Get the bowl lift if you can. I would like to trade my tilt-head for one but won't replace mine as long as it is still working okay.

The problem with the tilt head is that sometimes the beater (especially the whisk) does not reach down to the bottom of the bowl, and it is very difficult to adjust the height of the head. With my machine, it is impossible to whip one cup of cream or four egg whites because the whisk will not reach the liquid. When I try to adjust the head to make it lower, the machine wobbles, and so this is not an acceptable fix.

Whatever you buy, check the machine at the store to make sure that the whisk will reach to the bottom of the bowl when assembled. I think the height adjustment for the bowl-lift is easier to use, but make sure that you have a manual - or get one on line.

Lars

Lars, It sounds like there's something very wrong with your mixer! Have you considered taking it in for service? Adjusting mine to just the right height for the dime test to work just so is dead easy and doesn't make the head wobble. Kneading very stiff doughs does make the pin vibrate out, however, so I have to keep an eye on it and push it back (hint, if you lift the head just a smidge it's easier to push).

Personally, I prefer the tilt head. The bowl is a little too high on the sides, but it's still easier to scrape down and turn the batter over. It's also easier to tuck under my arm for folding, etc.

I find that the capacity and strength on the Artisan is adequate for all my cooking and baking. I don't do production work, but do make feasts. It'll handle 8-9 cups of flour in a not too stiff dough, or a dozen eggs worth of matzah balls.

For more intense bread baking, most people seem to prefer the dual hook kind of mixer.

All that said, if the one in the ad is in great shape and has all its accessories, and if the extra couple hundred dollars for a new one is a savings that's worth not buying from a store, why not go for it?

Here are some instructions for adjusting the head height, which I have already done, and it is still not satisfactory for use with the whisk. I have a Kitchenaid hand mixer that I use for beating egg whites and whipping cream, although it would be nice if the stand mixer would do this.

If you have a head tilt mixer that will beat three egg whites, then it is okay, but mine will not. If you do not plan to use the whisk attachment, then the clearance is less of an issue, as mine will work okay with the dough hook and the paddle. However, I use it more for the attachments - cheese grater and meat grinder - than I do for mixing. I used to use it for bread dough until I got a bread machine, and I now prefer than for making bread and pizza dough.

Lars

Ok you know me, I had to test. Here's a single egg white whisked in my 11 year old Artisan tilt-head, no scraping down the sides or anything. Never adjusted. Looks good to me.

Watching cooking shows, my understanding is with the lift versions you need to take off the beater, whisk, whatever whenever you want to remove the bowl. I would consider that an annoyance that I would prefer not to deal with but would reluctantly put up with if I needed the power of a professional series mixer.

I have both I use the artesian tilt head, 5 quart glass bowl, for cakes, muffins, just one batch of dinner rolls, smaller batches and whipping cream. Its periwinkle blue and has a home out on the counter.

I use the lift, 6 quart bowl, for bread baking, whole wheat, it has a bigger motor and doesnâÂÂt strain at all. The bowl on the lift is just enough wider and deeper that itâÂÂs a pain to use making small batches even with the optional blade beater. It lives in a lift out cabinet on the same counter.

So it depends on what youâÂÂre going to be using it for but whatever you get order one of the blade beaters it totally eliminates having to scrape down the sides. I didnâÂÂt have any problem adjusting either and no wobbling at all.

Claudia

Here is a link that might be useful: Blade Beater

There's a sale on the Artisan Classic Tilt mixer for $229 this week. What I dislike about the classic mixer is that the bowl doesn't have a handle, I find that a pain.

The bowl-lift for $150 has the beaters/whisk plus the plastic splash guard.

I do make bread, but by hand. I'd be tempted to make it in the mixer, I'm sure.

Even if youâÂÂre not going to use it for bread I would still get the lift. ItâÂÂs better for heavier things like chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies. If itâÂÂs a 6 quart it has a bigger motor again it depends on what you will be using it for. The glass bowl, optional, does have a handle and the price is finally coming down a bit.

Claudia

What's the height of the mixer, Claudia? I'm sure I have enough clearance, but of course I want to be sure.

The Aritsan and Classic are different models. I checked on Amazon to be sure before I said so, and found this in one of the reviews:

From a chat with a KitchenAid rep on 1/9/14: The motor in the 5 quart Artisan is 325 watts so it can handle 9 cups of all purpose flour while the 4.5 quart Classic Plus stand mixer has a less powerful motor so it can only handle 8 cups of all purpose flour. The 4.5 quart stand mixer has a 275 watt motor.

The bowls and accessories are interchangeable between Artisan and Classic, though the bowl mount is different from the old Hobart. I do love the handle on the Artisan, and flour is less likely to fly out, but it's harder to get into with the scraper, and to pour into while it's on, so there are some advantages to the Classic.

The heaviest dough I've kneaded in my Artisan is 100% whole wheat pizza dough (low moisture) for two large pizzas (680g flour). The biggest volume is 3 loaves of challah (8 cups white flour) or a full sized (15 cup) bundt batter. I did have some trouble whipping a dozen eggwhites last year, which is why I adjusted my beater.

This video makes how to adjust the beater very clear.

I can't say more about the lift bowl than you already know, I think, so I'll stick with saying what I know about the Artisan.

The tilt head artesian is 14 ý and the lift is 16 ý so they both should fit under standard cabinet height. My uppers are lower because IâÂÂm short so my lift wouldnâÂÂt fit.

