Expensive Foodmixers

[Prudie]

Walking past a trendy cookware shop today I stopped to admire some 'retro' Kitchenaid foodmixers in lovely colours such as dusky pink and powder blue in the window. Then I saw the price, £380!!!! I've now checked online and Kenwood Chefs are the same. I'm no cook at all but really what justifies this expense over a £12.99 electric hand held?

[woofgang]

they are huge and durable....also they have kitchen cachet!

[gingejbee]

They are way more sophisticated and heavy duty than the cheap ones...I'd not pay that, though! Just like I wouldn't pay silly money for a toaster (£150 anybody?) or kettle (over £100?).

[Fitzer]

Power, longevity, you don't have to hold them...horses for courses, if you want to make bread or mix anything on a larger scale you need a bigger mixer, if you only want to whisk four egg whites then a handheld will do. You 'should' be able to hand the Kenwood/Kitchenaid on to your children, my mother's Kenwood Chef did 30+ years

[Fitzer]

Power, longevity, you don't have to hold them...horses for courses, if you want to make bread or mix anything on a larger scale you need a bigger mixer, if you only want to whisk four egg whites then a handheld will do. You 'should' be able to hand the Kenwood/Kitchenaid on to your children, my mother's Kenwood Chef did 30+ years

[Fitzer]

Oops, posting from the phone:(

[Prudie]

I understand they do a lot more and have a status and longevity but still think that's a phenomenal amount of money.

[bednobs]

should've put one on your wedding list :)
We have one (it was less than that, but more than yours) My husband has wanted on forever, and i finally capitulated and let him have one. He loves it, and mainly uses it for bread/chelsea buns etc

[mrs.chappie]

My husband has a KitchenAid and it was well worth the money for the joy it has given him. His handheld blender just can't compete. :o)

[DaisyNonna]

Cooking for one would make those mixers slightly over the top.
Not to mention a minute kitchen with inadequate storage and counter space.
So many gadgets I would love!

[RATTER15]

We have a kenwood, about a million years old and works perfect, wouldn't be without it, you get what you pay for!!

[Prudie]

When I was a child living on an RAF officers patch, the ultimate status symbol among the officer's wives was a Kenwood Chef. I've always remembered that.

[RATTER15]

They are the best!!

[paddywak]

Many years ago I bought my mum,who was a great and prolific cook,a Kenwood Chef and all the bits and pieces as due to her age she was finding it hard doing a lot of mixing and things.She used it regularly for about ten years before she passed on about thirty years ago, and it came back to Trish and I.We use it at least twice a week and it's still going strong though some times it grumbles a bit.I think I paid £80-90 which at that time was top money but it's paid for itself several times over and is still going strong.

[DaisyNonna]

Many,many years ago I cooked in a small restaurant. Had a hand held mixer, wooden spoons and some very sharp knives, gas hob, electric plate for flat fish and a deep fat fryer. An oven and warming oven, an urn for hot water. No dishwasher. We did not buy in, apart from bread and bread rolls.
I survived. We even made a profit.

[venator]

My Kenwood Chef Titanium came with all the gadgets and cost less than that 5 years ago.

The mixer with stainless steel bowl, blender and small liquidiser/grinders are most used and save hours of work. The mincer is useful, and we bought the sausage maker, which sees regular use.

It's all top quality and will last forever. None of it is vital, but it's a real pleasure to use, and will outlast and out perform dozens of cheap imitations

[venator]

You're right Daisy - I bake bread with two plastic bowls, a couple of scrapers, bread tins, banettons and good scales. More work than an electric bread maker, but infinitely better results and satisfaction.

[Sycamore3House]

My Mum has a lovely Kenwood Chef in Orange with a stainless steel bowl. She has had this forever. She must have bought it about 1976/77. Still going strong she has all the attachments. She uses it weekly. I have bagged this when she's gone.

[diddlydo]

I have a Kenwood hand-held in regular use - it was a wedding present 44 years ago!

[murraymints]

i am using a Braun I have had for nearly 30 years....