Not For Gourmets Only
Written: Dec 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Capacity, Power, Quality, Warranty
Cons: Cost
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| Haven2000's Full Review: KitchenAid KT2651X Epicurean 475 Watts Stand Mixer |
I know what you're thinking; "What would a disinterested cook and admitted tightwad want with a $400 mixer called 'Epicurean'?" Well, my Dears, it's precisely because I am the original Disinterested Cook, and a tightwad, that the KitchenAid Epicurean appeals to me.
The 6 quart (Six quarts! That's a gallon and a half!) capacity bowl and 475 watt motor mean the Epicurean has not only the capacity, but also the power, to mix double batches. Double batches of what? Of whatever you're mixing: bread dough, mashed potatoes, cookie dough, meatloaf, pizza crusts, whipping cream, wedding cake batter, bath salts, custom paint, guacamole, play clay... truffle chocolate!
OK, so you don't have an army to feed nor a craving for chocolate? Fair enough. The Epicurean is great for cooking ahead. (Deborah Taylor-Hough wrote a book on the subject, called "Frozen Assets".) I bought several loaf pans at a yard sale for 10 cents each. Because they nest, they take up only slightly more room in the drawer than one loaf pan would. When I make meatloaf, (or banana bread, or...) I make enough for 6 loaves at a time. I bake all 6 loaves in the oven at once, saving time as well as energy costs. Once they've cooled, I pop them out of the pans and freeze 5 of the loaves. Next time I'm pressed for time or ideas for dinner, I can just thaw a meatloaf in the microwave. Of course this much meatloaf can be mixed by hand, but it takes much more time, and toll on the hands. I'd rather be done with it and off playing "Aggravation" with the kids, or learning how to Merengue...
Yes, but what about the price tag? I agree, $400 IS more than I paid for my first car. However, I expect the KitchenAid to last at least three times as long, and not break down at every turn. It's not unusual for KitchenAid stand mixers to last 20 years or more, with no special fussy maintenance requirements. Turn it on and go, no oiling, greasing, or tire rotating. $400 divided by 20 years is only $20/year. For the amount of time and frustration it saves, $20 a year is a bargain. And, although the list price is $400, I bought mine locally for $350. If you can't find one locally, a shop-bot such as MySimon.com can help find a good deal online, though shipping costs may be prohibitive.
Weight; "And in this kitchen corner, weighing in at 25 lbs..." Yes, it weighs as much as a toddler, but, unlike a toddler, that weight keeps it in one spot. This is not the type of appliance I keep under the counter and haul out whenever I want to mix something or do a little bench pressing. It has a permanent place on my kitchen counter, handy to the measuring cups and flour bin. Because it comes in several colours, (White, Black, Grey, Blue, Green, Yellow, Almond, Red...) it's easy to match to your kitchen decor. One caveat, though, you may want to change your decor before the KitchenAid has worn out, so think ahead when choosing a colour (or learn to make slip covers...)
Doesn't it take up a lot of room? Well, it takes up about as much counter space as my bread machine used to. The Epicurean measures 16.5" high, 11.3" wide, and 14.6" front to back. However, my bread machine opens at the top, and therefore can't be left under a cupboard. Because the mixer's head is stationary, and the bowl lifts to meet it, it can reside under my cupboards with no restrictions to use.
Unlike the bread machine, the mixer can mix dough for more than one loaf at a time, can mix several other things, and, with the auxiliary attachments (available separately, at additional cost), can also slice, grate, strain, grind, juice, make pasta, even open cans....bye bye bread machine! The more things I make from scratch/process myself, the farther my grocery dollar goes. The parts that ARE included with the mixer are a flat beater for general mixing, a dough hook (guess what that's for!), a wire whisk for whipping, and a shield that fits over the bowl to keep things from splashing up if you add things while the machine is going, and to remind hands/spoons to stay out of the way of that powerful motor.
Still not sure? This may help; it comes with a one year, full replacement warranty. If it fails for any reason, Kitchen Aid will replace it free. None of this "sure, just pay to ship it to us and we'll look it over and consider it" nonsense. Just call them up, and they'll send out a new one, with a fresh 1 year warranty, and take away the broken one, free of charge. But with a ventilation system to keep the motor cool, and an overload reset control (what are we mixing to stall a 475 watt motor, boulders? Fruitcake?), it's built to last. Still, I'm putting mine through all it's paces while it's still under warranty! Now, where did I put that fruitcake recipe?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Haven2000
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Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 59 members
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