KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White
Customer Review: For an a ten year old K45SS Classic 250 Watt model
Summary: 5 Stars
My mother just ordered and received the 600 pro model, mainly cause her older 250 watt model was leaking some sort of oil, being only about ten years old, but I figured it smelled like grease that gets old and breaks down, but she wanted a more powerful extra machine anway. Took the old 250 watt model apart yesterday and learned alot, especially that it was still heavily greased well, no signs of damage, there aint a seal in there, just at one point a "rubber" O-ring on the shaft that could in theory get worn with age or use, and areas with oilite(copper alloy-oil infused) bushings. The only plastic gear in the gear box up in the head was some sort of plastic idler gear and still good and probably the archilles heel of this but likely meant to break in case of catastrophic mixer obstruction in order to save the motor from burning out or damaging the motor output worm gear(these cheaper models don't have electronic automatic shutoff from obstructions I believe, like the pro 600 and real restaurant hobart models do), and I remixed the grease with a finger to get the grease mixed back up, cause I couldn't score any food safe grease that don't have lead in it, locally fast enough, and I didn't want to use a grease that had fibers in it like they use for automotive brake bearings that get super hot, I mean, the wrong type of grease and it could put a load on the motor and burn it up, too light a grease and it can get hot and turn to an oil and run down the shaft. Really, she stored it too close to the stove heating up the grease and causing it to break down into an oil, causing the problem. I believe if they are still made the same, they are made well, on hers, the lower ring and pinion gear are steel as well. The only way to inspect the gear section for proper grease or seviceability without making the mistake of going through the motor area like I did at first is popping off the silver metal ring surrounding the outpout shaft above the bowl area with a flat tip screw driver, then a snap ring plyers for inspection of the lower pinion output shaft once the lower housing is removed by first using a hammer and a pin driver for driving out a shaft retaining pin to drop the lower round rotating lower gear housing first(it rotates with the shaft cause inside there is a ring and pinion gear), flat tip screw driver for five smaller screws and the four main screws to lift it off the base, then you will see a handful of grease and the gears. Inspection of the carbon brushes(behind the two black plastic slotted "screws", be careful that way, they ARE repaceable it seems unlike the pro 600 models, those are probably why some people believe their mixers are just worn out, you can get new carbon brushes, I bet I could even adapt carbon brushes bought from hardware stores that keep a "brush bin", not that these brushes aren't likely cheap and readily available. I believe they brushes need placed back in the same way they came out cause when I removed the brushes and mixed them up, the motor wouldn't come back on at first, so I took them out and rotated them 180 degrees, then it came back on, OR I didn't have the plastic brush holders scewed all the way down(which is what I believe happened), since there is a metal contact area that needs to make contact with more metal contacts. Other than that, these weaker models probably get burned out by overworking the motors on too heavy projects I figure, when they draw too many amps through the armature windings, unless the brushes are just generally the first to need replacement from overworking. I'd like to get a very very old one and take it apart and "rebuild" it, likely all they eventually need is more grease and new carbon brushes, worste case scenario is a worn bearing/bushing for the armature right at the wall where it outputs to the gear box.
Customer Review: This mixer will change the way you cook
Summary: 5 Stars
Unlike many of the reviewers, I've only had this mixer for about a year, and it's this specific model, the 250W 4.5 quart mixer (the bottom of the Kitchenaid line). It was a real splurge at the time we purchased it, but it has turned out to be well worth it.Before the Kitchenaid, I didn't do much baking. I tend towards more "manly" cooking techniques: the hotter the fire, the spicier the recipe, the better as far as I'm concerned. But this machine is as satisfying to use as any power tool in the garage -- there is something about using the *right* tool for the job, and I've found no tasks that one might consider using a mixer for that the Kitchenaid doesn't excel at. But it's especially good for baking, and once you start using it, you'll have your oven running a lot more than you used to.
The big difference between this mixer and the standard "two beater" models you may be familiar with is that it uses a single mixing attachment that rotates in two motions- it not only spins on its own axis, it also is rotated around the edge of the bowl. This does an extremely effective job of mixing ingredients without need for the bowl rotating, since the mixing motion covers the entire bowl. For most mixing jobs, it also requires no scraping of the sides with the spatula. IE: when it's mixing, you can ignore it and work on other stuff.
The first attachment I'll mention is the dough hook, which is a godsend for kneading. In the last day, I've made pizza dough, bagels, and whole wheat bread. Although this is the least powerful machine Kitchenaid makes, it kneads stiff dough (like the aforementioned bagels made with high-gluten flour) that would turn your mother's mixmaster into a smoking, stinking heap of fried motor components. Machine kneading takes a *lot* of the effort and variability out of making bread... you never "knead in" too much flour to keep it from sticking to your hands, and the 20 minutes you normally spend working the dough turns into 10 minutes you can use to clean up the kitchen.
