The KitchenAid mixer is the gold standard for home baking. My mother has had one that she used for years and years and now I am finally grown-up enough to get my own!
Having a good quality stand mixer just makes everything easier. Sure, it is possible to do everything by hand or using a powered hand-mixer, but that isn't really anyone's favorite part of baking. Stuff gets splattered all over, it is hard to keep it even, and there is too much margin for error. Stand mixers just make those hard tasks quicker and more efficient, so you can spend more time on the fun parts.
So far, my new KitchenAid Artisan has seen the most action with its dough-hook. It kneads bread dough perfectly, although it has taken me a few tries to get used to it. The ingredients have to go in a certain order, moving dry to wet with the wet introduced slowly while the hook mixes. Fortunately, the KitchenAid comes with great instructions and some recipes to get you started.
The 5-Quart bowl holds a lot, and is easily enough for family-sized portions. All of the pieces, including the bowl, lock firmly into place so there is no worry about anything getting out of control. I have really appreciated the splash-guard which makes introducing wet ingredients trouble-free.
What really sets the KitchenAid Artisan apart from other mixers are the accessories you can buy for it. This is so much more than just a mixer, it is a whole kitchen machine. So far, I have the Ice Cream Maker Attachment, and I am really looking forward to trying my hand at making sausage with the Food Grinder Attachment and Sausage Stuffer set, or maybe some homemade pasta with the Pasta Roller. Ah, the possibilities! Get more detail about KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Empire Red.
