporate maximum air. There are numerous attachments available for this unit to increase its multi-tasking capabilities. If you've become a fan of Viking's reliability, quality and style, no doubt this stand mixer would be a most welcome addition to your kitchen.

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Sunbeam 2591 350-Watt MixMaster with Stainless Steel Bowl, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought a mixer to make cookies. Sick Cookies, that is. Anyway, using a mixer once a year didn't warrant my $200, so I spent $65 at target on a sunbeam with a 350-watt moter and 4 quart bowl. Made 9 batches of cookies tonight and it worked great!
Easy to clean and work with.

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Sunbeam Black MixMaster with 350W,Stainless Steel Bowl

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Cuisinart SM-55 5-1/2-Quart Stand Mixers Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a long-time fan of the KitchenAid mixer. My grandmother has been using the same KitchenAid mixer since the late 50s, and it's still going strong. I was thrilled to get a KitchenAid "Ultra-Power" mixer as a gift about seven years ago, and it worked great for occasional use. Over the past couple of years I've been doing more and more baking, and about a year ago I began making my own bread. After about six months of using my KitchenAid to knead two loaves of whole-wheat bread every week or so, it made a terrible grinding noise, and stopped working. I decided I'd better buy a new KitchenAid with a more powerful motor, and went online to see which was recommended. Much to my surprise, the reviews for the KitchenAid were no longer as positive as they had been. People were complaining about a decrease in quality and customer service. The biggest complaint was that some metal parts had been replaced by plastic, and while it sounded as if the company had recently started making the parts out of metal again, people were giving tips on how to determine if the model you were purchasing had the metal or plastic gearboxes. On top of that, Cooks Illustrated ranked the Cuisinart mixer above KitchenAid in a March 2008 review.
I did more research and found that the warranty was much better on the Cuisinart than on the KitchenAid. So, nervously, I decided to switch from what I had always considered to be the top brand, and I bought the Cuisinart.
My first impressions were mixed. I immediately liked the way the mixer looked, but I was nervous about it, because the body and the mixing paddles are much lighter in weight than on the KitchenAid. It lacks the solid, all-metal feel of the KitchenAid. Since the KitchenAid jittered all over the counter when I was using it to knead bread or even whip butter and sugar together for cookies, I figured the Cuisinart would probably fly off the counter. I decided to use it pretty hard for six months, and then write my review.
I've used it every seven to ten days to make two loaves of heavy, whole-grain bread, have made many batches of cookies and several cakes and I'm very happy to write that this is a GREAT mixer.
Much to my surprise, it doesn't jitter at all, not even when I'm using it to knead bread. Ingredients are more thoroughly mixed, and I don't need to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula nearly as often as I needed to with my KitchenAid. Counter space in my kitchen is limited, so I keep the mixer in a cupboard, and the lighter weight means that it's much easier to move around. In my experience, the lighter weight has NOT affected, in any way, the performance.
Once, when I was kneading some heavy dough on speed #4 for about twice as long as the usual seven or eight minutes (I'd forgotten to add salt to the bread and was trying to knead it in) the mixer overheated and shut itself down. It hasn't done that since, and frankly, I'd rather that happen than have the gears freeze up and completely destroy the gearbox, as happened with my KitchenAid. Another greatly appreciated feature is that some clever person designed the bowl so that it's easy to remove, even after I've used the mixer to knead dough. The bowl on the KitchenAid would lock so tightly after kneading bread that I'd have to wrench it free, usually skinning my knuckles in the process. Some reviewers complain that the bread dough "climbs" the kneading hook, making a mess. I find that the dough actually climbs a lot less than it did when I used my KitchenAid. One reviewer mentioned that she finds the splash guard mostly useless, but I love it -- I find it truly useful, unlike the awkward, two-piece splash guard that came with my KitchenAid.
The timer function is nice, especially now that I don't need to stand over the mixer while it's kneading, worrying that it'll jitter its way onto the floor. I don't leave the room, but now I set the timer and let the mixer do its thing while I prep other ingredients or grease the baking pans. I really like the slow-start feature -- no more cloud of flour when I turn on the mixer.
Basically, this mixer does everything my KitchenAid did, and does it better. The performance has been highly satisfactory, and if it breaks down any time in the next five years, it will still be under warranty ... unlike my KitchenAid, which was only covered for a year.
I don't hate KitchenAid -- I think the mixers are probably still a good product, overall. I know that I was using mine for more than it was designed to handle. However, I am happier with the Cuisinart and have recommended it highly to several friends.
This is still a relatively early review. I expect stand mixers to last for at least a decade, and ideally for much longer. Six months after my purchase, I'm very happy with this machine. If anything happens to change that, I'll update this review.
January 29, 2009
I dropped my mixer! I was doing a lot of Christmas baking, the countertop was crowded, I put it too close to the edge of the counter and WHAM, it fell to the floor, landing hard, upside down. While I have no idea how the trauma will affect the overall life of the mixer, it still works fine. The top is a little askew now, and the hinged door at the front that covers the slow-speed power outlet will no longer stay closed. But: the mixer works as well as it ever did. I really wish I hadn't dropped it, but this is a strong peice of equipment. That was a hard fall from countertop height to a hardwood floor, and there appears to have been nothing more than cosmetic damage. I've been baking as much as ever, and it still works beautifully.
September 4, 2010
Wow -- I don't often look back at my reviews, and when I came back today to make an update, I was surprised that so many people found this helpful. Thanks! I hope if you bought a mixer based on my recommendation that you've loved it. Mine is still going strong, and this evening over dinner, I recommended it to a friend who was thinking of buying a new stand mixer.
Thank you to those who have commented, it adds some additional insight and balance. It was interesting reading the comments -- one person commented that this mixer didn't really handle large batches of heavy rye dough, so you might want to keep that in mind if you make a LOT of bread. I'm still making a loaf or two every week and am quite pleased. One commenter mentioned that his KitchenAid mixer never moved around the countertop. Since I would have to literally hold my KitchenAid down while kneading bread, it makes me wonder how much variance you might find between individual mixers. One of the things I still really, really like about the Cuisinart is that it stays still for me, even when I'm kneading a couple of loaves-worth of bread dough. In fact, I've recently stepped up my bread baking, because I've been experimenting with sourdough recipes. I've also been churning out a LOT of batches of cookies recently as I experiment with a new recipe. (I noticed today that my jeans are feeling a bit tight around the waist. Maybe I need to experiment with something a bit lower-calorie. But, I digress.)
Anyway, I logged on this evening to say I'm still quite pleased with my mixer. Despite the tragic dropping incident over a year and a half ago, the Cuisinart is still working beautifully.

