KitchenAid's stand mixers have been popular for decades and have a reputation of being built to last. They are convenient; a person does not need to hold the bowl and mixer at the same time and can achieve consistent results in baking. Stand mixers can do heavy or gentle mixing that a hand mixer can't do, and usually the mixers come with a variety of attachments for different tasks.
There are basically two types of mixers on the market that will satisfy the needs of almost any home baker. The most common type is the hand mixer. Prices for these mixers usually start at under $20 and will work well for occasional mixing. For cake batter and light duty mixing, a top rated hand mixer will cost about $75, and can perform most of the functions of stand mixers. Besides performing many mixing duties well, they are light, compact, and store neatly out of the way when not in use. Cooks who need heavier usage might require a stand mixer. These mixers can cost as much as $200 - $300, but will usually last for several years. Stand mixers are rather large and heavy, so if space is a concern, these mixers might not be the best choice. Stand mixers generally come with three standard attachments. These three attachments can typically perform almost any mixing task a homemaker might have. Flat beaters are used for mixing cake batters. The wire whisk works admirably for beating egg whites and other light ingredients such as whipping cream. This attachment can also be used to cream vegetables. The third attachment that comes standard with these mixers is a dough hook. The lighter hand mixers cannot offer the kind of performance needed to knead bread and cookie dough, so for these tasks, a stand mixer is the only way to go. Additional attachments are usually available so that tasks such as stuffing sausage or juicing citrus fruits can be performed with ease. These stand mixers may have up to twelve speeds and come with a larger motor than the smaller hand held mixers. This increased motor size enables them to mix for longer periods of time without overheating. Stand mixers typically come with a large mixing bowl. Usually stainless steel, the bowls are often from five to six quarts in size. Many parts of the stand mixers are dishwasher safe, but the consumer needs to carefully read the instructions that come with the mixer. Some parts do need to be hand-washed and dried.
KitchenAid generally sells around one million stand mixers each year.
Sunbeam stand mixers can be purchased from your local retail store such as Wal-Mart, Kmart or Target. Sunbeam stand mixers come in all colors with different speeds and functions. Prices for Sunbeam stand mixers range from $30.00 USD to around $160.00 USD.
Yes, a variety of Kitchenaid stand mixers are available at Amazon.com. They come in many different sizes and capacities and in many different colours.
There are several good brands of kitchen mixers. For the best quality, I would choose brand name mixers from reliable companies such as Kitchen Aid or Cuisinart. You can find these brands at online retailers such as Walmart.com and Target.com, but you may be able to get your best deal at Amazon.com.
One can purchase stand mixers at most High Street department stores and electrical retailers. Online they can be found on eBay and also on the Amazon website.
Kenmore I believe Whirlpool.
Most major brands of stand mixers offer a limited warranty on their products. Such brands are KitchenAid and Cuisinart. These warranties last from 1 to 5 years. Some offer it for a lifetime!
There is a big difference in the quality and capabilities of different mixers. The best mixer is one that meets your needs and is within your budget. The two main types are hand mixers and stand mixers. If you cook and bake frequently, then you may want one of each.Hand MixersMost hand mixers are designed for light duty, such as making a cake batter or chocolate pudding. Light duty batters are mostly thin and wet rather than thick and elastic. A quality hand mixer does not have the center steel post on the beaters, but rather looks similar to a bent wire whisk. This style of beater does a better job of thoroughly mixing the ingredients without clogging up and jamming. Another benefit is that they are quick and easy to clean. Hold the mixer in your hands to make sure it is comfortable. Plug in the display model and test the speed settings. Low speed should be very slow so you will not splatter the batter all over the counter. High speed needs enough power to whip mashed potatoes. Some better quality hand mixers have a recessed area on the bottom, so you can attach it to the mixing bowl.Stand MixersStand mixers have more powerful motors than hand mixers. They are the best choice for demanding chores such as kneading bread dough. Stand mixers come with a variety of attachments depending on the model and price. The attachments include dough hooks for kneading, wire beaters for mixing, one or two sizes of whisks, plus small and large mixing bowls. Some models have the traditional two beaters while others have only one beater. While all of the one-beater models have a bowl that automatically spins on a turntable, only the more expensive two-beater mixers off this option. You need to hand spin the cheap two-beater models. Consider this difference if you frequently knead dough or use the mixer every day. You will not be able to complete other kitchen chores if you have to keep manually spinning the mixing bowl. The most expensive stand mixers are the commercial models. They have the most powerful motors and are designed for years of heavy use. They have large capacity bowls to cook for a crowd. If you have a large family or entertain large groups of people frequently, then the best mixer for you may be a commercial model.
Vintage style mixers have a lot of charm, but are old and not always safe electrically. There are several companies making reproduction mixers and blenders, as well as matching toasters.
Many stand mixers are used everyday for different functions. I use mine primarily for fruit blended drinks and Milkshakes. You can find which one is most suited by checking over exactly what you need pertaining to the function you want to posses.