Cuisinart powers up stand mixers
Good for a variety of tasks.
(Credit: Cuisinart)When it comes to the kitchen, options are a cook's best friend. Stand mixers have long offered versatility and performance to help cooks save time. Cuisinart has two models of stand mixers, the SM-70, a 7-quart model, and the SM-55, a 5.5-quart model.
Both stand mixers have several attachments designed to do many tasks. In addition to standard paddle attachments, accessories include a pasta maker, a mincer and grinder, food processor, juicer, and even a blender. In addition to the accessory attachments, the convenience of power is also included. The larger stand mixer has a 1,000-watt motor, while the 5.5-quart model has an 800-watts motor. Both models have 12 power settings and three included outlets.
Cuisinart included other desired features besides power, capacity, and versatility. Both models have a tilt back head for easy bowl access and accessory attachment. A 15-minute countdown timer automatically turns off the stand mixer and chimes to alert you when finished. A pause mode lets the user interrupt the countdown if needed.
The 7-quart model has a suggested retail price of $399 and the 5.5-quart model costs $299.
Robert
-
by mixitmixit
January 20, 2009 7:34 PM PST
- I agree with the others who have commented here. I owned a Kenwood mixer for nearly 17 years that was my right arm in the kitchen. I bake a lot and make breads like brioche that require an extended mixing time and the Kenwood did a great job. Williams Sonoma sold Kenwood for a brief period of time several years ago and I was tempted to buy a replacement even though mine was still working fine, but looked like it had been around the block a couple of times. When my Kenwood mixer finally gave up and stalled two years ago, I purchased the most available comparable model by Kitchenaid a 6-qt professional. I was very disappointed. Compared to my old Kenwood, the Kitchenaid was slow to turn on and off and to respond to speed changes. The Kitchenaid lasted for two years and then became such an unreliable mixer, that I had to get rid of it. Repairing it would not have been cost effective. So, I longed for a new Kenwood mixer but was disappointed that Kenwood mixers were no longer sold here in the US. I found out that Hamilton Beach makes a commercial mixer that is the same as a Kenwood Major and that Viking Range Corp makes a 7 qt. model that is mechanically identical to the Kenwood Major. I borrowed a Viking from a friend who owns a gourmet shoppe in town and I was going to buy a Viking. I WAS going to buy the Viking until I tried out the Cuisinart because I had a coupon at an appliance shoppe and I applied it to the mixer. Here's the secret: The Cuisinart will accept my old Kenwood attachments and it will accept the Viking parts as well. I believe that the Cuisinart is identical or so very similar beyond significance to the Viking and the Kenwood that it is definitely the best mixer at the best price that anyone can buy. Both the 5.5 quart and the 7 quart Cuisinart machines are great! I love the fold button that lets you run the mixer for as long as you want at low speed by just holding down the fold button. The buttons and dials are so much easier to clean than the Viking's and the machine has a great timer feature that I thought was going to be a gimmick until I realized that I could set it and mix things for as long as I thought they needed to be mixed and I could be doing other cooking in the kitchen. The timer is a GREAT feature! Do not underestimate it. The Cuisinart is also styled in a very streamlined way and looks great. The Viking, in my opinion, was unattractive. Also, the Cuisinart is lighter weight than the Viking...this weight difference, in my opinion is not due to the inner workings of the mixer, but to the added weight of the Viking mixer casting and trim. The Cuisinart is solid and I see no advantage to spend more on a Viking mixer. The 5.5 quart is great for regular use. The 7 quart will be too big for people who want to whip a few egg whites at a time or who need to prepare smaller recipes. The 5.5 quart would have been ideal for me, but I really need a little extra capacity because I need to cook sometimes 10 of one recipe and the 7 qt lets me do this in fewer batches. Do not be tempted to buy another mixer without giving the Cuisinart mixers a chance. I have been very impressed and I am extremely happy with the mixer's performance. Cook's Illustrated also agrees with me. Use the extra money you save from buying the Cuisinart mixer and invest it into an extra bowl or other kitchen tools that will serve you better than investing that same money into a more expensive (yet no better--because they are almost identical on the inside) mixer.
-
Reply to this comment
-
(3 Comments)