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Housed in durable die-cast metal, this stand mixer features a powerful 800-watt motor that can handle the heaviest mixing tasks. Its large, 5-1/2-quart, stainless-steel bowl accommodates big batches--even double recipes. The unit also provides 12 mixing speeds, along with a 15-minute countdown timer and automatic shutoff, for maximum precision. Choose the slow-start function to eliminate splatter or the ultra-gentle fold function to carefully blend in delicate ingredients. The mixer's tilt-back head allows for easy access to the mixing bowl and makes attaching accessories simple. Accessories include a chef's whisk, a flat mixing paddle, and a dough hook, as well as a splashguard. The whisk aerates ingredients to increase volume or can also be used on slow speed to gently combine dry ingredients. Contoured to reach the bottom and sides of the bowl, the flat mixing paddle ensures thorough mixing. The dough hook makes hand kneading obsolete, while the splashguard offers an extra-wide pouring spout for easily adding ingredients. The stand mixer also contains three power outlets, including a high-speed outlet for its optional dedicated attachments (meat grinder, citrus juicer, blender, food processor, or pasta maker--all sold separately). The stand mixer measures 15-1/2 by 10 by 12-1/2 inches and carries a three-year product warranty and a five-year motor warranty. From the Manufacturer An Array of Helpful Features Features:
Large 5-quart-capacity polished stainless-steel bowl
Powerful 800-watt motor
15-minute countdown timer
Auto shutoff and 12 speeds
Includes 3 accessories: chef's whisk, flat mixing paddle, dough hook
Splashguard with pour spout to prevent spattering
Recipe book
Power unit: clean with a damp cloth and dry
Bowls and tools dishwasher-safe (tools top-rack dishwasher-safe)
Warranty: Limited 3-year product warranty and a full 5-year motor warranty

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KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series Review

