bit-tech Shopping: KitchenAid KP2671XWH Professional Stand Mixer

• Black
• Other
• Red
• Stainless Steel
• White

• Automatic Shut Off
• Dishwasher Safe Bowl
• Overload Reset

• Dough Hook
• Flat Beater
• Wire Whip

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: Heavy duty, does everything.

Weaknesses: None.

Summary: I have now owned my 6-qt stand mixer for about 4 months, and it has become an indispensible kitchen tool. I have used it for everything from light-weight, high-speed tasks (meringue, whipped cream), through medium-weight mixing (cake batter, quick breads), to real heavy-weight work (several types of stiff dough, including bagel dough and two loaves of 100% high-protein whole-wheat flour bread) and I have been very impressed with its performance. There is something of a learning curve in getting the best use from it and in adapting recipes if you are used to mixing things by hand. Bread dough seems to need slightly more flour than making it by hand, or else the dough will stick to the dough mixing hook and not knead. The first couple of times this happened to me I was very discouraged about the possibility of ever getting a good loaf of bread, but once I got the hang of the technique, I have been able to make some amazing bread and pizza dough, better than I can usually accomplish with hand kneading. It is so easy to use (basically just dump the ingredients in the bowl and let it work for a few minutes) that we almost never buy bread any more, and it makes much less mess in the kitchen.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Powerful.

Weaknesses: None.

Summary: I absolutely love it. I bake a lot of double-recipe cookies for a family of five, and I give cookies as gifts at Christmas time. I have never had a stand mixer before; I always used a hand mixer. What a difference! The stand mixer is soooooo much better. It makes mixing cookie dough a pleasure. I can now add extra flour(if my dough is too soft) at the end with ease.It also whips up whipping cream effortlessly, and I now make bread. I loathed kneading bread before. Now, the mixer does it beautifully.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 10 Days

Strengths: Heavy duty, can handle tough mixing jobs.

Weaknesses: HEAVY!

Summary: The mixing shield is very helpful for pouring in new ingredients while still mixing. The heavy duty beater is great when mixing up thicker dough cookies. The wisk is great for lighter duty. I also have the grinder attachment, but haven't had the opportunity to use it yet.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 7 Days

Strengths: Very powerful-great construction. No residual butter or sugar in bottom of bowl as in other mixers. Egg whites whipped in a flash.

Weaknesses: Beaters a little awkward to take off.

Summary: This appliance was a gift from my husband and it is terrific. I have owned Braun, Cuisinart, Philips and other appliances but the sturdy construction of this machine is superior. The attachments are well worth considering.