I purchased mine a couple of years ago from Target, when they had a sale in July. DS purchased one for a family member, this past year, from kitchenaid.com or maybe BB&B when they had a sale around the same time of year. As I recall, they were both about $100 off.
I’ve got the tilt head in ice blue and I love it. I previously had the Costco lift bowl in silver and did not like it at all.
KitchenAid usually has a good sale right before Mother’s Day. They also have the biggest selection of colors.
I have a tilt head and my only issue is that sometimes when I’m kneading dough the bowl works itself in super tight at the base and it’s difficult to remove. I wanted a lift bowl when I replaced mine last year for this reason but the lift bowl model is taller and didn’t fit under my top cabinet.
I love, love my mixer.
Mine is too; still works as great as the day I got it!
+N for tilthead.
I used to work at a large kitchen retailer and have probably sold 1000 KA mixers over the years.
Selecting between a tilt head and a lift model can impact motor power. For example, the 5qt Artisan model, which is a tilt head model, is 325 watts. The 5 qt Pro Line, a lift bowl model, is 525 watts. KA also includes different attachments for different stores. They all usually include the flat beater, whisk and dough hook, but some also include a plastic shield to reduce flyaway flour. Pricing tends to be pretty standard with most retailers selling the “same” mixer for the same price, excluding various coupon options or special promos.
All the extra attachments fit all the models. I have 2 KA, one is an original 4qt Hobart model and is more the 40 years old. I also have 6qt ProLine only a couple of years old and I use my pasta attachment on both. I’ve also used the ice cream maker and the spiralizer on both my mixers.
I just looked at the one Costco is offering online - a 6qt Pro with lift head, in Red (I think Empire Red) - it looks like a really good deal if color isn’t important.
Have fun with your search!
I had a good experience recently with getting one through the Everything Kitchens website. They also carry refurbished ones.
I have that plastic shield with my tilt head…the thing that supposedly prevents flour spatter. It’s not hooked to the bowl thank goodness. Mine is in a drawer someplace. It was a PITA because it got in the way of adding ingredients.
Also purchased mine many years ago at Macys on a big sale. Got one for my son a couple of years ago also on sale at Macys (although I think we had to order it). Mine is boring white, but since it lives in a cabinet, I don’t really care.
Speaking of KA mixers, what are everyone’s favorite extra attachments? We really don’t have any that we use regularly.
I have a pasta attachment that we use regularly. I think it works best making long noodles.
Yep; I use a damp kitchen towel draped over the mixer/bowl, especially for powdered sugar when I make icing.
Yep, mine is taking up space somewhere in the back of my pantry. I think I used it once and decided it was not worth the hassle. I just use a slower speed initially and add my dry ingredients slowly
When I bake, my whole kitchen is involved. So…at the end, I just clean up any debris that is left on the counters. I would have to do that anyway.
I like my plastic shield but agree that it needs something extra for powdered sugar.
The attachment I use most is the spiralizer I use to peel and core apples. It makes quick work to peel, core and slice apples in one move. 5 Blade Spiralizer with Peel, Core and Slice KSM1APC | KitchenAid
I have the 5 quart Artisan from BB&B. I think I found they wouldn’t let me use the coupon on-line, but if I went in the store I could use it. I like the glass mixing bowl.
FYI - Some thing for Breville toaster oven and an expensive espresso machine I tried from there). ETA I have the boring light grey/silver color. I actually love the colored ones, but for such an expensive appliance it seemed like a safe color.
I got my white, 4.5 qt. tilt head KitchenAid mixer as a wedding gift 38 years ago and I use it at least once a week. Since they came out with all the cool colors and larger sizes, I’ve assumed I’d get a new one when this one finally died but every time a part seems ready to go, my H orders a new one from KitchenAid and repairs it. I make bread, cakes, cookies . . .pretty much everything. I recently bought the stainless steel paddle and dough hooks to replace the enamel coated ones. It goes on sale everywhere occasionally - I’ve seen it at Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, BB&B etc. I also have the plastic shield but for powdered sugar I’ve found wrapping a dish towel around the whole machine and running it at a lower speed until the ingredients are lightly mixed works best.
I also have the 4.5 qt classic white- when my mom bought it for me as a shower gift. I grew up using my grandmother’s Sunbeam stand mixer. I need to order new attachments.
If I were to buy one now I would like a blue one. Mine sits in a cabinet right now.
Enjoy picking yours out! Expensive but as you can see many of us have had our originals for many years.
This is a fun read. I have a Kitchenaid mixer from my mom. It’s over 50 years old, and a lemon yellow color. The electric cord may need replacing in the near future, but it still works great. I didn’t even know there were two types of heads.
Are Kitchenaid mixers still made by Hobart?
I have spray painted my KitchenAid multiple times over the years to match my kitchen. The original color was hunter green. It’s now hammered copper. As @BunsenBurner states, you can do decals as well, so don’t feel limited by the color of your best purchase price.