I was telling my DD how you said you cooked your stuffing, dressing, in a crockpot. She is taking Thanksgiving dinner to the guys that have to work that day down at the CHP office in L.A. she ask me if I could find out your recipe. They have a full kitchen but it gets kinda busy in there with everyone bringing in dishes that need the oven.

Claudia

Have a basic model KA... tilt top... that sat on counter 24-7. It had to be pulled out of corner because couldn't tilt top under cabinets. No serious problem, cuz wanted it closer when working with it.

Also have a crank up/down model that I found at GOODWILL for $20!! Came with whisk, hook, paddle and bowl and runs like a dream. A short time after that find, there was a BOWL for $5... now I have a spare. The tilt-top is now on shelf in garage. I like the lift cuz it has larger capacity.

Sure thing Claudia. It really is delicious, and super easy. I always add rice to my dressing so I throw that in as well. (leftover cooked rice).

Slow-Cooker Stuffing/Dressing

1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
12 cups dry bread cubes
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2-3 cups chicken broth, or as needed
2 eggs, beaten

Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, celery, and parsley in butter, stirring frequently.
Spoon cooked vegetables over bread cubes in a very large mixing bowl. Season with poultry seasoning, sage, thyme, marjoram, and salt and pepper. Pour in enough broth to moisten, and mix in eggs.

Spray slow-cooker with non-stick spray and transfer mixture to slow cooker.
Cook on High for 45 minutes, then reduce heat to Low, and cook for 4 hours stirring periodically so that it doesn't stick, and to check for moisture levels.

buy it! I love my bowl lift!

Great price.

Moni

PS, thanks for the crock pot stuffing recipe!!!!

This post was edited by OklaMoni on Wed, Nov 12, 14 at 19:37

Thanks for the recipe I sent it along to my DD it looks real close to what we usually make and it would be so much easier for her to take down to the station. This will be the first time we will be going to her house in a very long time. After my mom passed away we stayed here in the valley so my dad had someplace to come for the holidays but he passed in June. All I have to bring is carrot cake and if I can get the local baking queen to make me one I will take a lemon meringue cake.

Claudia

How about getting a Bosch Compact Mixer instead? I have one and it works way better than the Kitchenaids owned by friends and relatives.

No commercial interest other than liking it.

I have kneaded 3 loaves of bread in the compact with NO issues - I don't think you can do that with ANY KA.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bosch Compact Mixer

I have a Hobart KA tilt head. The tilt head mixers usually have a smaller capacity bowl. I've often wished that I had gotten the 6 quart lift version instead. Just for the larger capacity. We always make double batch cookies; keeping all the dough & chocolate chips in the smaller tilt head is something of a challenge.

I've adapted to mixing all my bread recipes in the breadmaker but if you use a mixer for bread, that's another very big reason to opt for the larger capacity of the tilt head.

I second the suggestion to get a beater blade. I love mine. Having one eliminates almost all need to scrape the bowl.

I don't have to decide. I hadn't heard from the person selling the mixer, and wrote to him again. He wrote back this morning with 'sold'.
He finally took the ad down.

Well, that stinks that it's gone. I didn't get a sense of whether or not you are actually mixer shopping or if it were just that the one on CL was too good to pass up. If you are mixer shopping, there are 2 "deals" on Brad's Deals right now. Both are tilt-head. The 5qt Artisan is $247; the 4.5 qt. Classic is $200. Both are free shipping. You'll need to do a little scrolling at the link below to find them.

FWIW, I have the tilt head and DD has the bowl-lift. Without a doubt the bowl-lift is cooler. But mine fits under the upper cabinets and DD's doesn't.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brad's Deals Mixers

I had to laugh at your 'stinks' comment bbstx. Thanks!
I'm in Canada, so the Brad's deals won't be of use to me. I'm keeping my eye open for a good deal on one.

Well, if Brad's Deals decides to have a "Canada" day with a KA mixer, I'll give you a shout!

Costco in Canada carries Kitchen Aid. $350 for the tilt head, and $360 for the bowl lift.

Nobody has commented on my post about the lift versions requiring you to take off the beater/whisk/hook in order to remove the bowl. Is that not correct, or is it less of a nuisance than I imagine it to be?

Yes you have to unhook the beater, whisk, hook from the mixer to remove the bowl. I donâÂÂt find it a nuisance I just let the hook fall into the dough and take it out of the bowl after I remove the bowl from the mixer.

Claudia

Have only "heard" that KA is also a noisy machine(??) Why would anyone drag out a big machine to beat 3-4 egg whites when a hand mixer is faster? Sorry, happy with the $59 Sunbeam Mixmaster for bread and all the cookies you can eat. Gave away the "OLD" one 20 years ago and the people are still using it.

Old Fixer, this one is listed for $60. Is that what you have?

OldFixer, I often use a whisk or fork or wooden spoon (or hands) to make things by hand, but why would anyone bother with an electric hand mixer when there's a KitchenAid on the counter?

Your question cuts both ways. I don't keep a handmixer, though I do have an old fashioned hand crank egg beater because it's the only way I know how to make blintz pancakes. If I worked on it, I could probably learn how to do that with the mixer too, but I don't often make blintzes. The filling is made in the KitchenAid. :) I can't imaging wasting the energy to hold a handmixer when I can fluff up eggwhites all purty in the stand mixer.