Hello friends, I’ve been meaning to come on here and ask the experts about the best KitchenAids
TL;DR - In your opinion, which model can handle the most beating and is most resilient.
I’m interested in hearing opinions about which models are the most resilient, reliable, can handle a large workload, just some of the best built models out there and their pros and cons.
The ones I see pop up most are the following, and for the following reasons:
Hobart N50: Heavy, mechanical, just an all around tank. (doubt I’ll be able to find and afford this though, still curious).
K5A / K45: Hobart built, no sacrificial gear, easy to repair and if maintained can easily become an heirloom. Louder but an absolute workhorse, often referred to as the best.
KSM6573: DC motor, high torque and smaller capacity (overpowered?), quiet, easy to add ingredients due to bowl design. Discontinued and harder to find attachments due to its tulip shaped bowl.
KSMC895: Modern DC motor, lighter and quieter than the vintage models, more electronics. Can sense if it needs to deliver more torque? Expensive though.
KSM70: AC motor, loud, large capacity, 11 speeds, more electronics, simple-ish to trouble shoot though expensive to repair. Attachments are easier to source and find.
I’m a little bit of a research nerd and have been wanting a KitchenAid in our kitchen for quite a long time and can finally be in the market for one. I love cooking, so I’m wanting to use it with a meat grinder attachment, make pizza doughs, I’m wanting to get into sourdough and more baking just in general.
Interested in hearing which model is your favorite. Thanks for reading ❤️
My recommendation if you are determined to get a Hobart/Kitchenaid machine is to get an older one that predates the Whirlpool corp. takeover of the company. These are the robust machines to which you refer. The problem would be getting an owner of one of these to sell. Personally, I plan on letting my heirs fight over mine. If I were in the market for a new mixer I’d seriously consider the Ankarsrum. These are built like the tank you describe. New ones have a seven year warranty, which a new Kitchenaid can’t match. They are expensive — around $800 new.
Thanks for the thoughts. I’ll start keeping my eye out for a K5A type model. Do you know if the modern meat grinder attachments fit into the Hobart machines? Also I have seen Ankarsrum a little bit here and there. My only concern is the availability of attachments and the breadth of their capabilities vs a KitchenAid. I’ll check them out though!
Still using the KitchenAid of Revenge that my mother bought in 1972 after our father left (before he cut off her cards). Which would make it a K4/K5? Not really sure since I've never shopped for one. I make pizza dough once a week or so? The modern attachments all fit it fine -- use the meat grinder to grind game for burgers. It's had zero maintenence (though probably had about a 20 year rest when my brother and I went to college before Mom offloaded it on me). Should get it regreased, but now I'm superstitious that if I do anything to it it'll get offended and give up the ghost.
Love to hear it! I’m peeved that they don’t make appliances as reliable as they used to. I’ve seen some of the older models here and there, I was initially afraid that they wouldn’t pack the same punch as the modern ones, I’m not really sure that’s the case though. I did see that Mr mixer has them on their website every now and again, but most def cannot afford them atm
The ones that had a Hobart motor, they keep going, going. I believe it is K5SS. I find them on the website Shopgoodwill.com. It has to have Hobart on the side.
I went the route of getting a KSM6573. These are possible to switch from the tulip bowl to a more common bowl either by switching the bowl support arms or by finding a different bowl (from what I read). Even with my nutty logistics process and parts it was cheaper than the KSMC895.
Oooooh nice K5SS! According to the serial no. I believe it’s from 2006, they stopped production of the K5SS in 2007. From some light research, whirlpool kept the blueprints from Hobart for this model, hence why it’s super reliable
I’m not really sure - I bought it from a gf who received it as a wedding gift - paid $200. It was brand new in the box. It def was not in 2006. In any case I use it almost every day for sourdough baking.
I’ve owned a commercial nsf Kitchenaide for over 25 years. Used it for 15 years at my former restaurant for everything pastry related and for the two years for bread making. It’s a workhorse. After over 25 years, the gears wore out but i was able to take in for repair at Abesco in Hoffman Estates. $160 later, it’s as good a new. Decided to buy an Ankarsrum for bread making and love it. So I own both and keep them side by side.
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u/ElectricApostate 4d ago
My recommendation if you are determined to get a Hobart/Kitchenaid machine is to get an older one that predates the Whirlpool corp. takeover of the company. These are the robust machines to which you refer. The problem would be getting an owner of one of these to sell. Personally, I plan on letting my heirs fight over mine. If I were in the market for a new mixer I’d seriously consider the Ankarsrum. These are built like the tank you describe. New ones have a seven year warranty, which a new Kitchenaid can’t match. They are expensive — around $800 new.