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MostlyPrudent
3 Posts |
 Posted - 12/10/2008 : 1:15:18 PM
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Sory if this has already been discussed, but I have read through 20 pages of posts and the models have all run together on me.
I am planning on buying my wife a KA mixer for Christmas. I am trying to decide between the Pro 5 Plus and the Artisan. She does not bake on a daily basis, but claims she would do a lot more if she had a KA. She bakes whole wheat bread, rolls and pizza crusts. We are a family of 6.
Based on the specifications, there does not appear to be a huge difference between these two models 9 vs. 10 cup flour power (I have no idea how much flour goes into a single loaf of bread).
What are the considerations between the two? Should I be concerned that there appear to be more Pro 5 models on the refurb site than Artisans? Is one louder than the other?
If I go with the Artisan, I would pick up either the Caviar or Imperial Gray. Having never seen them in person, any advise as to which look better in real life?
Thanks so much. |
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pamperedchef
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 4:48:35 PM
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MostlyPrudent, (I love that name BTW!)
It would be most prudent (couldn't resist  ) for you to ask your wife what she wants. I would bet she definitely has a preference, even if she's never owned a KA before. There are lots of pros and cons to all the stand mixers. Some people are more interested in power, some in size, some in color. They are all wonderful machines that will serve you well. Since it is an investment (your mixer will be around for a good long time and is a costly item) you should take care to get her what she wants from the start. She'll still be surprised and she'll be thrilled that she gets to pick it out. Then if you REALLY want to surprise her, get her the matching Food Processor, or Blender, or attachments! 
Martha! Martha! Martha!
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SpiceUmUp
USA
1865 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 6:27:42 PM
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The Pro 5+ is louder than the Artisan. It has an all metal gear set while the Artisan has a synthetic gear that helps keep the noise down.
I would not be concerned about durability of with either model. They are both tried and true designs.
For making stiff doughs like whole wheat and pizza I would go with the Pro 5+ as the lift bowl mixers are more rigid but either will do the job quite well.
The lift bowl mixers are taller than the tilt head mixers so tucking it under the upper cabinet can be an issue for some so check the height if you plan to leave it on the counter. Also the lift bowl mixers weigh more so if your wife will be storing it in a cabinet that can be a consideration.
I have the Caviar Pro 5+ and I like the color but I also like the imperial gray.
Happiness is Fresh baked bread, aged wine, soft cheese and firm friends.
Life is to short for Boring food
KitchenAid Forum: Where nuts are not just an ingredient, they are a community
Where you are is where you are meant to be. Everything you have done has brought you to this place at this time. It is where you are going that you can change
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MostlyPrudent
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 10:38:21 AM
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I talked to my wife and she does not have a preference. She was only familiar with the tilt head style, but has actually never used a KA (her mother had a Bosch mixer which was designed quite differently). So, I am sure she will be thrilled with either one. That leads me to one final question:
Does either the Pro 5 Plus or Artisan have a tendancy to "walk" when needing dough?
Oops, one more:
Does the spiral dough hook work significantly better than the C hook?
Thanks again for the help. |
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gottabake
926 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 3:37:02 PM
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Hi MostlyPrudent,
I've had my Artisan for over a year. I make bread weekly. I've never had a problem with my mixer "walking" while kneading dough. She's heavy enough to stay in place.
She's traveled alot with me in my car...but she's never walked.
I can only address the c hook. I've not encountered any issues of this hook not kneading bread thoroughly.
She has performed beautifully regardless of what I've asked her to do.
gottabake |
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SpiceUmUp
USA
1865 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 7:23:19 PM
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the spiral works better.
A) the spiral hook pushes the dough down in to the bowl preventing the dough from riding over the hook as can sometimes happen with the C hook
B) the spiral hook more closely resembles hand kneading
There is a reason commercial mixers now use spiral hooks.
That said, I have and do make dough with the C hook and I would not walk away from a mixer because it does not use the Spiral
Happiness is Fresh baked bread, aged wine, soft cheese and firm friends.
Life is to short for Boring food
KitchenAid Forum: Where nuts are not just an ingredient, they are a community
Where you are is where you are meant to be. Everything you have done has brought you to this place at this time. It is where you are going that you can change
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MostlyPrudent
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 1:39:32 PM
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| Thanks for all the input. We were at Lowe's on Saturday and my wife fell in love with the Metallic Chrome color Artisan (despite her previous assertions that she did not have strong preference between black, white, red, chrome or gray). Lowe's had a 20% off sale, that, combined with the current rebate and the fact that they had the Metallic Chrome in stock, it was too good of a deal to pass up. |
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cooknupastorm
USA
2055 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 3:15:58 PM
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| Congrats on your purchase, MostlyPrudent! Your wife must be so excited. |
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Nutritionist
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 8:13:53 PM
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That's wonderful!
I think mixers must be like cats - they pick us instead of the other way around. When the right mixer sees the right person walking through the store, it just can't help but to holler out to the person and say "Take me home! Take me home!"
Bonnie
"Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food."
~ Hippocrates, The Father of Western Medicine, 460 BCE. |
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mixfinder
1512 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2008 : 02:21:31 AM
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| The Artisan is easy to learn, relatively quiet and bullet proof. You made a good choice. Hide all other bowls, whisks and egg beater, until you find it becomes instintive the use the Artisan. We used to come to the table, in the old days, to the smell of a percolater, now it's the hum of the KitchenAid that brings everyone running. |
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gottabake
926 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2008 : 1:59:06 PM
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[quote]Originally posted by mixfinder
The Artisan is easy to learn, relatively quiet and bullet proof. You made a good choice. Hide all other bowls, whisks and egg beater, until you find it becomes instintive the use the Artisan. We used to come to the table, in the old days, to the smell of a percolater, now it's the hum of the KitchenAid that brings everyone running.
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Hi Mixfinder, good to see you.
You're right. When I first got my mixer I tended to still grab my old bowls, gadgets etc to do the work. Putting them away is a good suggestion.
As for the perc coffee.....I still perc, just electrically now.
If KA made a percolator...I'd buy it. They don't, do they?
gottabake |
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pamperedchef
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2008 : 9:46:29 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mixfinder
The Artisan is easy to learn, relatively quiet and bullet proof. You made a good choice. Hide all other bowls, whisks and egg beater, until you find it becomes instintive the use the Artisan. We used to come to the table, in the old days, to the smell of a percolater, now it's the hum of the KitchenAid that brings everyone running.
How right you are Mixfinder! As soon as I fired up my Artisan last night, both teens came into the kitchen asking what I was making (it was spaghetti, have I mentioned how much I love the pasta roller/cutter set?  ). Then my son says well are you going to make cookies too? LOL! Needless to say, we made cookies after the pasta.
Great choice on the Artisan! She is going to love it! And a great color too! Next she's gonna want the other matching items.
Martha! Martha! Martha!
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Pro 5 Plus v. Artisan for my wife