The other two attachments are the paddle and the whisk. The paddle is the all-purpose "workhorse" beater, and works extremely well for creaming sugar and butter together, mixing cookie dough or cake batter, or any other general-purpose mixing job. With the orbital motion, it comes right up to the edge of the bowl, so it is effectively scraping as it goes. The whisk is great for egg whites and making whipped cream. I'm sure it's good for something else, but that's what I've used it for.
As for capacity, the 4.5 quart model is suitable for pretty much any "normal" home recipes. It's a "standard mixer". It will easily knead enough dough at once for two loaves of bread, or mix a double-batch of cookies.
As for downsides: this thing is HEAVY. You won't be moving it once it's in place. If you knead very stiff dough, the bowl sometimes will get tightened to the extent that it is very difficult to remove from the base. It's OK if you remember to leave it a little loose beforehand, but I always forget and I end up wrestling with the machine to twist it out. The metal trim band on the mixer right above the bowl has come a little loose on my model- the machine got a bit hot after some heavy kneading, and I think some adhesive got soft. It's held in place well by something else, but sometimes it will slip when I'm wiping the machine off. It's purely cosmetic from what I can tell, and it's the only thing that feels cheap in any way about this machine. Other than that, I honestly haven't had a single complaint.
In summary: this is an expensive mixer, but it is very well worth it. Even novice cooks will find it's use enjoyable, and it will inspire you to explore new things that you probably didn't do before because of the time and effort involved.
Customer Review: Buy KitchenAid, the quality is worth it! Your cooking and baking will be enhanced.
Summary: 5 Stars
The mixer I grew up with was a Mixmaster...and when I became an adult, I bought and used Mixmasters...plural. They kept dying! They are cheaply made nowadays, not like Mom's old workhorse.
I got to know KitchenAid first in the massive industrial size, in a school kitchen, baking large quantities for 100 people. Then I got to know KitchenAid home (nonprofessional) mixers because my sister got one, and we were doing some baking together. I decided I liked it. As soon as I had enough money to spare, I bought one for myself. This entry-level model is enough for most households.
(I use a bread machine to bake bread or prepare bread doughs for hand finishing, so I have never used my KitchenAid for kneading bread doughs. If you knead bread doughs frequently, you might want to get a higher level model with a more powerful motor.)
Mostly, I use the KA for baking cakes and cookies. I try not to bake a lot for myself, because I don't need the weight gain. But I love baking and am really a master at it, so I look for excuses to bake...as holiday gifts, to take to the office, or to church or parties. The KA does a great job at perfectly preparing cake and cookie batters/doughs. Also, pancake, waffle, and muffin batters--but don't let the machine run too long, it's very efficient, and muffin batters should just be moistened, not thoroughly blended, or they turn out "flat" and tough. If you are following a recipe or directions on a box, estimate a shorter mix/blend/whip time, because this machine works a lot quicker than most directions allow for.
The whipping beater is really excellent at whipping cream or egg whites. When making waffles, or lady fingers, or madeleines, start with the KA whipping beater, then remove the bowl and fold in the remaining dry ingredients with a spatula, gently, until you don't see flour any more; don't overstir. That keeps the air bubbles in your superlight, airy batter for these types of whipped batters. It sounds complicated? Nah. The KA makes easy work out of such things. Don't be afraid, give it a try.
I used to make mashed potatoes from a box, but since getting a KA mixer, I have switched to making real mashed potatoes, because it's easy to mash using the KA.
I've bought a lot of attachments but not bothered to learn them, I really must get around to tinkering with them!
I wish I would have waited and saved up more to buy a KA mixer in a pretty color--the pink Susan G. Komen fundraiser model is fabulous...and lavendar. So, now I'm looking for the first excuse possible to order a pretty one in a neat color! I am totally satisfied with this entry level model, and it is great for most households. I just want a neat color, and that requires moving up to the Artisan 5 qt. model. (The attachments I have will work with any size KA mixer, they are universal.)
KA is known for its workhorse motors that last forever. I also have a five-speed hand mixer, and the five-cup food processor. I am totally satisfied with the high quality of KA appliances. They are definitely worth it! Skip the cheapie brands that have a short lifespan. Wait, save up, buy KA. (I am NOT a paid endorser! LOL)
I bought mine at W**-M***, but Amazon's kitchen promotions and free shipping, plus occasional KA rebates, make ordering from Amazon very sensible. Go ahead and comparison shop on price, and you'll probably conclude the same thing.
