Some atachments are very pricy and if you use the strainer atachment, its use is usually limited to just tomatoes. Seeds of smaller berries are going to jam or go through the holes. The strainer as no optional sieves. My old Oster Kitchen center as more stuff for cutting and slicing that I used all the time, especailly the slicers, and grater disks, not to mention a food processer. The KA seems to have wire wisk beaters which tend to make you use a spatula to clean off the sides of the bowl all the time. The Oster has an offest beater and goes against the bottom and sides while also rotating the varios bowls. then there is a blender atttachment as well as an ice crusher, and ice crem maker that uses the traditional rock salt and ice. Its no longer made, but if you find a used one, grab it, try it out, and I am sure it will become a necessary device for many food prepping issues. If they were to atart making them again, they would probably outsel any other multifunctioanl product, proved it was advertised well. Now Oster/Sunbeam are Jarden owned, who also make Food Saver, and many other products, as well as all Ball canning supplies..

I use the hand mixer more than I use the stand mixer, except that I keep the cheese grating attachment on the stand mixer, and that gets used almost every day. I also have the meat grinder and ice cream maker attachments, but those do not get used as much. My immersion blender (also KA) has a whisk attachment, and that is great for whipping small amounts of cream, but can get messy if not careful. I mix pancake batter by hand - I never thought of using a mixer for that. Lars

I just bought one from Costco for my wife for Xmas. It is the Professional 550 model with 575 Watts. $50 off from Costco, $30 off from Manufacturers rebate, so final price is $250 plus tax. Plus if anything happens to it can take it right back no questions asked. I bought it before looking at reviews because I always thought the KA mixers were supposed to be good so didn't really think otherwise. The reviews I have seen are "mixed" at best, about 50% love it, about 50% hate it. Seems as though the quality has dropped considerably over the years and might be better off trying to find an old one that is 30-40+ years old that some fool is selling for cheap, probably last longer than a new one.

Bella--I'd love to see the pics of yours, if you don't mind! John--I like the idea of painting the thing. I've had old vintage garden chairs powder coated. Sometimes I think my KA must have a passport it uses to mix a large batch of thick dough the way it shimmies for the door! I thought a commercial kind like this was supposed to be for heavy use. Now I'm considering something like Kate's mixer thread was discussing when I start baking bread again. It might not want to leave me the way my KA does. Nat--I like the idea of it in a pull-out on the top instead of the bottom like Jakabedy's. Melissa--Mine doesn't have a splatter guard. I know what you mean though about having to store it anyway. Macybaby--I don't want to cut into that peninsula space for two reasons--baking and buffet service. I NEED that space. Yours looks great! Thanks for the sourcing tip. Calimama--Yeah, I don't leave the kitchen with the mixer on. Florantha--That black object is my Gaggia espresso machine. The windows were put in a couple of weeks ago. I had considered an appliance garage/hutch there before (I think maybe you suggested it on another of my threds) to hide the Gaggia and still may do that. Putting the mixer there won't work as the baking area is on the opposite side of the kitchen. Will--I need power on that peninsula somewhere. The fridge panel is just that--a cabinet panel--so I can't put an outlet there even though that's the perfect spot. Desertsteph--Thanks for explaining. That makes sense. Joyce--A pullout sounds like a good way to go. Kashmi--I forgot about the decals! So cool, but I don't think it's really me. I like the toaster story!! Jill--Mine was stored a distance from the kitchen before so I don't think I used it as often because I didn't want to drag it out. I can see that if it were really handy, I'd use it more often. Your espresso machine sure dwarfs mine! Motodetroit--That could be the answer for me!! Some of those boxes are much too country for me, but I'm sure I could find the right one. I could leave it on the counter covered. Easy to use when necessary. Keeps the dust off. And then I could tuck it in the pantry when I need the buffet space! Perfect!! Thanks! Thanks for all the great ideas and experiences. It comes down to: Visibility/Accessibility--leaving it on the counter with a possible cover. Not my ideal, but easy to use and it doesn't take up base storage. Storage/Accessibility--using valuable base storage just to get it out of my view but having to lift it out to use, either with a lift or brute strength. Sounds like another form vs. function problem for me! ;)