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(More customer reviews)I received this mixer as a gift, and honestly, it is so great that I almost feel guilty I don't use it every day. I have heard good things about the reliability of Kitchen Aid mixers, and this one is far more powerful than what I actually need it to do.
One especially great thing is the slow-start feature--I do a lot of cake batter and icings, and it's nice to avoid getting flour all over the cabinets after each round of mixing. It mixes very thoroughly, although I was initially suspicious since the bowl doesn't rotate. You do have to stop and scrape the bowl, as with any mixer.
The machine is also incredibly quiet--it makes less noise than the microwave does. I like the fact that the bowl and white attachments are dishwasher safe, too. It might seem trivial, but I also like the styling of the wider bowl that comes standard with this model, instead of the narrower one that comes with the Artisan.
At first I thought the bowl-lift thing might be uncomfortable to use, since I'm used to tilt-head stand mixers. The bowl has two tabs with holes that fit on either side of the mixer, plus a metal nub that rests in a slot at the back. Once those three points are secure, you rotate the lever to lift the bowl to mixing position, and it's very stable.
I've only found two minor inconveniences with this machine. First, it's pretty tall, so it won't fit on the counter underneath my cabinets--I have to move it back and forth from another shelf to use it, and it's heavy. Second, when you're done mixing and lower the bowl, it's hard to scrape all the stuff off the beater because you can't get a good angle. So you have to detach the beater and let it fall into the bowl and when the bowl is off the mixer you can scrape everything out. Thinner stuff like cake batter wouldn't be a problem, but for frosting or mashed potatoes, a lot of stuff is left on the beater. This is not a big deal--just a different thing to get used to after a tilt-head mixer.
I have the cobalt blue model, and I hesitated because I thought it might be too "loud," but it's beautiful and I'm so glad I got this one.
I'm not a professional baker, but I use my mixer frequently, and I'm delighted to have something that looks great and works so well.

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The Professional 5 Plus has a powerful 450-watt motor that delivers enough power to handle the heaviest mixtures, and mixes large batches easily. This special bowl lift model has brackets on the bowl that fit over support pins on the stand mixer, which is than lifted up by a handle on the right side of the mixer to lock the bowl in place while mixing (this design is made to handle heavy mixtures and large recipes).The 5-quart polished stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe. Its ergonomically designed handle is contoured to fit the hand and makes lifting the bowl more comfortable. This mixer also features a unique mixing action: the beater spins clockwise as the shaft spins counter clockwise, moving the beater to 67 different points around the bowl. This distinctive mixing action creates a thorough blend of ingredients and eliminates the need to rotate the bowl. 10 speeds allow the user to select the right speed for the mixing job, from very high to a very slow stir.The flat beater, dough hook, and professional wire whip add to the versatility of the mixer. In addition, the Soft Start mixing feature helps prevent ingredient splash-out and "flour puff" at startup, while "Overload Reset" helps eliminate overheating of the motor. A hinged hub cover flips up, allowing easy installation of attachments and never leaves the mixer.Optional attachments (sold separately) complete the package to make cooking a pleasure. From citrus juicer to sausage stuffer, KitchenAid stand mixers can handle just about any job in the kitchen.

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Breville 5- Quart Die-Cast Stand Mixer Review