Customer Review: Got mine for free
Summary: 5 Stars
It was offered in the "free stuff" section of Craig's list. So it only cost me the drive out to get it. about 40 minutes each way. Totally worth it. It was broken, but hell I can fix anything.. lol anyone could have fixed this! all that was wrong with with it was a $6.00 worm gear, $11.94 including freight from Amazon. (actually I bought 2, below you will see why)
I'm a mechanical engineering student, and upon tear down I must report that I am quite impressed with the build quality and efficient simplicity of the design.
I understand that this mixer has limitations, as have been expressed here. Of course it does, as it should, it is a light duty mixer. If this entry level mixer was the best at everything, then why ever move up from entry level?
So, the engineer in me set out to test its limits. I like pizza, and my dough recipe is a firm dough for thin crust pizza.. I designed my run to failure test to continue to make larger and larger batches of dough until the motor begins to have trouble, or the plastic worm gear that I just replaced fails.
I started with a 1.5 cup pizza dough recipe. No excessive heat build up, no pausing or hesitation. Great job, and a great pizza! (makes one large thin crust pizza)
2 cup recipe. no excessive heat build-up, no pausing or hesitation. Great job, and another great pizza! (one large thin crust pizza, with some dough left over)
2.5 cup recipe. no excessive heat build up, no pausing or heistation. Great job, and another great pizza! (another large thin crust pizza, with some dough left over)
3 cup recipe (this was the important one for me as I usually do the 3 cup recipe (makes 2 large thin crust pizzas) By now I have enough dough from the previous runs for a third pizza, so I invited some friends over to watch me try to kill this machine. no excessive heat build up, no pausing or hesitation. Awesome. made 3 pizzas, my jeans aren't fitting quite as well as they used to.
While the friends were there, we loaded it up. 4.5 cup recipe, no problem. (that would be 3 large thin crust pizzas in one batch) I just made bread out of it, and sent my friends home with fresh baked bread.
My goal is to kill it, so lets not stop now right?
same pattern using a stiffer bagel recipe, that requires longer periods of kneading.
I started getting significantly increased heat after 4 minutes of a 6 cup bagel batch. my bagel recipe is 4 cups of flour and 1.5 cups water, and honestly there was a slight temperature rise in the 8 minute kneading cycle, but not really very significant. It was when I did that amount times 1.5 that gave me 6 cups flour and 2.25 cups of water that heat began to become a problem.
I finished kneading by hand, and made enough bagels to last 2 weeks! I know I promised to run it to failure, I lied. I thought the worm gear would fail, it didn't. My opinion is that the electric motor's bearings would give out with the kind of heat that it was putting off, and I didn't have a spare electric motor... but enough data was collected to draw a proper conclusion.
Conclusion: do what you want with it. If it gets really really hot. shut the thing off before you kill it!
Customer Review: Excellent product
Summary: 5 Stars
I am disabled, and before purchasing this product, baking was almost impossible for me. Due to weakness in my hands, I really did not have the strength to be whisking and mixing ingredients together.
This was a bit of a hefty expenditure for me and my husband. Being newly married, money is a little tight. But we felt that it was an investment-something that will last us through the years. Already, it has proven itself to be a worthwhile purchase, and the house is regularly full of the pleasant smells of tasty treats and wholesome meals.
The mixer itself is very large, and might be worth other potential buyers being forewarned that it is also extremely heavy. I cannot lift or move this mixer myself, I have to ask my husband to do so. But this is not really a problem for me. The head lifts and lowers very smoothly, and the bowl attaches to the base so easily that it barely requires any effort. I do have problems managing to get the whist attachment in place (and removing it when needed) but this is probably a result of my weak grip. My husband manages it just fine when I ask him to do it for me.
This mixer has turned the hardest tasks into a simple matter of throwing the ingredients in the bowl and turning on the power. There are ten speed levels to choose from, (I barely find I need to go above the seventh or eighth speed setting) and I like that the mixer doesn't just spin the whisk, it also rotates. My mum used to have a mixer (different brand), and that one was not as good as this one because you were constantly having to stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl, because it would only whisk the mixture in the middle. Not so with this product! Everything is mixed without any effort from me whatsoever.
I do wish that the bowl came with a lip for pouring though. It's a bit difficult to get the mixture from the bowl into the baking pan. Aside from that though, great product! Clean up is very easy. The whisk (or whatever attachment you're using) simply goes in the dishwasher (as does the bowl) and comes out looking as good as new.
It's a large appliance, and mine takes up a fair amount of space on the kitchen counter. It's too heavy for me to store it out of the way (Plus I use it so often there's no point) but I think it looks nice (even without a cover over it).
All in all, this is definitely value for money and a great product.