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(More customer reviews)OK, I will be completely honest, I am not an excellent cook. I am a good one. But I am an excellent baker. I take it extremely seriously and have been baking for a very long time. Like any baker, novice or highly skilled, I take pride in what I bake and how it is done. And sometimes there is frustration with a mixer and you just forgo it and attack it with good old arm strength to get the last bit of work into something, like a dough. So when this stand mixer arrived I wondered would it stand up to my KitchenAid 600 or would I be left doing more work than I normally would. Thankfully, I can answer that the Brevile 5 quart mixer handles extremely well!
I made two things to test it out: mashed potatoes and cheesecake, don't judge me, that covers most of the food groups. The flat beater handled the potatoes fine. And the added bonus was that the Breville didn't shift across the table on a higher setting, there was a slight vibration. The second test was with the cheesecake. A nice smooth cheesecake is what I like, a thick texture that is also velvety. I do use the wire whip even after I've added the cream cheese just to get a little bit more air. And, again, the Breville had no issues and since I do like a thicker cheesecake, it was nice to see the wire whip hold up.
Here are a few added pluses of this beauty:
The release button! Gives you more access to the bowl by releasing and raising the mixer head for adding more ingredients.
The chrome finish is lovely and goes with the decor of any kitchen due to its simplicity.
It comes with an instruction manual that has a few solid recipes.
The weight of it was a pleasant surprise, by no means is it light, 20 pounds., give or take. But it is evenly distributed and stays put when going on its highest setting.
It comes with a great pour guard. But the best attachment is the scraper beater, also included is the standard flat, it has rubber edges that were able to scrape the sides of the bowl while mixing the cheesecake and mashed potatoes without me having to stop the mixer!!! I don't know if this will work with everything, probably not, but it was great to have a little bit of a time saver. And speaking of time savers, it comes with a digital one that can count down or up and set a mixing time for what you are making so you don't over or under whip. While this is great, I won't be using it often, if at all, there are far too many variables that go along with baking/cooking to determine a "set time," but it is nice to have a guesstimate. And you get a spatula. Yes, I was excited about the spatula.
The cord can also be hidden away inside of the Breville, love it.
A clear to read LED speed indicator.
Again, this is a great mixer that is comparable to the KitchenAid Pro which I have and am a fan of. I hope I covered enough bases to aid in the help of purchasing a great mixer. There are other mixers out there, Vikings, Artisans, etc. But budget, usability, and sometimes the loudness of the motor are all factors. Breville does very nicely in all three of those areas. It is not the cheapest mixer, but it is a very well made one that is comparable to models that run a bit higher, giving you a bit more attachments as well. It is also solidly built and looks as if it may withstand the test of time.

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The utlimate stand mixer built strictly for professional baking results.An up and down timer takes all of the guess work out of mixing times. The 12 Speed Electronic controltells you exactly whether you are beating, aerating, or whipping ingredients. The scraper beater's flexible edge scrapes the sides and bottom of the Stainless Steel bowl clean, eliminating sticky bowls and spattered batter. A smooth sounding 550 watt motor features load sensing Motor Protection Sensors that detect heavy mixtures and adjust to maintain precision speed.The lift assist mixer head with handle makes moving the mixer onto and off any kitchen countertopeasy.

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Oster 2534 Inspire Handheld Mixer with Bonus Attachments Review

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(More customer reviews)The biggest issue for me is that the retractable cord is quite short - probably about a foot long - so I can't hold the mixer at a comfortable angle even when I'm working right in front of an outlet. What's more, the lowest setting is much faster than on any other mixer I've used. I've gotten into the habit of whisking by hand until a mixture is fairly thick before turning to the mixer. Even then it's still fast enough to make a bit of a mess, so I usually just finish by hand to save the trouble of having something else to wash up. Lastly, the eject button isn't actually a button, it's just an area of plastic with a logo on it that you're supposed to run your thumb down to release the beaters. It's creaky and feels flimsy, and it doesn't usually let got of the beaters until you try it a few times.
On the upside, the unit has a nice heft, the rubber grip is comfortable, and the switch feels solid. The negatives outweigh the positives for me, though, so I'm going to keep an eye out for something better.

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Bond with the kids over a batch of brownies or make a birthday cake for a friend--this versatile handheld mixer, appropriately named "Inspire" comes loaded with features to bring inspiration back into the kitchen. The unit supplies a powerful 250-watt motor that can handle even the heaviest batch of cookie dough, and its six speed settings and Burst of Power function offer all the control needed over the task at hand. Easily switch out one set of attachments for another with the touch of a button. Choose the chrome beaters for conventional mixing of all types of batters, the dough hooks for bread or pizza dough, the whisk for infusing air into egg whites or whipped cream, or the drink rod when blending fun party drinks. Other thoughtful design details include a retractable cord for compact storage; an ergonomic handle to ensure a secure, comfortable grip; and dishwasher-safe parts for quick cleanup. White with brushed stainless-steel accents, the handheld mixer measures 10 by 5 by 9 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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KitchenAid Hand Mixer Dough Hooks Review

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(More customer reviews)They work great and do not over beat the dough as we were doing with our food processor. Has made the KithchenAid hand mixer the most used of our processing tools.

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KitchenAid's Hand Mixer Dough Hooks are sold in sets of two. Now you can handle bread dough without the hassle of hand kneading. You won't believe how quickly you'll have the job done and ready for the oven.

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